maybe a leak on the head gasket or around the exhast flanges

 

popping popcorn is exactely what mine sounds like. It doesn't do it all the time either, seems only when the truck is hot (at operating temp) and not very consistant rythem.

 

Exactly, WTF?

 

its not an exhaust leak that a bit more rappy than this noise. and my heads were just replaced by the dealer so i dont think that is the issue and when it was leaking before i had no power. and my truck is finally running good. and pashtrd my noise does the same thing it doesnt do it when the truck is cold but once it warms up it does it and it will do it all the way home from work but as soon as i pull in my driveway it stops. i hate weird noises my ford had a few noises i couldnt figure out and its gone now.so know we know were not just crazy and there are plenty of us that have the same issue now we need to pinpoint it (obviously) well let me or all of us know if anyone else comes across anything and ill do the same good luck guys thanks

 

You are more than likely hearing "pinging" ... yes ... pinging does not actually sound like a "ping". I liken it to walking through dry leaves. Is that close?

 

no not really its sounds like popcorn popping its strange. and doesnt pinging occur under load? and i also have the death flash so i dont think that is it. and what else is strange is that all the other guys with the same problem have 95-97 i have an 02. 2500 most are 5.9 but one 5.2 so theres no real pattern to the yrs or motor size. this is confusing i should have stuck with a huffy lol

 

Mine only makes the sound when idleing, when warm, somtimes i can hear it in the cabin too. It sorta sounds like leaves being walked through, but doesn't ping only occur under load? It sounds liek it's coming from the head area on the drivers side on mine.

 

Pinging can occur under a wide variety of conditions. Mine does it worst when the weather gets cold. You'd think it would be worse in the heat of the Texas summer but it hardly does it at all then. I figure it's because the air is drier and the gas is formulated differently for winter temperatures (Well ... that's what I heard!).

Have you changed to the lower heat range (1 or 2 steps down) plugs yet? I think that's my first step ... 8.2mm wires and Champion Truck plugs - 1 heat range down.

 

No, but maybe i'll try that. I'd hope my head isn't cracked as it seems to be coming from one side of the engine.

 

Terran,

Sorry for jumping in here so late. I have a 2001 ram with 5.9.I Bought this truck brand new. At only 3000 miles I notices this sound as well..

Very irregular, Impossible to recreate. and never ever, did the noise sounds itself for the dealer..

I eventually gave up, I lost the truck in a repo, an 3 years later, found the same truck at a dealer, and bought it back with 50k more miles.

Guess what, the truck still does the same noise.. I still cannot figure out what it is..

I only heard it in the cab. When I would get out of the truck, I could never hear it.

Karl