I think I have a bad head gasket or intake gasket on my 4.7 I recently changed the oil (last Friday) and, for the first time, when I took the oil fill cap off there was a little bit of white sludge in the fill area. I didn't see anything in the oil when I dropped it, but I have since gone on a trip about 2 hours each way at highway speeds 70-75 and, when I took the cap off again today, there was a little more of the sludge. I've been letting it idle more than often due to the cold weather but I've always heard the slude in the oil cap has to do with a head gasket or something. There doesn't seem to be anything in the coolant fill, but I haven't craked the radiator cap? Any ideas??
Nasty Sludge Under Oil Cap and In Oil Fill Area on a 01 4.7
Briko11
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I think I have a bad head gasket or intake gasket on my 4.7 I recently changed the oil (last Friday) and, for the first time, when I took the oil fill cap off there was a little bit of white sludge in the fill area. I didn't see anything in the oil when I dropped it, but I have since gone on a trip about 2 hours each way at highway speeds 70-75 and, when I took the cap off again today, there was a little more of the sludge. I've been letting it idle more than often due to the cold weather but I've always heard the slude in the oil cap has to do with a head gasket or something. There doesn't seem to be anything in the coolant fill, but I haven't craked the radiator cap? Any ideas??
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This comes up pretty often. It's normal.
The upper part of the oil filler is colder than pretty much every other part of the engine, and because the PCV valve connects to the filler there's a lot of crankcase vapor up there? the cold surfaces cause the vapors to condense as sludge, and the surfaces never get warm enough to re-vaporise it.
?tom
The upper part of the oil filler is colder than pretty much every other part of the engine, and because the PCV valve connects to the filler there's a lot of crankcase vapor up there? the cold surfaces cause the vapors to condense as sludge, and the surfaces never get warm enough to re-vaporise it.
?tom
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If it's not there already, there's an updated oil cap and baffle that helps reduce this oily watery "snot" that gets up in there.
You'll see it right away if you have the baffle and new style cap. The new cap is flat on the bottom compared to the old one being more hollowed out looking.
The GM Quad4 was famous for this too.
Edit: I wonder if I'm the first person to use the word "snot" on this forum? :mrgreen:
You'll see it right away if you have the baffle and new style cap. The new cap is flat on the bottom compared to the old one being more hollowed out looking.
The GM Quad4 was famous for this too.
Edit: I wonder if I'm the first person to use the word "snot" on this forum? :mrgreen:
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You need the updated oil cap and baffle for your engine! It'll help tremendously.
The baffle is part number 53032126AA and lists for $1.20 and the cap is part number 53032389AC and lists for $5.10 Your Dodge dealer should have both in stock.
The baffle is part number 53032126AA and lists for $1.20 and the cap is part number 53032389AC and lists for $5.10 Your Dodge dealer should have both in stock.
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Thanks for the part numbers. I'll stop by on Sat and get them for my '00 4.7, I have the same problem. Last time I had my oil changed (not at the dealer), the woman showed me the cap and tried to sell me some oil cleaning treatement (huh? Aren't you changing the oil?? :.) I informed her that this was "normal" for this engine?she was suprised but shutup.
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It's harmless as I've had it from day one and now have 118K. My motor head friends say most engines do the same thing in the valve covers but you never see it untill you remove them. It's a little water vapor that boils out of the oil when it warms up and condenses on the coldest spot after you shut off the engine.
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The "snot" itself is harmless, but there's an inherent design flaw with the 4.7 engines?The PCV valve is located in the upper part of the oil filler tube, and if enough of this stuff collects up in there, it could partially or totally clog up the PCV valve. If the PCV valve is clogged, it'll be even worse, not to mention any blow-by gasses will then find the other exit which is the make-up air tube that attaches to the air inlet resonator, and could gunk up your throttle body.
The baffle helps keep the PCV valve from inhaling this junk.
I'd strongly suggest removing the PCV valve and either cleaning it or replacing it if your engine didn't have the baffle installed, just as a precautionary measure. If you've never removed the PCV valve on one of these engines, it's easy, but you need to know how to do it so you don't break anything. First remove the hose going to it, which can be a little tricky since there's a bit of pipes and things in the way. Then turn the valve 1/4 turn or so counterclockwise (if I remember correctly), and it pops out. There's an "O" ring that seals it to the tube. Lubricate this with a little oil or Vaseline to install it.
I never bother replacing the PCV valve if it's not totally clogged or failed. Just spray a little carburetor cleaner in it, and shake it vigorously to remove all the crud. Repeat as necessary. The oily "snot" will clean right out with carb cleaner.
The baffle helps keep the PCV valve from inhaling this junk.
I'd strongly suggest removing the PCV valve and either cleaning it or replacing it if your engine didn't have the baffle installed, just as a precautionary measure. If you've never removed the PCV valve on one of these engines, it's easy, but you need to know how to do it so you don't break anything. First remove the hose going to it, which can be a little tricky since there's a bit of pipes and things in the way. Then turn the valve 1/4 turn or so counterclockwise (if I remember correctly), and it pops out. There's an "O" ring that seals it to the tube. Lubricate this with a little oil or Vaseline to install it.
I never bother replacing the PCV valve if it's not totally clogged or failed. Just spray a little carburetor cleaner in it, and shake it vigorously to remove all the crud. Repeat as necessary. The oily "snot" will clean right out with carb cleaner.
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Does the baffle go in to the fill tube in any particular orientation?
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It should be self-explanatory. From what I remember, it can only go one way.
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It seems to me like it can go down in the tube in 3 of the 4 possible orientations and still fit. I'm assuming it goes with the highest point in the top sloped part over the hole for the PCV value - protecting it from oil coming down the fill tube.TheDodgeGuy said:
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That's exactly right.Thunderknight said:
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