I've got a 2001 Ram 4x2 360 V8. Runs great, just recently starting having a slight problem. Yesterday morning going to work I noticed it was running a little rough after first cranking over, kinda like it was "chugging" or shaking, but as far as I could tell it wasn't missing.

Anyway it sorted itself out on the way to work, so no biggie right? Well on the way to the doctors office after work it was chugging even worse, to the point where it had trouble going when pressing down on the accelerator.

While going up the road while it was still having trouble it made a really weird and loud noise, not a backfire, I'm sure it came from the engine area but not really sure how to describe the noise. So I turned into the nearest parking lot to head home, while waiting on traffic it "fixed" itself and ran fine the trip home.

This is the first I've had any issues with the truck engine wise, having said that I am low on gas, down to an 1/8 of a tank. I'm hoping that maybe it's just some older ****ty gas in the bottom of the tank, after a few minutes of idling it will run fine.

Anyone else have an experience like this or any advice?

Thanks.

 

Put some good gas in it, and see if the problem repeats itself. If it does, probably time to check and see if the cat is going.....

Have you ever fixed your plenum?

 

No I haven't replaced the plenum yet.

 

But I have also noticed that I'm using oil in between oil changes. Changed oil about 2 or 3 months ago and now down to the "add" line on the dipstick. Been looking at the Hughes Plenum Plates the last few minutes.

 

How many miles in that two or three months?

Time to fix the plenum, and do a pretty thorough tune-up. If the problem still exists, look at the cat, and pre-cat O2 sensor.

 

About 2000+, not 100% sure, my normal driving is very lite so I go by the oil. Went on a trip to Va from Ga, so 1000+ highway roundtrip, plus the driving around. I live about 5 miles from work so about 10 miles a day normal travel. So it's getting close to an oil change.

Gotta get the front end looked at too, the steering has a left to right squeal and the suspension has an up and down squeak. The suspension feels like coil springs and/or shocks.

 

Adding an update. The shaking got worse, to the point where I couldn't get it to go any faster then 45. Put a code reader on it, the number 8 cylinder wasn't firing right. Took the plug out, (someone has champion plugs on mopar wires) cleaned it up a bit and all is good for now.

Still going with a Hughes Plenum Replacement, and a new set of plugs and wires.