When you do your oil change or if you drop the pan grab a light and look at the filter mounting location and in the tube and see if you see any sludge or blockage there.

 

That would be me. But, I know how the rag got in there, just can't prove it in court......

The electrical gauges in these trucks suck. I don't trust mine for a minute. For whatever reason, dodge, in their infinite wisdom, had the OPS send its signal to the PCM, and then the PCM tells the gauge what to do...... I get neat behavior like the needle showing better than 40 PSI, but, the Low Pressure light comes on....... How does that make any sense?

 

Yes, the pinging has returned when Accelerating again. Basically its doing just like it was before the Hughes plenum fix. I recently towed a big 68 Sport Fury 383 big block car with it and it did great on the low end driving on the stop and go part of the trip, but when I got on the highway (Overdrive off) at 60mph to 65mph it was pinging so much it almost sounded like something bad was going to happen haha But it did fine and drives like normal. I think I might drop the pan again to be safe and see what is going on at the oil filter area and check everything else. This truck is real clean and the engine and under carriage is VERY clean but I found out after I bought it, that it had only been driven 800 miles in 2 1/2 years before my purchasing it. I think im just fighting the build up of sludge or lack of oil changes during all that time and its just going through the clensing process so to speak with all the oil changes ive done to it.

 

Just thought i'd add in, did a buddies plenum on his 99, with the included metal gasket, and it failed on him within 5k. Did my plenum with the included metal gasket, and unlike him, i feared a bolt dropping into the drivetrain, so I used thread lock on the plenum bolts. Haven't had any issues with pinging yet, and im at roughly 3k miles with new pan. we used the same torque wrench on both our plenums, so not sure if that's his issue or not. He's since switched to an airgap though, so i'll likely be modding his kegger, and stickin it on my truck sometime.

And I'd def check out that oil filter issue, as mine tends to spew oil all over me, before i even have it halfway unscrewed. Just happened to me tonight. I'll also add in, that i switched to valvoline fully synthetic, 2,3 oil changes ago, and have since then, gained a nice lil leak at the back of the engine. Likely rear main seal, from what I'm reading in my other thread. Tonight switched to castrol gtx 10-30, so praying it'll cure my leak issue. Otherwise, I gotta pull the pan as well.

 

@79Jon Sounds like the gasket may have failed again. Sux to have to do it again but I guess its a dodge thing. I had heard of people having the same issue with the metal gasket so I used a felpro gasket. I'm at 8k miles and so far no issues, but now that I said that we all know what will happen. It is very possible that you are right and that you are fighting sludge. In that case I would def drop the pan and have a look. Also like I said when you pull the filter check the cavity for sludge or an obstruction.

When mine decides to go again, and it will, I am either going to weld a plate to it or buy a performance manifold. I've been looking at the mopars alot lately. Also looking at a set of 1.7 RR. Think that would be nice.

@bekins01ram I just looked at your other thread and am inclined to agree that is probably rear main. I have seen lots of leaks appear when switching to a full synthetic on a high mileage engine. Sometimes switch to a blend is enough to stop the leaks but not often.

 

Back to the oil filter, you said it felt heavier but didn't drain any oil. When you change it again cut open the used filter and see whats inside.

 

bekins01ram - I think your friends Ram sounds just like mine.. Metal Gasket failed at 5K. Thats exactly how many miles its been for me.. Sucks I have to do it all over again but it wasnt that hard.. just time consuming. Should have put the Felpro in there!! ahh oh well live and learn.

edlucky1 - Yep.. it was pretty damn heavy for a filter that didnt drip alot of oil back out of it so I knew it had something in it. Ill cut it open and see whats going on inside. For all i know, the sludge is getting trapped in there like it should.

 

What kind of filters you use?

 

Typically im a diehard WIX filter user and thats what I usually run on the truck. But The last two times ive changed oil I got stuff on sale. One was a K&N Filter, and the one on there now is a Fram.

 

I've had fram do as you describe. I always pour oil out of my old filters and the last fram I used very little came out. That was the last fram I used. Wix is good and K&N is to from all I've heard.