Thanks for all the replies. I expect the engine to be in on Monday of next week so hopefully my mechanic can get it installed relatively quick. He's supposed to start getting the old one ready to pull out tomorrow so hopefully by the time it gets here he can go ahead and install it.

I'm looking forward to getting my ram back on the road. It's been out of commission for almost a year now so I can't wait to start driving it again.

 

Just remember, stick to regular 5W-20 oil changes. A quality synthetic is worth the price.

 

Definitely will be doing regular oil changes with the proper oil. Very good advice for us people who typically just put gas in one and go. Too bad I had to learn the hard way, but hopefully others will learn from reading this.

So in case you don't know what infrequent oil changes and the improper oil will do to your vehicle I've found the answer for you. A dead engine and a lot of money in the near future.

No Joke! All of the sludge that was built up around the valves and stuff looked like someone had stomped on a bunch of wall nut hulls, then removed the valve covers and poured them in. It was so bad and looked so much like dried wall nut hulls that if I didn't know my mechanic we ll and trust him I would have been looking around his yard for a walnut tree.

 

Any pics???

 

lol did you buy that 12k miles motor from the bay I was eyeing? just messin.

If someone were to "tune out" the MDS feature, couldn't they, in theory, use a heavier oil?

 

@ Jgibbs - just curious as to where you are located?

 

Uh, unless something has changed, the engine will have no warranty. Mopar is not going to warranty an engine in YOUR truck that was pulled out of someone elses truck. Their would be no way to verify the mileage. The exception being (maybe) if a dealer did all the work including pulling the old engine. I went through this myself with a buddy who was selling his less then 10k mile engine out of his 2009 Camaro to a freind (because he was throwing in a race engine) and figured the warranty would carry over. GM said no way.

Do you have something in writing from Dodge saying they will warranty it?

 

Why in the world would you even want to do that? Dodge gives a great warranty on their engines because they know they designed it well. If using 5W20 oil was somehow bad for the engine, they would not spec it. Heavier oil is not needed. No matter where you live. 20+ years ago with less tight tolerances and older designs, a heavier grade of oil in hotter climates was a almost a must. But they have come a long way. Modern engines no longer need that. And with gas getting ready to hit almost $5.00 a gallon this summer, the idea of turning off the biggest fuel saving feature on the Ram so you can run heavier oil for no reason at all seems silly to me.

It's just as bizzare as people who think the car companies are wrong in allowing longer intervals between oil changes. For a company to honor a warranty, they will lose money. And as we all know, companies cut every corner they can to save a buck. So if going 5k miles instead of 3k miles between oil changes would hurt your car under normal use, they would never tell you to do it.

 

On the topic of oil changes, just be sure to use a quality filter.... Don't buy Fram. I use a Mopar filter on my 2nd Gen, when it's time for an oil change I'm gonna take apart the filter and see how they hold up....

 

I'm mainly just trying to gather info for a Hemi swap with the stock PCM in my Dakota. I will not be able to use MDS features. Vin 2 motors are cheaper, newer, have less miles, and are easier to come by than the Vin D motors. Just exploring options and possibilities.

In my area though, I will be surprised if it makes it to $4 for mid-grade.