oil in coolant

00_red_dakota · #1 11-01-2005, 10:20 PM

Hi, im new to the forum. just a question. i have a 2000 dodge dakota with the 3.9 yesterday it had a winter maintainance package done to it and i was told that there was oil in the coolant. Now this usually means a head gasket, intake gasket or a craked head. Are there any ways of checking myself and determining the problem. I am going to pull the plugs tonight. How long do i have before i have done to much damage or will this do damage even if it is fixed immediately. Thanks

steve05ram360 · #2 11-04-2005, 06:55 PM

major damage can occur if the head gasket acutally blows and your getting water in the oil and you keep driving it. water, oil, bearings... not good. i'd find out what's wrong with it asap and go from there.

you can check it yourself by doing a leak-down test... pump compressed air into the cylinder and look for air entering the cooling system or oil (tougher to see).

I havent actually heard of any issues with the 3.9 heads, but that doesnt mean there arnt any. I have 2 other daks in our household and neither have had a problem with the heads...

00_red_dakota · #3 11-04-2005, 10:25 PM

thanks for the help. I atually got a second opinion and there was very little if any oil in the coolant. People have had problems with this particular dealer before so we figure he was trying to screw me over. Anyways i checked my plugs and they were shot so i replaced them and put in a new air filter. It runs better now so i will just keep an eye on my coolant for a few weeks.

steve05ram360 · #4 11-05-2005, 11:50 AM

cool, glad to hear it. I havent heard of too many BHG's on a magnum motor, 1 or 2 at the most in the 5 years I've had them...