Thankfully havent had a problem in a long time,but it seems to be creeping up on me. Anyways,i have a 01' 1500 with the V6 magnum (3.9) motor. I hate to describe "sounds" but here goes. As I give it gas hard (in a climb uphill or entering the highway/interstate),there is clanking sounds coming from the front end and im not sure what it is. I replaced plugs last night (wires today) and the oil/oil filter in hopes it would help. I used some lucas along with the oil change and it silenced the "clank" some but you can still hear it. Any ideas/suggestions?

 

Do the V6's have the same stupid plenum design as the V8's? If so, and you haven't address that yet, I'd start there.

Could it be a "can of marbles" kinda sound?

 

if it makes a terrible rattle sound when you lay into the gas pedal, and then subsides when you let up, its spark-knock = pinging = predetonation, caused by lean fuel condition/hot cylinder temperatures.

V6 does have the same stupid plenum design.
if yours has never been fixed, it probably needs it.

 

Now that you mention it,yea it kinda does sound like marbles.

 

Yea it happens when i lay into the gas,or im going over 50+ itll do a "clank" here and there.

 

fill up with 89 or 92 octane and see if it goes away. higher octane is more resistant to pinging.

 

I usually fill up with 89,but the last place i got gas was different then where i normally go. Could the quality of fuel cause problems like this? Ive had the truck four years and ive never had any problems beside normal wear and tear

 

You sure that part is true? If putting an oil additive helped silence it, then I would not say its pinging. Would seem more of an actual mechanical issue, rather than a knock issue.

 

A thick additive would slow down how much oil leaks past a blown plenum gasket and gets into the cylinders.

 

Yeah that makes sense..... I know for sure I have a blown plenum gasket as I have sen the oil pooled in at the bottom of the manifold yet I have not had any pinging or knocking....