01 rango - DodgeIntrepid.Net Forums - Dodge Intrepid, Concorde, 300m and Eagle Vision chat

Ruggels · 11-04-2012, 01:07 PM

dads got an 01 at Durango 233k miles that he puts some heavy mileage on having to drive all over the state up to 150 miles a day 3-5 days a week i finally got him to change oil the other day and now when i drove it i noticed the oil guage will go to 1/4 at a stop then while driving jump to 3/4 it didnt have this problem before.... i want to move it over to synthetic and theirs a few other small things i need to fix on the car... suggestions?

i think i may have to take a break before i start on my trans rebuild to give the other cars a tune-up and then ill have to start messing with the dreaded Benz

**cdmccul** · 11-04-2012, 01:20 PM

Sounds like either the oil pressure sender is bad, or you may have dislodge some sludge... perhaps another oil drop with filter change, and running synthetic...

Any other symptoms?

Ruggels · 11-06-2012, 11:57 PM

i think it prob dislodged some sludge in the oil then, it was very dirty when we swapped... my dad really dosnt change his fluids as he should and i think ima have to take control and save the truck from a death i feel is coming.... i was trying to convince him to go synthetic with this change but the damn guy at napa talked him out of it i was like wtf! arnt they spost to try and sell the more expensive stuff?

ill let him drive it for a bit and change the oil in about 1000 miles and drop it out just to show him how dirty it likely really is inside.... ill also run some seafoam threw it next change when im hopefully not preoccupied with my trep.

edit: becides horribly worn shocks and inner tie rod bushing sending you all over the road no other symptoms with the engine... just runs a little rough when the pressure is low at a stop

***Daytrepper*** · 11-26-2012, 10:59 PM

Best suggestion I can think of, stick an oil pressure gauge on it....should be no less than 10 at idle, 30-40 running down the road....should be higher when it is cold.

YesImLDS · 11-26-2012, 11:16 PM

My grandparents own a 2001 durango with the 4.7l v8 and that thing is always giving us problems. I am not surprised to see another one with problems. We have replaced the axles a few times as well as tranny problems. BEST OF LUCK WITH YOURS!

bh1992 · 11-26-2012, 11:30 PM

here's a scary thought for everybody. There are a few manufactures (such as ford) who make their oil pressure warning light go out as soon as it reaches 3psi. as far as not changing fluids when he should, there is a possibility of the filter getting somewhat plugged up. but I doubt that would cause all of the difference that you've seen on the gauge. My personal opinion (and likely the opinion of the guy at napa) at that mileage I don't think I would even consider changing over to synthetic oil. I've heard of more trouble caused by people trying to clean out their engines (especially at higher mileage) than those who just kept up with the routine oil changes using plain old dino oil.

**cdmccul** · 11-26-2012, 11:38 PM

I think the key is routine changes...

OR - if you go with a non-hydrocarbon based oil (like Amsoil PAO Group IV) you can go into longer intervals, but you still need to sample the oil and have it tested if you are going to NOT change oil regularly...

but outside of speciality NON-hydrocarbon based oils, the biggest key is routine - every 3-5K miles.

YesImLDS · 11-26-2012, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bh1992

here's a scary thought for everybody. There are a few manufactures (such as ford) who make their oil pressure warning light go out as soon as it reaches 3psi. as far as not changing fluids when he should, there is a possibility of the filter getting somewhat plugged up. but I doubt that would cause all of the difference that you've seen on the gauge. My personal opinion (and likely the opinion of the guy at napa) at that mileage I don't think I would even consider changing over to synthetic oil. I've heard of more trouble caused by people trying to clean out their engines (especially at higher mileage) than those who just kept up with the routine oil changes using plain old dino oil.

I can understand this. From what I have heard switching at a high mileage point it can make things loose. In a sense that the oil and grime were holding it together.... Terrible isn't it?

bh1992 · 11-27-2012, 12:04 AM

one of my old shop teachers told everyone in the class that his brother had bought a Chevy S10. he got him to use kerosene to clean out the engine......and then mysteriously it thew a rod a hundred miles later. the shop teacher claimed that is was just because his brother bought a high mileage piece of crap. but if you think about it, carbon/grime can only build up in open spaces, and fill voids (conform to the area around it). In some cases, you get rid of that build-up and you create excessive tolerances.

Ruggels · 11-27-2012, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YesImLDS

My grandparents own a 2001 durango with the 4.7l v8 and that thing is always giving us problems. I am not surprised to see another one with problems. We have replaced the axles a few times as well as tranny problems. BEST OF LUCK WITH YOURS!

actually besides this, new coil wires and a transmission at 180k (and we put it to work towing) we havnt not had a problem with it however the shocks need replacing but thats needed for pretty much any car at 230k without it being done.

also the guage has since returned to showing "good" pressure at all times now, i think it was from the last oil change that may have restricted a passage and as time the newer oil cleaned it out.

next change ill be putting in half synth half reg so i dont overclean it, and knock too much gunk free.