Dodge Ram 1500 ???

[OCarney]

I found a nice 1998 Ram 1500 2x4 quad cab with 5. 2 motor & automatic. Anyone have any experience with this engine, any advice on what to look for? Thanks in advance.

 

[Kissfan113]

how many miles. the 5. 2 is a 318 cubic inch v8, i believe it has a roller cam. I have had several 318 motors adn they are bulletproof so to speak, for example, my friend had one in an older truck, wanted to blow it up so he had just cause in his mind to swap in a big block 440, put a brick on the gas pedal and let er run, it run out of gas and didn't blow, that engine is still running strong today with well over 300,000 miles on it. the 5. 2 is also the easiest on gas of the 2 engines (5. 9 (360), and 5. 2 (318)) not saying it is the best in the world, but it gives decent mileage and plenty of power at the same time, i would say to expect between 14 and 16 mpg give or take. if it looks like a good deal, and it is not beat to pieces, looks well maintained in other words, go for it, it will make a very good and reliable truck.

 

[OCarney]

Thanks for the info. It has 94k on the clock. It looks good, and has fiberglass running boards and fiberglass bed cap. I am going to go check it out today as I saw it last night on a local lot.

 

[jeepit]

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5. 2 with 134,000 miles. Still runs like a top and gets 18 mpg consistently with plenty of power.

 

[Byershome]

I am not sure if there are any major differences between my 93 and the 98 5. 2 but mine has 260000 miles on it and is still going strong. The only thing outside of normal maintenance that has been replaced are the water pump and fuel pump.

 

[Hohn]

AHH!! The Mopar 318! One of my favorite American small blocks. The short stroke and long rods means that the rings tend to last forever.



If a 318 starts burning oil, it's usually the valve guides, because the rings last so long.



The Magnum conversion in 1992 changed some parts of the 318 (it became known as the 5. 2, for instance), but most is the same. Crank, rods, pistons, etc are all the same. The main change with the engine was the heads and valvegear. The older (LA style) 318 the debuted in 1967 had shaft mounted rockers, and oiled through he head. The Magnum engine (1992+) went to stud-mounted rockers and oiled them through the pushrods. The magnum heads ended up being cheaper to make. They can flow well, too, as they are loosely based on certain dimensions of the famed W2 mopar small block head.



All 318s since 1985 have a hydraulic roller cam setup. Not very performance-friendly, but it's easy (no) maintenance.



One problem area with all 318s-- the timing chain!! Mopar small blocks are hard on chains and the slack ends up causing poor cam timing and bad MPG. Replace the OEM piece with a high-quality chain like those from www.hughesengines.com



Mopar Performance has a timing chain tensioner that is a good investment, imo.

They can also have head sealing issues if the coolant is not well-maintained.



IMO, the 318 is far superior to a 360. The 360 gets TERRIBLE mpg, and isn't much more powerful at all.



The 318 is a little darling of an engine.



JMO, as always.



Justin

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

The 318 is bulletproof. Engine pulls strong and its hard to break. MPG does suck at times... . dont expect much more than 16-18.



The automatic transmission is junk. My dad just had his replaced on his '97 1500 (same setup as what you're looking at) due to a Chrysler factory defect (bad o-ring seal). Had the famous 2-3 upshift problem (rev up against the governor and then finally upshifts). He has 100k on the truck. only about 2k on the rebuild and its back in the shop for defective speed sensor on the transmission. Transmission has been working great though. The problem is also fixed permenantly on a rebuild if the rebuilder knows his stuff.



He has swore off all gas/auto Rams and wont be going to another one. Only dodge he will consider now is the diesel (previous experience with my CTD)---- and he doesnt need one---would be overkill.



He did have a manual/v6 Work Sport as his first Ram (94) and that thing was bulletproof too... . but the engine and various sensors started going to hell and he traded it off to the '97. They no longer make a v6/manual combo or a Work Sport... . so hes out of luck there.



The trucks are nice, just watch the automatics.

 

[OCarney]

Thanks for the posts guys. We were too busy today for me to break loose & go look at it, but I will check it out in the morning. Good info.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I had a 94 318 and after that one I would never buy another. Maybe I got a slug. If you decide to buy it, I hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[Jaysyl]

I have a 95 Dakota, only has 70000 miles still runs good . Replaced the water pump last year, changed the transmission fluid twice. Mpg 13-15 around town once got 19 on the highway. I think the 5. 2 (318) is not to bad.

 

[DBogo]

one word of advice stay away from the 5. 9 gas they burn oil like its there job no matter how well you take care of it

 

[Byershome]

"one word of advice stay away from the 5. 9 gas they burn oil like its there job no matter how well you take care of it"



Both the slant 6 in my first truck and the 318 in my second burned one quart every 5000 miles like clock work. I thought it was part of the design :-laf



"One problem area with all 318s-- the timing chain!! "



I'll be looking for this now... ... ... ... ... it surely can't hold out much longer ... ... ..... 260000 and counting :-laf

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

one word of advice stay away from the 5. 9 gas they burn oil like its there job no matter how well you take care of it

IMO, the 318 is far superior to a 360. The 360 gets TERRIBLE mpg, and isn't much more powerful at all.

Just another side of the coin. I had a 93 W250 with a 360/5sp, and 4. 10's prior to my first Cummins. Consistently got better than 17 mpg, and never burned a drop of oil. Aside from the Cummins, it was by far the best truck I ever owned. The only reason I got rid of it, was to get the Cummins.



Jim

 

[B.G. Smith]

I had a 77 with 360, drove it 177000 miles and it was still going great when I sold it, gas mileage was in the mid teens on the hwy. I have a 89 Ramcharger in the yard with 189000 miles, it gets about the same mileage. I have never had an oil usage problem. These engines have been coming new with roller cams and roller timing chains since about 1987. bg

 

[WMonroe]

I had a Dakota with the 318 and put 86,000 HARD miles on it. Never burned any oil or had any problems of any kind.

Will

 

[OCarney]

Thanks guys for all the replies & good info. We could not work out a deal, but it was a nice truck.

 

[jnelson]

one word of advice stay away from the 5. 9 gas they burn oil like its there job no matter how well you take care of it

That's funny we never added a quart to my wifes '00 durango with a 360. Only went to the dealer once for a transmission sensor. The Dingo gaves us 116,000 trouble free miles.