97 Ram 1500 burning Oil??

[mpeters4]

I'm having a problem with my 97 Ram 1500 that I could use some help with. It's a 1997 with only 40,000 miles on the magnum V8 and I'm burning some major oil, or atleast I'm loosing it somewhere. I'm running through a couple of quarts a month although I'm not leaking it in the driveway, I'm not seeing out the exhaust because heaven knows I would be dropping a James bond type smoke screen if I was straight burning that much oil. Does anyone have any idea what I can look at to fix this problem. The engine runs well, no major problems other than if I don't keep an eye on it I'll run it out of oil. Help!!!

[BleedDodge]

On my truck it leaks out of the front seal and drops and puddles on the frame, and then it probably runs off when the truck is going down the road...

Your oil must be going somewhere. What does your air cleaner look like, is it dirty or oily at all?

[jambricle]

I had the same problem with my 98 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4... turned out to be addressed in TSB 09-05-00. Here's the Symptom\Description:

"An engine intake manifold plenum pan gasket oil leak may occur on some V-6 and V-8 style engines. The oil leak is internal to the engine so no external oil leakage will be present. Two symptoms of this oil leak condition may be present. The vehicle operator may experience an engine spark knock during acceleration and/or an increase in the amount of engine oil consumed by the engine."

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm

The dealer charged me $150 to fix it in Jan. '04.

Good luck.

[indyram]

I would recommend replacing the PCV valve. It will cost $2-3 and is a 5 second fix. That is what was wrong with mine, same syptoms.

[BleedDodge]

My truck burns oil when I'm doing a brakestand and my friends pour oil on the tires...

[TurboSW]

What does the PCV valve do?

[seniorbigs]

jambrickle has it correct. common problem

[BleedDodge]

I bought a new PCV valve this spring, I can't even remember how much it cost, but it wasn't much. On my truck, you open the hood and it's on the left side, or passenger side valve cover. It's an "L" shaped piece and it takes about 10 second maximum to change. I stopped getting oil in my air filter after I changed that...

[TurboSW]

Here the answer to my PCV question,

Definition: The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is an emissions control device that routes unburned crankcase blowby gases back into the intake manifold where they can be reburned.

The PCV system is one of the oldest emission control devices, and also one of the most beneficial. Besides totally eliminating crankcase emissions as a source of air pollution, the constant recirculation of air through the crankcase helps remove moisture which otherwise would cause sludge to form. Thus the PCV valve extends the life of the oil and engine. The PCV valve requires little maintenance. The valve and filter should be replaced somewhere around 30,000 to 50,000 miles (see the vehicle owners manual for service intervals).


To bad I didn't know about it should be changed every 30-50K. I now have 180K and never changed it.