I have a 1996 dodge ram 2500 with 360. Just clicked 102,000 miles on it and it has developed a ticking noise when the engine is under load. Best way I can describe it is it sounds like I have a small hole in my exhaust. I checked all my header bolts, collecter bolts, and head gaskets. I have tried listening for it under the hood but like I said it does it under load and I dont feel like sitting under the hood while my wife drives it around. (That was a joke) Any help would be great it is beginning to drive me nuts. Thanks

 

Is it a clearly repetitve ticking, like it's happening on the same cylinder each time (exhaust leak), or does it sound like crinkling aluminum foil quickly (pinging)? Try a higher octane gas to see if that fixes it.

At full load, you've probably got a pinging problem.

Park on a slight hill (like driveway, front facing uphill) and pull the air hat and throttle body (or just airhat if you have a small tilted mirror like the dentist uses) and look down into the intake manifold and check for pooling oil at the back of the intake manifold (a flashlight will help). If you see a pool of oil, you have a blown plenum gasket on the bottom of the intake manifold. A higher octane gas will mask the problem for a bit, but the gasket will break down more and the leak will eventually rob you of some power and MPG will take a nose dive.

There's a plenum gasket DIY repair guide at the top of the forum if you want to try it yourself, just give yourself a day to fix it. If you let a mechanic fix it, prepare to spend at least $500 to fix it and if they don't use an aluminum pan on the bottom (instead of the stock steel one), expect it to happen again.

 

Well I pulled the intake and sure enough mine was leaking. So I got the repair kit from Hughes, and cut out the divider. While I was at it I went ahead and replaced my plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Along with the intake gaskets and valve cover gaskets. Buttoned everything up, started her up, and took it for a test drive and what do you know the ticking is still there. Like I stated before I cant hear it from outside the vehicle only inside. I am gonna try and see if I can capture it on video tonight and see what you guys think. I am going crazy.

 

Doesn't sound like a knock if you can't even hear it from the outside. I have a few wierd noises on mine. If I put my ear between the the driver front wheel and the fender, I will hear a sound like... tap/ticking sounds. (i think mine is an exhaust leak). Still on my drivers side, if i follow the ram emblem on the door directly down under the truck, i get a wierd sound. It sounds as if you put marbles in a can, turn sideways, and spin the can a little, then stop, and repeat. Tranny pump? I don't really careabout those noises on mine. The reason I posted is because Ijust developeda ticking sound inside my cab that can't be heard from the outside. I usually notice it at around 3grand+ @ WOT waiting for it to shift. Sounds like it is comming from behind the cluster. Definatly not loud enough to be comming from engine in my case. I don't have enough money to worry bout noises in my case. I'll let her break down and build her up better. haha.. I'm just gonna save up and when that water pump goes, the fun begins. Well I wish you luck on locating it. See if you cant isolate that sound a little better and... yup good luck!

 

Thats kinda where my noise is coming from. Right behind the dash. Except mine happens if I dont gun it. Just regular cruising or going up hills is the worst. I have noticed it is loudest when I am cruising at about 12 or 1300 rpm. So if anyone else has this problem please chime in and see if we can narrow this down.

 

just a dumd question is there any thing by you 4x4 lever in the cab i had that happen to me

 

Did you run any cleaner through it after the Hughes kit install? If you sucked enough oil to carbon it up than it can and will still ping. When mine was pinging badly, it sounded like it was just on the other side of the fire wall. I first thought something was loose. Get some seafoam, heck even two cans and run them through the throttle body at idle and through the brake booster vacuum hose. Then let it sit for a while and then give it hell. You could also swap the plugs to a colder range which helps keep temps down in the chamber. Just some things I've learned over the 7 years of pinging. Good luck.

 

Yes my 4x4 shifter is on the floor. Why do you ask?

Also I will try the seafoam today after work. In a couple days when my gas tank gets lower I will put some higher octane gas in and see what that does.