Has anybody had the dealer change over the crankcase breather to stop pumping out oil when the truck is on a steep downhill? And, was it done under warantee? If so, what dealer? I'm going to have to fix this as my truck is regularly in steep terain on pipeline right of ways. Thanks, JTMcC.
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Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Anybody had the crankcase breather fix done
- Thread starter JTMcCracken
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rkressg
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Get rid of the bottle. Just run a peace of 5/8 in heater hose back to the transfer case. No more junk on the front of engine, smell, or smoke from under the hood. Just make sure there are no low spots in the hose. If the hose gets cloged, you can blow out engine seals because of internal pressures building and not being able to vent. This is the best scenario.
Geno's Garage used to sell the relocation bottles. This is my fix.
Thanks, but I'm not talking about the bottle or relocating it, I'm talking about the fix to stop pumping gallons of oil out on the ground when the truck is in a nose down attitude. Anybody had it done? JTMcC.
I did it to my Moms truck one day
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There is a TSB on it. Apperently it is a very complicated fix, if I remember right you have to remove the injection pump to do it
and it was rather expensive. A friend of mine looked into doing it but then changed his mind when he found out the price, I don't remember the price. There was a thread a while back about it, do a search and you might be able to find it. it had a lot of info in it.
:{ There is a TSB on it. Apperently it is a very complicated fix, if I remember right you have to remove the injection pump to do it
and it was rather expensive. A friend of mine looked into doing it but then changed his mind when he found out the price, I don't remember the price. There was a thread a while back about it, do a search and you might be able to find it. it had a lot of info in it.I think what JT is refering to is the new breather that comes off the valve cover, goes to a seperator that looks similar to the standard breather on the front tin cover, excess oil returns to the sump via the front dipstick hole located under the P/S pump, and blowby continues out as normal.
I have put a few of these on transit buses, 18 units in all, no more complaints from this particular customer, although I have heard that some others haven't had as good of success.
A co-worker put it on his 2002 CTD when it was brand new, he hasn't really said how good it works and he can't compare it to the old one, as he put it on brand new. The problem with it is that the conection in the valve cover eliminates the oil fill and the oil fill is now in the seperator on the front tin cover. Also when he bought it the parts list was for several different applications and you had to pick and choose what pieces you wanted to buy as cummins doesn't sell it as a kit for Dodge pickups.
If you are really interested the best person on this board to contact would be (Lane), L Anthony. Or another parts person.
A Johnson
I have put a few of these on transit buses, 18 units in all, no more complaints from this particular customer, although I have heard that some others haven't had as good of success.
A co-worker put it on his 2002 CTD when it was brand new, he hasn't really said how good it works and he can't compare it to the old one, as he put it on brand new. The problem with it is that the conection in the valve cover eliminates the oil fill and the oil fill is now in the seperator on the front tin cover. Also when he bought it the parts list was for several different applications and you had to pick and choose what pieces you wanted to buy as cummins doesn't sell it as a kit for Dodge pickups.
If you are really interested the best person on this board to contact would be (Lane), L Anthony. Or another parts person.
A Johnson
TSB
It's suppose to be fixed under warrantee if it is a complaint:
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2002/09-002-02.htm
It's suppose to be fixed under warrantee if it is a complaint:
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2002/09-002-02.htm
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At least on this side of the border, it is covered only under bumper-to-bumper warranty (36000 miles/60000 kilometres). Mine is over that mark-but under the powertrain limit (100000 kilometres) and obviously way under the engine mark (160000 kilometres) but DC says no. Dealer even pleaded my case to the district service manager-no go... ... I have experienced the oil loss issue a couple times due to the nasty trails my job requires me to be on-you would think they'd rather pony up for the breather fix than an engine but I guess they figure the odds are small and they could always come up with some kind of an out anyways . I will not pay for DC's repair-Walker Airsep is in my future I'm thinking... .
Jason
. I will not pay for DC's repair-Walker Airsep is in my future I'm thinking... . Jason
Well I guess no one has actually had it done under warantee, the way I read the tsb it sounded as though it would be covered. I'm going to find out, I'll start with my local dealer and go from there and see if they will cover it. If not I'll look at the Walker air sep. Thanks for the replies. JTMcC.
Im attempting it right now...
I too am at different EXTREME angles, but havn't noticed an unusual amount of oil loss on my 2001. 5. I have been running no bottle and an extention hose that dumps just past the trans.
Checked with my Dodge dealer about the fix, and after checking with the regional mgr, the part is currently on order. I also went over the TSB with the mechanic, and he has not done one yet. This is the only DC person who I have ever let touch my truck. I will be there during the fix, like I have been before. Shouldn't be too much problem. It sounds complex, but pretty straight-forward.
