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Indy03
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2003
18:51:58
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 Subject: 4.7 sludge
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I know this might be a dead topic, but I just took my 03 4.7 Dak in for it's first oil change and the guy showed me an extreme amount of sludge on the baffle "stick" and around the cap. Has anyone with 03's had this problem? This truck is only 2 months old...any progress with the dealers?
Thanx!
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kevster
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2003
21:30:46
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Welcome to the Party Pal.. It only took my 2k Dak 38,800 miles to start doing this. and my 2002 Dak 4x4 now has only 17,000 and I see some also. I use the 180 T stat on both, but it has been cold here in Washington State, only 28 degrees in morning.. During the summer I never see this problem. So I will not worry, I change oil at 3,000 miles, and I will keep an eye on both. I guess it doesn't matter what temp of a T stat is used, Correct me if I am wrong here men.
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2003
21:44:56
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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the sludge and crap your both seeing is mostly from condensation in the crank case from the engine not reaching operating temperature. 180 t-stat dosent help, short runs here and there, the dakotas have a very large surface area to allow air into it that can also cause a overcooling problem.
its not good for the engine either.chemicals from combustion and blow by gases can form acids when the water from condensation is introduced into the crank case. you can get everthing from excessive varnish bulid up to premature bearing wear or failure. both my 93 and my 2000 do it ,i put a wind screen over my 93's grill, and those stainless steel inserts into my 2000. dont seem to have any problems with the sludge to date.
although there is a down side to the cooling the up side is that i have a truck that can take the heat when the going gets tough
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jeremiah2360
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2003
23:02:23
|  RE: 4.7 sludge
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welcome to the party is right. fleet mechanic at work is convinced i have weeping head gasket.he mentioned it to another mechanic who said thats not right.obtained tsb from web according to dc all is normal...sure. just do a search under "sludge",we are not alone.
03 qc 4.7 auto 2460 miles
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LSett
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2003
19:33:06
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Funny you guys are bringing this up. I noticed the same exact thing during my last oil change. The first thing that came to mind was a head gasket, but I haven't been using any anti-freeze. My drive to work in the AM is about 5 miles, and its been really cold. So the theories kinda make sense...
2001 4.7 4x4 QC
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ScottE
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2003
21:22:26
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Many folks here (myself included) have noticed that switshing to synthetis oil seems to help. From what I've been able to put together, seems that one possible fix/aid might be if the plastic oil fill spout were made of aluminum, helping to even the temp gradient between the head, valve cover, and spout. Anybody here able to cast alyuminiyum? I for one would be happy to pitch in for a research project....
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juniork
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
18:24:13
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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I checked my Dakota for sludge yesterday and there was just a very,very small amount, not even enough to say it was there. I use regular mopar oil changed every 3000 miles by the dealership.
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jeremiah2360
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
01:10:33
|  RE: 4.7 sludge
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juniork, where are you from,sludge less to nonexistent in warm climbs. some would say you are better off using quality oil filter combo other than mopar.their filters can come from different companies,some not good. much better oils out there. dodge dealer in my area sells amsoil oils(not filters)and trans fluid! they said extended drain would not void my warranty unless motor was full of sludge. guess they trust universal trans fluid also.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
10:50:25
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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I used to change my own oil and filter, even When I lived in an apartment, that was years ago.
I now have ~32K on my 01, 4.7 QC, 5spd, etc.
I use Mobil 1, the good stuff, the SS,
NOT the trisynthetic.
I also use the Wix filters-thanks to info from this forum.
It's been 5,000 since my last change. Looked yesterday, took the baffle out, (you just grab it with your index and thumb), and what do you know?
You guessed it--NO SLUDGE!
I know it's a problem, one I'm concerned about too. That's whay I ocassionally look under the baffle in the filler spout.
I do live in a warmer climate also.
And Chris, YOu have a '93 4.7L?
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notchlx
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
11:13:57
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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I have had the same on both of my 4.7's.
Quick fix....Change over to Mobil1 or other synthetic, I use Fram (get'em anywhere) filters. Change the oil religiously at 3,ooomiles.
I also removed the baffle on my 2000 and cleaned it inside and out. It can get built up inside pretty heavily. I would say clean the baffle every 15,ooo miles, and stay frequent on your changes. Should steer away from any problems.
I believe I read a TSB on it somewhere, but they offered no real fix for it, as I recall.
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juniork
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
11:53:05
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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jeremiah2360, I am from upstate NY, but I did check it when engine was warm, I think I am going to check it before I go to work today while the engine is still cold.
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LSett
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
16:21:42
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Just so you guys know, I've been running Mobil 1 from my first oil change. Again, it's been REALLY cold, and I know I've been doing a lot of short trips. Guess I'll just keep an eye on everything including water levels and see what happens - hey thats what a 7yr, 70K warranty is for right?
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venomdakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
21:24:55
|  RE: 4.7 sludge
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just so you all know chrysler will not warranty any internal engine work on the 4.7 if it has a fram filter on it, because it has a poor flow rating. I work at a dealership and have handed out the news to a few unlucky souls, of corase the poor people didn't think to change the oil but once every 12,000 or so. what a poor excuse for a mopar owner!
