Checking for Plenum Gasket Leak - Second Generation Dodge Ram 1500 - Part 1

In this video, I demonstrate how to check for a plenum gasket leak in my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. Plenum gasket failures are a very common problem across the Magnum engine platform used in second generation Rams, second generation Dakotas, and first generation Durangos.
To watch Part 2 of this series, click here: • Checking for Plenum Ga...
To watch my series on replacing the plenum gasket, click here: • 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 - ...
To purchase the Hughes Engines repair kit I referenced, click here: www.hughesengines.com/Index/pr...
Music: www.bensound.com
I am not a professional mechanic, and my videos are not intended to offer professional advice. Always reference your vehicle's service manual for official information, and please do not attempt any repair that you are not comfortable doing.
Thanks for watching!

[@jordanparker608]

Can someone shut that bird up!!😂

[@payloadperformance9706]

Thank you so much for this video, im going to do this tomorrow morning! very thorough explanation.

[@fixxerautomotive4917]

Thank you for this video! After 3 hours on this truck trying to diagnose a bucking backfiring problem, you lead me to the problem in 5 min!

[@raybombs]

Great vid, working on this in my 5.2 now thanks!

[@spelunkerd]

Don't forget to plug off both ends of the PCV valve tubing when doing it this way. The PCV is designed to be free flowing when one-way vacuum across it is minimal. So, the PCV will be wide open if you leave that end open to atmosphere. Any vacuum coming from a failed plenum pan gasket will be instantly relieved by the open PCV, causing a false negative with your test. I suppose one could clamp off the tubing to achieve the same effect, if you are confident it will work and you won't damage the tubing. Some people also plug off the oil dipstick tube, although the latter is not described in the Chrysler TSB explaining how to do this test.

[@Cirepstaf12]

The easier way is to just disconnect the hose from the Air Cleaner housing (on passenger side) to the PCV Valve on THAT side of truck and capping the end of that hose. THEN with the truck running take off the oil fill cap on the driver side and see if you hear or feel a vacuum when you place the palm of your hand over it. Thank for this great video. WELL DONE

[@polarisboy67]

Just look down into the intake through the throttle body if you see oil then you have a plenum gasket failure.

[@Hobo960]

Thank you G

[@prezzle208]

Just for my clarification cause I'm no professional mechanic just a guy who knows enough to be dangerous. You're referring to the air intake correct?

[@polarisboy67]

@@prezzle208 Yes, take the air filter box off. Just push open the throttle body and look though it.

[@prezzle208]

@@polarisboy67 thanks for getting back to me.

[@user-vh7ly1ob7o]

I suspect my intake gaskets are had ...I can actually here a large leak...I will look down the throttle body today and see it there is oil showing....no oil in coolant no coolant in oil...no white smoke on start up.....but trying to pump up coolant system is almost impossible you can hear the leak and the temp gauge will go to hot when it's running. I thought head gasket ..my friend says intake and to get a kit new gaskets new bolts and new intake pans....

[@Scott_ittude]

I also found after changing out the plenum that the pcv hose was completely gummed up causing check engine light and other issues on my ‘99 5.2.

[@Hello1026848]

I love all your videos I also made you some software Matt for P-Codes for this truck RAM.

[@mattpayne4087]

Wow, that's awesome! How does that work?

[@Hello1026848]

@@mattpayne4087 Here is the link dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-tech/422353-p-code-decoder-tool.html#post3433582 It's just a little program that has every P-Code this truck could possible ever throw and what it is. I made it for you but shared it with everyone. You might not even have this truck anymore but I did step by step what you said in your plenum gasket rebuild. I bought everything you had in that video and even did the same thing to my old bolts to make alignment studs with the old ones. After having a little timing trouble my truck runs like new now. I can't be-leave I was able to do this job myself. I would have never even tried it without your help. With your videos and step by step showing just what to do I did it. I made the tool as a think you for all your time you put in to help people you don't even know.

