ok so I quickly took a look down into the intake and while there isn't a pool of oil per say, it is soaking wet with oil... So I guess I am looking at a full intake gasket job. I did one on my old 2001 Ram and remember it was a bit of a C word. I guess that may have something to do with the pinging and feeling sluggish?

 

Yep. Vacuum leak, fouled valves, the whole nine yards.

And yes, it can be a right pain to do the job.

 

Excellent. Ok I'll probably dive in next week. Is there a kit that works best? I don't want to be going back in there. I've seen PlenumRepairPlate.com where they sell an upgraded aluminum plenum plate and gasket. Then I can order the intake gaskets like fel pro? Or is the just the fel pro gaskets and stock plenum plate ok to use?

 

It's not the plate that is the problem. I did the math, and the difference in expansion is measured in tenthousandths of an inch. It's the bolts being to long, and age that does it in. In reality, if you reinstall the steel plate, with a HIGH QUALITY gasket, and just put some washers on the bolts, End of Problem.

 

Ok I was wondering about that. Perfect. I'll get a good gasket set and some washers and some blue loctite. Cheers

 

Can I get away with using the original bolts and washers or do I need to get new bolts as well? And if so what are the specs of the bolts?

 

Replace the intake bolts, the pan bolts you can re-use, with washers. No clue what the specs are.

 

ok perfect thank you. looking to dive in once the gaskets and bolts arrive later today.