Just got back from a trip to upstate NewYork, returned thru Canada. got stopped on the 402 and police confiscated my radar detecter, then the customs guy thretenen to detain me in Canada because I didn't have a birth certificate or passport to leave.
but alls well that ends well. stopped to fuel up and noticed a puddle of oil on the ground under my radiator about 2 foot in diameter. oil pressure was good not hot turbo working oil was LOW. put 6 qts in it and drove home (was about 15 miles from home. Called my mecanic and he came over to take a look and said it looks like a piece of the head gasket is gone. Just had a new motor put in last summere at 79,000 miles. now has 104,000 miles.

 

You should change your signature to "RADAR DETECTOR MIA". I am assuming your detector incident was in the great white north. Those communist bastards!!

 

What a trip!!!!Sounds like the cop gods are gonna straighten you yanks out!!! I don't know if it's a Barney Fife or a Dudly Doright. Who did your motor overhaul?? Should have some warrentee to cover the head gasket.

 

Breck Dodge in Tucson. I think the warrenty was just for the balance of the original 100,000 mile Chrsler/Cummins warrenty. Will find out Monday.
Mecanic told me if he did it "on the side" it would be 4=5 hundred plus parts

 

sorry to here about your problems. there is a 2003 305 555 engines with all complete wiring computer to pcm in our classified for $5500.00 i think that was the the price.that would be a great engine with all your horsrpower needs.

 

Canada is not as friendly as advertized.

A Slovainian pilot friend of mine was attampting to fly around the world is a light sport plane. He had made it 3/4 of the way around the world and was stopped by Air Canada (like our FAA) and he was not allowed to continue because he did not have enough insurance, and he did not have a silly rating to cross the country in a light sport aircraft. Canada made him turn around and fly back 3/4 of the way around the planet it took him 2 months to get back home. They would NOT let him pass even when he tried to do everything they wanted him to. He did not even want to LAND in Canada just use their airspace. There will be no more flights of light aircraft around the world due to Canada's silly policies, yet we allow Canadians to fly here with no restrictions what so ever.

The aviation adventure of a life time, flying around the world, is now impossible due to the socialist policies of Canada.

Oh Canada! Wake up and smell the coffee!

 

Make sure you check the vacuum pump seal,when bad can leak pretty good.If it is that seal,make sure you dont buy a vacuum pump,search on this sight and you will find the size and place to buy the seals,o ring and shaft seal,under 20 bucks.Check for any lines that may have rubbed on frame or any other part of truck.
Good Luck

 

my thinking right now is fix "n" trade.

 

i have always been about 15 mpg empty and 12 mpg loaded. What is norm on the new ones?

 

took it to chrysler this am area rep happened to be there. long story short-- no help from dodge. they put a new "shortlock" in last fall (24000 miles since) . they had to replace engine because of overheating and melting down a couple pistons. according to Dodge dealer in Tuscon where it went out, it overheated because i was running straight antifreeze. Cooling system had just been serviced before the Tuscon trip by my local Dodge dealer. Suspecting the head gasket is the problem i brought it up to my service manager and he said that when they get a short block, the head is already on and not installed by dealer. I told him i didn't think shortblocks included the head but he maintains that they do.
Left there upset and took truck to cummins service center. the service mgr there said he could not believe dodge would not stand behind this engine with warrenty. Said he is not positive but it does appear that the oil leak is thru the head gasket, most likley caused by improperly tourqing the head ,will know for sure tommorrow. Said they have redone a number of Dodge rebuilt cummins that the "alignment dowel pin" in the head has fell thru into the gearbox causing the gear box cover to crack and throw oil. he also said the shortblocks he gets never include the head.

 

FYI:
A "Short Block" is the block and reciprocating internal parts.
(No Head - Yours is reused)



A "Long Block" is a "shortblock" with a new head installed.




http://www.powerpro2000.com/short_block_engines.htm

Sounds like your engine isn't the only thing blowing smoke.

 

I spent over 20 years selling parts in GM dealers,a short block consists of a block,crank,pistons,and may include oil pump and pick up screen,timing chain and gears,Like Shovel's pic,a long block includes heads,I would get everything documented and raise a little,in a good way and if you yell long enough and hard enough,who knows,you may get lucky with DC

 

I spoke to the service mgr at Cummins today and he assures me that the headgasket failure was due to improper instalation and that he would provide me with a statement saying that and digital photos to verify.
Local dealership says it is the responsability of the dodge dealer who did the work in arizona to make it right.
My local dealership is at fault for the failure that led to the damage . Chrysler autorized the replacement in tuscon as we were traveling . We live in MIchigan, what do they expect me to do drive it back to Ar for repairs?

 

I would counter that it's Dodge Corporation's responsibility to "Make it right" with the customer, THEN they can go after their local and AZ dealers for the substandard work.

 

I would file a complaint with Chrysler Corp. but you must keep a cool head,no cussing,or anything like that,and pray you get a consultant.Wait until your deal is done at Cummins ask the service manager and anyone else that may know someone at Chrysler which is the best way to get some if not all of your money back,make sure you have all copies of all bills from all dealers involved,call your local Better Business Burea and file a case with them,you know now that I think about it,file a case with them,the BBB first,let them direct you and let them do their thing,the auto companies dont like haveing cases against them,you may have to go to arbitration but the consumer usually comes out ok.