Loosing oil - replacing plenum/gasket

[marcelog]

I just did an oil change, and noticed only 4 quarts came out vs the 5 quarts that I put in. Also noticed the oil was a bit darker than it usually is. Did some searching and pretty much think it's the intake gasket gone bad. So I've ordered the Hughes kit (thought about the M1 intake but too much money at this time) and I'm getting ready to take on this project.

Now I'm your average home mechanic. Plugs, wires, brakes, fluid changes, etc. In looking through the write up, it looks like there wont be much left to the top of the engine when I'm done taking off the intake. How much trouble am I going to get into? Anything I should be extra careful with/about? Should I just take it to a shop and play it safe?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Marcelo -

[Neil]

Did you account for the oil still in the filter? Here is how to properly verify for an intake gasket leak. http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm

[Axiom]

Take your air hat off and look down through the throttle body. If you see oil down inside the manifold, then you blew the plenum.

[marcelog]

I was down 1 quart including the oil from the filter (I drain the filter when I remove it). While there was still a little left in the filter, it certainly wasn't close to a quart.

Looked through the throttle body and their is an oily coating under the TB plates, as well as on the plenum pan itself. Now mind you it's not a large amount of oil, but what looks like a slightly burnt coating.

I could certainly follow the full procedure listed in the TSB, but I didn't think it was necessary since this seems to be a common problem.

Marcelo -

[gtrdun]

I was down 1 quart including the oil from the filter (I drain the filter when I remove it). While there was still a little left in the filter, it certainly wasn't close to a quart.-

What do you mean you drain the filter? Putting it upside down and letting it drain won't let all the oil come out. The only way I know of getting all the oil out is pressing it out in a oil filter crusher. You could poke a hole in it, but it still would not all come out because the oil stays soaked up in the pleats.

[marcelog]

What do you mean you drain the filter? Putting it upside down and letting it drain won't let all the oil come out. The only way I know of getting all the oil out is pressing it out in a oil filter crusher. You could poke a hole in it, but it still would not all come out because the oil stays soaked up in the pleats.

While it won't get all the oil out, would it leave a quart in? Even after letting it sit for an hour? I find that hard to believe.

In any event, the Hughes kit arrived, and I'll be ripping apart the intake this weekend.

Marcelo -

[gtrdun]

While it won't get all the oil out, would it leave a quart in? Even after letting it sit for an hour?

You would be surprised how much stays in there. No, there won't be a whole quart in there, but there is at least 1/4 to 1/2 a quart left in there. The anti-drainback valve won't let it all drain out.

[marcelog]

Installed the Hughes kit. There was some oil in the manifold. Biggest headache was trying to get the one injector that popped off back on the fuel rail. Found a few worn and cracked vacuum lines that needed to be replaced as well. Not a difficult job, just time consuming. Especially since I kept double checking and labeling everything.

Marcelo -

[BlackenSLT]

I am in need of doing this. Was it pretty easy and how long did it take?

[marcelog]

It wasn't difficult, but it was time consuming. I started around 11 AM and was putting things back together around 3 PM. I also did a few other things while I had everything off, such as replacing the coil, distributor, wires, thermostat. I also spent a good amount of time cleaning the TB and manifold.

Marcelo -

[BlackenSLT]

Awesome, I didn't know if it would take a weekend or a day or what. Are there any special tools you need or just good ole wrench and spockets?

[marcelog]

Nothing special needed.

Marcelo -