The dealer is copping out!

First of all, the "synthetic" oil thing is an excuse, using synthetic oil NEVER causes a leak, it EXPOSES existing leaks by virtue of it's smaller individual molecules. With NO signs of leakage, this isn't the issue anyway.

Secondly, EVERY time I've seen or heard of a 5.2 or 5.9 using oil with no visible leaks underneath it has been the plenum gasket.

Thirdly, I personally know of two guys had it diagnosed within the past two weeks locally to me. One in an '02 1500 and the other in an '03 2500. So the mechanic is full of sh*t about it being only in "older" motors!!!

 

i have synthetic in mine now and went to check oil at 3K and it just touched the tip of stick.. so maybe mines bad too.... n e ways whats the reasoning for using 10w 30 over 5w10... ive always gotten 5 bc thats what the manuals says for 5.9L

 

Used to be, back in the day, you went thicker as an engine got older. Used to be thought of for EXTRA protection, but in reality, a thinner oil flows better and offers better protection, assuming it holds its properties. In reality, it was so that the thicker oil would not seap past wearing seals and rings. Kept the oil in the engine where it was supposed to be. I had a few vehicles that called for 10w-40 that I routinely started using 20w-50 in as they got up in age.

THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE!

Tolerances today are a LOT tighter than they were 20-30 years ago. Use what the manufacturer calls for, in almost EVERY case.

My book calls for 5w-30 and I have gone the other way to 5w-20, for two reasons. One, I have a 180* thermostat and want better flow of the oil at 15* cooler than stock. Two, contrary to popular opinion, 5w-20 was NOT an MDS thing. They started calling for 5w-20 in the 05s, which is identical to my 04 Hemi.
I also only use TRUE synthetic oil, which holds its properties better than dino oil. If I was using conventional oil, I would have not made the change to 5w-20...

 

I took off my air intake and looked down into the engine and DID NOT see any oil down there. I thought thats where oil would pool if your plenem gasket was bad.

As far as oil, I thought the only difference between 5w30 and 10w30 was at cold temps. My manual says 5w30 for colder weather and 10w30 warmer. I thought I would get better protection in the sub zero weather with the 5w30. Although it said 10w30 is prefered. Maybe I should stick with the 10w30.

 

oil doesnt have to be "pooled" in there for the plenum to be bad.

 

Can you tell me more about this kit?

 

11 years after fact...

 

Check the "End All, Be All Plenum thread" in the 2nd gen Ram section. It's stickied at the top of that forum. Tell you all sorts of interesting stuff.