Brand New 2018 RAM Cummins found small copper pieces in oil.

[jaallen]

I am a new member to the TDR. I was hoping to introduce myself in the coming days in an excited way.
As the title suggests, very worried right now.
I have wanted one of these trucks since my early twenties when I saw an 1991 Cummins RAM a shop by my house bought. I loved it, got to look at all of it, inside and out. I said one day, I will get one.
Well, it took till last month to finally buy one. Brand new Tradesman but with good options. I will post a pic.
I am in love with this truck. Everything I thought it would be, and I say all the time "I finally have one."

I bought it brand new November 4th. It had 59 miles on it from the drive from a Georgia dealer to Dealer here in SC before I got it at Dealer. (I have the original history paperwork on it).
I drove it off the lot and realized there was a spray paint can type rattle when accelerating. Valve train is very quiet. I read and asked the service dept to hear it. All came back some do it, some do not. I never felt good about that. Took it to a great diesel shop here in SC, and they heard it and thought it was a little strange, check the oil when you drop it after 1000 miles. They were right as it is a good idea to change the oil and filter in a new engine after the first 1000. I did not see anything at that time. Put in new Mopar/Cumminf oil filter and Rotella T4 15w40 as it is still breaking in. Figured I will change at 5000 and switch to T6 after more break in time.

Well, Last two weeks an even more pronounced faint knock has started to happen, and in the mornings, it will blow white smoke, and have a strange exhaust smell, not the clean smell it had when first had it home. I still think I have an injector issue as well. It will thump hard and vibrate at lower RPM. That I was also told is normal, it will stay in gear longer and then kick up to next gear, so it will lug. Like this on all the newer cummins RAMS. I am not so sure. Cant get a decent answer online or from dealer. The diesel shop didnt like it either. Started getting white oil sludge on oil filler cap. Again, so many opinions on that as well. I drive mine up to temp everyday, so it cannot be condensation. My coolant level is still right where it should be. The faint knock, thumping while accelerating and vibration has become a little worse.
Today, I decided to get a new oil filter and T4 to check the oil.

There are little copper like pieces at the bottom of my oil change pan. I will take a pic tomorrow of it when at dealer (I have to be there at 9am LOL.) they are not the glitter, real pieces about 0.5cm wide by 1 to 2cm long. I counted about 30-40 of them in the whole bottom of the change pan. Now I am scared.
I think I have a bad injector, that now, maybe, has caused a worse problem that no-one would listen to me on. I always wanted this truck and a Cummins. I have no tune (I have a CTS2 just for gauges) all stock brand new.
My gauges show all good FRP 5.0 at idle. No CEL or ESC or codes have ever come up. Temps are alway at 192 tops and oil temp stays the same temp. Oild pressure is 36-42 at idle (I know that is not a true reading though).
I know alot about the trucks and the Cummins in them. I just want to know your thoughts. Should I be scared now that they (Dealer) will probably rape the truck by lifting the cab, and then who knows what more will be an issue after that. I will divulge dealer if they dont come through. But this particular dealer has been good to me many times before so I will withold judgment. I wish this did not happen to me. Always told "Best Engine, will never have a problem" yeah, sure. Wonderful for me.
I will update tomorrow after dealer visit.

 

[jaallen]

 

[Ozymandias]

Nice Truck!

I can tell you is that on a Ram they do not lift the cab to work at the engine - like Ford or Chevy does. The Cummins is accessible all around.

And that huge pieces of copper look like main bearing parts, not related to injectors at all.

I think you'll get a new engine on warranty in a short time.

And don't blame Ram or Cummins for it, it's all man made and even a Cummins can have a Problem right from Factory.
If they solve it in a timely manner then it's ok.

Now we wait what more knowledgeable members here can tell about it.


Notice: Hildebrant(d) - swiss ancestors?

 

[jaallen]

Thanks for the info Ozy. Hildebrant. No (d). Dutch.

On way to dealer now. Won’t blame anyone, but I wont accept all is ok either. We shall see.

 

[Ozymandias]

On way to dealer now. Won’t blame anyone, but I wont accept all is ok either. We shall see.

Sure that Engine is sick - do not accept anything else then a replacement at that age of vehicle.

Those inline 6 Engines run incredibly at any rpm, no vibrations or else, just smooth as silk.

 

[TFucili]

That's a beautiful truck. Hang in there. You did buy the best engine out there, but anything made by man will have a greater than 0% failure rate, unfortunately. I have been in your shoes way too many times. Be courteous, but firm, and document every contact with the dealer, or FCA.

 

[jaallen]

TF. Will do. Starting my timeline now. I actually brought it in at 500 miles about the noise and vibration. They said all was normal. Well the two guys that drove with me are here and told the service advisor they remembered me. They all saw the flakes. We shall see. I am upset and disappointed, but kept it cool and firm.

 

[DavidC]

I was just slightly over the 36k warranty when my 53 block went, cost me about 3500 for a replacement. Lucky you found this in a timely manner, now see what they have to say.

Dave

 

[jaallen]

Dave. Understood. The stories about fights over this should not happen to me. No tunes, was the factory fill oil. Never touched the engine. Valve train is very quiet so no need for lash adjustment. So Engine was never touched. We shall see.

 

[jaallen]

Here is my log so far, and attached writeup. Took out dealer name until fixed or outcome.

2018 RAM Cummins returned for bearing material in factory oil at 1100 miles

October 24 2018. Bought truck from Dealer Ram Fort Mill North Carolina. Brand new. Had 59 miles on odometer. History shows it was driven from a dealer in Georgia to dealer here in NC. Always heard a spray paint can rattle sound from engine. Also it seemed to have alot of vibration. Did no service. Was not touched.

