On a Detroit Diesel 3-53 there is a drain plug on the flywheel housing. From what research I’ve done I think that any oil in there had to have leaked from somewhere else, likely lube oil from the engine. If that’s the case I should just drain it out ?? and keep an eye on my levels.
Anyone know anything about this?
I did have a problem with a fuel oil leak into lube oil which is now fixed and lube oil changed. I wonder if high lube oil levels (from fuel oil) caused the excess to enter the flywheel housing or if the seal is bad?
The fuel thinned down the lube enough to make it past the seal would be my first guess. Now that this is fixed, hopefully the seal will hold the lube and all is ok. Had Detroits, oil everywhere usually but they practically run on water. I ran a 6-71 til she had 18# oil pressure at 1500rpm before re-placing, great engines, loud but they can take a beating.
Some Detroit Diesels came equipped with wet housings to incorporate Allison Reduction gears. With this application. The rear main seal is a double lip seal. Hence. To keep the gear oil and engine oil from mixing.
If that’s not your application. Oil in the flywheel housing either came from the engine or gear. More than likely. The engine. We all know Detroits are notorious for leaking oil.
When you had the Fuel problem it most likely brought the level up to where it leaked past the Rear Main Seal. I would just drain it and keep an eye on it. If there is room, you could put a Kings Point Gasket on it, (put a fitting into the drain plug then run a hose to some type of container). This way you will be able to see how fast of a leak that you have.
[QUOTE=Tugs;118343]When you had the Fuel problem it most likely brought the level up to where it leaked past the Rear Main Seal. I would just drain it and keep an eye on it. If there is room, you could put a Kings Point Gasket on it, (put a fitting into the drain plug then run a hose to some type of container). This way you will be able to see how fast of a leak that you have.[/QUOTE]
The original plug had a small hole drilled in it and then plugged. It started leaking which is what made as aware that there was oil in there. That’s what had us scratching our heads. From research it seemed oil was not supposed be there but we didn’t want to drain it and then run till we figured it out.
We had a loose fuel line to the injector which leaked fuel into the lube oil. The lube oil level was too high and oil too thin so we tightened the fuel line and changed the oil.