Preface: I live remotely...well for most people remotely...the town that IS nearby is very limited in services and automotive stores...most stuff i get is done online and it takes quite a while to get to me...this board and the members on it have helped me patch,jury rig,hillbilly fix, McGiver and all other euphemisms for "make do with what you have until you cant"

i have read almost every post on here with regards to blowby and oil related issues. i suspected strongly as bill (infidel) has pointed out many times that quite a few problems relating to blow-by and oil loss can be attributed to crankcase pressure caused by vacuum leaks. FINALLY...i broke down and purchased a vacuum tester...and i DO have vacuum leaks...so...

the octopuss thing that sits on top of the transfer case...those rubber tubes that actually slip on the nipples...they are worn and loose...(and you know how horrible it is when the nipples are hard and the rest of things are loose and flaccid)...and the main feed from the vac pump...it has these sections of almost "sponge" rubber just below the vac manifold at the base of the windshield and maybe a check valve??...i think they are deteriorated to the point where they slow leak and the two rubber sections that slip onto the 4X4 activator on the front axle are also loose on the nipples. several rubber boots are showing deterioration and ill fitting joints....

am i correct to assume that even though all vac activated devices are working...that if all of them are leaking a little it could still cause crank case pressure??? my local dodge dealer cant even find the main tube that runs from the vac pump to the vac manifold...so i dont aniticpate he will be able to find me any other vac components....has anyone had to replace vac lines and boots...and if so...where did you get them...or what did you use??? i thought about rubber fuel line...but that would mean hose clamps or something like that...and may not seal completely...

again thanks to all of you who so unselfishly post and teach...vs

 

Sounds like oil has gotten past the check valve right at the vacuum pump and has melted your lines.
Replace the check valve and melted hoses. Fuel line will work fine without hose clamps.
If the oil has made it all the way to the 4wd switch on the transfer case or the climate control they may need to be replaced also.

These instructions for a '94-'96 recall may help, remember though that you have hydro assisted brakes. The recall was for vacuum assisted.
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/720.htm

 

thanks Bill...we are in the middle of calving and i havent been online much...where exactly is the check valve at the vaccuum pump located??

do you happen to have a part number or name for the line that goes from the pump to the manifold??? my local dodge dealer cant seem to find a diagram or names for any of the lines?? is the transfer case switch called just that in the parts manual???

can you kinda elaborate on the system as to whether the crankcase pressure increases with the amount of vaccuum leakage?? or does it simply take any amount of leak to build pressure...

if i remove the main line at the pump and block the line right there...and there is still vaccuum leak...is there a possibility it could be the vaccumm pump gasket?? could it leak vaccuum but not allow oil to escape??? thx..vs