Hi, newbie with a couple questions after I test drove a 1997 2500 automatic w/115k miles. I've never owned or driven a diesel until I test drove this one last night.

1) Cruising around town I noticed when I let off the throttle it seems to act like an on/off switch. It does not stall or buck, but suddenly slows down with a "jerk" motion. If I let off the throttle in a more controled, slower fashion I can avoid this feeling. I did not notice anything else like surging or bucking and seems to accelerate smoothly. My big concern is something is wrong with the tranny but it seems to shift smoothly. Could this be a bad sensor? Also, midway through the test drive the Check Engine light came on. Owner said it was the first time he'd seen it???

2) Are the oil pan gaskets known to leak? I noticed the pan was all wet with oil. I tried to look above the pan to see if it was leaking higher but I didn't see anything obvious. The oil filter appeared to be dry. Owner showed me a tube he said is some sort of blow out for oil, but where it was located I can't imagine it blowing oil towards the oil pan as it was on the drivers side slightly behind the oil pan area. Are there any "typical" areas above the oil pan that would be causing this leak?

The owner is planning to have the Check Engine light checked this Saturday and I will hopefully be able to test drive it again and give a better visual inspection in the day light.

Thanks!!!

 

welcome to DF...

ask the owner if he's got an exhaust brake on it, that could be what your feeling when you let off the gas. the '97 is a 12v motor which is a good choice... I hear they are rock solid motors.

on the oil, not sure what to tell you there... i've never owned the older CTD trucks so I cant help...

how much is he asking for it?

 

Hi Steve,

Hmm, exhaust brake, I'll have to do some research on that one. He's asking $12k, Lariat w/shell. I would say 7.5/10 condition.

The way it felt made me initally feel the tranny was not unlocking or would not go into "coast" mode. But now I'm wondering if it was a throttle position sensor or something slamming shut the fuel, etc. The owner said he would get the codes checked, hopefully he won't just get it reset.

 

One thing I noticed right away when driving my Ram for the first time was that it doesn't really "wind down" when you take your foot off of the gas.

When you drive a regular gas car or truck and you let off of the gas, you can fell it stsrt to slow down. When you ake you foot off of the gas on a diesel it just coasts along. It doesn't wind down at all.

It took me a while to get used to it, but once you do driving a gas car wil feel weird again.

I'd say it's kinda normal to have an oily / dirty looking oil pan. There IS some sort of breather down there and yeah, oil DOES come out of it every once in a while. I wouldn't say "leak" but from time to time you'll find a SPOT on the drive, not a puddle.

12k for a 7.5 outta 10 with 123K and a check engine light huh? Work on his number a bit. He's probably flexible.

 

I believe the tube he is talking about is the venting crankcase blowby gassers have the EGR valve older diesels just vented to the underside of the truck,
I'm with Mayfair he should be flexing some on that price, check those items you mentioned carefully.

 

Thanks for the responses! Did some research on exhaust brakes, had no idea that diesels don't provide the same engine braking as gas engines. I remember the owner stated the truck was completely stock so I assume he doesn't have exhaust brakes. I originally felt the price was fair but now I'd have to agree with you guys. I'll see what he comes up with after getting the Check Engine light looked into and come up with a better offer.

 

I'm also searching for a new used truck, and am new to diesels.

Word of advice that has been invaluable to me, check autotrader or craigslist for similiar trucks, and go test drive them. You need to drive 3 or 4 different diesels before you start to understand what's "normal" or "unusual".

One truck that I thought was smooth shifting turned out to be very jerky, when compared to the next truck I drove.