Engine Noise

[_TonyB_]

Hi Folks,

My name is Tony and I'm new to this forum. I own a 2005 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Hemi with a K & N CAI and Borla Stainless single outlet exhaust. I purchased the truck used in 2008. I'm hoping you can help me with a problem I've had since I've owned the truck. I hope this wasn't already answered - I did a search but couldn't find anything, so I figured I'd post. If the truck is lugging, usually at lockup, I hear a rattle in the engine. If I feather the throttle (increase the RPMs) it goes away. I've tried different octane gas (I always run 89 or better), I've spoken with my Dodge mechanic about it but nothing has solved the problem. My mechanic checked it, no bulletins, nothing that he can see is wrong. it doesn't appear to impact performance, its just annoying. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[JimE]

Hi Folks,

My name is Tony and I'm new to this forum. I own a 2005 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Hemi with a K & N CAI and Borla Stainless single outlet exhaust. I purchased the truck used in 2008. I'm hoping you can help me with a problem I've had since I've owned the truck. I hope this wasn't already answered - I did a search but couldn't find anything, so I figured I'd post. If the truck is lugging, usually at lockup, I hear a rattle in the engine. If I feather the throttle (increase the RPMs) it goes away. I've tried different octane gas (I always run 89 or better), I've spoken with my Dodge mechanic about it but nothing has solved the problem. My mechanic checked it, no bulletins, nothing that he can see is wrong. it doesn't appear to impact performance, its just annoying. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

You need to give a better description of the circumstances and the nature of the noise type (pinging to thumping or clacking). Any engine noise is a problem more than likely beyond just being annoying.

What happens under load? What happens during deceleration? What happens on straight flat roads with cruise set at various speeds?

 

[Saltillo Express]

What JimE said.

 

[_TonyB_]

You need to give a better description of the circumstances and the nature of the noise type (pinging to thumping or clacking). Any engine noise is a problem more than likely beyond just being annoying.

What happens under load? What happens during deceleration? What happens on straight flat roads with cruise set at various speeds?

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in my response to your question. I was away for a few days without access to the internet-not necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, I did a bunch of driving on my trip and really paid attention to the situation. I guess I would describe it as a pinging sound, it sounds like its comes from the passenger side of the engine, it only happens under load-usually lugging up hill. It has only happened between 1500 and 2500 RPMS. It won't happen on decel, I have to be on the throttle for it to happen. It won't happen down hill because the engine isn't under load. The pinging isn't speed specific it happens when the truck is under load, climbing an incline and the throttle is steady where its keeping a constant speed but the engine is working to maintain that speed (between 1500 and 2500 RPMs). I hope this information paints a clearer picture. Thanks again.

 

[JimE]

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in my response to your question. I was away for a few days without access to the internet-not necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, I did a bunch of driving on my trip and really paid attention to the situation. I guess I would describe it as a pinging sound, it sounds like its comes from the passenger side of the engine, it only happens under load-usually lugging up hill. It has only happened between 1500 and 2500 RPMS. It won't happen on decel, I have to be on the throttle for it to happen. It won't happen down hill because the engine isn't under load. The pinging isn't speed specific it happens when the truck is under load, climbing an incline and the throttle is steady where its keeping a constant speed but the engine is working to maintain that speed (between 1500 and 2500 RPMs). I hope this information paints a clearer picture. Thanks again.

Tony, the operational circumstances sound an awful lot like what would go on with a rod bearing problem before it becomes bad enough to sound like more of a "Thump" than a "Ping." Have you noticed any variation in oil pressure during the time you hear the noise? There is a very remote possibility it could be a weak valve spring on an exhaust valve. It won't be a lifter or slightly bent push rod as either would be constant at all rpms. I'd get that puppy on an engine analyzer with a rear wheel dyno so the transmission can be placed into gear while the rpms are increased to the point the noise begins.

I should have mentioned any mechanical noise taking place internal to the engine is going to drive the computer nuts as the "knock sensor" will be telling it to retard the ignition.

