2001 Dodge Ram Question
#2233577
01/13/17 04:45 PM
01/13/17 04:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,923 Richmond, Indiana
19swinger70
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,923
Richmond, Indiana
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Guys,
What are the symptoms of the intake / plenum gasket needing replaced on the 318 magnum motors in these trucks? My 2001 has 135,000 miles, and it feels very under powered. Also, when I step on the gas, my vents stop blowing air - which makes me think there is a vacuum problem? I have had this truck for 5 years - and only have put 10,000 miles on it. It is basically my weekend hauler and trailer puller a couple times a year. What do you think? Is there a way to troubleshoot if it is the intake gasket?
1970 340 swinger. sublime 1967 barracuda fastback BB 55 Plymouth Project
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Re: 2001 Dodge Ram Question
[Re: 19swinger70]
#2233630
01/13/17 06:16 PM
01/13/17 06:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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Doesn't sound like a plenum leak. But I may be wrong.
As said, look down the throttle body with a flashlight. If you see oil pooled on the bottom on intake, the plenum is blown. Other signs including pinging with regular octane under medium to heavy throttle, high oil consumption with no external leaks, misfiring from oil fouled plugs, etc.
Lack of power may be an indicator as well, if you've plugged up the cats with oil residue then your engine can't breathe.
If plenum is blown, I recommend in addition to fixing the gasket, that you replace the spark plugs and O2 sensors too. Then determine the health of the cat, and replace if needed.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: 2001 Dodge Ram Question
[Re: 19swinger70]
#2233920
01/14/17 07:54 AM
01/14/17 07:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 214
moparmandc
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 214
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When I was working in the dealership we would clamp off the pcv hose and pull off the vent that goes to the air filter housing at the valve cover. With that done put your thumb over the hole in the valve cover if it sucked your thumb in the intake gasket is blown if after a couple seconds you take your thumb off and it blows air out its building crankcase pressure and the gasket is good. Its about a 2 minute check when the engine is warm. But like said above if its bad enough you should see an abnormal amount of oil residue if you open the throttle and look in. For the vents switching to defrost when you are opening the throttle it could be the check valve in the vacuum line up by where the heater hoses go in to the core those went bad often. Check the intake first. If I had to bet I'm guessing the intake gaskets are bad if they are replace them and go from there.
Last edited by moparmandc; 01/14/17 07:57 AM.
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Re: 2001 Dodge Ram Question
[Re: 19swinger70]
#2233935
01/14/17 10:35 AM
01/14/17 10:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,923 Richmond, Indiana
19swinger70
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,923
Richmond, Indiana
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Thanks for the info guys - I will poke around on it this weekend.
1970 340 swinger. sublime 1967 barracuda fastback BB 55 Plymouth Project
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