Flush the cooling system really well a couple times, and just drive it. See if the crap re-accumulates.

 

I could do that but it's the pinging that's really bothering me right now.

I was thinking.... If the intake manifold gasket had an issue could it be causing a lean condition on one of the cylinders? If I remember right, there are also cooland ports that hit the intake manifold...Could it be cucking coolant through the intake gasket? Say if maybe a bolt backed out of the manifold/head?

It's a guy thing.... I just want to turn the wrench and fix it. I just don't know what wrenches to start turning....

 

have you fixed your plenum yet? If not, have you checked it?? How old are the plugs? Etc.

The two problems might be related...... but, I kinda doubt it..... I would go after the cooling problem first... and see if that didn't resolve the other issues.... plenum plate is famous for causing spark knock though.

 

Well if your pinging, maybe its fuel system related. Do simple stuff like new fuel filter, plugs (ngk v-power, its like I have a new truck), sea foam. If that dosent clear it up then check spark. Have you done a radiator system flush yet??

 

How is changing the fuel filter going to repair the pinging issue? Especially considering the filter is part of the fuel pump assy.

 

Clean out old gas.

 

SOLVED! Tore into the engine thinking that I was going to remove the heads and look what I found. The gasket was a mess. Both water and oil being sucked into the cylinders.


It was interesting that when I was removing the intake manifold it seemed like the bolts were a little loose. Even though I did the torque sequence when I installed them. This time I went through the torque sequence at least 5 times. Each time a couple of the bolts moves slightly. The last round none of them moved so I know this time that they are ALL torqued to spec now.

This thing runs like a new truck again. Smooth (for a dodge), no pinging, and it seems like a valve train rattle I had is now gone. Anyway I'm going to run a couple cycles of cooling system cleaner before I fill it up with coolant.

Just thought I would share the fix. Thanks for all the input. This forum is very helpful!

 

Congrats. Now you owe the class a box of cookies!

 

Nice job man! Thanks for posting the answer to your problem.

 

During this repair I noticed that there was oil in the plenum. I had already installed a hughs plate over a year ago and scratched my head a little as to why it had oil in it. ALL the ports were black with oil residue and the inside main body was coated with oil. I just figured it was pulled oil in through the intake gasket. I removed the plate, scrubbed the whole kegger and installed a new felpro gasket. I also replaced plug #5 since it looked like this again.


I have about 300 miles since the repair. It ran well for the first 100 then started pinging again. I pulled the plugs to do a compression test and #5 plug was already starting to look like the picture above. In addition the threads were covered in serious oil and there is an oil residue inside the plenum again. I did the compression test and all the numbers were in the 155 range except for cylinder 5. It was 170. I'm assuming from all the oil in there causing a great seal.

So I think what this is telling me is that somewhere in #5 cylinder there is something failed. Either a valve guide seal, rings, bad head gasket.... As I mentioned earlier in the post, new Odessa heads were installed about a year ago when one cracked. What would be the next thing to check? Any other suggestions?

Also I have drained the coolant twice and I'm running my 2nd prestone cleaner through it to clean up the cooling system mess.

Help me please. I love this truck, but I'm really getting to the end of my patience trying to fix it.

Thanks,
Mike