How is everyone doing on this issue? I just experienced it for the first time, scared me a little until I started to find some info on these forums. My plan is to closely monitor the coolant level for a few days. One dealer told me that it was condensation, one said that they wanted to check it out. Price to fix in South Carolina was $640 at the dealer.

 

This is a common issue with the 4.7. If you aren't loosing coolant/watter then it is just some condensation. There is an updated filler cap which can help. The biggest problem is with a PVC valve, when making short trips and not getting the truck up to operating tempature it forms a condensation inside the pvc valve and connected tubes. You can insulate the valve and tubes which is known to help. I'm sure you have some sludge built up inside your engine from this as well (another common problem)

To start I would do this:

Get a good engine flush, clean the filler tube/cap well and flush the engine.
I would replace the oil with a Synthetic oil (does not break down and sludge up like regular oil).
Mobile 1 & Amsoil are the most popular synthetic oils around here.

Good luck with your D!
James

 

Thanks for the advice. I will get a flush and start running the synthetic. I drove 30 minutes today, no coolant loss, no milkshake in the filler. Scared the crap out of me the other day when I saw this, only 70K miles and worried about huge engine problems.

 

I had the same problem, it looks like I will be headed to the dealer on monday to get a 10.00 oil cap.

 

I have a 2000 Dakota 4.7 with 85000 miles 200 under the warranty but a month over and I noticed that I also have this milky color and that I have added coolant twice since I bought the truck,I complained to dealer about it and he added some leak tablets the first timeand then the second time he added the green leak sealer,since then my friend told me to check the cap and I seen it all in there along with a puddle of water in the filler neck,maybe he's been trying to hide something? how do I determine if it's the head gasket ot intake gaskets as I have heard it could be either,I am scheduled for my first oil change since purchasing the truck so I'll see if he's willing to honor the repairs first?

 

NO NO NO

No flush.

I'll bet you $1000 9 out of 10 of you have 4.7L motors too.

Here is what you have: You have air, moisture and oil mixing at the PVC and Oil Cap. Commonly mistaken for the dreaded SLUDGE! But, it isn't. There is a TSB to add a baffle under the valve cover and the problem is gone.

This problem is covered by:

Service Bulletin Number: 090100A

CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF AN OIL EMULSION ACCUMULATION INSIDE THE ENGINE OIL FILL HOUSING (SLUDGE)

Need to install the following 2 parts
53032126AA Baffle, Oil Fill Housing
53032389AC Cap, Oil Fill Housing (note, the superseeded part ends in AD)

I'd recommend replacing the PCValve because it'll be all messed up as well, but that won't be a warranty item.

HTH,

IndyDurango <--- Feel free to PayPal me 10% of the money savings and headaches saved from trashing your motors or something else with exotic fixes and flushes.

 

ok indydurango, so I must be the 1 because how do you explain why in less than 3000 miles I have filled my coolant tank twice with almost a gallon of antifreeze ,it's going somewhere?maybe it all has something to do with the 8.5 mpgI get out of my truck as I read som many get upwards of 12 on average?

 

UnclePudge,

You obviously have a different issue. Those above are the typical 'do I sludge' fear crowd when it is really the standard issue/fix per the TSB.

Yes, if you are loosing fluid, you have issues. Under warranty the dealer used a leak tab and pour in sealant to try to fix the problem? And you allowed that as the official fix? You have go to be kidding me. That is a back yard approach that I would have never allowed on my vehicle... by anyone. I'd recommend going back and insisting on the correct repair that should have been done under warranty now that you are out of warranty.

IndyD

 

Just got truck back from garage turns out he found a leak on the thermostat housing so hopefully this clears up the problem of the leaking he said he flushed everything out and put a new stat in ,I cleaned up the filler neck and am going to look into the tsb on the milky issue, does anyone know how to determine if the valve cover has been upgraded as well as the cap I have no paperwork from prev. owner,thanks again guys.

 

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does anyone know how to determine if the valve cover has been upgraded as well as the cap I have no paperwork from prev. owner,thanks again guys.

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I am in the same boat, Service Advisor tells me that this is not a Recall which is either a corporate matter, or maybe enhanced with prodding from the NHTSA, or DOT. A TSB is more of a quick reference troubleshooting guide, basically if the vehicle comes into a shop with certain conditions, that the conditions, are usually caused by matters relating to the TSB. I have no original paperwork either, so I am going with the most likely condition of the condensation, and will adress in about 4-5 hundred miles at the next oil change. I noticed a slight milky residue in the cap but oil comes up clean, and no loss of coolant or associated messages and coolant temp rise. I went in with the TSB number, should I just get the new oil cap and or clean off the valve cover and make sure the baffle is installed along with a new cap? I am not trying to screw a dealer, but I want to make sure that I am not getting the run around. Obviously I will monitor and see if something comes up but as of now seems clean. I guess I will find out at the next oil change to make sure one of the residue.

On a side note, I had a 86 EXP once (you remember them dont you?) had a little condensation in the oil, I performed the oil changetwice, during a cross country. It took two oil changes but got rid of the condensation, and no further issues till almost a year later, when the head gasket did crack again away from home, broke, but I got it. This could be a matter of doing a dual oil change but should remove most if not all. It might evaporate once the weather warms up.