The official engine failure thread.

[Joseph.Cobb]

I am currently dealing with what the dealership called a "catastrophic internal failure" of my 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel at 53,000 miles. They are currently tearing down the engine looking for the fail point, but the warranty plan is to install a completely new engine. I would really like to know how common this issue is.

 

[TCDiesel]

Please keep up updated, and post pic's if possible.

 

[Roc Doc]

I'm almost to 55k with no problems. Oil changes at the dealership every 10k and one fuel filter at 30k. There is a TSB involving an oil spec change, to Rotella T6 5w-40 full synthetic.

TSB # is 18-078-16.

http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_1807816a.pdf

 

[sag2]

It really isn't all that common, but has happened to a few trucks. As was mentioned there was a change to the oil specification for 2016 trucks but we are assuming it will be revised back to all MY trucks. I would switch oil now if I had one.

 

[TCDiesel]

Saga2 Its more frequent then any engines I've seen in decades, I consider OAs mandatory on the VM3.0. I had some owners send Me there results just last week, 2 I viewed had wear levels past 100ppm 1 2016 the other 2014, Its ongoing, the failures are 3 years into production, If they don't up the QC Fords new F-150 Diesel will have a nice open door to sell and grab a big part of the Market that Ram will never reclaim.... The 2017 ED is tie up with the EPA, I hope FCA use the time wisely to get the QC under control.

 

[TCDiesel]

The dropping of MS11106 will not stop QC production short comings.

 

[JJJ]

It really isn't all that common, but has happened to a few trucks. As was mentioned there was a change to the oil specification for 2016 trucks but we are assuming it will be revised back to all MY trucks. I would switch oil now if I had one.

The oil spec change applies to all year ecodiesels, The TSB (flash & free oil change) only applies to the 2016 so far.

 

[Roc Doc]

What is an "OA"?

 

[TCDiesel]

Oil Analysis....

On Edit this is why OAs IMO are necessary.

My coworker got oil anyalist done at 47k and he now has high iron numbers 115 parts.... PPM Parts Per Million.warning issued from detroit diesel of camsaft or crankshaft wear issues happening.
He is unsure how to move forward knowing there is high wear happening. He is the one that had his heads removed replaced when timing bolt slipped.
He is going to contact FCA about his findings.

If the next OA shows higher levels this 3.0 is going to puke its Rotating mass, The owner would have advance warning NOT to take this vehicle far form Home or Shop.

 

[sag2]

The dropping of MS11106 will not stop QC production short comings.

Todd, I don't believe that the lower end failures are actually a QC problem. The switch from the non-euro spec oil and a revised oil change algorithm for the 2016 trucks is a good clue that it may be more about the protection the lubrication system is providing. I think there might be some additional thoughts from people much smarter than me in issue 94 that should be released soon.

 

[sag2]

The oil spec change applies to all year ecodiesels, The TSB (flash & free oil change) only applies to the 2016 so far.

Officially the TSB only applies to 2016. Until (or if) a TSB is released for 2014-2015 trucks no one from FCA will tell you that it applies to all other trucks or Jeeps. But as I and even TDR admin have said before, if it were my truck I would use the revised oil regardless of model year. Not saying you’re wrong, just saying I don’t want to mislead people that FCA has endorsed the change to earlier trucks.

 

[JJJ]

Officially the TSB only applies to 2016. Until (or if) a TSB is released for 2014-2015 trucks no one from FCA will tell you that it applies to all other trucks or Jeeps. But as I and even TDR admin have said before, if it were my truck I would use the revised oil regardless of model year. Not saying you’re wrong, just saying I don’t want to mislead people that FCA has endorsed the change to earlier trucks.

I'm certainly not misleading anyone.

FCA has officially revised the oil spec in the diesel supplement for all year ecodiesels back in July of this year.

Quote from the 2014 Diesel Supplement:

"We recommend you use 5W-40 synthetic engine oil such
as MOPAR or Shell Rotella that meets FCA Material
Standard MS-10902 and the API CJ-4 or ACEA E9/E7 or
ACEA A3/B4 engine oil category is required."

The Mopar Tech Authority Application also reflects this revision.

Here's a screenshot:

 

[TCDiesel]

Todd, I don't believe that the lower end failures are actually a QC problem. The switch from the non-euro spec oil and a revised oil change algorithm for the 2016 trucks is a good clue that it may be more about the protection the lubrication system is providing. I think there might be some additional thoughts from people much smarter than me in issue 94 that should be released soon.