If you want to order the part (kit) I believe it costs about $400 (ouch) so, that is why the dealer will do it. I will let you know.
I too am at different EXTREME angles, but havn't noticed an unusual amount of oil loss on my 2001. 5. I have been running no bottle and an extention hose that dumps just past the trans.
Checked with my Dodge dealer about the fix, and after checking with the regional mgr, the part is currently on order. I also went over the TSB with the mechanic, and he has not done one yet. This is the only DC person who I have ever let touch my truck. I will be there during the fix, like I have been before. Shouldn't be too much problem. It sounds complex, but pretty straight-forward.
If you want to order the part (kit) I believe it costs about $400 (ouch) so, that is why the dealer will do it. I will let you know.
I do not know thing one about the official fix...
... but could you take the "shepard's hook" hose off of the existing system, add as much vertical hose as the hood space would allow, add a corresponding amount of hose to the other end and then reinstall it back on the truck. I would think you could easily raise the apex of the hose 6" and thereby reduce the amount of oil coming out of the hose. Cheap farmer fix if it would work.
... but could you take the "shepard's hook" hose off of the existing system, add as much vertical hose as the hood space would allow, add a corresponding amount of hose to the other end and then reinstall it back on the truck. I would think you could easily raise the apex of the hose 6" and thereby reduce the amount of oil coming out of the hose. Cheap farmer fix if it would work.
The TSB removes the breather tube and bottle on the front of the engine. A plug is installed where the breather tube was originally installed.
The actual TSB "fix" is to remove a cover on the driver's side of the engine (it's slightly to the rear of the VP44) and replace it with a new cover. This new cover has a new breather tube fitting on it. The new breather tube attaches to the cover and is simply routed down below the engine allowing oil to run out on the ground (or coat the chassis while underway). Having the breather located in the center of the engine should make it extremely difficult to tilt the motor far enough to have oil siphoned out through it.
When I mentioned the TSB the service manager shrugged and said he wasn't aware of any that modified or moved the breather tube. I asked to see the TSB's for my truck. They brought out a large 3 inch binder that was overflowing with them. It took a few minutes to wade through them but I found it eventually. I proceeded to show them the TSB and was told it only happens under extreme (22 degrees) down angles and takes 3. 5 hours to install. Pretty amazing since they only glanced at it before rolling their eyes and trying to convince me that Dodge wouldn't authorize the work.
I asked them to call Dodge anyway and got the answer I expected: no TSB unless I actually have oil running out of the front of the engine. I plan on driving down to San Francisco this weekend and navigating the steepest streets I can find. If the oil comes running out I'm going to be down at the dealer on Monday ready for a fight.
To answer the question: IMHO this is obviously a design problem and YES, Dodge should perform this TSB at no cost to the owner. Getting them to do it is the $64,000 question!
And yes, this TSB requires removing the VP44, fuel filter assembly, fan & fan shroud, and intercooler charge air hoses.
The actual TSB "fix" is to remove a cover on the driver's side of the engine (it's slightly to the rear of the VP44) and replace it with a new cover. This new cover has a new breather tube fitting on it. The new breather tube attaches to the cover and is simply routed down below the engine allowing oil to run out on the ground (or coat the chassis while underway). Having the breather located in the center of the engine should make it extremely difficult to tilt the motor far enough to have oil siphoned out through it.
When I mentioned the TSB the service manager shrugged and said he wasn't aware of any that modified or moved the breather tube. I asked to see the TSB's for my truck. They brought out a large 3 inch binder that was overflowing with them. It took a few minutes to wade through them but I found it eventually. I proceeded to show them the TSB and was told it only happens under extreme (22 degrees) down angles and takes 3. 5 hours to install. Pretty amazing since they only glanced at it before rolling their eyes and trying to convince me that Dodge wouldn't authorize the work.
I asked them to call Dodge anyway and got the answer I expected: no TSB unless I actually have oil running out of the front of the engine. I plan on driving down to San Francisco this weekend and navigating the steepest streets I can find. If the oil comes running out I'm going to be down at the dealer on Monday ready for a fight.
To answer the question: IMHO this is obviously a design problem and YES, Dodge should perform this TSB at no cost to the owner. Getting them to do it is the $64,000 question!
And yes, this TSB requires removing the VP44, fuel filter assembly, fan & fan shroud, and intercooler charge air hoses.
Steve, I guess most farmers think alike. I tried putting in about 18" of rise and they still pumped out around 1quart per thousand miles. I don't know if others are that bad but these units ran up and down steep hills 12 hrs a day. I can't really tell you if this was less than before I put the rise in though, because I didn't try to catch it until after I added the rise. It may help.
