Hello, this is my first post. I've done a bit of serching around thru past post but still have a few q's.</P>


I'm lookin at buying my first vehicle, a 98 ram quad cab 1500 4x2 with a 5.2 mag. But before i get too serious I'd like to know a few things, as I am totally new to dodge trucks. </P>


Theres approx. 100 000 miles on it. Is this really getting up there, or canthis motor go for ever?? I know a lot depends on how well it was looked after previously, but can they go a lot further?? (btw they're askin $8500 which im sure is nogotiable, just with not knowing the engine, the milage is only my real concern at the moment, as i have yet to go thru/drive it)</P>


Also is there anythingI should really look for when i go over it, notable problem areas or anything of the such. And Ive read quite a bit about gas mileage on the 5.9 will the 5.2 be any better, or is it worse, if so what mayI be lookin at, m/g</P>


Any help, or advice is much appreciated, </P>


Thanks</P>


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The plenum gasket is a common failure, it is on the bottom of the intake manifold and requires it (manifold) to be removed to replace it. If you have to replace it get a new gasket from dodge only... it has been updated and should not fail again. You can tell if it is bad by oil staining in the bottom of the intake (look down the throttle body with a flash light and you will see staining ifthe gasket isbad).</P>


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I had a 318 in a jeep grand cherokee that I swapped out last year and the block had lots of life left in it (no ridge on the cylinder wall) after 196000 miles. I should also mention that I ran Mobil 1 for much of the 100K that Iput onit, changed about every 3500 miles.</P>


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Other than the plenum gasket, the normal failures are always going to be there... fuel pump, water pump etc. Right now I have a 00 360 4x4...being sold on the durablility of the block... should be able to go 300K+ mi...</P>


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HTH -steve</P>


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