New Truck, Disappointing So Far

[GBoatright]

I know this is my first post, so I hate to make it sound negative. I bought a new 2005 CTD with the G56 transmission in March. I now have 3000 miles on it but I've had an oil leak since the day I've owned it. I was initially told the oil was excess blowby from the vent tube, so I gave it awhile before I took it to the dealer. My garage spot was beginning to get very messy so I finally took it in for service, and sure enough they told me it was normal blowby. Not being satisfied, I added a length of tubing on the blowby tube to get it away from my bellhousing and took the truck back the very next day and showed the service manager that the oil accumulation was not blowby. He agreed and the next week he replaced the rocker cover seal. It still leaked the next day so the next week he replaced the rocker cover bedplate. It still leaked the next day so here on week#4 I have taken it in and they say the head is warped and it's on national backorder with no expected date in site.



I know the CTD has a great reputation, but this is my first one. I've had 3 Ford diesels before this, with the last one being a 6. 0 with 75000 miles that I finally had to dump to get rid of some problems. I love the towing and driveability of the CTD so far, but having to take it to the shop for 4 straight weeks is a major bummer. To think I was worried about the G56 makes me laugh now, not knowing the real burden was going to be the motor.



I'm sure once this head issue is fixed, all will be fine. I would like some advice on how to proceed with Dodge to get this backorder fixed as soon as possible. How do you get to the top of the list?

 

[Tim]

How do you get to the top of the list?

Good luck.

 

[jackcaptjr]

I would question your delear. Not herd of head problems with oil leaks in the past.

The CTD is your strong suit... ... ..... the rest of the truck is the weak link.

Good luck and keep us posted. I'm a GM guy who loves the CTD and tolerates the Dodge and will buy another as long as the CTD is under the hood.

 

[GBoatright]

I would question your delear. Not herd of head problems with oil leaks in the past.





I think the CTD is the strong suit for Dodge also, but why are the heads on national backorder? The dealer has replaced everything but the heads to try to stop the leak where the heads meet the rocker cover at the back of the motor. We can see where the oil is coming out, just can't get it to stop. The head replacement is the last resort and of course, the most disappointing action needed to be taken.

 

[NDanecker]

Something doesn't sound right here. I can't imagine a head warping where the valve cover gasket can't seal right. Or am I not understanding this correctly?



And if the head is that warped won't it effect how it seats on the block and cause OTHER issues, like compression loss, anti-freeze leaks into oil, etc.



I had a similar leak from day one. Turned out to the a faulty gasket on the oil filler cap. Oil ran down the cover along block and made it seem like the main rear seal was bad (dripped by bell housing).



I'd take it to another dealer or do some homework yourself before they start ripping into your engine for a valve cover oil leak.



Good Luck!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

It is much more likely that it is the o-ring in the block plate that seals the rear cam hole, or the rear main seal.

 

[MacHaggis]

Or, just tryin' to keep things simple, have you or the shop taken a good look at the rocker cover? I'd question real hard the head being warped enough to keep the seal from holding without there being other problems.

 

[JRagland]

My 2002 had multiple oil leaks from the first week until about 2 months later. First was finally found to be the cam cover on the drivers side of the upper block. Very difficult to see well enough to prove this is it. It seemed like a rear main seal or valve cover also, but wasn't. The second was the entire front engine cover gasket. after this I have had no problems. It was very worrisome for a while. I find it hard to believe thay can determine a warped head without taking off several vital parts, like the head.

 

[DGFoster]

I got 10,000 on mine and dry as a bone. .



Good luck,I would try another dealer.

 

[BHolm]

Crankcase blowby on a 2005? That system is no longer vented directly to the atmosphere like on older trucks. It is routed to the top of the valve cover and passed through a filter now. There should not be a source of oil from this system anymore. That would be my first clue that the dealership is the real problem. I seriously doubt that the head itself is warped. If it was why didn't they suggest removing the head and having it resurfaced and a new slightly thicker headgasket installed. Oh yeah, that's right, they don't use mechanics anymore, just parts changers



The only warped head is the service guy who is feeding you this bunk. I suggest a new dealer first, then start kicking and screaming to DC "customer service" to get your brand new, very expensive, truck fixed pronto. I keep saying this, and as much as I hate to, it works. You have to become a HUGE thorn in their side. Do not accept that it is broken and there is no fix in sight. My answer to that would be... so which new truck are you sending me home in as a replacement? You must force yourself to become nasty about this, for some that is unnatural, for me luckily, I can just switch it on :-laf

 

[rbattelle]

I agree with the others... get a second opinion. I'm not saying the dealer you're at now is no good, but it always pays to get a second opinion about something so serious.



-Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

It is routed to the top of the valve cover and passed through a filter now. There should not be a source of oil from this system anymore.

all the 3rd gen trucks have this system, and you still will get some dripping from the breather tube, but not very much... the filter element can only condense so much vapour and what it can't condense and dump back into the sump, will come out the tube

 

[GBoatright]

Thanks for the responses. The dealer has already changed the rocker cover seal, then he changed the rocker cover completely. They have my truck in the garage right now with the heads off awaiting the new head. I saw with my own eyes the leaking of oil where the rocker cover met the head, so since the rocker cover had already been replaced, the dealer was allowed to order the head. They said they had to follow a progression of fixes before they were allowed to order the head. With the truck apart, it's kinda hard to get a second opinion now. I did call Dodge customer service and they said they would do everything to expedite the head to the dealer. They are also paying for a rental in the meantime. I use my truck on a ranch to haul hay, tractors, and cattle, so a rental isn't that great, but it is a nice gesture.



If they change the head, won't that definitely stop the leak? It would really suck if I went thru all of this and the truck still leaked.

 

[rbattelle]

If they change the head, won't that definitely stop the leak? It would really suck if I went thru all of this and the truck still leaked.

It might stop the leak, if it's been correctly diagnosed. It certainly sounds like it's been correctly diagnosed.



Hopefully, the head is the real problem and not some weird casting imperfection in the block.



-Ryan

 

[JGK]

If a new head doesn't fix it... no... fix EVERYTHING, make them take it back under the lemon law and get a new truck.



-Jay

 

[rbattelle]

If a new head doesn't fix it... no... fix EVERYTHING, make them take it back under the lemon law and get a new truck.



-Jay

I was thinking this too. Most states say if 3 attempts to fix a specific problem fail, the lemon law may be applied. (It's 3 or 4 attempts, I think... I forget)



-Ryan

 

[GBoatright]

Of course I have slightly checked into the Texas Lemon Law, and it says 4 attempts. This is the 4th attempt if I count the first time I took it in and they said it was normal blow-by from the breather tube.

If it takes longer than next week to get the head in, I will definately make Dodge buy this truck back if it still leaks when I get it back. Right now, I'm pretty confident the truck won't leak after this head replacement, but I'm worried about the installment of the head and its components being done properly so I don't have issues down the road.

 

[rbattelle]

Installing a head is pretty easy in the sense that there's no cam up there and no gears or anything to align.



The hard part is the fuel system. The service manual states over and over in bold text that cleanliness cannot be overemphasized when working with any part of the fuel system (doubly so for components downstream of the filter).



Try to relax and have faith that it'll be done right.



-Ryan