This spring, I had to replace my engine with less than 100,000 miles on it. Dodge said it was "dusted" and not covered under warranty. Only one cylinder had any damage to the cylinder well. The rings on the #1 piston had broken and caused major blow-by, loss of compression, and obviously damage to the cylinder wall and head.
If the engine was dusted, all 6 cylinders would have had wear of some sort.

The truck had 100% stock parts on it for the life of the vehicle so I could GET warranty, but obviously, it was denied and I had to pay for a new one out of my own wallet.

I've seen a fair amount of people experiencing the same problem with the 2004.5 - 2007 5.9's since they changed the piston design. My mechanic has 3 more "dusted" engines at his shop right now. We're thinking it my have something to do with the fact the rings are closer to the top of the piston, thus causing hotter ring temps and maybe premature wear. It may also be injector design(washing) or something to do with the J-nozzle design?

If you've had blow-by issues or lunched an engine without any major go-fast abuse, please speak up and we can find out how much support we could rally for a possible class action lawsuit.

Has anyone present been involved in a class action? Any lawyers lurking around the forum?

Any private correspondance - PM me!

 

i'm a diesel tech at a ga dodge dealer, i replace 1 or 2 engines per year. nobody at corp level ever sees the engine. it's almost entirely left to the individual dealer to repair or replace the engine per 70% rule. i've never had an engine claim denied even when some probally should have been because of mods. you should have called some higher up co. rep. no way repair denied on stock engine unless serious fuel problem

 

Some less then reputable dealers will use the "dusted" excuse a lot, to sell someone a $12000 engine. It sucks, but it is true. If I got that excuse they had better have LOTS of evidence to support that claim.....

 

There are lots of guys with 400K + miles on 04.5+ trucks. If it was a common problem I think we would know about it here and hear alot more about it.

There has to be something going on special in your case.

..

 

Please define the term "dusted"

 

Thanks for the replies guys.
mwdean - the dealer took pics of the engine, cylinders & head...and "sent" them away to the higher ups (I'm in Canada, if it makes a difference).
TexasCTD - agreed, the reason I bought the truck is for the engine with a good reputation that would last a long time.
Dusted - as in dirt got in through the air filter and wore the engine out.

I figured if there were a few around my neck of the woods, there would be many more on these forums as well.

 

I had my motor replaced by dodge at around 94k miles, all but one cylinder failed a compression test. New short block from dodge on their dime. My only complaint would be they never could answer me when I asked what caused it, and no attempt was made to fix the cause.

 

i have had only 2 motors die both cr's one was from a dropped valve seat when the injectors got ruined from a quad box and the other was when the turbo died. one was out of warranty and the other was settled out of court. other then that no motor issues other then the wonderful fuel system they have on these newer trucks. and i workem like i hate'm

 

The 'dusted' catch all only works when you the owner do not do regular oil testing to prove otherwise. Since this is their escape mechanism to get out of their warranty to you regarding things like poor design, rings, etc your only defense is a good offense, regular oil testing would have been all the amunition you would have needed to get a new engine. Without it, you are at their mercy because they are considered the experts until you prove their expert opinions to be no so expert.

CD

 

Yea I agree it is BS if the engine is 100% stock and you have maintaince records to prove it was not neglected. The sad part as said is many people will go down without a fight and just pay for it themselves. My family has owned probably 10 CR Dodges and never any issues from the engine. Only one owned from new till 60k miles, and a couple have had over 150k miles without any issue. Mine has 80k and not any lick of trouble. I would be chocked if my engine went, and I would sue Chrysler if I had to to get them to pay for if it if it wasn't my fault.

When I sold my gauges to a guy a little while ago, he had an 05 that the motor lost I believe a piston in? It only had like 65k miles on it, he just bought it a few months prior to this happening so he didn't know how well it was taken care of. But he had to pay for it out of his pocket to, to the tune for like $3500 and doing all the labour himself.

 

I had my motor replaced under the 100k warranty. I had either 92 or 94k on the motor when mine was replaced with a reman. I also had a loss of compression in all but two cylinders. My dealer was great to work with, replaced everything no questions asked.

 

You have a sorry dealer. No doubt about it. They have to prove you didn't do the services via an oil sample. Some folks are just crooks.

 

I have my oil sample sent to Blackstone Lab. For testing. This way if somthing go bad before 100.000 miles Dodge will have to think twice before they say NO. Jest keep all of your oil reports. blackstone also keep then. I ask for the TBM test every time. www.blackstone-labs.com They will send you a sample bottle for your sample. Good luck

 

I hear it from a few people every time I send in a sample, why do you spend $17.50 to have the oil tested its a waste of $$$$ well what happened to the guy above is one reason why that and I only change oil once a year and want proof about the oils condition and what it did or did not show up.

 

I don't understand why you payed them?? If the dealer is a (insert bad word of your choice here) I would have told them to just fix what needed to be fixed. When you get the call the truck is done you go there with your extra key give them a $100 check tell them thanks and drive away.

What are they going to do charge you for stealing your own truck? You just have to make it easier for them to make a warranty claim then to get your money.
And why should it matter if the engine was dusted or not? your using thier air filter!!!!

I did the above with a Case IH dealer, fixed their attitude in a hurry. Which reminds me I should send them a picture of my New John Deere