Heavy Octane Ping

Hey folks,
I'm looking for a little help with a diagnosis issue. I have a '99 Ram with the 5.9 ltr 360ci. It has 55k miles on it and has been treated kindly all of its life. So here's the deal I started to hear a real heavy octane ping during hard ecceleration like passing, I would also get it when I accelerating above 70mph on the highway. I dumped some valve cleaner in and ran it through that seemed to help a little, I've also switched to mid-grade gas (even though the manual calls for the cheap stuff), the pinging has pretty much quit, but it returns after I have been driving for awhile and then go to accelerate up a hill. Granted the pinging isn't NEARLY as bad as it was before the treatment and octane change.

What's going on inside my engine that is causing this and what can I do to fix it?

Plenum pan gaskets are likely shot. Happened to me, and it pings like crazy.

you can also go to dealer and have pcm checked for lattest software updates there is an update that does address this issue for your vehicle and dealer must check with scan tool if it is loaded into your pcm or not chances it is not and should be put in usually if intake pan gasket is no good you will see an increase in oil consumption as it sucks oil from lifter gallery into intake

my guess would also be intake plenum (belly pan) gasket.
however, I'd advise against getting the "flash" from the dealer, that flash is often refered to as the "deth flash", it dose make the pinging stop, but it's really just a band aid fix, and just covers up the problem. the way it gets rid of the pinging is to pull some timing out, which pretty much kills performance.

you requested a cure for your ping problem now with this update we have the capabillity to adjust your timing electronically with our drb3 scan tool and if we leave the adjustment at "0" degrees then timing stays at original setting update allows us to retard timing "4" degrees max and for your intake plenum plate gasket dodge had problems in the early
years of the magnum but by 1997-1998 they had updated gaskets in their vehicles then and not many problems since and if it is faulty you should see an increase in oil consumption and maybe a little higher than normal idle bacause of excess air comming into intake just open your throttle body flaps wide open and see if you can see any oil at the bottom of intake

Autolite 3923 olugs are supposed to help the pinging problem.

plugs

yes i did hear something about a different plug helping must be slightly colder .Don't know how it would affect emmisions. Are you in a area subject to emmision testing. Did you read your owners manual i do believe there is talk about pinging and what is considered normal!!!!!just a thought!

Pinging isn't normal!! Please check the forum, there are numerous posts about 5.9L pinging and the replacement of the plenum gasket.

Hey fredjacksonsan do you have a Dodge truck of this vintage so you can read the manual and see exactly what they say about pinging and WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL before you start beecking off about something you obviously know nothing about. Or just go to your nearest Dodge dealer and read some of their manuals and then repost and let us know what you learned!!!!!!

Hey fredjacksonsan do you have a Dodge truck of this vintage so you can read the manual and see exactly what they say about pinging and WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL before you start beecking off about something you obviously know nothing about. Or just go to your nearest Dodge dealer and read some of their manuals and then repost and let us know what you learned!!!!!!



Hey 1thunder anyone with one iota of mechanical knowledge knows that heavy pinging isn't normal in ANY gas engine.

And there happen to exist numerous posts in reference to the 5.9 pinging and having a problem with the plenum gasket which, when replaced, solved the pinging problem.

So before you go putting words in my mouth take some time and maybe try to digest what is in my post. I never said that your vaunted computer flash wasn't the cure for the problem, only encouraged someone to take a look at the posts in order to have more information.

Stating that I "obviously know nothing about" this problem in the flat manner that you did simply shows your ignorance. Try to use your brain.

That, is why I don't give techs any of my money.

Maybe he's never driven a gas truck? Just worked on them?

That may be true, Bleed. I don't know yet.

OCUJer, sorry about the flames, they certainly don't help with your problem. I do know that ScoutinKeith and BleedDodge usually know what they're talking about, and I'd like to think that I do also.

That said, please make an informed decision about what to do in your case. Prior to doing the proposed "death flash" which may or may not decrease your performance, consider other options and read the other posts here about it.

You'll find that most folks here try to be helpful and are tolerant of other peoples' opinions.

1thunder, expect my PM in a bit.

That's what I mean, he read the book, now he knows everything. Right?

Fred, I respect you. As I do many others here. Techs, you've got my respect because you did the homework, that's for sure. You don't have to be assholes because of that. If anything we want to learn from you.

I took my truck in because it was pinging. I think they just blamed it on carbon and ran some Seafoam through it. I bet that's all they did! They charged me 100 bucks, and pinging came back almost 2 weeks later. The rest of the pinging "was expected and normal". I don't buy it. It rattles and knocks so much it scares the Chevy guys.

Me and a couple of my friends could tear it down and change all the intake gaskets including the plenum gasket for the price of a day out of a weekend, the gaskets and sealant, and the cost of beer they would drink, to be serious and exact. That's all it would cost me. I'd have fun doing the work too.

I'd probably feed the techs if they wouldn't bite my fucking hands.

the only time I ever go to the dealership any more is for the ocasional part that I can't find any place else, and sense I know a few of the guys that work in the parts dept., I can usuailly get the parts at cost.

Bleed, you are absolutely correct, it's a lot cheeper to change the plenum gasket yourself. when my plenum gasket wend bad, I called the dealership just to see what it would cost to have them replace it, and they quoted me a price of $400.!! I was able to pick up all the needed gaskets (actuailly came in a set, and included the plenum gasket), a tube of RTV, and some gasket sealer for $40.
the toughest part of the job was getting all the stuff (alternator, AC compressor, and mounting bracketry) out of the way to be able to pull the intake. and even with all that, it still only took about 5 hours. so with some buddies and beer, I think you could get it done in a lot less time.

