Ok....Looking for the masters opinion. I noticed that over the past 3 days occasionally my check gauges light would come on for a second then back off. When it would my oil pressure went to zero then back up to 40. Normally it is at 40 idle and into low 70-80 when driving. Still thought nothing of it and figured maybe oil guage on the way out. Now, prior all this I had posted that I heard some pinging at high revs. Not all the time, just intermitten. I did what was recommended and put hight octaine gas in and it seemed to alleviate the problem. Anyways I got home and figured I'd check the oil for craps and giggles. To my amazement she was bone dry. Nothing on the dipstick at all. I became frightened and thought holly *hit I almost seized the motor. I did have an oil change done at the local quick lube 2 months prior. I have only owned the truck for 4-5 months and it appeared to be in good mechanical condition so I don't know what is normal for it yet oil wise. I really don't think it is normal to burn oil that fast and at that rate. She has 83,000 miles and I do know the first mod I should be doing is the plenum from reading through the forum. She isn't leaking on the ground and no signs such as white smoke from exhaust such for burning oil. Do you guys think they quick lube mesed up possible with adding quanity of oil or you think it could be getting into the plenum and burning up that way. Since putting 3 quarts into her the oil guage has returned to 40 psi at idle and back up and down with various speeds. Also, it appears the pinging that was intermittent seemed to have disappear. Thanks in advance for any input!!!

 

Sounds like you have a blown plenum for sure. You need to get the hughes kit to fix it right.

Now for the local quick lube, i'm sure the oil they gave you was some cheap crap. My sister got her car oil changed there and after a few months it burned about .5 quarts of oil. It never used to burn oil before that. I personally have a hard time trusting those types of places.

 

Thanks,

I guess I'll just monitor the usage checking once a week.....

 

This is exactly why people should check there oil regularly. And why i do just about every time i drive my truck. And if not i check it every 2 days atleast....Just to keep check on things, Its just the way i am. Cause you never know...Things can happen...

 

You may want to try this along and high mileage oil until you can get the plenum checked/fixed.

http://www.restoreusa.com/Engine_Restorer.html

 

^ snake oil

 

Dont use restore....i did, and have since drained it out....Thanks to C. McKenna, he gave me detailed information about that and synthetic oils....Just dont use restore...

You should always check your oil. I check ALL my fluids every other day, and im talking diffs, and transfer case as well...From everything ive read on this forum, i now take every precaution.

 

I check my fluids at every fill up which seems like its daily. I was in the same boat as you. i just finished my plenum and did an oil change and man what a huge difference in power. I also picked up a few mpg too. Don't let the plenum intimidate ya. There is TONS of info on it here and a few DIY's. purple dodge is workin on one this week i think with pics and all kinds of goodies. Oh and thats why I also change my own oil. Who knows what those one stop shops use. Just scares me.

 

+1 Plenum is a pretty straight forward job....it was easy IMO....and yes i went from 9mpg's city, to 14 city....(i did more than the plenum though)and my oil psi, the needle is past the 0 in 40 when on the gas, and 45 idle now...before it was 40 consistantly....there are many benifits to fixing the plenum....also if you have the deathflash, you are going to need a tuner to get rid of it, or it will be powerless

 

Thanks everyone for your imput. I'm handy but honestly the plenum change intimidates me....perhaps cause at best I do plugs, wires, air filter etc. I'm more afraid of messing that stuff up. Anyone know about how long it takes to do if I were to go to a shop?(labor wise)