Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Yes, the oil pan comes off on 2WD's w/auto

[Dennis Garrett]

I've been plagued with a hollow, ringing vibration coming from the oil pan for several months now. So far I have not been able to find a cause or a cure for it. Idling hot, if I lay on my back and press a folded shop towel against the shallow end, it stops, or is muted. I figured it must be something in the pan, maybe a loose suction tube, so I decided to remove the pan & take a look. (I have a 97 2500 2WD, auto). First I removed the fan. Then I took a boost pipe off the intake manifold, and one going to the intercooler on the pass side. Then I took the tru-bolts out of the motor mounts, and jacked up against the balancer. It came up easily, enough to wiggle the pan out from the front. I thought it was necessary to take the transmission out first, but even at that, the big adapter plate on the rear of the engine is in the way, and would have to be taken off too. So, I got the pan off, and looked at the suction tube, but it was rock solid, and there was no sign of anything touching the pan, and nothing loose anywhere up in the engine that I could see. The only thing left at that point was to clean it up, put on a new $25 Cummins gasket, & hope for a miracle. No luck, still rings from the pan same as before. Any ideas? I've tried everything I can think of.

 

[BCFAST]

Wild Stab

Gonna take a hip shot at this You are probably a victim of simple harmonics. ie. those with open exhausts get that deafening drone at a certain rpm. To change the harmonic in the pan, you will have to change its vibrating frequency. I would suggest contacting lsfarm (Greg) about a sound-proofing foam he's using around his oil pan. He claims an incredible result! Good luck.

Brian

 

[illflem]

Dennis did you notice if the pan is double walled as some have said?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

BCFAST



I am thinking the same thing. Unless Dennis has a bad rod bearing but that is almost unheard of. Plus you would probably hear it from up top.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

No, the pan is a single wall, stamped out pan. I think the response about harmonics is going to be the correct answer. (just might be an unpleasent side effect of the GSK, & the resulting rough idle) About all I can do is try to get something to stick on the sides &/or bottom of the pan to absorb the ringing. The rods are quiet, & looking up into the engine from the bottom, it looked as clean as the day it was made. No crud or residue in the pan either, the Delo 400 & Stratapore filter are doing a nice job. The drain hole in the pan was interesting, it was a large, flat donut that stuck up an inch or so, the full length of the threads on the drain plug, and it had four drain holes around it's base that channel the oil toward the drain hole.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Dennis,



ATPWrap makes an oil pan cover for the Dodge Ram. Maybe this would quiet it down some.





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More info: http://www.atpwrap.com/dodge_ram.htm

 

[Dennis Garrett]

That's some neat stuff, surprised I've not heard of it before. Just wish it wasn't so pricey. In the meantime, I think I'll try about a pound of those foam backed, adhesive wheel weights in a dozen or so places & see what that does.

 

[Teacher]

Oil pan covering

Try Noisekiller.com