I stay away from techs whenever possible, I hate to leave my vehicle with someone who works too long on too many vehicles, and to whom mine is "just another one" that they're trying to beat the book on.

Some techs I've taken a vehicle to have been good, and a lot of them have been bad. Sometimes they don't even listen to what you have to say, make an assumption and tell you what your problem is.

rant: Case in point: The rumble in my drivetrain. I took it to the dealer, told them the problem, and left it there all day with them. When I went to pick it up (after 8 hours and a call saying it was ready) they said they hadn't done any work to it and the exhaust noise was normal. I asked them if they had driven it. Nope. They hadn't done anything and had the vehicle all day. I insisted the tech go for a drive with me, and his eyebrows shot up when he heard and felt the rumble - it was obvious my truck had been parked all day long - so after ZERO diagnosis they were telling me it was normal. (I've since diagnosed it myself as a driveshaft vibration being transmitted through a hard rubber mount) /rant

Many techs straight out of school have a lot of book learning, you're 100% right there Bleed. But they don't have enough experience or seasoning to understand that their opinion may not be the only one that is correct. A dangerous assumption to make. And being assholes about it, well that speaks for itself.

I'm with you ScoutinKeith, DIY whenever possible. Saves money and usually downtime, and you know the job was done right. (Plus the beer angle of course!)

my 5.9pings too. tried to check the plenum gasket but not sure how..
hooked up the brake vaccum hose to a smokemachine, waited for 5-10 mins but no smoke anywhere around the plenum. just a bit from the breather. that mean it's ok? thanks. :evillol:

Hey fredjacksonsan do you have a Dodge truck of this vintage so you can read the manual and see exactly what they say about pinging and WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL before you start beecking off about something you obviously know nothing about. Or just go to your nearest Dodge dealer and read some of their manuals and then repost and let us know what you learned!!!!!!

If you won't take it from him then take it from me, this pinging....AIN'T NORMAL. Before the treatments I was noticably loosing Horse Power after a certian RPM. This 5.9 ltr is a beast, it doesn't loose HP at 75mph on an incline.

badthumper,
to check the plenum gasket, you can either look down the throttle body with a light to check thebottom of the intake for oil, or you can, with the engine running, remove the pcv valve from the valve cover, and cover the hole with you hand, if you can feel vacume, the gasket is bad, if preasure builds, then the gasket is ok. NOTE: if you have any other vac lines attatched to the valve covers, they need to be removed, and the holes plugged.

I doubt a smoke machine would show much, basically what you were doing is filling the intake with smoke, but the gasket is on the bottom side of the intake manifold, and any leaks would leak into the lifter valley, and not be visable to you.

my 2000 5.9 is pinging like crazy and I am so sick of getting ripped off. Do I tell them to just change the plugs? Thanks

my 2000 5.9 is pinging like crazy and I am so sick of getting ripped off. Do I tell them to just change the plugs? Thanks

Hey Carly, if you've looked in this forum you've seen all the threads about the plenum gasket being bad. That is where I'd start, based on your short description.

To get a bit more exposure, you might want to start a new thread, and describe your problem in detail. More folks will see it that way.

Take it to the dealer to get the computer reflashed.There is a tsb on that and that is the fix.One of my father's customers had that same problem,one with a 5.9.Luckily my father found that on Alldata and and told him take it to the dealer to get the computer reflashed.

Agreed that the flash works in some cases, but in others it causes a hellacious reduction in power. Better to check the plenum gasket first.

No kidding. Get the thing flashed and you'll have no power AND the still leaking plenum gasket...

First of all, that plenum gasket is a major design flaw in my book. If you want to fix it right, go to www.hughsengines.com .. They offer a replacement plenum cover made from machined solid aluminum with gasket and bolts for about $80. Its about 1/4" thick and can tolerate use of a supercharger. Or, use the M1 2bbl performance intake manifold found in the mopar catalog. That solved my problem with some gains to boot.

read this. anyone with dodge questions, ask me, because chances are i can answer them. heres the TSB of the plenum(intake) gasket problems for the 5.2-5.9 rams. ive had 2 put on my truck

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm


think before you fix, it even tells you how to check it, but a fast way is to look into your throttle body and see if oil is in your intake. but thats only works if its leaking near your TB. another way is if your consuming oil, and your not getting blue exhaust. i was going through 2 quarts every 500 miles, and no black plugs or blue smoke. yet another way is if theres oil inside your exhaust tips. keep n mind when the intake gasket leaks, 95% of the oil exits through your exhaust valves.

alot of you are right and think about this. Pinging is a problem. flashing the comp, or changing the plugs does not fix it. i dont get the common sense here. motors just dont develop a spark knock which requires a different program, or different plugs to fix

You need to watch the type of plugs you use. I have had bad experience with platinum plugs. I bought +4 and my engine knocked like crazy. I found out it's because they hold too much heat and can ignite the fuel prematurely. Just a thought.

Reflashing the computer will not effect the power of the truck.The tsb came from Daimler Chysler and they knew about it.Only brand plugs that are good for Chrysler products are Champion spark plugs.

Hey all, just joined this forum. Used to be in the Jeep one, had a Grand Cherokee. I had pinging there, but no good solutions. I ended up putting on a cold air intake, and problem solved. I know it did not fix anything, except introducing cooler air for combustion.

Now I have a 97 ram with the 5.9L, and I have pinging also. I wonder if the cold air intake would help here too. I had not heard about the plenum pan gaskets before, good advise. But what if I am not losing any oil, can it still be a bad gasket? Oil level has not moved over 3k miles (almost time for the next change).

Thanks!