They got the head off and everything looked ok on top. They are dropping the oil pan to see what that looks like. The dealership got me a 1500 4x4 QC 4.7L for me. I told them a midsized car would be fine but would like something bigger. I really miss the truck but, it's the best for the situation. I got my wife's pictures of our boating trip. I do not know how to put the picture here but I'll get it in my gallery, in case someone wonders how everything got to the dealer.

 

dieseldemon, I checked the oil and took off the breather cap when still on the hwy. A little wiff of steam or smoke could be seen at the time (about as much as a lit cigarette does sitting in an ashtray). I thought that was normal after a engine shut down from towing @ 70mph. The dealer did not mention that yesterday. I hope to find out more today.

 

They have to pull the engine. Can not drop the oil pan with the motor in. Currently they are locating a #2000 lift to get the motor out. They currently have only a #1000 lift. Hope to find out more tomorrow.

 

How many miles on it?

That sounds pretty discouraging, at least you have a truck to use while they mess with it.

 

You mean to tell me that a Dodge dealer doesn't have a lift capable of pulling a motor out of a Dodge truck?

 

That is ridiculous.


Uh now that we have it out, we are gonna have to run to napa and see if we can borrow some wrenches or something cause we can't get this metal thing off the bottom of the motor without them

 

I can't believe it either, no lift. It in reality with the Cummins engine track record they did'nt plan on having such a major malfunction. I really hope this nightmare is finished soon. The truck has 12,877 miles on it right now. The worst part is up here in yankee land, summer boating pretty much ends in August. I guess we can go biking and stuff , we usually do that in the fall when it's cooler. I can sit in the boat and make "motorboat" noises I guess. I see the pictures from Sunday oar up in my gallery if any want to see the truck loaded up .

 

Sounds like they need to locate more than just a lift... that's one of the lamest excuses I've ever heard for "we can't do anything else until a REAL diesel mechanic gets here"

 

I hope they know what they are doing. Hope they are not pulling the motor just to find out it's a bad injector.

 

The pan CAN be removed with the engine in the chassis. You have to remove all the pan bolts and drop the pan as far down as it will go. Then you must reach in and remove the oil pump pick up tube from the bottom of the engine. Let it drop into the oil pan and the complete assembly slides out from under the engine.

 

I'm begining to wonder about this. I hope they know what they are doing. There isn't much around in my area. Rockford Dodge can't do it. My only other choice at the time was someplace in Madison,which I never heard of. I was concerned about vandalism & how good that place was in Madison. I had been taking the truck to this one in Janesville the last 4 months. The one guy, Norm was very knowledgable on Cummins. At this point I have to wait and see. I am sure the engine needs to be pulled I am probably getting 2nd hand information. They are going to call me when they get it out, I am going up there to see the damage. I mean that KNOCKING was earth shaking last I heard it.

 

They loaned you a truck........use that to tow the boat.

 

The dealer I worked for did not have a engine host that would handle the 1000lb Cummin.We used the vehilce lift host arms.Pulled and installed a number of them like that over the years.Worst case was had to let the air out of the front tires.

 

I thought about towing with this truck. Right now it doesn't have a hitch or anything. I towed my other boat (#3000) with an Astro van with a 4.3L. It was ok at best. This truck has a 4.7L and my current boat is something under #6000. The truck empty has a hard time getting out of is own way. I am too spoiled now to putt around like that, thanks for the input anyways. It sounds like the motor will be out today or tomorrow. If they get a motor next week, we could be on our way. I get the feeling this place is scrambling and doing their best , they have been very accommodating. At least this problem is simple, the motor is bad, get new motor. Not like chasing down some short or something. I build heat treat equipment and have scrambled too. A few weeks doesn't seem too bad for this considering where I am. Now if I was in Texas or some other truck capital place, it would probably be done by now. One question for you folks. Is there anything else to have them do when the motor is out? Only 13k on the ticker can't be much to do, just thinking.

 

I am wondering if you lost a piston cooling jet, did they find anything in the oilpan?