Bad Dodge engine

cee21 · Post by **cee21** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:09 am

My cousins buddy is putting a new 318 long block into his 99 dodge half ton, replacing the warn out one (my consin's place is where I am working on the B2). He bought the truck with 60k on it and it was up to 150k when he was doing the swap and has used Lucas oil additive ever since he owned it. Now here is the kicker, the bottom end was clean as a whistle, the top end however was gummed up with a lot of sludge. It was all over the valve train and the entire area under the intake. So either it was the lucas, or the person before used some really cheap oil, or the fact that it is a Dodge. What are your alls take on this? To me, with the way motors are made now, a 99 having the motor needing replaced is a little early. I say that based on the fact of several people I now that have 90's vehicles are up to 200k before it even starts to leak oil or loose power.

MalcolmV8 · Post by **MalcolmV8** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:37 pm

Why add lucas additive to every oil change since he owned it? Seems to me if additives where needed in your oil the manufacture would have put them in.
My 4.0 v6 got pulled with 160k miles and had nothing but frequent oil changes, every 3k miles. Motor looked as good as new inside.

cgrey8 · Post by **cgrey8** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:06 pm

You changed your oil that frequently? I changed mine about every 8-10kmiles using synthetic and got 267kmiles out of my 2.9L. I think the last oil in the V6 wound up going about 15kmiles. I knew it was getting a new motor and didn't care what happened to the V6.

However it's only fair to add that the old V6 puked oil from about every orifice. It started from the day I got it, the valve covers leaked a tiny amount of oil onto the exhaust manifolds. I'd tighten them down, and that helped. But they still leaked. In never bothered to fix it since at the time, I was in college, and money in college wasn't exactly flowing. So, eventually I just got used to it. Then came the power steering pump leaks. Oil leaks around the O-ring in the remote oil filter adapter that fit against the motor. Then the oil pan leaks. For the last few years of the V6, an oil change probably included an additional 2 quarts from topping it off every few weeks. In all that, I never had to dig into the motor so I have no clue what it looked like inside. Fortunately, I never had to find out. And now with the Explorer motor, I think I've gotten the truck finally leak-free. There's a tiny leak around the oil pan bolt because I can see it stays wet, but I rarely if ever see a drop from it. Whenever it's time for the oil change again, I'll take care of that one too.

But I agree with you Malcolm, if the oil guys thought it needed an additive, they would've put it in there. Every single article I read that talks about engine oil additives says flat-out to NEVER use them. In fact, the only additive I've ever heard of that must be added to an oil is friction modifier for rearends that have limited slip clutches.

MalcolmV8 · Post by **MalcolmV8** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:23 pm

cgrey8 wrote:You changed your oil that frequently?

I did and still do. I sent samples of my oil to blackstone-labs.com for analysis after 3k and then again at 5k and my oil was almost done for at 5k. Driving conditions, air filter, engine condition etc. all affect how long the oil will last. Analysis showed that I needed to change at 3k, same thing with the v8. Just a scam? dunno. They provide pretty detailed reports with more information than I know what to do with. Luckily they write you a summary at the end in plain english.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:34 pm

Engines are funny. A guy at work has over 300,000 miles on his 318 in his late model Dodge Ram, body sure shows it. The 4.0L in my Ranger died this Spring with only 68,000 well cared for miles. Auto, 4x4 and never beaten. Another guy at work had the same 2000 combo in his Ranger let go at 72,000. A friend of mine has over 200,000 in his 4.0 4x4 with no problems.
Dave

cgrey8 · Post by **cgrey8** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:14 pm

I sort of sense a theme. It seems taking care of a vehicle can be bad for them.

MalcolmV8 · Post by **MalcolmV8** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:07 pm

lol no I disagree. Keep up maintenance and it will treat you well as long as you didn't get a factory dud.

cjcnomor4 · Post by **cjcnomor4** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:15 pm

I'm going to roll over 250,000 by thanksgiving. routine oil changes never more than 3k miles apart, motorcraft oil and filters. havent had so much as a leak yet. on the other hand, I got a 2007 Navigator L 5.4 3v with 516 miles on the clock running rough with a check engine light. it broke 7 out of 8 intake valve rocker arms on the right head. heres your factory dud.

MalcolmV8 · Post by **MalcolmV8** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:41 pm

Wow that's a dud for sure. I'm not even sure the new owner could have done that if they tried.