Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) part identification?

[JGuyton]

hey all, was greasing the front end yesterday and noticed something leaking that was gunking up the front end pretty bad... after some investigation, its coming from this black reservoir/overflow bottle (?) (8oz. ) with a literal screw-on top and rubber hose coming out of the top of it. When i took it off it had green coolant in it and some spongey/heavy cloth material in it as well.



Anyone have any insight as to what this bottle is and what the other other end of the hose is going to? Its on an 01, but it definitely wasn't on my 94.



thanks for the insight,

james guyton

 

[Thomas]

See if you spot it on this page: http://dodgeram.org/tech/new00/new_for_00.htm

 

[georgej]

That little plastic bottle is to catch the oil that drips from the crankcase vent. It should be removed and cleaned when changing the oil but a lot of us only do so every 2nd or 3rd time. The greenish liquid could be antifreeze and it might be a good idea to have the oil checked at a lab for contamination. Sometimes when washing the engine or radiator the cleaner will get in the bottle too!



George

 

[JGuyton]

See if you spot it on this page: http://dodgeram.org/tech/new00/new_for_00.htm

yeah! thats exactly what it is... . third pic down, first pic under the diesel heading. . so its a crankcase breather vapor canister... keeps from spotting up the driveway... looks like the one end of the hose just goes down into the top of the canister and the other end is held on with with a hose clamp... mine is missing the hose clamp, which could be causing some of the mess. thanks for insight, i appreciate the help!

james guyton

 

[JGuyton]

That little plastic bottle is to catch the oil that drips from the crankcase vent. It should be removed and cleaned when changing the oil but a lot of us only do so every 2nd or 3rd time. The greenish liquid could be antifreeze and it might be a good idea to have the oil checked at a lab for contamination. Sometimes when washing the engine or radiator the cleaner will get in the bottle too!



George

thanks George, i have been doing some cleaning under the hood and the de-greaser does have a green tint to it... thats probably it... good call. thanks, james

 

[JFlagg]

I read somewhere alot of guys just ziptie a sock around the canister to cut down on oil getting everywhere, though, if I am going to take the time to use a sock, I might as well empty it. Though, I have a gravel driveway, should probably just remove it and run a long hose down underneath somewhere... EPA might not like it though.

 

[Batphreak]

I read somewhere alot of guys just ziptie a sock around the canister to cut down on oil getting everywhere, though, if I am going to take the time to use a sock, I might as well empty it. Though, I have a gravel driveway, should probably just remove it and run a long hose down underneath somewhere... EPA might not like it though.

The EPA doesn't care about any single spill less than 1 gallon.

 

[WestTN]

Unfirtunately, that bottle sprays oil residue into the radiator and then dirt and bugs clog the fins. Move the drain hose and remove the radiator for a good cleaning.