Sorry, this may be a stupid question, but I've noticed a difference in the way my 02 RAM CTD engine has been sounding lately. I only have about 36k miles on this truck & up until about 32k or so it still had that tight & healthy diesel engine sound (24v ctd rattle). It always sounded like it did the day it was driven off the lot.

Lately I hear a little more of a knock in the background behind the normal rattle. It seems to be noticeable when driving at low speeds 20mph or even at idle sometimes. Not really a sound like anything is going out, but just not a new engine sound.

Is there anything that can be done such as timing adjustment or anything with the fuel that can make the engine sound back to that new engine sound.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Try adjusting the valves maybe????

 

Some of the sound may be the ultra low sulfur fuel. I noticed a change in mine also. An additive like power service (cetane booster) seems to make it sound better.

 

Thanks for the information. I wondered about change in fuel. I will try the cetane. It does seem to have happened just within the past 6 months or so.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Mine got louder after the switch to ULSD. I ran two qts of two cycle in it last summer after I couldn't find any Power Service and it seemed to get a lot quieter. I overdosed the 2 cycle by mistake but no harm done in that. Valves at 36K seems kinda early. I'm thinking you don't drive it enough

Kurt

 

I'd also vote for the fuel. I wouldn't think valves. Cummins rockies mountain in Albuquerque NM told me that valve adjustments really aren't needed. True or not, I don't know, but he said out of all the pickups they have gotten in for service, only 2 actually needed a valve adjustment and cummins has kind of gotten away from recommending it every 150,000 miles.

 

Valve adjustment at 36k, not needed. My suggestion, turn up the radio. Unless mine is making some crazy sound I pay it no mind. Little sounds changes here and there because of fuel cetane differences. Drove around for the first six months with the radio off listening to the engine. Everytime I heard something different I would wonder what was going on. Not anymore, still rattles, clangs makes a load of noise just don't get to specific on each change of pitch, rattle. Just my .02

 

Dump some 2 stroke non synthetic oil in it and drive it. Being an 02 and only having 36k on it is probably part of the problem. These trucks like to be run and run hard.

 

I would definitly check the valves! FSM tolerances on valves are quite broad, so to say and should be checked as soon as it leaves the factory, if you ask me!
First time I checked mine there was two or three that was different than the others, and it made a big difference in how smooth it sounded when I adjusted them to "my" spec´s. Everyone was correct if you look at it the FSM way though.

I adjust them like 4 times a year, but thats cause I take it apart all the time...

Well worth the time everytime!

 

You think it rattles and rumbles now, wait untill it gets 215k on it. You can hear mine a block away. Dogs bark at me, people bring out the trash, others hold their nose, I even had a guy turn his wipers when I was playing 'coal man'. haha

 

Check your AIR filter....

 

I'm convinced that the ULSD makes my truck run rough. The newer diesels are designed for it, but our trucks are not. I put PowerService Dieselclean in every tank & it really helps. I've filled up with high sulfur offroad diesel in tank occasionally and it really makes the engine run well.

 

I use power service too. White bottle in the winter and gray bottle in the summer

 

My truck quieted down allot with the new vp44.

 

Cold temps = advanced timing = different sound. It will quiet down when the ambient temps warm up a little.