Background info: 2005 CTD 3500 SRW 4X4 Quad Cab Auto 3.73 R&P with 41,000 miles on it. I bought it brand new. PURE STOCK. Not even an intake. I tow about 4280lbs every weekend while the white stuff isn't on the ground. The Dooge always warms up before the tow and when I get to my destination, the Dooge will idle for about 3-5 minutes depending on how hard or easy I towed with it. Most of the time it idles a little more than 5 minutes. I do drive it on the highways every once in a while right up to the defueling stage and in cases where I'm cruising down the highway over 2,500rpm's, when I get to where I'm going I'll let it idle for 5+ minutes or so. My average highway speed is 75mph. This Dooge has never done a smokey burnout and the oil is changed between every 5,000 to 7,000.

OK, here is my issue. Within the last 3,000 miles I have been noticing an oil smell. Not for an extended time, just a pretty fast smell of oil and then it was gone. It did this while cruising at around 2100rpm's and when I left off the accelerator. I have been noticing it more now while towing. If I'm in stop and go traffic where I'm into the accelerator easing it up to speed and then having to back off due to slowing traffic, I get that burning oil smell. If I'm backing the trailer up and have to pull forward and then start backing up, the oil smell will be there. After it does it, it seems to just go away no matter if I repeat the steps that caused it in the first place. I have noticed, especially on the highway scenario (stop and go traffic), that the exhaust begins to smoke noticeably. And the oil smell is there while it is smoking, leading me to believe that it is burning oil under certain circumstances. Then when I got back up to speed a bit later and got off the highway it didn't happen again.

I thought maybe it was that vent tube underneath way back before I noticed it coming out the exhaust. My vent tube is wet, but not leaking oil.

Ideas will greatly be appreciated before I bring it in to the dealership, she's still under warrantee

 

How much oil consumption per 1000 miles are we talking about? Sounds more like a leak to me.

 

Leak? Nothing is leaking from the Dooge, no oil on the ground. I can see the burnt oil coming from the exhaust just as I explained the situations above. In just about 7000 it's down a little on the stick. It is a burning problem I have and I'm wondering what some of the causes maybe, so I do not hear from the dealership that they could not find anything.

 

It is normal to have that oil smell while working it hard. It comes from the vent tube. Check the oil on level ground and make sure you let it sit for 30 min. or so. If you check it real quick after shutdown it will be a little low on the stick. This is normal due to the time for oil to drain back to the oil pan. I don't think you have a problem from what it sounds like to me.

What color is the smoke out the back?????? Grayish ( due to cat) or black you are O.K.

 

What Spooler said. I did Houston to Odessa and back twice last month. I set the cruise on 72 (2300 rpm straight up). 9 hours at this speed. At one point in the trip I thought I hit some slow wildlife so I pulled over to check for damage (about midnight). I look under my truck with my trusty q-beam and notice oil droplets all over the underside. I'm thinkin there's something wrong wit hmy truck at this point. A week later I'm back at home getting the oil changed at the dealer and inspect the truck while up on the rack. All the droplets were on the driver side and the vent tube had a light film of oil on the tip. The vent tube is on the driver side of the motor. I dont worry about it any more. One other thing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isnt there an oil line going to the turbo bearing? If so, he could be leaking ever so slighty there and burning it of and not leaving any evidence of a leak since none has been found. Just a thought.

 

The exhaust is a bluish smoke when it happens. It is visual and it's not the diesel exhaust. Once I see the burnt oil smoke coming out of the exhaust, that's the only time the truck has that smell of oil. I see it and then I smell it or I smell it and adjust the mirror and then see it. I am wondering if it could be something wrong with the turbo (but, it's not a constant problem) or an injector gone bad, something. I know of the tube and it is not that. I thought it was that tube until I saw it in the exhaust. I guess I'm going to have someone video what it is I'm talking about. Maybe this weekend I'll have someone hang out of the passenger side of the truck and film the exhaust. I should be wheelin' on Saturday.

 

You might pull the intake plumbing off and see if the oil seal on the cold side shows signs of letting go. A plugged up air filter can actually cause this. On my company truck, (Duramax) When it started using oil, it had more accelleration once you got it spooled up..... Used engine oil is a GREAT fuel!!hahaha...
Also, check around the clamp on the hot housing of the turbo, see if it shows signs of "wet stacking"

 

I'll check those, thanks!