[@k.dtransport9038]

Do you just burn a lot of oil ? Would it cause tones of gas consumption

[@Humble_Lyfe]

Would this cause loss power when going up hill roads? I noticed suction on that tube and also when I open the oil cap.

[@kCI251]

Bought a cherry 98 Ram really cheap, that was using oil. Vacuum at the oil filler cap. Going to do the plenum from Hughes and fix it.

[@dustinharnden6373]

Any idea what would cause high oil pressure while driving

[@TheChevyman1012]

Mines back wards but still works the same right?

[@briansedlock7793]

Well I'm good on the 01 dodge I just purchased yay

[@michaelrausch4269]

should there be any pressure on the hose feels like mines pushing not sucking

[@stevennagel9264]

I stupidly overheated my 5.9. Since then it runs rough…. But then randomly & mysteriously smooths out. I think maybe a leaking plenum could’ve been the result of my stupidity. I will try this test thank you for the video

[@brianb5779]

What length bolts are needed?

[@dean0233]

Just picked up a 01 the other day and was wondering what kind of acceleration your truck has? I know it’s not a sports car but mine seems pretty sluggish. Have replaced the cat, did a tune up and replaced a few old sensors as well as fuel pump and filter which solved a few issues but still did not help with the sluggish feeling.

[@strattuner]

depending on the mileage,these engines are notorious for stretching timing chains within 85k miles and the valve springs are anemic on them stock,the stock pressure on these engines 208 valve open and 85 on the seat pressure,with roller cam design these number are a 100 lbs off,seat pressure should be 135, open valve pressure 300 lbs,good for 5200 rpm and 200k miles of running with many oil changes,these are damn fine engines once you take the ridiculous cheap design practices they employed in this line of engine,i worked for chrysler from1968-2003 on the line, engine trans rear axle,these are good engines,change your oil and filter every 3500 miles for 3 drops,after that, every 5000 for 3 drops,this will keep your oil pan clean,then go back to the 3500 i've 458k on a 383 magnum,with 3 timing chain changes and 3 sets of valve springs and two main and rod bearing changes,when you throttle up you pay

[@wd8779]

My 1998 1500 has very low vacuum the a/c and heat valves don't work properly and the cruse control want hold could this plenum leak be my problem?

[@wreckerjonny6144]

I have the 99 360 sucking air sounds. Changed gasket and this one didn't have the tin plate on bottom. It was 3/8 thick aluminum. .I changed IAC 2 times and now did whole throttle body

[@Sevalecan]

Yeah, and did you find your problem? I just rebuilt my whole damn engine and also put on the aftermarket hughes plenum plate.. Finally get everything together and running and the truck has a massive vacuum leak. I don't think it's the plenum plate but I've already eliminated the brake booster, the accessory vacuum, and the PCV valve by selectively blocking each off. I'll check the engine crankcase but wtf. I wonder if it is the IAC after all. Who knows.

[@Nukem6477]

Why would someone give you a thumbs down 😂 I gave you a thumbs up for all the video series on this repair!

[@bud6259]

I am using a quart of oil in less than a hundred miles on my 95 Ram 5.2. PVC is eliminated as a culprit. I am not pulling a vacuum at either valve cover with the intake nipples blocked. Inside the Intake is very wet with oil but absolutely no noticeable smoke out exhaust.

[@douglasdailey5998]

Is there a link to get a intake for a 3.9 that does not have a plenum. It seems to me that Dodge does crap like this so you would have to take your truck back to the dealer for plenum repair. This should have been a recall and fixed for nothing. I have a 2001 dodge Dakota 3.9L and i would like to get the intake without the plenum. Does anyone have a link or an answer to this problem.

[@TalesoftheScales]

Does this cause a check engine light??

[@gggggeeeooorrrgee]

your tps is still mounted upside down lol will you fix that

[@jasonroch5868]

Hey Matt could the plenum cause a stalling problem when hot when shifting into reverse? I have a 99 dakota 5.2 4x4

[@ytelpeloncito5151]

U know what I think so because that happened to me but I have a 97 ZJ and I have just been starting to deal with gasket issues

[@josephbardo5819]

Matt Payne . Why is your air cleaner snorkel to side fender insulated/covered ?

