I hope someone can help me. I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 4x4 sport with the 5.2. I bought this truck with 62,000 on it. it know has 65,500 and a Knocking sound can be heard. its sounds like metal hiting metal at ldle. if yuo rev it up past 2200 rpm you cant hear it. if you rev it slightly it goes with the rpm. now this is the wierd part after i drive it for about 10 mins and it warms up its almost goes away, but if you crawl underneth it you can still hear it. it is very loud for the first 10 mins though. it sounds like its coming from the back by the bell housing anywhere from the oil pan and up in the back of the motor. i took it back tot he dealership and they said no problem no unusual noise. thats crap. i took it back again they said lifter tap, its not , they refuse to do anywork for free, or 50-50 cause of no warrenty but i bought the damn thing for 9000. i took it to other dealerships ive heard many things like i don't know, wrist pin, piston slap,valves, oil pump, exhaust. basically no one knows, ive tried thicker oil, better gas, and notjing helps i would really appreiate some help i dont want to get rid of it cause i love the truck but its pissing me off and very embarrsing

 

Well when I read the first part I thought it might be a valve tapin, because my girlfriends mom's van, her valve taps and it goes away when the van starts to move, but i really don't know, could it be your oil sump, just an idea man. Hopefully you get it figured out.

 

A few things come to mind, not related to internal engine/trans noise...my Ram makes a tapping sound, very weird noise, I thought it was the torque converter or something...turns out it was a trans line sitting against the body under the drivers floorboard where it starts the curve up by the steering shaft...

I've also seen a service bulletin about the shifter linkage making a tapping sound and needs replaced with updated linkage...

And finally, a few weeks ago, I had an 00 Ram come in @ work with an odd noise like that, under the floorboard...the body bushing where his step bar was bolted to under the drivers feet was creaking with engine vibrations...step on the bar and it went away, had to remove the bushings and grease 'em up with some silicone [sm=confused06.gif]

Just a couple of possibilities...the noise mine made was the same as your description, worse at idle, when cold, changes with rpm, couldn't hear it past about 2000 rpm...good luck.

 

thanks for the ideas definitly will check them out it sounds interenal like the oil sump or maybe the linkage its a possibality. the oil not pumping enough or just bad thats what someone told me in the first place, the oil pressure when cold is around 60 and idleing, when 2500 rpm 35, after its warm its a constent 35 but thats just on the guage it could be wrong sound right?

 

Without looking, that oil press. sounds about where mine is...unless I read that wrong...when cold, your pressure drops from 60 to 35 when revving it? That part doesn't sound right.

 

if you get low on oil it might make the engine tap.. could cause your oil pressure to drop like that too when you rev it..

 

sadly ya its wierd, not more reving but when cold, if i go out to drive it i will give it o lets say 75-100% throtle to 70 mph the oil will go to 35 and when in overdrive back up to 50-60 when cold it does it very slowing though. when warm after 10-15 mins driving constate 35 on the gauge now it did this after i put some thicker oil in it before running 10w-30 it was 60 when cold all the time and 35 warm all the time ill double check tommerow and make sure its not backwards but im almost positive and oil is at the full mark just changed it 300 miles ago and thicker oil dont help the noise? even maybe made it worse? im too scared to drive it for long also its just pisses me off

 

i'd get under the hood (WHILE COLD) and check the oil level. you might be down a quart or two. IMO. especially if it's dropping in pressure at high revs (due to lower amounts of oil sitting in the pan cause it's getting pumped out). hmm brings on another question.. does the oil pump have a clutch like the mechanical fan does where it slows down at higher revs? i don't think it does.. but maybe.

first off check the cold oil level... that might do it.

 

mine was making a similar noise....had my tech check it out @ work, and ended up being the water pump. after talking with him, he said when he 1st heard it, he thought i was going to need an engine. but ended up being just the water pump.

 

Is this an automatic transmission truck?
If so The first thing you should check for is a cracked flexplate.
They sound like your engine is about to throw a rod . and when they warm up and expand the noise gets quieter.
Good luck.