I have a 99 dodge ram 1500 w/ 5.9L V8 that has 119k miles and it has recently started making a "clacking" sound on acceleration. The truck doesn't make this sound when idle or even revving the engine in park. i've read a lot of things ranging from really bad to no big deal. What is the true scoop. Also these sounds didn't start occuring until after I had a brand new radiator installed??? Is there a link between the two? I've checked the coolant and it's at it's normal levels. Could this possibly be the type of engine oil? Do I need to use a high millage oil? Thanks

 

first off welcome to Df... next high-milage oil should already be in the truck, if it was your oil then you should get the clanking during revving so i dont believe its the oil at all...if that helps...goodluck

 

Hey, thanks for the input and thanks for the welcome!

 

"Clacking"does not sound good.If it has a slapping sound to it then I would say you have a BIG problem.The Bad will be main bearings. Worse would be a wrist pin or two.

On the other hand, if it sounds like dropping rocks in a can then thats not so bad. Possibly bad fuel or a small timing issue.

Sorry to say from your description/symptomsyou have one of the big problems.

 

Can't really hear a slapping sound? I would catagorize it as more of a rock type sound. Would the changing of a radiator mess up the timing at all? Thanks

 

Does the sound have a "deep feel" to it? Since we cant hear I thought I would ask. Revving might drown out the sound since it just started. Slowly increase the rpm and listen closely it may be barely audible.Do you hear it then?

 

Not a deep feel to it at all. If I slowly accelerate it isn't as audible as when I rapidly accelerate

 

it could be possible, and only possible that the guys who installed the new radiator thought that it might be smart to remove the fan along with the timing chain and serpintine belt and anything elso to remove the radiator because they didnt feel like taking the fan shroud off first, do you get what im saying... basically they could have removed the timing chain to remove the fan shroud and the radiator, so my answer now is yes the two could be related, and if that is it then all you need is to have your timing re-adjusted

 

Changing the radiator does not even require you to touch the engine.Since you dont have a "trained" ear and cant hear it except under load there is not much you can do. Is there anyone that you know who is a gearhead? Could have them take a listen. Sorry this not a whole lot of help.

 

greenmachine, i totally agree with you about how you shouldnt have to touch the engine but what im saying is that maybe the guys who installed it removed a few things that they shouldnt have and now theres a problem