If you like your truck, and it's been otherwise good to you, I don't see any reason to get rid of it yet. I mean, a 10K swap on a new truck is still 10K This problem can be fixed for much less than that...hell even if you seize the motor & need a new one!

Does anyone know if FOR SURE the tranny needs to be dropped to access the pan bolts? The books for my old Gen 2 Ram said the motor had to be raised to access two of the pan bolts, but when I got to it, this DID NOT have to be done. I'm wondering if, with the right tools and some small hands, the pan can be dropped. I don't own a 4.7, so I'm not sure.

 

Sounds about right. The engine really needs to be pulled and hot tanked to get all of the sludge out.
Or trade it in while they are giving away the 08's. I love mine.

 

Well,

I guess it really depends on how bad you wanta new truck payment.

I cleaned up a 93 dodge dakota extended cab 4wd with 5.2 (318). Always ran dino oil in it. I got it at 80K miles, started the cleaning process over 6 mos.

I drove it until 208K miles without a problem.

This being said, this was slowly removed over timenot all at once.

Personally, I'd try cleaning it up.

Here's something you can do to help you make the decision
Pull the valve covers and check out if the heads are loaded or not. If they look pretty good-keep it and clean it-id their loaded with crudwell, its your decision.

Did you get the oil pressure checked?????

Don't forget to buy new gaskets before you pull the covers,
make sure the cover flanges are real clean, wiped completely free of oil (brake cleaner) and the same with the mating surface on the heads. Then DON'T OVER TIGHTEN THEM, just until they snug up plus just a little more.

Good Luck!!!!

Feel free to PM me if you need.

 

i got the guage but i need help hooking it up. and sure a new truck would be nice...but who wants payments especially when this one is paid off? i just didnt know if it would be worth it or not to keep this truck

 

Not sure on how to get your gauge hooked up, I imagine it would thread right where the sensor went.

In the end, it might be worth spending the 40-80 bucks on an oil pump and having a standard shop drop your pan & replace it. I'd think that it could be less than a 2 hours job? maybe? COuld probably get it all done for less than 400?

 

i checked at work what it would be for the whole job and it was like $583 or something like that.

 

That's cheaper than a new truck. Replace the PCV valve too. Sometimes they don't function correctly and do not properly vent the crankcase. They are under $10 usually.

 

trust me, id like to get this baby fixed. its not like ive lost hope...yet. its just sometimes everything sounds like its going to be alright, and the next i have people telling me theres not a whole lot you can do. and my best bet would be to sell it. i mean..i dont even know if a new oil pump would fix this. if i was guaranteed that getting to the oil filter and replacing it would cure my problems....i probally would just park it in the driveway until i save up the money to pay for it.

 

Pull the valve covers.

It'll tell you a lot about the overall condition in the engine. On the other handwith a new 08, you could opt for the hemi.-just a thought.

Is it carrying normal oil pressure now?

It would still be good to verify if there is any electronics problembut my gut is that the sensors are OK.

 

if i got a new truck. theres no questions asked. if it wasnt a diesel, it would be a hemi and definatly a 4x4 along with a quadcab.

on the other hand, ill pull the valve covers this weekend. but as ive driven it today to work and back. there has been 0 oil pressure. it hasnt even fluctuated like it did before. im gonna check the valve covers and what not and hook up the guage this weekend. hopefully it'll be able to tell me some stuff