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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
12:53:31
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 Subject: High Mileage 2.5L
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I have a 1991 2WD 2.5L short bed with ~170,000 miles. Looks good, runs good, and has had great maintainance.
The only issue is oil consumption, 1 quart every 500 miles, nearly all of which appears to be leakage from both front and rear engine seals. Cylinder compression is down a bit, but that's not a cold morning starting issue at this time. The engine has never been opened, for anything.
Since the truck is in great shape I want to keep it for another 100,000 miles. What should be the plan for the engine when I can't stand the leaks anymore? Open it up and reseal it, and maybe do a valve job?
Does the timing chain ever need to be replaced as a preventative measure? Anything else to be considered?
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Snowman
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
13:17:28
|  RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Youwent 170,000 with out a timing chain change??? Truly the GODS are with you. Timing chain should be changed @ regular intervals, i think80,000 on yours maybe less. As for the seals, change as soon as possible, it is a pain in the truck but doable. As for the cyl. pressure, you want to be within 30 psi of all cyl. Low pressure isnt bad as long as you are consistant. Although, if you have a rough idle, low cyl. pressure is a cause as is a worn camshaft. Good luck.
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
13:22:29
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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I assumed there had to be a timing change recommendation but you NEVER see anything on this board about owners losing timing chains. You see lots of owners with high mileage engines but again, nothing about timing chains.
How about the V6 engine in 1991. Same thing?
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
13:32:11
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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FWIW, I just called a Dodge dealer and he said 60K miles is the recommended change on the 2.5L chain. $350!
Said there is no recommendation on the V6, just change it when it gets noisy.
Has anyone looking here actually LOST a timing chain on these Dodge engines?
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Lesley
GenIII
10/22/2001
13:57:15
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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I replaced mine at 60,000 kilometres, under warranty thank god.
97 3.9 V6 Sport Club Cab. Black.
Quick D Intake
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Snowman
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
15:42:02
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Hey guy. Do it your self for way less than a hundred, not hard at all.
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Lesley
GenIII
10/22/2001
16:31:07
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Are you serious? The dealership had mine overnight, they said they had to take the motor out to do it. Of course... these are the same people who had it all day for an oil change (I just came from MinitLube - 20min. while you sit in the car).
97 3.9 V6 Sport Club Cab. Black.
Quick D Intake
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
17:10:42
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Prices are all over the place. I called a Dodge dealer in the midwest and service recommended replacement in the 2.5L at maybe 125,000 miles. Said a breaking belt does no damage to valves on that engine, just shuts you down.
Cost to change timing belt is $160. Cost to change out front seal PLUS timing belt is $250.
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
17:11:48
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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For reference, price for just timing belt replacement in the NW is $350.
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Brad
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
17:15:55
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Isn't it a timing belt on the older 2.5L's? If it is the 2.5L chrysler engine (same as the FWD cars)then the valve seals should also be looked at and if you take the head off check for cracks between the valves.
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Lesley
GenIII
10/22/2001
17:24:05
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Yeah, but this was a timing CHAIN. I think there's a difference... I'm no mechanic, but it's an expensive job from what I hear.
97 3.9 V6 Sport Club Cab. Black.
Quick D Intake
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
17:39:34
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Isn't it a timing belt on the older 2.5L's?
Yep, the 1991 2.5L has a timing BELT.
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Lesley
GenIII
10/22/2001
17:46:24
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Ohhhh, okay, that's not so bad!
97 3.9 V6 Sport Club Cab. Black.
Quick D Intake
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Brad
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
19:36:12
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Those are pretty easy to do. Especially on a RWD. I had a 2.2L Daytona and the belt went at 60000 miles. Very easy to do even with the front drive. Just have to watch the sproket for the distributor doesn't move on you.
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
19:43:52
|  RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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>I had a 2.2L Daytona and the belt went at 60000 miles.
Any engine damage when it let go? How fast were you going?
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Brad
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
19:58:39
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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No damage. Just started away from a stop and it went. I think they are right about no damage if they do go because there are valve reliefs in the pistons.
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Snowman
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
20:10:44
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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If it isn't an interference engine, a breaking belt or chain will do no damage. The repair can be made in the truck with the removal of the radiator and dropping the front of the oil pan.A bonus is you can replace the front seal at the same time because you have to remove the cover anyway. However, the rear seal requires the tranny out or engine out.
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
20:12:53
|  RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Makes this pre-MBZ Dodge engine look pretty good!
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
20:14:40
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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>the rear seal requires the tranny out or engine out.
Which seal on this engine is typically the worst leaker?
