Just bought a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 .It runs great bught it has a tick to the engine when I start it .After I run it in town or on freeway it stops.I think it might be a fuel injector any ideas?

Asked by Cnote100 Feb 23, 2013 at 05:11 AM about the 1996 Dodge RAM 1500

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

6 Answers

Sounds more like something is not getting oil until you get it going. Start there, with the basics, simply check the oil and preferably change it. Since it's 'new' to you it may not have been changed in a long time. The valve lifters need lubrication and they might not be getting it. It has either a 3.9L V6 or the 5.2L V8 and both of those engines have hydraulic roller tappets

177,545

There used to be special oils to clean out and reduce noise from hydraulic lifters. I don't even know if they still exist today. They were called "top oils" and one was Marvel Mystery Oil". As David suggested, a fresh oil change might quiet it down. t's really nothing to be concerned about.

Hey I remember 'top oils' now that you mention it tenspeed, been a while since I heard that used though.

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I wouldn't advise adding anything to the oil any more - at least not for long term service. No more STP motor honey because Andy Granatelli used it in his Indy turbine racers. Today's oils are delicate mixtures of additive packages and adding unknowns can screw up the soup. I took bearings and lubrication classes as part of my reactor training in the Navy. The basics are still valid but there have been a lot of improvements.

I couldn't agree more. Tenspeed you showed me something, when you mentioned "Bob the Oil Guy" I went there and read up, that guy is a very good lecturer and I learned a lot. I had never heard of him before you showed me. It's been many years since I have actually put hands on an aircraft but what I retain from then and now is way different, we had synthetics but not like today's.

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It a pleasure to share sites like Bob's. I found out about him from forum warnings about Fram oil filters. Fram uses a cardboard inner piece that some have determined to be inferior. Once you find that site, natural curiosity kicks in and you're clicking on subject after subject. -- I found an electronic device that is supposed to check the health of your oil. Put a couple drops on a sensor and wait for results. I would wait until it's proven before I would buy it. http://lubricheck.com/home/product

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