I have an '01 H.O. Ram 4X4 with 102,000 miles.
Saturday (yesterday) I left town to go fishing. As I was heading down the highway pulling my boat (+,- 5,000 lbs. total) I first noticed the smell of engine oil burning, but thought it was the 18 wheeler ahead of me. I was bucking a pretty strong head wind but my truck seemed to not have the power it should. After another mile or 2 I rolled my windows up and noticed a hard knock in the engine. I immediately pulled over and shut it down. There was oil every where. I'm talking hardly a spot not soaked in the engine compartment. All underneath the truck and even the boat and trailer.

I got a ride to town and bought oil and filled up the crankcase. Started the motor to see what I could see but didn't notice any place where oil was coming from. It started right up but had that horrible knock. I unhitched the trailer and pull the truck up a few feet. It had very little power. I once again shut it off real quick.

What happened? What should I do? I haven't had any trouble until now. Some friends say a valve must have dropped into the piston? What about Dodge stepping up and calling it a warranty issue?

I am towing it to the dealer in the morning to see what they say. If Dodge will cover it, then I'll buy a 2004 Ram very shortly, if not I'll never buy another Dodge product at this point.

Oh yeah, from the point of smelling oil to pulling off the highway was about 5 miles and all the while I had normal oil pressure.



Thanks in Advance.

Wes-

 

It all depend on the dealer.

Let us know what you find was the prob.

Did you buy new and have maint records or did you buy used ?

: Eddie : 8)

 

Fill out your sig. to be better served.

 

With over 100K it's your baby now. I don't think I've ever seen them "bend" the allowable miles on a Cummins. Too much $$$ involved. Was blowby pushing the oil out the breather and dipstick?

 

Recently had the oil changed?
What brand oil filter do you use?

Did the engine temp gauge stay in the normal range?

 

Any performance modifications??? ie fuel box??

 

dose it knock after its cooled dwn.?? Yor were going to have to determine where the noise is from..the damage is done if there is any ..also talk to the REP. because the standard dodge ans is get out of here. I think Hilicopter dan had some exp. with this,do not know what the results were.
If you can determine its a rod, or cyl. noise that will be helpfull to mending the thing. I know this is a emergency here but keep a cool head ,,it will save you $$$

 

If you purchased the truck new,go back to that dealer and plead your case,each dealer is given a certain amout of what is called good faith service allotment, meaning they have a certain amount of free service work which they get paid by Dodge to cover some out of warranty work,it is the end of the year so keep that in mind,also they do not publicly anounce this either,so try to go to the dealer you purchased it at,if you bought it new,if not and it is over as you stated then,sorry to hear that you are having this trouble,Goodluck Rick