Revelation612
Junior Member
The last couple of years my trucks been burning oil like crazy. I’ve noticed some visible blow by, a couple oil fouled plugs, an occasional hard to start followed by a puff of blue smoke, some backfiring, and the oil consumption was insane. I would have to add atleast a quart of oil or 2 a week. I also noticed the oil pressure flopping around on me, dropping a little low at idle.
I did an oil change, replaced the oil pressure sending unit, replaced the plugs, and replaced the plenum gasket (I believe it’s called) right under the intake. (I was told it could be the oil loss culprit).
It seemed to run good for a while. I noticed I was still losing oil some how but assumed it was probably valve seals which was next on the list. I’ve been just topping the oil off as needed until I had the time and money to work on the truck.
Fast forward to last Thursday, I was heading home from a job replacing a hot water heater about an hour away from my house. Im on the highway and as I’m trying to accelerate it kept backfiring worse and worse especially if I was headed on the slightest incline. My oil pressure kept dropping out on me. I couldn’t drive fast and it had no power on the highway, every time I’d try to accelerate is would sputter and misfire really bad. Thing sounds like a train coming down highway. By the time I got home after a slow drive it sounded like I completely lost a cylinder the way it was running. Oil pressure is dropped completely to zero, and the oil is a few quarts low.
I pulled the valve covers and found a few rockers with play in them. 2 of the rockers I can wiggle side to side and pull them by hand with little resistance, it’s not snug to the spring is best way I can describe it.
I also tried having someone turn the key to make sure all of the rockers are moving with the springs, and they do all move.
Would such little resistance on a rocker arm mean the springs or valve seals are bad? Or would it more likely be bad lifters?
I’m just trying to understand how the rocker has so much play between it and the valve spring I guess. I appreciate anyone’s input on the issue
2005 Dodge Ram Hemi 5.7
I did an oil change, replaced the oil pressure sending unit, replaced the plugs, and replaced the plenum gasket (I believe it’s called) right under the intake. (I was told it could be the oil loss culprit).
It seemed to run good for a while. I noticed I was still losing oil some how but assumed it was probably valve seals which was next on the list. I’ve been just topping the oil off as needed until I had the time and money to work on the truck.
Fast forward to last Thursday, I was heading home from a job replacing a hot water heater about an hour away from my house. Im on the highway and as I’m trying to accelerate it kept backfiring worse and worse especially if I was headed on the slightest incline. My oil pressure kept dropping out on me. I couldn’t drive fast and it had no power on the highway, every time I’d try to accelerate is would sputter and misfire really bad. Thing sounds like a train coming down highway. By the time I got home after a slow drive it sounded like I completely lost a cylinder the way it was running. Oil pressure is dropped completely to zero, and the oil is a few quarts low.
I pulled the valve covers and found a few rockers with play in them. 2 of the rockers I can wiggle side to side and pull them by hand with little resistance, it’s not snug to the spring is best way I can describe it.
I also tried having someone turn the key to make sure all of the rockers are moving with the springs, and they do all move.
Would such little resistance on a rocker arm mean the springs or valve seals are bad? Or would it more likely be bad lifters?
I’m just trying to understand how the rocker has so much play between it and the valve spring I guess. I appreciate anyone’s input on the issue
2005 Dodge Ram Hemi 5.7
