I need help in trying to solve why the breather on the cylinder head cover have too much pressure and steam coming out? What does this mean?

That's what it's supposed to do; unless you really have STEAM coming out.

More information is required for any one to be able to diagnose a problem (if there is one). Use the search function above and look for "blow by" "breather cap" etc...

What happens when you loosen the cap with the engine running? Does the cap fly off or just dance around a bit?

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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern"
1980 300TD
1983 300D Euro "China Cat"

Because all these engines have some blowby from the the pistons into the crankcase. Also, remember that your vacuum pump is always pulling that vacuum and dumping the air it pulls out into the crankcase also. You got any leaks? That means more blowby vapor. And that also is part of the vapor that is coming up. Did you know that you can "kill" the engine by holding that hose shut while the engine is idling. If your engine will run for three seconds before shut down, that is considered reasonable.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Does the three second rule apply to the 603 as well? I have to go try it!

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Posting a video of your blowby on YouTube might help people make a judgment on it. A number of people don't like the shut down test because it puts pressure on all the seals in the engine and if a seal is leaking it's not giving any reliable information at all on blowby. There was a thread started a year or so ago where people where attaching a standard plastic garbage bag to the breather tube and seeing how long it took to fill it. There is a proper measuring device for determining blowby but I've never heard of anyone on this forum using one.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Talk to us Rod. We want to help!

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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern"
1980 300TD
1983 300D Euro "China Cat"

From what I have read on this Forum a lot of Blow By that is not causing any other problems (such as oil leaks or always getting your Air Filter Element extremely oily) a long with a good running Engine is OK.

If you have a lot of Blow By and your engine runs rough and poorly; you will need to locate what is causing the problem and repair it (or overhaul the Engine) or get a good used Engine to replace the one you have.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thanks you to all you guys for a quick response. The facts that the engine died after plugging breather scared me. Now i am aware that that can happen. Sad to say that there is considerable steam coming out. The engine runs and is easy to start. i try to get some video and post it later. The engine oil is ok. I mean I am not loosing engine oil. So is the water on the radiator. Im just concerned about the steam . I removed the cylinder head cover, I can see steam coming from the inside of the timing chain area. and at the bottom end of the caqm shaft.

How are you distinguishing between steam and combustion smoke?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

For there to be truly steam there would have to be water. I suspect you are seeing blowby smoke.

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Darrell

1984 300SD "Ole Girl"
207K

Is there a way to check blow by without using a compression tester?
Does chain stretch have a factor. I measured a 15 deg ATDC at the crank shaft instead of the 13.5 degree ATDC?

Yes, you can use the garbage bag method I described, find the thread and compare your results to others. Or you can use the correct tool. I have no idea where to purchase one.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thanks kerry. Ill try that later!!

Engine blow-by test, Blow a bag of blow-by

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

If you can close the hood with the oil cap off all is not lost. Really though you shoud try leaving the oil cap on loose to see if it stays, Blows off, or dances around. That last one is tough as people will want to know the dance step it's performing.

Seriously though in general if the coolant is not dropping it cannot be steam. The exception would be a car used only for very short trips. The resultant condensation in the oil could be boiling off. In that case on the first long trip the oil level may drop somewhat as the water goes.

As mentioned a smoke component in the blowby is pretty normal. I suspect this is really what you may be seeing.