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Oil Starvation Z63 “Campaign”

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I got a campaign notice in the mail for my 22 Limited Ecodiesel. (See attached) Apparently there is a possible issue with the oil drain valve o ring that can cause severe damage. Brought it the dealer yesterday. They said they’d be checking the bores for any scoring and, if present, would replace the engine. If not, they’d of course fix the o ring issue. Probably a 50 cent part. (Didn’t a bad o ring bring down the space shuttle?)

Anyone seen any actual damage from this necessitating a new motor? I’m not relishing the possibility and what I suspect would be at least several months of it sitting dirty and baking on the dealer lot waiting for a motor to come from who knows where.
 

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Aseras

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It's gonna fark the bearings way way before there's bore damage. Ecodiesels already are known to have crap bearings that spin from the last iteration of FCA using a lighter oil 5w30 oil.

Sounds like free engines for everyone again. If they can actually build any.
 
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It‘s been running great. Nothing knocking that I can discern, although that’s challenging with a diesel. I did have about half a quart of oil use in the first 2000 miles, but that settled down. I figured that’s not unusual. I’m at 4000 now.
 

Aseras

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By the time it knocks, its dead. If it's an oil starvation problem, your first notice would probably be a low oil pressure light. By then it's also probably dead, and definitely dead if you kept driving and didn't stop the engine immediately. Then after driving a while then the knocking starts slowly until the bang when there's a new skylight in the block, or it seizes up.


good video knocking @2:00

don't do this....
 

Rick3478

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Didn’t a bad o ring bring down the space shuttle?
In all fairness to the o-ring, IIRC, it was probably better described as an o-ring that leaked when pushed beyond its design limits. In the Z63 case, it sounds like they just installed the wrong part. Epic fail either way, less fireworks in the truck.
 
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By the time it knocks, its dead. If it's an oil starvation problem, your first notice would probably be a low oil pressure light. By then it's also probably dead, and definitely dead if you kept driving and didn't stop the engine immediately. Then after driving a while then the knocking starts slowly until the bang when there's a new skylight in the block, or it seizes up.


good video knocking @2:00

don't do this....
How do you think the dealer will go about assessing for damage? Endoscope cameras to directly inspect internals? Disassembly? Oil analysis? Even if the bearings had sustained even some low level some damage, would there be some visible metal detritus in the oil or filter?
 

Aseras

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How do you think the dealer will go about assessing for damage? Endoscope cameras to directly inspect internals? Disassembly? Oil analysis? Even if the bearings had sustained even some low level some damage, would there be some visible metal detritus in the oil or filter?
Dealer won't do anything unless the computer tells them to. No obvious noise, or message, they'll send you on your way.
 

djevox

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I don’t have any outstanding recalls for my VIN, so I hope I don’t get hit with this in the future.
 
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I don’t have any outstanding recalls for my VIN, so I hope I don’t get hit with this in the future.
Don't know if they're splitting hairs or what, but they seemed to specifically avoid using the word "recall". They used the term "Customer Satisfaction Notification". Sure. I guess I'd not be terribly satisfied by a grenaded engine. 💥
 

djevox

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Don't know if they're splitting hairs or what, but they seemed to specifically avoid using the word "recall". They used the term "Customer Satisfaction Notification". Sure. I guess I'd not be terribly satisfied by a grenaded engine. 💥
Hmm, wonder how we can check that. @RamCares do you know how we can verify if a VIN is a part of a "Customer Satisfaction Notification"?
 
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Update. I have my truck back from the dealer. I spoke with the service manager and the mechanic who worked on the truck. The mechanic said the Z63 campaign was specifically for only 33 Ram 1500 Ecodiesels, 2022 model year, that had been identified as have a faulty anti drain valve o ring in the oil filter adapter. Their procedure was to check the oil for any sort of metal shavings. If any kind of metal shavings found, a new engine would be fitted. If no metal shavings, they'd replace parts related to the anti drain valve and oil filter adapter. They didn't specify what parts. They did not find any metal shavings in my oil. Phew. Parts are on back order. They said it's good to drive, but I'm cautiously skeptical. Pretty much gonna just park it until parts are here. Good excuse to drive the old Landrover anyway.
 

Aseras

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Update. I have my truck back from the dealer. I spoke with the service manager and the mechanic who worked on the truck. The mechanic said the Z63 campaign was specifically for only 33 Ram 1500 Ecodiesels, 2022 model year, that had been identified as have a faulty anti drain valve o ring in the oil filter adapter. Their procedure was to check the oil for any sort of metal shavings. If any kind of metal shavings found, a new engine would be fitted. If no metal shavings, they'd replace parts related to the anti drain valve and oil filter adapter. They didn't specify what parts. They did not find any metal shavings in my oil. Phew. Parts are on back order. They said it's good to drive, but I'm cautiously skeptical. Pretty much gonna just park it until parts are here. Good excuse to drive the old Landrover anyway.
Did they actually do an oil change, swab the pan and cut the filter open and look? Cause just checking the dipstick isn't going to cut it, literally. AFAIK ecodiesels with bearing damage don't really exhibit glitter oil anyways. The bearings spin and may maybe there's large shavings that drop into the oil pan. The only real indication is oil pressure drop ( particularly when hot ) from the bearings not seating anymore.
 

