Engine Blowby problems, most don’t need a rebuild!
Engine blowby — cylinder “blow-by,” or excessive crankcase pressure — is a common and worrying problem that most truckies encounter at some stage in their career. The concern is justified, as it typically means an expensive engine rebuild, and that’s usually what mechanics and dealers recommend.
But according to Brisbane-based Cost Effective Maintenance, wear is not the most common cause of blowby. Piston ring deposits (enough to cause fouling in the ring groove) and/or cylinder glaze account for approximately 80% of blow-by issues.
Short answer: most engine blowby isn’t caused by worn-out metal — around 80% comes from carbon deposits and cylinder glaze. If the engine is fundamentally sound, a simple DIY treatment with FTC Decarbonizer and Flushing Oil Concentrate can clear the deposits and restore compression, avoiding an expensive rebuild.
“When you’re faced with a possible rebuild, you need to ensure your money is well spent. Our advice is always to get everything clean first — then you know where you’re at.”
Engine Blowby Problems Can Be Rectified Without a Rebuild
There’s a very simple, low-cost, DIY procedure almost anyone can do that will fix engine blowby — provided the engine is fundamentally sound.
Using a combination of our Flushing Oil Concentrate and FTC Decarbonizer, hard baked-on carbon is dissolved, dispersed and removed from all lubricated parts, as well as combustion and exhaust spaces. Cylinder glaze is safely burnt off.
Over a period of 30 years, we’ve noted that — conservatively — 80% of engines that have undergone this procedure have recovered good compression control and eliminated their blow-by.
How to Reduce Engine Blowby
Engine blow-by can be reduced by removing the carbon and hardened oil deposits responsible for excessive crankcase pressure — in two simple steps:
Step 1 — Add FTC Decarbonizer to the diesel
FTC will safely burn away carbon from the combustion area, deglaze the cylinders, and de-coke the valves, turbos and DPF.
Step 2 — Use Flushing Oil Concentrate at the next oil change
The flushing oil dissolves carbon and heavy oil sludge from the oil rings and all oil-wetted areas.
By cleaning up the carbon and freeing stuck oil rings, crankcase pressure should be greatly reduced — assuming excessive ring wear isn’t the cause of the blowby. For a step-by-step walk-through, see our guide on how to fix engine blow-by.
This Blowby Pack will reduce blowby fumes — satisfaction guaranteed.
Simply add FTC Decarbonizer to the fuel, complete an oil change with Flushing Oil Concentrate, and the problem is solved.
Four Real Examples: Engines That Didn’t Need a Rebuild
Riseley’s Bulk Haulage — Series 60 Detroit (Freightliner)
Riseley’s has used CEM products continually since 2008, when they first used FTC Decarbonizer and Flushing Oil Concentrate to correct a Series 60 Detroit blow-by problem. Seven years on, Phil Riseley’s Freightliner is still immaculate.
Result: blow-by fixed — now past 1.5 million km
Maslin Bros — Kenworth T650, Cummins 444
Used daily on a Mt Isa mine contract, the truck lost power and smoked so badly it wasn’t allowed back on site. The Cummins dealer quoted a $32,000 rebuild. Instead, Hugh Maslin tried FTC Decarbonizer and Flushing Oil Concentrate — and was amazed at how much rubbish came out on the flush. The Kenworth ran out the remaining 18 months of the contract with no smoke and no oil usage, and showed no deterioration two years later.
Result: $32,000 rebuild avoided, zero downtime
Merv Sweetman — Detroit (truck fleet)
At 500,000km the engine suddenly started fuming badly and using six to seven litres of oil every two days. Detroit concluded it needed a $14,000 rebuild. Instead, Merv used FTC Decarbonizer and Flushing Oil Concentrate regularly — performance, oil control and blow-by quickly returned to normal. At 900,000km it was still running sweeter than ever with no oil consumption, and his Cat engines run cleaner too.
Result: $14,000 rebuild avoided — ran to 900,000km+
Older 12L Macks & Series 60 Detroits
Another customer has used Flushing Oil Concentrate for a fair while in older 12L Macks and Series 60 Detroits with great success. These engines had developed a fair bit of blow-by and were using more oil — and the flushing oil reduced both.
Result: even 2-million-km engines responded well
For more information on how to fix engine blowby, give the team at Cost Effective Maintenance a call on 07 3376 6188.
Recommended Products to Fix Engine Blowby
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