ISC 350 Dripping Oil From Exhaust

[CJScepter]

I posted this trouble on the Monaco forum but thought I would post short version here.
I started my 2003 HR 350 isc the other morning to move so I could service it. I had plugged in block heater for alittle over 2 hrs as it was around freezing. It started fine and let it build oil pressure and increased idle. As it was warming up I walked around it just checking tires etc, I thought exhaust had alittle more smoke than normal, not even really smoke, just could see exhaust. I then moved it 100 ft or so to change oil, lube and service. When I looked where it was parked I could see oil on the ground. I looked under the engine and oil was dripping from the exhaust pipe, and had pushed some oil out past the front crank seal. I have only had this coach for 2 1/2 months and about 1500 miles. I pulled turbo and could see oil coming from exhaust header pipe. the previous owner had a catch can set up for the slobber tube mounted at the rear of the coach attached to the hitch bracing. The tube had a bow in it and went uphill alittle to the container. It looked like it had been there along time. I took the turbo to Cummins NW in Chehalis,Wa. and talked to the Service Supv., he said it would not vent correctly. He said if pressure builds up it could blow oil everywhere. He said install turbo and see if oil still runs out, if not take it for a good drive and check it out. So I cut slobber tube so it could hang down and took it out. It was fine! no oil from crank seal or anywhere else. My guess is the slobber tube had ice in the low spot, just my guess. Lesson is make sure slobber tube runs downhill to where ever it goes. This coach has 43000 miles on it and was vented this way for awhile, trouble just waiting to happen!
John G.(once again, a happy camper!)

[AFChap]

Great catch on your part! ...and excellent example of how too often an owner "fix" for a supposed problem creates bigger problems than it fixes!! Yikes!!!

[J Walker]

That is a great fix. You found a tech who pointed you in the right direction at the right time before major work was done. It is a little scary hearing how the front crank seal was leaking. Hopefully no damage was done. It sounds like it wasn't since no leaks now.

[CJScepter]

I always had a question about front crank seal, there was a small amout of oil residue there, I have watched it like a hawk, I've never seen a drip or any new oil but always had a question. It looked to be very old residue, but now I think I know how it got there. When Cummins Supv. explained the moisture and pressure these engines make I now know to respect that info going foward.
John G.