yeah but judging by how the clean fresh indentaion line from the intake bulges there too that might have happened after it was dissassembled..

 

Wanna hear something crazy about this post??


I am the general manager of a Motel 6!!

Zman good eyes I didnt even notice that slight bulge until you said that and I blew the picture up and looked again...If you guys want I can upload the photo's without resizing them and link to them

 

FREE room!!!!!! Next time I'm in Sandusky, Ohio guess where I'm stopping?!

 

And which notorious component, too, eh?

 

2002 Ram 2500 with the 360/5.9
Date: 2-4-2012
Miles: 140k
Gasket blown: No
Replacement: 1/4" aluminum plate (from 1999blkdakrt on eBay), Fel-Pro gasket, OEM bolts

I apologize for not taking a picture of my plenum and gasket - my camera and phone were inside, it was raining, and I was ready to wrap things up for the day.

The plate had some (fairly fresh-looking) oil pooled in maybe 4-6 spots near the gasket, and some carbon specks under the TB openings, but nowhere near as bad as some of the pictures posted here. Oddly enough, my gasket appeared fully intact.

 

You better replace your pvc valve and hope thats all it is...

 

It's actually not that odd to be intact. I second AD's recommendation on the PCV valve. Just get a new one (from dealer only) including the grommets. Change it out after you've the engine for a bit. Makes removal easier.

PCV valve replacement should be standard 1x year at least.

 

Yep, PCV valve is on the to-do list. I'm already replacing the plate+gasket on the plenum, just in case. Thanks for the tips on removing the PCV valve - I had tried pulling it while it was cold and that SOB didn't budge...

 

I don't know that I'd replace it more often than once a year, and wouldn't worry about it if I let one get two years old, either. As long as it's replaced before it fails, all's good.

Or a guy could get all kinds of scared by a little oil in the manifold and spend time and money fixing what ain't broke.

 

Just read through the posts ITT, I have a couple noob questions.

When the posts refer to the gasket, is this the same "head gasket" when people say I have a blown head and/or blown head gasket?

Also, can anyone point out in the pictures posted where they can tell that their gasket was almost blown and/or blown? I don't see much of a difference in the pictures.. other than they go from somewhat dirty to really dirty...

Ah well, I know I'm new to this mechanical stuff, trying to lengthen the DIY list on my truck!