I don't know what needs to be repaired. My 1993 Dodge Ram 250 Conversion Van has poor acceleration and poping noises. It just started today. Before it was running fine with a new fuel pump, fuel filter, oil change and oil filter. After running for 20 miles the*van*would begin to lose its ability to accelerate. It would bog, pop, and spit when trying to increase speed, mostly when over 30 MPH.
The engine starts, idles, and runs, but it doesn't want to accelerate unless done very slowly or after stepping on the gas if I back off a bit it seems to find its power. Otherwise, it speeds up very slowly and if applying too much pedal it will pop and backfire. It used to be real quiet now it's more noisy. I don't want the mechanics to do anything unnessesary. Does anyone know what might be wrong. Thanks*

 

Poping noises?

Is that when the guy with the funny hat has had a little to much chianti?

Popping noises are usually backfiring through the throttle body, which is a timing issue. If really high mileage, the timing chain might have slipped a tooth.

You catalytic converter might be clogged.
Your Coolant temp sensor(2 wire) could be out of whack.

You should retrieve the computer codes by doing the Key dance.

You do so by turning the key on off on off on and wait for the check engine light to go out.

It will then start flashing.

flash pause flash flash means a code 12.
3 flashes, a pause and 5 more flashes is a code 35.

You should expect to see a code 12 and a code 55.

Post the others that you see.

 

This was my thought as well.

 

I guess some crud got shook loose. I put castro syntec and abt 3wks ago I put slick 50 in the gas tank. I guess it's cleaning. I have driven it 800 miles since the new fuel pump in. I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to see if there is something I can do abt the timing. I know it's not quite right, but don't know what needs to be done. Thanks for the ideas, this is a great site.

 

Sounds exactly like my "Poor Acceleration" thread for which the ideas seem to be running out.

 

Slick 50 in the gas? Never heard of that.

Thought it was an oil additive and snake oil at that.


I think the '93 still has a fuel filter along the inside of the passenger side frame rail.

We are not gonna keep throwing out new ideas until you rule our previous ones out.

You can check the resistance of the Coolant temp sensor. You can shine a timing light on the harmonic balancer, you can bang on the catcon as see if it rattles.

You could pull any possible trouble codes from the computer.

 

http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com...ves/32869.html

 

I did not realize Shell oil products US had acquired the slick 50 label. Hmmmmm.

While I am a fan of SeaFoam introduced into the intake, I believe fuel system cleaners containing PEA (polyether amine) are superior when introduced into the fuel tank.

SeaFoam does not contain this, I have no Idea if the Slick50 does. Some Products that do are Gumout Regane, Techron, Redline SI-1, Amsoil Performance Improver, and BG Products 44K.

All too often these miracle in a bottle type cures are a last ditch effort that have nothing to do with the driveability issue that caused their purchase.

We are an additive happy nation who want to believe in miracle pharmaceuticals and magic bottles of snake oil. Show us a car dragging an anchor say say it is caused by sludge and we imagine our oil has these little scrubbing bubbles with a pik ax and paper towels polishing the insides of our engines. The Placebo effect convinces us it is working.

On another forum I visit, a guy heard good reports from those adding 4 oz per 10 gallons of marvel mystery oil to the gas. He went out and dumped 2 gallons of MMo into his half full 16 gallon tank, then a few bottles of techron and gumout for good measure.

His more recent threads are about smoking and stalling and he's looking for an additive to fix that. His cure for everything is to add more. Guys got 7 quarts of oil in a 4 quart sump, says it runs better.

Beware of marketing hype.

 

SAY WHAT?!? What's his oil pressure like? That's insane.

 

My van doesn't have computer codes. The Van ran better after I put slick 50 in it.