 

[Hornet]

You bought it in 08 and it's been making this noise since then,i'd think it's not that serious.
I'd rule out rod bearings,if they were knocking in 08 they would'va let go by now.
To check your rod bearings for noise,get a piece of rubber hose put one end in your ear and with the other end start probing around the oilpan,listening for odd noises from the bottom end,when the trucks warm and idling

Check the plugs for tiny little silver specks on them,that's an indicator to detonation problems

 

[JimE]

You bought it in 08 and it's been making this noise since then,i'd think it's not that serious.
I'd rule out rod bearings,if they were knocking in 08 they would'va let go by now.
To check your rod bearings for noise,get a piece of rubber hose put one end in your ear and with the other end start probing around the oilpan,listening for odd noises from the bottom end,when the trucks warm and idling

Check the plugs for tiny little silver specks on them,that's an indicator to detonation problems

I would seriously doubt that detonation with a computer controlled ignition is the problem, even if using a low octane fuel.

Rod bearings don't necessarily totally fail quickly once they begin yelping. I once put well over 10,000 miles on an old Ford F-150 with a 5.0L that had a mild rod knock that developed at over 250,000 miles on it. It kept on chugging and even pulled a few 5,000+ pound loads. It finally croaked at just short of having 300,000 miles on it. One just never knows. But we do know it won't get any better on its own and will eventually take out the crankshaft and possibly send a rod right slap through the side of the block.

His problem could also be an exhaust leak that just doesn't show up except under load. For example a cracked exhaust manifold will often get a lot louder with things under load.

As hard as we all might try, there is never a real possibility of accurately diagnosing an engine problem online. Clues from what we know is the best we can do.

 

[Hornet]

His problem definitely doesn't sound rod bearing related if you read his posts closely.
By now the rods would be creating a pile of noise at any rpm.
Rod bearings get progressively noisier when they start to go.
Just my .02

 

[Bombdigitty]

Could just be the MDS noises?

 

[_TonyB_]

Could just be the MDS noises?

If you are referring to MDS as in multi-displacement, my truck does not have that option. I believe that began in 2006

 

[_TonyB_]

Tony, the operational circumstances sound an awful lot like what would go on with a rod bearing problem before it becomes bad enough to sound like more of a "Thump" than a "Ping." Have you noticed any variation in oil pressure during the time you hear the noise? There is a very remote possibility it could be a weak valve spring on an exhaust valve. It won't be a lifter or slightly bent push rod as either would be constant at all rpms. I'd get that puppy on an engine analyzer with a rear wheel dyno so the transmission can be placed into gear while the rpms are increased to the point the noise begins.

I should have mentioned any mechanical noise taking place internal to the engine is going to drive the computer nuts as the "knock sensor" will be telling it to retard the ignition.

Wondering if this could be diagnosed - or maybe ballparked is the more accurate description - if I were to drive the vehicle with an engine analyzer hooked up and see what it reads when the problem occurs?

 

[_TonyB_]

Tony, the operational circumstances sound an awful lot like what would go on with a rod bearing problem before it becomes bad enough to sound like more of a "Thump" than a "Ping." Have you noticed any variation in oil pressure during the time you hear the noise? There is a very remote possibility it could be a weak valve spring on an exhaust valve. It won't be a lifter or slightly bent push rod as either would be constant at all rpms. I'd get that puppy on an engine analyzer with a rear wheel dyno so the transmission can be placed into gear while the rpms are increased to the point the noise begins.

I should have mentioned any mechanical noise taking place internal to the engine is going to drive the computer nuts as the "knock sensor" will be telling it to retard the ignition.

Would it make sense to hook up an analyzer and drive the truck to see if it shows the knock sensor going crazy? Certainly less expensive than getting it on a dyno - at least as an initial check. Does that make sense?

 

[_TonyB_]

Sorry for the double post to the same response. I had an issue with my computer and I thought I lost the original response... DUH!

 

[_TonyB_]

Thanks for the ideas. I really appreciate the effort. The more I listen to it the more I'm wondering if it might be exhaust related. I was driving past a wall the other day with my passenger side window open and I heard what seemed to sound like an exhaust leak - quite similar to the sound I hear at speed. Strange tho how the sound is more pronounced at that certain time between that particular RPM range. Anyway, if I end up curing it, I will post an update. Thanks again.