My 1998 4x4 ram is pinging very badly I have tried fuel additives, temp guage is fine, oil pressure is slightly low though . Could this be the cause? if so what fix can I perform.

 

Could be a clogged catalytic converter.

 

does your exhaust feel normal?? and check your warranty cause the convertors suck at life, but it's free replacement to 80,000 miles...

also what gas are you running? maybe you got some bad gas? or is this a recurring problem? try the crazy expensive stuff and see what happens, i don't personally like additives at all, just good gas from a station with a hig turnover and avoid getting gas for a couple hours after they receive their gas from the trucks.

 

These are NOTORIOUS for pinging. Switch to a 180 degree thermo, as the pinging is caused partly by high heat. Also run some premium gas, see if that helps.

If you go to the dealer they will tell you that they can reprogram your PCM. This stops the pinging but kills power and some MPG. This is know as the "death flash".

I highly doubt your cat would cause ping. Also you need to check your plenum gasket. Does your truck consume more oil than it should? To check the gasket take off your airbox and look directly down the throttle body. If there is alot of "pooling" oil down there your plenum is shot. A little oil is normal however.

Do the things I listed about and see if it helps. But just a note, pinging is VERY bad for your motor...drive it as little as possible before you kiss that motor goodbye.

 

Im glad I just read this.My truck just started using alot of oil and has been pinging alot.Im talking a quart a week,I hope its the plenum gasket Ill check tomorrow.I love this web sight

 

That would very well be the problem! Steve wrote a very nice DIY thread about replacing it. Its in the DIY section of the forum

 

im going to say plenum gasket. check in the tb for pooling oil.

 

plenum

 

what is the plenum gasket and where is it, I've seen it a few times pop up on the forum and I never knew what it was.

 

Its the gasket and pan that sits in between your intake manifold and engine block. TO check the plenum take your air clearer off and look down the throttle body. If you see lots of oil, its shot. Also Steve recomends to get a mirror and check in all the corner of the intake, sometimes it can hide.