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Brad
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
20:24:38
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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The 2.2 and 2.5L had a lot in common with the tried and true slant six. If you give them a little attention they will run forever. You might be able to change the seals without pulling the engine completely. Just raising the engine a bit might give you enough room to drop the oil pan out. FWIW
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
21:56:38
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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>2.2 and 2.5L had a lot in common with the tried and true slant six
Loved that old Slant/6. Everything except getting at the points for a tune-up without dropping something where it shouldn't be.
My 2WD is two thousand miles from here right now and I don't recall which seal is leaking the most, but one is much worse. If it is the front one, the logic for changing the timing belt and the front seal now is powerful.
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jkid
Dodge Dakota
10/23/2001
23:31:01
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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No offense, but if you don't know what your talking about just say so. It is a belt and shouldn't take long to do. Used to do them in FWD cars in about 45 minutes. You don't have to drop any pan. And it is usually the cam and front crank seals that leak. They take about 15 minutes or less to change. There are 3 marks on the pulleys for alignment and $160 sounds about right. The guy with the head cracks is right however if the cracks are between the valves themselves they are just cosmetic. That many miles I would pull the head and do the job and seals and use a CHRY. headgasket with new headbolts along with the timing belt. Of course the only drawback to waiting till it breaks is it will do it in the most inopportune time. Sorry guys if I stepped on any toes.
Jeff
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
00:27:21
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Thanks Jeff. ~What should a valve job on that engine cost? If I can do this whole engine rennovation for under $500 it sounds like a winner.
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jkid
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
08:12:39
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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If you pay someone I would say between 500 -1000 for everything. Why the seals from the one dealer you called added $90 I don't know. Well ok $90 extra isn't too bad, but if you do the head the cam seal should be part of it and also the valve cover (rtv) gasket will be resealed. Only a couple of critical things 1. If the cracks are between the valves DO NOT buy a new head they are cosmetic only 2. use a CHRYSLER head gasket and NEW head bolts. I also do not recommend resurfacing of the head unless it is severely pitted or has been overheated, the gasket will more than take up some warp but a thinner head is never good : )
Of course if you do it yourself you will be closer to the 500.
Jeff
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kota on 20s
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
12:42:24
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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how easy is it to change the timing chain on the 318's? are they anything like the 4-bangers?
Eric
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
13:24:30
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Thanks Jeff. The engine is running strong now so will hold off on a valve job until it will no longer start on a -30 F Iowa morning. Having new pitman and idler arms put in today ($400) but will wait on ball joints since they aren't worn too badly.
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Snowman
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
14:49:16
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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If you are worried about the head, have it magnafluxed before reassembly. But if you aren't having a leak down on cyl during a compression check, it's fine. And usually, the front seal on everything goes first, due to the vibrations in the dampener. In any event, it is not hard. And you may have enough clearance to not have to drop the oil pan.
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Dakota 2 Time
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
17:06:52
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Changing the timing chain on the 318 (and other OHV engines) is very different than the timing belt of the 2.2/2.5 4 bangers. Changing timing chains isn't that hard in itself but you have to remove everything off the front of the engine to get at it. It gets pretty involved. Unless you regularly work on vehicles I wouldn't recommend this as a DIY project.
The timog belt of the 4 banger is much easier to change. I changed one in a 2.5 L Turbo Sundance. Changed bely at 90000 miles. Old one was on it's last legs. The hardest part was access as the engine in that car is traverse mounted and is a small area where as the Dakota you should have plenty of room.
97 CC SLT 5.2 Auto 3.55 Brilliant Blue/Silver
01 CC SLT 4.7 Auto 3.92 LSD Flame Red/Silver
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jkid
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
18:44:12
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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kota on 20's
Changing timing chains suck - sorry to be so blunt. Reason is like Dakota 2 Time says, you have to remove all the parts in front of it. Then if you are real lucky you don't hurt the oil pan gasket and can just reinstall the cover with some RTV and get a good seal. Changing the chain itself is easy - just line the two dots up ( top gear dot on bottom, bottom gear dot on top ). It really gets ugly if you have to drop the oil pan on a V8 or V6. If you are in a well equipped shop with lots of time on your hands by all means try it.
Ps. you may need a puller to get the damper off. There is no damper on a 2.5.
Jeff
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Chicamunga
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/28/2002
15:28:59
| RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Yes, it IS a timing belt. Mine broke yesterday on my way home from Salt Lake City to Richfield Utah. The engine just died and I slowly came to a stop at the side of the road. The cost of the belt was only $21.99 from Checker Auto. It is going to be a little bit of an unpleasant job to replace, but no big deal.
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Chicamunga
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/28/2002
15:37:37
|  RE: High Mileage 2.5L
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Here's the site that tells you when to replace it;
http://www.patgosscarworld.com/chrysler.htm
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