Hi all i am new to the forum. i have a 2001 ram 1500 with the 318. i recently had to put in a new block and had my tranny rebuilt, replaced my ECU, replaced my cat,and replaced some kind of gasket on my fuel injection system. Now it runs a hell of alot better... when it runs...

The problem now..... it seems real sluggish most of the time and it has even died while driving in traffic. to crank it back up i would have to floor the gas. after it cranks, black smoke pours out and the engine just sounds like ****. sometimes it wont even crank. but if i let it sit for about 30 min or so, sometimes longer, it will crank right up wit no problem. it still seems sluggish tho.

i have used several different fuel sytem cleaners and nothin helps. someone said it could be trash in the tank, bad fuel pump, clogged filter, water in the tank,(i have used HEET to solve that but hasnt helped).

thanks for any help!!!

 

I'm betting there's a vacuum leak somewhere, this can raise hell with all the engine's systems.with the engine running, spray some carb cleaner around the base of the throttle body, intake manifold, vacuum lines, maybe around the fuel rail, and listen to see if the engine sound changes while spraying these areas, if it tries to rev itself up or die when you hit a certain spot, that's usually your leak.

 

Black smoke is burning coolant...could be a cracked head.

When you say you had a new block do you mean you had the engine rebuilt/replaced?

 

Black smoke = coolant? I'd have to disagree with that one Socha. I think the black smoke would be coming from having to floor it to get the truck to start and when it does its super rich. But the underlying problem may be plugged exhaust. Or as OlsenG says a possible severe vac leak somewhere.
Marionso14, can you keep it running long enough to get a vac gauge on it to test your exhaust flow?

 

Coolant is white smoke. Been there and done that.
Black smoke, it's running super rich...
One or more plugs may be fouled
You may have a bad, stuck injector

 

yes the motor was rebult. i can keep it running for a while, it usually cranks right up the first time. after i drive for a few min( diff amount of time always) it will slowly rumble till it goes dead. i then have to floor it to crank it and it usually takes a few turns of the key.where could i get the vacuum test done?

 

ok so today it cranked up wit no problems. but it still seemed a lil sluggish and i could hear what sounded like a lil back fire comin from the tail pipes. only happened a couple times but today is first time i noticed it. it happened under light acceleration. i used a can of seafoam with bout half tank of gas and rode on it for bout a hour. seems to be less sluggish but still not like it should be.

 

You can perform the vacuum exhaust restriction test yourself if you have a vac gauge. If not, any muffler shop can do it or any garage for that matter. It's quite simple to do yourself though. You can get a gauge alone for about $10 and a barbed fitting for a hose and you're in business. If you are anywhere near a pool supply store, ask them for a gauge. Super handy for about a dozen other tests too. Or you could go all out and get a vacuum test pump for around $30. One of the most useful test tools I own!
WC

 

you prob have the same thing that happened to me. i had two injectors get stuck open and all they do is dump fuel. has your mpg gone to **** as well?when mine did it i though someone swapped a cummins in over night haha.

 

my mpg has always been horrible. cant really tell if its any worse