[@neonhomer]

The air inlet tube goes over the exhaust. Most likely its to keep heat from soaking the incoming air... poor-man's CAI

[@Luigi718-Bklyn]

Lol heres a story ive did with my 5.2 plenum it was lacking power so bad that i tore apart the whole top end of the motor replaced the gaskets and everything put it all back together drove it still didnt have power when i put the gas pedal to the floor ended up having a shit fit two weeks later found out my transmission passing gear cable was disconnected from the transmission so i hooked it up now its normal and wants to redline when i do push it to the floor but the plenum is good still 😂😂😂😂 after all that bullshit work and hours

[@kamerongatlin6075]

Wait my truck is doing the same thing.. was yours backfiring through the intake when you stomped the gas?

[@Luigi718-Bklyn]

@@kamerongatlin6075 yep but pull all the spark plugs and clean them up wire brush them put dielectric grease on the plugs itl keep moisture out of the plugs also do dielectric grease on the distributor plug hasnt did it since but yeah check your passing gear cable known as the kinckdown cable youl have two cables on the throttle

[@tonyrobertson9452]

Can hear you for the Damn Bird.

[@philosopher0076]

Do first gen. 1998 Dodge Rams, 5.2 engine ( think it's a Magnum, not sure though ) have this same set up and plenum plate / manifold and with that said, the same possible issue?

[@santosshaw6419]

Yeah it’s gonna have the same issue unfortunately unless the plates already been redone this is an issue across all 2nd gens with a 5.2-5.9 engine

[@romeroabe]

Thank you for a great video, my truck is consuming to much oil, (not burning, not smoking, not leaking) and idle goes too low that turn off engine and oil pressure gage is low, any advise? Thank you and God bless

[@irianagomez-phpagentfinanc2471]

Could be your IACV (Idle air control valve)

[@BrOkEnSkAtEr1295]

Same thing is happening to me minus the whole idle thing. Did you find out what it was? I’ve gone through 7 qts in 6 days

[@kieferprins5272]

What would cause no suction but rather smoke blowing out?

[@m9lllnimbus]

Pressure in your crankcase, meaning something is plugged and has no vacuum

[@calebdean]

Can anybody answer if this is the same on 01 2500 5.9 V8 Magnum? not sure if 1500s are laid out different.

[@joeroe2839]

Yupp same crap lol

[@bsrob1]

I did this fix and replaced my pcv valve and my truck still uses a lot of oil. Plenty of power and doesn’t smoke on start up or anything

[@amberduvall9966]

Isn’t the pcv valve on the passenger side and an elbow or breather on driver side?? Mine is

[@scoutsniper8688]

97 and older yes, in 98 to 02 they reversed sides

[@amped5234]

@@scoutsniper8688 My 99 is on the passenger side, I think they changed in 2000

[@ffhjvbuydb78eb]

@@scoutsniper8688 so opposite sides from the video? I have a 98

[@johnmaynes7142]

Mine blows air instead of suction. Is that normal?

[@ncurc9766]

Does the plenum leak cause a loss in power? I test drove a couple used 5.2 dakotas and durangos and they seemed to be really lacking power

[@mattpayne4087]

Yes, absolutely - that's actually what made me suspect my problem when I first discovered it 4-5 years ago. The truck was driving extremely sluggishly. A plenum leak will rob the engine of power partly because (I believe) the PCM can't reconcile the amount of intake air it expects to be entering the intake manifold via the throttle body with the ACTUAL amount of air entering the intake manifold (because a bunch of air is coming in through the plenum gasket leak). This throws off the fuel trims. The other issue is that the intake air will be contaminated with oil from the crankcase, which affects combustion and can also clog up the catalytic converter over time. Basically, a plenum gasket leak is going to significantly affect engine performance.

