Is this blow-by
 

I guess when it rains it pours.... I just fixed a loose rear shock no more than 4 hrs ago!!

I took a 2 hr jaunt up the Jersey turnpike today and thought it might be a good idea to check the oil. When I opened the hood, the first thing I noticed was white smoke comming out from the oil filler cap. Interesting, I thought, so I decided to take off the cap and investigate. Well, the cap was so hot that I could barely touch it for long enough to take it off. I actually dropped it on the radiator (granted this may be due to "girly hands" from pushing too much paper!). Anyway, I don't recall this happening before. Then I noticed what I would describe as a lot of white smoke comming out of the valve cover.

The oil cap has been leaking more than normal and the vent hose (not sure of proper name) next to the oil cap seems to be leaking more too. The EGR is disabled - if this has anything to do with it.

I was driving relatively fast 75-85 mph. But, this is pretty normal to me. The AC was on the whole way and ambient temp is in the mid 70's F

1) Was I just pushing her too hard?

2) Is this normal and I have just never noticed it before?

3) Is a bad oil cap and/or vent hose the culprit?

4) Does this have something to do with the disabled EGR - done aproximately 50K ago?

Thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

Bad oil cap gasket - yes.

Pushing too hard - probably not

Blowby, that is one of the signs but you will really be able to tell with it running and then crack the cap, if it is a steady little smoke stack of whiteish smoke it is not bad. On my 240 it sounds like a diesel locomotive at full throttle...

Could also be moisture? Just a thought, probably a bad one too...

I wouldn't think it has anything to do with teh egr as all this does is allow exhaust gases into the combustion process via the intake manifold. Unrelated to anythign you have described. personally, I wouldn't owrry about it too much other than to check for the blowby with the motor running but watch out for oil spitting everywhere. Just crack it until you see what is going to be flying out...

someone else jump in here but could this be indicative of bad crackcase ventilation?

Thanks, Fisherman. If it was crankcase ventilation, what would I check?

You might have a little blowby but I wouldn't worry about it unless you get to using an excessive amount of oil.

But isn't a little bit of blow-by a fact of diesel performance? I mean, what is the breather hose for? Isn't it to bypass the blow-by and oil back into the case? I'm probably wrong, but let me know it anyway....

All engines have some blowby. It is a normal part of the combustion process for some of the gases to get by the rings. If you are not using more than a quart of oil per 1,000 miles, the guages all show normal, you aren't adding coolant, and there are no abnormal noises coming from the engine, then you are fine.

My 190Db is an example of a bad engine. As soon as I loosen the oil cap, oil comes gushing around the opening with the cap still in place. Oil also gets forced up the dipstick tube under load.

I took off the cap with the engine running today. I could see some white smoke wafting around inside the valve cover with a bit escaping.

I use about 1 quart every 3K and have been consistently for the past 70K. It sounds to me like I just need a new oil cap gasket...

I concur. Sounds like your engine is fine...

Good deal! Phew, glad it didn't spew all over.