Dodge Ram Quad Cab - READ ONLY

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#636 of 856 By far the best full-size pickup by libertycat Nov 23, 2002 (12:33 pm)
The Dodge Ram 1500 was so vastly improved in its 2002 redesign that in most auto magazines it moved from last to first place in its full-size pickup ratings. The same thing happened in my ratings too. It now offers edgy styling, lots of room, a great variety of bed and engine choices, and lots of desirable features. The Ram's MSRP with leather and a 6-disc in-dash cd changer is about $32,000. It can be had for under $30,000, though, due to dealer discounts. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, my third place winners, come close but no cigar. The Toyota Tundra and Ford F150 are so ugly and have such little room, they don't compare. The Cadillac Escalade EXT is WAY too expensive for most. Its twin the Chevy Avalanche is pretty expensive for this class but is a good second place alternative to the Ram. Other Ram enthusiasists are welcome to visit the Ram fan club!
#637 of 856 Indydriver............ by dustyk Nov 23, 2002 (7:38 pm)
This is a somewhat edited version of the presumably Russ W. Knize original. The blatantly anti-Fram verbiage has been removed, probably to make the so-called "research" appear more open minded and neutral. Like the item that was transmitted the other day from the original author, this one contains a link to the "Allied-Signal Engineer" that is inoperative. If anyone has this memo I would appreciate either getting a copy or a link to the originating source. Dusty
#638 of 856 Mr. Knize and Mr. Yeager by indydriver Nov 24, 2002 (2:01 pm)
both include disclaimers detailing exactly what they are doing. The work is clearly identified as non-scientific and never called research. It is simply an auto enthusiast pursuing an interest to the best of his limited abilities. I find this type of original investigation to be most useful. I do my own oil changes and was experiencing a lot, and I mean loud and prolonged, valve clatter on start-up. It truly concerned me because you know it can't be good for the top end of the motor. I was using Fram filters because I believed the marketing that it was a quality aftermarket part even though they are always a price leader. Since reading this information, I have tried other brands and achieved a definite reduction in cold start valve clatter. So, I don't use Fram anymore. I thought the folks discussing a reliability issue that involved Fram would like to be aware of this additional point of view.
#639 of 856 by lariat1 Nov 24, 2002 (5:10 pm)
Just out of curiosity how does an oil filter change the amount of startup valve clatter? No matter what kind od oil filter you get the filter is below the top of the motor causing valve clatter until the oil pump get the oil moving.
#640 of 856 by emale Nov 24, 2002 (6:17 pm)
lariat1, i think all filters have anti-drainback valves which serve to help keep oil "up" in the engine for fast return on cold starts...some seem to work better than others.
#641 of 856 Indy.............. by dustyk Nov 24, 2002 (6:26 pm)
The differences between a study and research are very, very subtle in the least as "the application of knowledge to a particular field or to a specific subject (study)" can be a interchanged with "investigation or experimentation aimed at discovery and interpretation of facts (research)." (The term "research" is technically more accurate in this case, anyways.) But I do agree with you that whatever it is it is not very scientific. The author promotes opinion that is not supported by the evidence in his own investigation. In addition, he and others who site his work promote through implication that there exists a design or component composition problem that is so generic, basic, and pervasive that associated problems must always symptomatic. That is not fact. For 140,000 of 160,000 miles I used Fram oil filters exclusively in a 1989 Plymouth Acclaim and this vehicle never suffered from cold-start valve clatter. That's forty oil filters and not one problem! The only two vehicles that I've ever owned that did have this problem has been with other brands of oil filters. My son's '91 Dodge Dakota with a 3.9 engine has had this problem for about the last 170,000 miles out of 230,000. I asked him the other day if he uses Fram oil filters and he said "yes." But he also said that the cold-start valve clatter has been present in this vehicle regardless what brand of filter he has used. There are a number of methodological issues with this work. The "eyes and common sense" litmus test is in fact totally unreliable, especially if used in a cursory way. Since heterodoxy and research analysis is a specialty of mine, I couldn't resist changing out my Mopar factory oil filter today for a Fram PH16. We'll see. I might, despite having two Purolators on the shelf for our Chevrolet 305, just install a Fram in that to see what happens. This vehicle does in fact have a cold-start valve clatter problem (currently has a Purolator). And I've been using Fram oil filters in my wife's Avalon since I've been changing the oil myself. No problem there, either. Dusty
#642 of 856 lariat............... by dustyk Nov 24, 2002 (6:35 pm)
Emale is correct. There is a one-way valve installed in most oil filters that prevents gravity from allowing oil in the upper parts of the engine from draining back into the oil pan. If this occurs, especially at low temperatures, the oil pump must re-charge a majority of the oiling system with oil from the pan. This usually is accompanied by momentary noise from a collapsing hydraulic valve lifter assembly(ies) or accumulated noise from solid lifter valve train systems. Dusty
#643 of 856 QC 1500 4.7L by ChrisCraft Nov 24, 2002 (6:59 pm)
Info please. Looking at 2002 QC. Not equipped for towing, but checking veh I find it has two smaller auxillary coolers in front of the radiator. Are these for the trans-oil and additional radiator or HD cooling. I understand that an option for this veh is HD cooling and can be had without the tow pkg. Thanks.
#644 of 856 Towing package.............. by dustyk Nov 24, 2002 (8:04 pm)
ChrisCraft, Based on observation of a towing package-equiped RAM I saw some time back, and the package definitions from the Dodge site, I believe that the heavy duty cooling is a three-row radiator instead of two (meaning three rows of cooling tubes). It appears that on the RAM the transmission oil cooler is located between the air conditioning condenser and the radiator. Maybe someone with the towing package can verify that. Regards, Dusty
#645 of 856 tow package by peppe1 Nov 25, 2002 (5:04 am)
Wrong ! The base Ram has Four radiators:(looking from the front) Right side (electric fan) AC Left rear Water(coolant) Next 4.7L(1/2 sized)Transmission oil OR 5.9L (full sized) Transmission oil Front small power steering cooler. However The heavy duty cooling may say a bigger(water) radiator(pre 02) but I still have not seen any evidence of that!!!