Saga2 the 3.0 is a hero or a puker.. mine is strong, Andrew has his with twin turbos and dyno RWHP 590+HP all on factory rotating mass with head studs, I think he may have finally put Banks Intake ,BC he was blowing up the OE plenum, with Napa Diesel label oil 15/40w. I've been using T-6 form 4K to 29K Miles present, No other explanation fits ,if it was parts 3 years into production FCA would be FUBAR.

 

[Roc Doc]

Oil Analysis....

On Edit this is why OAs IMO are necessary.

My coworker got oil anyalist done at 47k and he now has high iron numbers 115 parts.... PPM Parts Per Million.warning issued from detroit diesel of camsaft or crankshaft wear issues happening.
He is unsure how to move forward knowing there is high wear happening. He is the one that had his heads removed replaced when timing bolt slipped.
He is going to contact FCA about his findings.

If the next OA shows higher levels this 3.0 is going to puke its Rotating mass, The owner would have advance warning NOT to take this vehicle far form Home or Shop.

Roger that.

I have never done Blackstone, but I may start. I put 250k on my 7.3 PSD with only a waterpump and fan clutch, as far as engine repairs. Did 10k changes with either Delo or Rotella dino oil. I use my truck to travel every city in Arizona plus Southern Nevada to the tune of 900 miles a week, so it has to be reliable, and there are some real ****ty places to get stranded out here at certain times of the year.

 

[sag2]

I'm certainly not misleading anyone.

FCA has officially revised the oil spec in the diesel supplement for all year ecodiesels back in July of this year.

Quote from the 2014 Diesel Supplement:

"We recommend you use 5W-40 synthetic engine oil such
as MOPAR or Shell Rotella that meets FCA Material
Standard MS-10902 and the API CJ-4 or ACEA E9/E7 or
ACEA A3/B4 engine oil category is required."

The Mopar Tech Authority Application also reflects this revision.

Here's a screenshot:

View attachment 97150

I stand corrected. I just looked at TechConnect and the change was also made there. What hasn’t changed is the oil change interval, which they may do later with a flash like on the 2016.

 

[JJJ]

I stand corrected. I just looked at TechConnect and the change was also made there. What hasn’t changed is the oil change interval, which they may do later with a flash like on the 2016.

Yeah, I heard there will eventually be a flash available for all year ecodiesels.

What exactly changed with the oil change interval? Is it just a different algorithm for the EVIC notification?

I haven't heard anything official about changing the 10K, 1 yr., or EVIC notification.whichever comes first recommendation.

 

[aj73942]

went to my service dealer today with my other truck and the service manager there told me that they'd had their first ecodiesel engine replacement recently. I asked how many miles and he said 23,000. I asked if it was the bottom end and he replied that FCA told them not to touch it, but to pack it up and ship it to them. There's not much info on what's failing with the engine.

 

[4570]

Funny how on another truck site all they talk about is the cam gear coming loose and rotating enough to cause valves to hit the pistons and here its Lower ends .

 

[DonFitzwater]

Funny how on another truck site all they talk about is the cam gear coming loose and rotating enough to cause valves to hit the pistons and here its Lower ends .

As far as I'm concerned, any thread without some photos of a torn down engine OR an actual tech posting his findings after a tear down, is meaningless. Our local dealer has sold several and besides the government generated emissions BS there haven't been many problems.

The supposed cam gear slip has really only been talked about on the Ecodiesel forum from what I can find and the guy that had his hands in it has passed away.......he was affiliated with an aftermarket shop that is advertising "bulletproofing" of Ecodiesel so who knows if the problem is real yet or "manufactured".

Im waiting for pictures or video of multiple failures before I put too much stock into the rumors.

 

[JJJ]

As far as I'm concerned, any thread without some photos of a torn down engine OR an actual tech posting his findings after a tear down, is meaningless. Our local dealer has sold several and besides the government generated emissions BS there haven't been many problems.

The supposed cam gear slip has really only been talked about on the Ecodiesel forum from what I can find and the guy that had his hands in it has passed away.......he was affiliated with an aftermarket shop that is advertising "bulletproofing" of Ecodiesel so who knows if the problem is real yet or "manufactured".

Im waiting for pictures or video of multiple failures before I put too much stock into the rumors.

I agree the slipped cam gear is a rare occurrence, maybe two or three that I have heard of. On the other hand, the bottom end failures are way more than one would expect.