Hello, everyone what a great site you have here.
I am new to the site and a new 1+ year dodge owner. My question is I have a 04 ram 2500 quad cab 4x4 with the 5.7. runs super but smokes blue smoke when the engine is on a load. no smoke at startup or normal driving, but when a trailer is attached small or large it starts to smoke blue from the tailpipe in large amounts. Once the trailer is removed and severl miles are put on it returns too normal. I have changed the PCV and changed different brands of oil with no help. I have read several posts about valve seals and guides and even rings. how can I determine which it is. the truck has 117,000 miles on it. I keep thinking if its a ring problem it would smoke all the time. I keep thinking it is sucking oil from somewhere is this possible? Any help would be great!!
Thanks

 

Welcome to the site. As you know, you are burning oil. Either way though, rings or seals, you gotta break the engine down.

 

Yes I totally agree but I would like to figure out which it is if I can. It would be the differance in pulling the heads off vs. pulling the engine.

 

Not sure how to tell the difference. Might just rebuild the heads first and see what you get. If it's the block you're going to do the heads too so I would start with the heads and go from there.

 

i would think a simple compression test would tell you if your rings are holding up

 

Yes, it would, but a leak down test would prove invaluable IMO. While the compression test WILL tell you if your rings are bad, a leakdown will tell you if you have worn valve guides as well.

Ripper

 

Does either really make a difference? I mean I understand its nice to know but what does it change? Youre stilling going to buy a short/long block or rebuild everything. Unless youre to just try to put new rings in?

 

Sounds like rings to me. Oil blowing past the rings under heavy load. Valve guides usally will smoke on start up after it sits. Like Weed said though, sounds like its time for and complete rebuild.

 

Ok makes sense. Thanks for all the input, it really helps when you don't know which direction to go. I will keep ya posted on what I do.

Will the oil pand drop with the motor still in? or just eaiser to pull the whole engine?

Thanks again

 

Eaiser to pull the motor. Get it on a stand, much eaiser to work on. You may find it eaiser and cheaper to search for a low mileage one from a wreck. Check crate motor priving as well.