JaneGI

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I just returned from my dealership with the same "recall" Z63 Oil starvation. What a load of, I don't know what. My dealership told me the same thing. They said it sounds worse than it is. I was like what? The dealer said Ram makes these notices sound like the end of the world. HA! I told him, step two on the recall was to replace the engine. In vehicle terms, that is the end of the world, Broh! Aseras is right, they need to do more than check the dipstick. The dealer told me he checked the filter for sparkles/engine pieces and there should also be a code if the oil pressure has issues. My engine had none of those things. But, this gives me zero warm fuzzy feelings. The engine oil when it was changed the first time was black as night. I had the opportunity to see it because when the dealer changed the oil he dumped it all down the front of my suspension. Much of it ended up on my garage floor. So yeah, it was very black thick stuff. Now I have a truck with 9K miles and who knows if the bearing isn't half baked. Thanks Ram for my 2022 pretty red piece of junk. I'm going camping this week and I'm driving this so called truck. If it blows oh well. I'm spinning the dice to see if it will make it 8 hours towing 7 tons. Have a feeling we will get it done. After my trip I'm dumping this RAM Good Ship Lollipop. I'm headed to the Toyota dealer to get a new truck. Because I'm sure NOT going to keep this thing. The damage is done.
 

JaneGI

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I just returned from my dealership with the same "recall" Z63 Oil starvation. What a load of, I don't know what. My dealership told me the same thing. They said it sounds worse than it is. I was like what? The dealer said Ram makes these notices sound like the end of the world. HA! I told him, step two on the recall was to replace the engine. In vehicle terms, that is the end of the world, Broh! Aseras is right, they need to do more than check the dipstick. The dealer told me he checked the filter for sparkles/engine pieces and there should also be a code if the oil pressure has issues. My engine had none of those things. But, this gives me zero warm fuzzy feelings. The engine oil when it was changed the first time was black as night. I had the opportunity to see it because when the dealer changed the oil he dumped it all down the front of my suspension. Much of it ended up on my garage floor. So yeah, it was very black thick stuff. Now I have a truck with 9K miles and who knows if the bearing isn't half baked. Thanks Ram for my 2022 pretty red piece of junk. I'm going camping this week and I'm driving this so called truck. If it blows oh well. I'm spinning the dice to see if it will make it 8 hours towing 7 tons. Have a feeling we will get it done. After my trip I'm dumping this RAM Good Ship Lollipop. I'm headed to the Toyota dealer to get a new truck. Because I'm sure NOT going to keep this thing. The damage is done.
I also wanted to mention the dealer did order parts to fix this issue. The part is very large and it is a case/seal. The whole thing is a mess. To fix this issue they need to pull the top of the engine apart. I've searched the net and I'm unable to find anything out about the Z63 Oil starvation campaign from Ram. I'm sad Ram is doing such a poor job building these trucks. I have one other issue that makes me feel like this thing is a lemon. When we got the truck home, we noticed something hanging down from under the driver's side. This is a brand-new truck mind you, shining new 2022 Ram 1500. It ended up being the fuel strap closest to the front of the truck. It had come off after driving out of the dealership lot to our home. I can't make this stuff up! The dealer told me someone must have tampered with the fuel tank when I called him. We didn't return to that dealership ever again. My mind exploded when he said that, my mouth did the same.
 

J-Cooz

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I just returned from my dealership with the same "recall" Z63 Oil starvation. What a load of, I don't know what. My dealership told me the same thing. They said it sounds worse than it is. I was like what? The dealer said Ram makes these notices sound like the end of the world. HA! I told him, step two on the recall was to replace the engine. In vehicle terms, that is the end of the world, Broh! Aseras is right, they need to do more than check the dipstick. The dealer told me he checked the filter for sparkles/engine pieces and there should also be a code if the oil pressure has issues. My engine had none of those things. But, this gives me zero warm fuzzy feelings. The engine oil when it was changed the first time was black as night. I had the opportunity to see it because when the dealer changed the oil he dumped it all down the front of my suspension. Much of it ended up on my garage floor. So yeah, it was very black thick stuff. Now I have a truck with 9K miles and who knows if the bearing isn't half baked. Thanks Ram for my 2022 pretty red piece of junk. I'm going camping this week and I'm driving this so called truck. If it blows oh well. I'm spinning the dice to see if it will make it 8 hours towing 7 tons. Have a feeling we will get it done. After my trip I'm dumping this RAM Good Ship Lollipop. I'm headed to the Toyota dealer to get a new truck. Because I'm sure NOT going to keep this thing. The damage is done.
I think you're over reacting a bit. Your truck is driving just fine. It's documented that you took it in so if your truck blows up it will be covered.

Black oil is normal on diesels. It will be pitch black within a thousand miles.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk
 

JaneGI

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I think you're over reacting a bit. Your truck is driving just fine. It's documented that you took it in so if your truck blows up it will be covered.

Black oil is normal on diesels. It will be pitch black within a thousand miles.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk
I guess you didn't read my other comments. My truck also had a fuel tank nearly fall off after purchase. (LEMON ALERT) If you got this Z63 notice, you're being told the factory installed the incorrect parts into your Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. Those parts are fully responsible for engine lubricant during the first few moments the engine starts. That simply means while you might not have a failure during the first thousands of miles, you may see a full engine meltdown after 20K or 30K of engine wear. It's a disgrace. What is even more disgraceful is the fact when I brought it to the dealership, they downplayed the entire thing. Additionally, Ram doesn't have PARTS! The parts are all on back order for me and this guy who started the thread. Meaning RAM sent us a "oh, by the way" letter and forgot to have the parts ready for the storm that follows.
 

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