[@JB-cd6gn]

The 5.2 is also very weak HP-wise. I owned an 01 Ram w 2wd/5.2/Posi, could barely break the tires loose w only 46k miles

[@ffhjvbuydb78eb]

@@mattpayne4087 when you shut the truck off does it make a hiss sound? Mine does and I'm thinking it might be the plenum gasket cause I have never replaced that. I am at 298K miles and it is very sluggish and every now and then it will idle rough and you can hear it sucking air from somewhere but I can never find it. If thats the case then its been doing it for a very long time. I never knew the plenum gasket going bad was even a thing.

[@caseystandingrock314]

So I changed the plenum plate and I’m still using a lot of oil any ideas what is causing it?

[@blakesomething4469]

Valve seals

[@kimberlynewsom2336]

I did this and smoke fumes is coming out of the hose thats disconnected from the housing. No suction but have never see this before. What is causing it?

[@94yotaprerunner]

Mine does the same thing. Possibly blowby?

[@calebalberts2049]

Mine does the same. No idea why

[@jimmycaporali8687]

I believe that if everything is working properly you should be getting some positive pressure from the crankcase from blow-by gasses. That's probably what your seeing as solmoke and fumes coming out of that hose.

[@butterbean4195]

i wounder why my pcv valve is on the right side (passenger side)of the motor ? and my air cleaner hose is on the driver side totally backwards from yours?

[@Nukem6477]

My engine is like yours. pcv is on the right side breather is on the left

[@kp__truckin]

It’s a pre 99 my 94 is the same as your guys 🤙🏻

[@kellismith4329]

It doesn’t matter which side the valve is on it still works the same

[@oversea6171]

Did it smell like gasoline

[@chrisfarnsworth2095]

Does it push air? My hose is pushing air but not pulling it after doing that test.

[@johnmaynes7142]

I have the same question

[@EthanCopple]

Will this also work for a3rd gen ram? Had a 360 to

[@MegaGTAGAMEPLAY]

Yes it will

[@jamesconn1876]

For some reason mine has pressure coming out of it

[@94yotaprerunner]

So does mine. Also a little smoke

[@tinawarne2570]

Not enough back compression from your exhaust could damage the motor causing oil to be forced up into the combustion chamber witch will burn oil right?

[@mr_moosegaming8005]

Wrong, back pressure is a myth

[@HorsepowerHouse]

No. 100% myth.

[@Stretch-1982]

My 5.9 is burning A LOT of oil. I did this test. I don’t have vacuum, instead I have a lot of smoke coming out of the breather hose with the PCV port plugged at the intake. When I reconnect the PCV it doesn’t blow smoke. I have already replaced the plenum gasket once & the smoke cleared up for a short time. Now the smoke is back & I’m struggling to figure out if the gasket failed again, I have cracked heads or bad rings... Any ideas?

[@neonhomer]

The stock gasket is failure-prone because the stock plate is so damn thin. If it is not *perfect* it will leak. Best bet is to use the Hughes Engines plenum plate kit which uses a thick aluminum plate instead of the flimsy stock steel one. It's around $160...

[@kennethhelfrich3803]

That fucking bird in the background is driving me crazy. Chips as soon as you start talking

[@Moe_510]

No part 2

[@Sheep9795]

Non egr?

[@finaldrivetv3669]

Nope these trucks were built before egr's

[@finaldrivetv3669]

@Chad Parsons they have an EGR valve not a whole system

[@finaldrivetv3669]

@Chad Parsons *on the trucks / 318s from 94-01 sold in California have an EGR valve

[@adriananoelle4699]

@@finaldrivetv3669 Not true. Some 5.2’s were built with EGR’s, and were completely phased out by 1996/7.

[@BlackCatFever2011]

You have to plug either the PCV valve or the breather hose. One side or the other to achieve vacuum or pressure on the opposing side lol.. Please dont listen to this guy..

[@STR00Z]

video could have been 3 minutes long get to the point

[@A1MotoFab]

Good information, way too much talking to get to the point. This explanation could have been much more concise.