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notchlx
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
22:24:42
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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They would have a hard time debating that with a law office.
If they will not warranty any internal components with the use of a FRAM filter, it would have to be in writing some where.
That would be a good one to pull. Is it in writing anywhere? If so, I'll change. If not, D/C would lose some money in suits filed against them.
Any proof of this???
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Indy03
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2003
10:33:49
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Well, took it in to the dealership at 8 am and by 10 am they called and said that everything was "normal" and they couldn't find a TSB anywhere on this issue. Yeah Right...just my luck.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2003
11:53:01
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Indy,
The TSB, was for the 2000's to get the little plastic piece they call the 'baffle' put in the filler spout like the 2001's +. It hid the sludge.
YOu already have it. I suggest doing your own oil changes, using a 'real' synthetic, (there are ony a few 'real' synthetics) and a 'good' filter.
Do some reasearch on the subject here, there are several brands of these products,(oil and filter), that will cut down or eliminate this conditon.
Good luck
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Indy03
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2003
12:25:08
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Thanx Texas...I later found out that the TSB was for the 00' after some more reading - you would think there would be some kind of fix for this by now though. Guess I'll just drive it and see what happens.
I've read alot of posts about Mobil 1 synthetic...how about a filter? Anyone have a preference on the best?
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notchlx
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2003
12:34:29
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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I would say just to use FRAM, but others obviously will disagree.
I've used them on vehicles for years now, with no failures??? Yet supposedly D/C won't warranty vehicles with them installed???????????????????
A good one would be possibly a K&N oil filter. I did run those on my Mustang. Really think it was just a waste..Mobil1 makes filters too don't they?
Never really thought about it. Always used one brand on my trucks.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/11/2003
13:47:38
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Yea ,yea, I used to use fram too. USEd too.
I didn't seize engines. Maybe a had a little more wear though.
Do a search on the OBJECTIVE evaluation of oil filters, there have been many posts on this.
Because of this, I use a highly rated, medium priced filter, -WIX. There ARE many. Even the high end fram unit is rated OK.
Indy03,
with the cold nature of this motor (ie. alum. heads, intercamshaft oiling-did you know that?, high output oil pump, high output water pump, large radiator, etc. etc.,) and used on trips that don't always get this cold nature beast up to optimal operating tremp very long, this IS GOING to happen. condensation, we don't live in a zero humidity environment, and although pretty well sealed, ambient gasses (air) does go into and out of the enging block, a little at a time. There is no 'fix for this by now' going to happen.
However, don't let it build up too much, for too long or else. Mobil 1, Amsoil, are two of the best, right Steven?
Change yourself, and a good filter, and you probably won't have a problem.
I live in a warm climate, use mobil 1 and change about every 5K.-but that's me
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Jim H
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2004
19:21:49
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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Hey fellows,
Have you ever noticed where DC put the PCV valve on a 2000 Dakota? Right inside the oil filler spout! What a bunch of friggin' idiots at DC! This is the cause of the moisture making the sludge! I decided to engineer my own solution to DC's imperfections. What I did was install a "condensate cannister" to catch condensation that is pulled thru the PCV into the intake. Condensate cannisters / resevoirs have been around for years for fuel systems in big rigs. What I used was 5 feet of 3/8ths fuel line, a 1qt. "under the kitchen sink water filter" , a couple of barbed hose couplers and a car wash sponge cut in half. I removed the lower airbox intake tube to make room, I mounted the filter cannister to the airbox cover with the screws supplied, installed the the hose after removing DC's cheap plastic formed air tube which runs from the back of the firewall to the PCV, put the 1/2 of sponge inside of the cannister to absorb the condensation and to keep it from re-entering the system and put the other 1/2 of sponge into the lower port on the airbox. Guess what? It friggin' works great! No need for $5.00 per quart oil! Valvoline 30 wt. and a Napa 1515 (which is actually a WIX filter) and away I go! DC can kiss my ASS ! Total Cost : $20 US Dollars!
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Tonya
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2006
18:04:11
| RE: 4.7 sludge
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I have a 98 Dakota 2.5L and it is making me sooo sad. Two weeks ago I was driving to work when all of the sudden my oil gauge went down to nothing and lights went on everywhere.
To my dismay, I told a friend (who happened to have a Dakota himself) about my troubles and he told me to do a search under "dakota sludge engine". Makes me so, so sad.
I have spent the last couple of nights doing internet research to find out if Dodge has figured out a way to fix the problem. Thankfully there are smart people (not necessarily at Dodge) who have done a FMEA for me. I appreciate everyone's advice on here. Maybe this will help me save the new (to me) engine that I am putting in this weekend. I guess I could look at the bright side and say that it gives me a chance to replace the clutch while I am at it! :)
I too live in Indy so I guess the best thing would be to just buy a new Mustang! :) Anyone want to contribute to the cause??? :)
Have a good night all!
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