November 2 2018. Brought truck to dealer at 500 miles because spray paint can rattle sound is getting louder. Had Kay and Kyle (two of the diesel techs there) take drive with me. Noise and vibration were there. They said it was normal all ok and enjoy truck.

November 9 2018. Truck has 650 miles. Sound louder and now I am worried. Brought truck to DPD diesel performance shop in Rock Hill SC. Say vibration is not normal and sound not right. Was told to drop oil at 1000 miles and check.

November 26 2018. 1100 miles. Change oil. Drained factory fill oil. Install ez-drain valve and t4 rotella 15w40. Look at oil change pan and filter. Copper material flakes in oil. Call DPD. They say "nothing should be in that oil! Take it to dealer now!". Call dealer. Set appointment for 9am November 27th 2018 with Paul, Service Advisor.

November 27 2018. Driving truck to dealer. Spray pain can rattle louder, now a heavy thump while accelerating with every fire of a cylinder. More vibration. Engine seems like it is eating itself. Turbo also seem louder. Paul meets me and I show him Pan. He sees material and agrees there is metal in oil. Brought all the old oil, filter and oil change pan. Calls over Kay. Kay remembers me and says a Cummins should not have any problems but remembers drive with me. They set up the service ticket and I get a copy. gave me a free loaner 1500 pentastar v6. Service ticket below.

 

[jaallen]

Thanks all for bearing (no Pun ;-) with me and the issue. You are all making me less upset. I have saved and worked my butt of to afford my dream truck. I was getting upset at the dealer, but read the thread again, and you have helped me stay professional but firm with them. Thank You.

 

[GrantP]

I think you've got the right attitude on this, hit them with facts and not emotional comments. Hopefully it'll work out and you can enjoy your new truck.

 

[petersonj]

I was getting upset at the dealer, but read the thread again, and you have helped me stay professional but firm with them. Thank You.

If I were in your shoes, I would be requesting a new truck - not a new engine. This truck is too new for you to take on the risk for future different problems because of the amount of work involved to do this repair. Future problems would be repair related and could take months or years to manifest - such things like compromised wiring connections, chafing hoses / wiring, missing or loose fasteners, damaged sensors, scratched paint, - the list goes on and on.

Remember, this truck and all its parts were originally assembled in a logical manner within a pristine environment that has rigid quality control. You will never get that environment in a shop, even if everyone is professional.

You paid for a new truck. You should getting a new truck, not one that is need of major repairs just after buying it. If you decide to go this route "stay professional but firm" as you have already noted.

Hoping for a good outcome,

- John

 

[seafish]

IME, "Always polite but always firm" ALWAYS nets the best results!!!

 

[EDankievitch]

That sucks I agree the metal sure looks like main bearing. A new warranty engine is in your future. We had a Cat 3306 genset overhauled after 28,000 hours it ran well for 2300 hours after the overhaul then spun a main. The service tec thinks a piece of a gasket or something from the oil cooler broke off and clogged an oil passage somewhere. You never know. At least in your case you caught it early nd still under warranty. In the Cat genset warranty is over hello new long block $$$$.

 

[jaallen]

Requesting a new truck or new warranty engine and full extended warranty are what I will only accept. They say they have to figure out what happened first. Could take weeks. Then when the verdict comes in I will push. They were told I will only go two ways here, trust me. I think I should also file with FCA, but was told this could piss off the dealership. Who the hell knows.
I wouldnt think that popping in a new Cummins would cause more issues, but I dont know. If they do, then I ask for the full extended warranty.

 

[petersonj]

I wouldnt think that popping in a new Cummins would cause more issues, but I dont know. If they do, then I ask for the full extended warranty.

Hypothetically, let's just they put in a new Cummins - fast forward a few years and you begin to have a driveability problem that displays codes. After repeated dealership repairs at your cost, the problem still is not fixed. You find a wiring harness that has been rubbing against an object because it wasn't routed or secured properly when the engine was replaced. You fix it and everything works and the driveability problem is resolved.

Good luck trying to recoup the repair costs for labor and parts changing from the dealership. You will have to prove that the rubbing wiring harness was related to the engine replacement work years ago. Even if you were successful in getting the costs covered, is it worth the time and stress? Then, when is the next engine-replacement gremlin going to pop up?

This kind of hypothetical situation occurs more than one would think - especially after a major repair. Most of the time the association is not made because nobody picks up on the connection and too much time has passed.

I am not trying sway you to do anything you are not comfortable with, but you only have one chance whichever route you go.

Best of luck,

- John

 

[jaallen]

Thank You John, I will look into it. I just don't know if I should threaten a new truck now, call FCA with that intent, or talk to original salesman. This is stressful as it is. I am out my first new truck and first payment is in December. I will go that route then.

 

[seafish]

FYI-- NOT sure why it wold piss the dealership off if you file a claim with FCA because whether or not it is a new engine or a new truck, FCA will be finding out about it one way or the other soon enough.That being said, you cannot "threaten" FCA or the dealership as you are at THEIR mercy. BUT If you handle it properly, (polite AND firm always!!!!) they will want to take care of it for you.

First thing to do is get their dealership diagnosis that INCLUDES an identification of the "parts" you found. Best keep pics as well as some of the pieces you found for future reference just in case the dealership "loses" them!!!!

 

[TFucili]

The warranty doesn't say we'll give you a new truck if something goes wrong. Don't get bogged down in what ifs and maybes. If FCA's remedy is engine replacement, I would not personally be against it. If it takes multiple attempts and they have not made it right, then it's time for Lemon discussions of buy-back, or replacement. I have been down that path with Chevrolet, and made them buy it back.