I'm completely stumped here, so I changed my oil about 2500miles ago. I had some intermittent oil pressure issues with the check gauges light coming on about a week ago, I had also noticed about two weeks ago my lifters started making noise they didn't used to. So today I got around to checking the oil after doing the check valve delete on the trans line, and dip stick was dry. So worried about how low it is I have my buddy drive me to the parts store where I bought three quarts of 10w-30, the first two quarts didn't even touch the dip stick the third got it back up to max. So my question is where did it go. It doesn't smoke blue and absolutely no leaks anywhere. My plenum hasn't been changed yet and there is oil on the inside of the intake but would it really use that much?? Thanks for the help ahead of time and sorry for the text wall just trying to be descriptive.
-Joe

 

Plenum is the first thing I would suspect. Also, with that much oil loss, I would be concerned with cat as well.

I just changed plenum on mine. Found it on eBay for $50.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DODGE...item3cbbbb4da4

 

Not to worried about the cat i'm probably doing the non fouler trick on that soon after I fix the plenum, the plenum is on my list of to does others were taking precedent though. If however it does cause this kind of oil usage it's gonna move right to the top.

 

The best price I found was eBay. Been looking for about a month. Bought last Friday and got it in Tuesday. Can't complain about shipping tiime or price. This included plenmum bolts as well.

You know the non fouler trick will only prevent a code if you remove cat?

 

Yes i'm planning on gutting it.

 

If the cat gets ruined, the non-fouler trick won't save you. A clogged cat won't allow you to get very high in the RPMs and usually won't let you get above 30 MPH.

All the non fouler trick does is eliminate the trouble code when you hollow out the cat.

All that oil burning will also ruin the pre-cat oxygen sensor that helps the computer control the air/fuel ratio. Don't non-fouler that one, and replace it after you fix the plenum. It won't pop a code sometimes when they are sloppy. Denso or NGK/NTK brands are the way to go for that one, best price can be found at Rock Auto usually. Don't go with Bosch or Standard brand sensors.

 

Alright just so there is no confusion i'm aware of the cat and o2 sensor I read up on the plenum fix. It's getting a new pre o2, gutted cat and, non fouler on rear sensor. What I was wondering is will this really use that much oil being bad. I mean three quarts is kinda alot. And if it is this doing it I need to fix it much sooner than I thought.

 

Did you screw the drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan in all the way? That's all I can think of

 

First thing I checked lol, my buddy has a ford pickup and was saying that they are set up similar to ours with a "lifter valley" does that mean the oil is just out there? Can anyone explain how that works lol. I'm still learning right now going to school for this stuff but still learning.

 

On ours, the plenum is huge, and sealed at the bottom with a steel plate. (and a cheap gasket....) Over time, the gasket blows out, and you develop a vacuum leak, that lets the engine suck oil right out of the lifter valley, and burn it off in the engine. It generally doesn't give the telltale blue smoke... just, horrendous oil consumption, and plugs that foul quickly. (along with a clogged cat converter, and a toasted front O2 sensor.) Its a problem that EVERY 2nd gen ram has, unless you have the diesel, or v-10.