Thread: Why is the TD5 a heavy breather - or is it?

Originally Posted by Parker

Hi Folks, I fear this question just shows my ignorance but I have not found a suitable explanation.

is the TD5 a heavy breather or maybe just like any other diesel?

Mine does breathe a bit from that up top hose (I don't use an oil separator) but I feel that my engine uses only minimal oil. So why does it like to breathe out as it does? Where is that vapor flow created?

All modern diesels have quite a bit of blow by.

Nothing to worry about,particularly if it’s not using any oil,and it has the correct spec oil in it.

I wonder why this is so. If not a fault then it’s a feature. Blow by must be coming from somewhere and there must be a reason for that

The injector seals leak, even in a good in Td5 , so the Oil lost in fumes is replaced by Diesel from leaky seals .
Not unusual for a Td5 Oil level to increase between services due to being diluted by Diesel.

Smell your dipstick .

Originally Posted by goingbush

The injector seals leak, even in a good in Td5 , so the Oil lost in fumes is replaced by Diesel from leaky seals .
Not unusual for a Td5 Oil level to increase between services due to being diluted by Diesel.

Smell your dipstick .

Oh dear, diesel in the oil,never heard this and terrible news. I should not have used synthetic oil to stick with the 10k change interval but stuck with my TdI practice of using Castrol RX diesel and changing every 5000 km!?? I'll have a sniff on my dipstick in a minute!

Originally Posted by Parker

Oh dear, diesel in the oil,never heard this and terrible news. I should not have used synthetic oil to stick with the 10k change interval but stuck with my TdI practice of using Castrol RX diesel and changing every 5000 km!?? I'll have a sniff on my dipstick in a minute!

Just keep an eye on the oil level.

i had 3 D2's,not one had oil in fuel issue.
Not only did i have the oil tested by castrol numerous times,as i knew a guy who worked in their testing lab,i also kept an eye on the sump oil level.

One thing he did say,more than once, was this TD5 oil after 15 000Km is in better condition than the oil in his 4.2TD Patrol after 3 000Km

Originally Posted by scarry

One thing he did say,more than once, was this TD5 oil after 15 000Km is in better condition than the oil in his 4.2TD Patrol after 3 000Km

I remember thinking when they first came out with 20,000km service intervals, that the challenge with a Td5 is actually finding an oil that is capable of living that long rather than the oil filtration systems capacity to keep it clean. It's probably still the same.

I don't think that all TD5s get diesel in the oil or a rising oil level. If the injector seals are installed properly they should not leak. IMHO many do not prepare the base of the injector properly. There is a raised ring on the injector tip that is obscured by hard carbon and must be scraped away very carefully with a dental pick or similar for the new seals to seal.
Mine used to leak more than dilute. LOL
Now my oil level goes down a small amount without too many leaks and that is how it should be.

I also don't think that TD5s breather heavily if they are in good condition.
Breathing is caused by combustion gases leaking down via the rings. That is the only way it happens.

My catch can shows about 10-20CC in say 5000K and the inlet manifold is dry inside.

Regards PhilipA