I'm about to have my mechanic tackle this mod. I have been losing oil for months now and couldn't figure out why, and just now started missing a cylinder. You can tell when she's only firing on 7. I only drove it a few miles at that point before bringing it in to the shop so hopefully the Cat isn't crap yet.

Quick question after reading damn near every post on this thread (which is a GREAT thread by the way): Hughes lists two precat O2 sensors, a left front and a right front. Which one is the sensor that everyone is replacing here? At 50 bucks a pop, I would prefer to replace just the one that is necessary.

 

Consequences
1. Clogged cat
2. Clogged cat will lead to #8 spark plug fouling (rather quickly)
3. Clogged cat will also lead to cracked heads (if given time to do so)
4. Fouled front (pre-cat) Oxygen sensor
5. Fouled oxygen sensor will lead to horrible gas milage
6. If given time to do all of the above, the worst consequence: an empty wallet .


Im not saying that your cat is already bad, but this is what is listed on the first post of this thread. Just a 'be prepared' heads up! Hope its not toast!

 

Just to add to that, the gasket doesn't just suddenly blow. It slowly leaks oil and get's worse over time(then it's usually too late when you get symptoms.. Make sure you have them do a pressure test on the cat.

 

You want the right side cat. Only the cali trucks have the left side.

 

Thanks for all the tips.

"You want the right side cat. Only the cali trucks have the left side."

In that case then since I'm in Minnesota and the truck (96 Ram 1500 5.9 4X4) originally came from Illinois, can assume I only have a front right O2 sensor to replace??? Isn't there just one for each Cat or are there still two O2 sensors? I'm trying to get my order together for Hughes and need to know which O2 sensor to purchase. I'm going to guess based on that info that I only have the right side sensor.

Bad news is I just replaced that Cat last year. Anyone ever hear of anybody running a thinner or solvent thru it in an attempt to clean out the oil and sludge? Not looking forward to spending more money on yet another Cat. Thing was just getting broken in!

 

You can verify California or Federal emission by looking at the exhaust, or the sticker on the radiator support. And I would buy the NTK o2 sensors from Rock Auto, not Hughes.

 

It's still not clear to me if there is one or two O2 sensors on this truck then, as people keep refering to it in the plural sense.....eg: "sensors". It is definitely NOT a Cali truck.

Also, I told my mechanic about everything I have read on this thread and he's still unconvinced I will need either a cat or an O2 sensor. I explained to him that according to the many posts here the cylinder #8 fouling is a direct result of the cat being blocked therefor it's almost a sure thing, but he isn't buying it for some reason. He said he wants to install the plenum kit, rotor and cap, and new plugs and see how she runs after that. I guess it's not the end of the world as he can get sensor's and and Cat for the same price. Not much else I can do to convince him. He's the mechanic and I'm the electronics/IT whiz.

 

Ok guys took the day off and finished my plenum. Truck fired up no warning lights. Little coolant leak from the lil hose by the thermostat house. Ill fix that. The major issue is a loud squeling noise that i cant pin point. Belt? Hose? Guys help the squel is horrible but i have come to far to go back. Throttle body?

 

Probably the belt. If you got some coolant, or dirt on anything, it'll do that. Also, if the tensioner is failing, or sticking..... you get the same rude noises.

 

Actually pulled everthing off and had to retourque two bolts on the plenum. Thats fixed but now my rpms not droping.