A Johnson
A Johnson
Com on folks
Ok - this is what the TSB says:
Owners of 1998 - 2002 (BR) Ram Trucks equipped with the 24-valve Cummins diesel engine may experience engine oil overflow from the front crankcase breather when the vehicle is operated off-road on an extreme downhill grade (37. 5% or 22° slope/grade). Operation of this type for extended periods of time can cause enough engine oil depletion to damage the engine.
Hey that's 22 degrees !!!!! I'm sorry guys - I don't think anybody operates their vehicle for extended periods of time on a grade like that! slo-ryde mentioned about going to SF to find steep streets - I'll bet there are no streets in America that approaches 22 degrees - they're simply NOT SAFE!
Ok - this is what the TSB says:
Owners of 1998 - 2002 (BR) Ram Trucks equipped with the 24-valve Cummins diesel engine may experience engine oil overflow from the front crankcase breather when the vehicle is operated off-road on an extreme downhill grade (37. 5% or 22° slope/grade). Operation of this type for extended periods of time can cause enough engine oil depletion to damage the engine.
Hey that's 22 degrees !!!!! I'm sorry guys - I don't think anybody operates their vehicle for extended periods of time on a grade like that! slo-ryde mentioned about going to SF to find steep streets - I'll bet there are no streets in America that approaches 22 degrees - they're simply NOT SAFE!
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Just got it done...
It takes LONGER than 3. 2 hrs. I do drive my CTD at extreme angles while off-roading. It may be heavy, but it goes in places that SHOCK people! Just takes a little finesse.
If you are going to get this done, take it to a mechanic you TRUST!!! I was there during the entire procedure and am friendly with the diesel mechanic. This guy is one of 3 people who have ever touched my truck. I would have done it myself, but it would have cost alot for the kit, so, in it went to Dodge.
I have had the truck back only for 1 day now, but I like the fact that it is in (near) the same place as my old 12v. Less tubing going to the transfer case dump point. So far, I have seen about the same drip rate after high speed runs. Just oil vapor condensing in the drop tube. I have not had a chance to try it wheeling yet, but can update then.
NO HASSLES from Dodge to do it, and they said it was covered under the 100k emissions? warranty. The service mgr did call the area rep to check, but NO PROBLEM, and it didn't cost me a cent. And I am definitely over the 36k mark.
DC suprisingly came thru on this one for me. If your dealer is balking, try another.
I don't like going in and having DC work on the truck, but this experience was EXCELLENT!!! Maybe DC is starting to get it together at SOME dealerships.
It takes LONGER than 3. 2 hrs. I do drive my CTD at extreme angles while off-roading. It may be heavy, but it goes in places that SHOCK people! Just takes a little finesse.
If you are going to get this done, take it to a mechanic you TRUST!!! I was there during the entire procedure and am friendly with the diesel mechanic. This guy is one of 3 people who have ever touched my truck. I would have done it myself, but it would have cost alot for the kit, so, in it went to Dodge.
I have had the truck back only for 1 day now, but I like the fact that it is in (near) the same place as my old 12v. Less tubing going to the transfer case dump point. So far, I have seen about the same drip rate after high speed runs. Just oil vapor condensing in the drop tube. I have not had a chance to try it wheeling yet, but can update then.
NO HASSLES from Dodge to do it, and they said it was covered under the 100k emissions? warranty. The service mgr did call the area rep to check, but NO PROBLEM, and it didn't cost me a cent. And I am definitely over the 36k mark.
DC suprisingly came thru on this one for me. If your dealer is balking, try another.
I don't like going in and having DC work on the truck, but this experience was EXCELLENT!!! Maybe DC is starting to get it together at SOME dealerships.
Hi hammersley
There are folks that operate their trucks at steep enough angles to dump oil by the gallon on the ground, they are pipeline welders and a whole lot of them are driving Dodges. They haven't found a way to flatten out those mountains yet so pipelines just have to follow the contour of the earth, and that poor old RIG welder has to stop his truck where the weld joint is weather he likes it or not, steep or not, ect. It's a very common problem in my little world. It's not unusual to have to lower a RIG down a mountain on the end of a cable with a dozer. JTMcC. , working in the mountains and enjoying it.
There are folks that operate their trucks at steep enough angles to dump oil by the gallon on the ground, they are pipeline welders and a whole lot of them are driving Dodges. They haven't found a way to flatten out those mountains yet so pipelines just have to follow the contour of the earth, and that poor old RIG welder has to stop his truck where the weld joint is weather he likes it or not, steep or not, ect. It's a very common problem in my little world. It's not unusual to have to lower a RIG down a mountain on the end of a cable with a dozer. JTMcC. , working in the mountains and enjoying it.
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