Bought my 04 Dakota in September 2012 and did an oil change with standard 5W-30 & a Fram filter. Noticed a very slow leak develop that I didn't have before this. Cleaned everything up so I could start finding the source of the leak. Turns out the front main oil seal (crankshaft) was leaking. I tried some AT-205 sealer that was supposed to be awesome...Didn't work. I replaced the seal being very careful not to scratch the housing. I felt a little nick/gouge from what could be a boner using a screw driver on a prior seal replacement. Then I noticed what looked to be anti-freeze or real watery oil dripping from the cross member where the oil previously dangled before it dropped. I checked the dip stick for foaming (none), found a little yellow pudding under the oil cap but no loss of coolant. Good news...I dodged the head-gasket bullet. I did some research and decided to go synthetic and did another oil change yesterday (It's only been 600 miles). I went with Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30 and a Mopar filter. I drove the truck around town avoiding stop & go areas and brought the oil up to temp. Came home, checked for leaks and everything looked good but I noticed what I hoped to be some cook off from a grimy block.

This morning I checked under the truck and hanging off the cross member was a drip ready to fall. I wiped it ever so gingerly to see if it was watery oil or oil. What happened next? It was a little frozen, watered down oil drip.

- Could it just be oil grim from the previous leak cooking off the block and mixing with condensation due to the 30 degree temp?
- Could it be the AT-205 sealer separating from the oil and leaking through the seal?
- Why is there a trace of regular looking water in my VERY slow oil drip(It's slower than before the seal replacement)?

BTW I believe my yellow pudding is a result of the cold weather and short 2 mile drive to work. I'm glad to report that switching to full synthetic has eliminated that, plus it's supposed to be easier on the engine during start up...Let's not get into that though!

 

well short trips like that arent good. The truck gets a little chance to heat up then it cools back down. Are you sure that as your driving your not picking up some water that collecting on the engine/body. I would give the engine a real good cleaning with degreaser then park it on a flat level surface and try to trace where its coming from

 

Take it from me. you do not want to make abunch of small trips like that without it warming up. Since 2002 my grandfather used my Dakota for trips around town, to the coffee shop, and to the church. It only got warmed up good a few times. In 2012 he passed away and left the truck to me. Well there was so much sludge buildup in the oil pan that the pump would suck up the sludge and no oil would get to the system. You do not want to have to remove the oil pan it's a PITA. $102 dollars later It's fixed. That included some other parts too. Also don't switch between conventional and synthetic oil a lot and don't use cheap off brand oil either because it will help sludge build up. I hope you have learned from my experience.

 

No traces of watery oil this morning.
I drove around yesterday taking low traffic routes that had few stops. The gauges indicated normal operating temperature and oil pressure. I did notice dried washer fluid puke near the cap...Maybe that's been part of the issue. I love when you fix one thing (Front oil seal) only to find another. For as much as I drove yesterday I should have seen more oily drip evidence. I think I just might have cooked off the residual grim. I did degrease everything to pin point the original leak but didn't degrease after the seal replacement.

The roads for the most part have been dry but that doesn't mean I haven't picked up snow or water recently. I've been driving without the bottom shroud so I could keep an eye on the leak. That could definitely have allowed water up in there mixing with the oil residue...Good thinking!

How does one test for this? When I drained the oil after purchase and the other day it was nice clean oil...No foam or signs of sludge. This leads me to believe I don't have any internal build up.

I plan on staying with full synthetic for reasons I agree with...But I don't want to turn this into another "Which oil should I use?" thread. Thanks for the advice!

 

Next oil change, after you drain the oil, take some rear bolts out and loosen forward ones enough to get your hand in there enough to feel the oil. It will feel lumpy.

 

Thanks.

 

synthetic will clean up the sludge. your oil will get black fast until it does.

 

Good to know...My 600 mile change produced some good looking oil.