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03:25:58 - 12/29/2024
Dakota Performance
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jph
Dodge Dakota
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12/11/2002
12:35:20
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 Subject: Spark plug knock
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Message:
I'm a new Dakota owner. I have an '01 Club Cab SLT with a 3.9 litre. I heard my first spark plug knock after a fairly long drive after I used 87 octane. When I used 89 there was no knock. I've read many of the posts about this knocking issue and have three questions:
1. It sounds like many of you use 89 octane despite the owners manual's stern recommendation to stay with 87. Would 89 be allright, then?
2. Also, several of you recommended switching to the Autolite spark plugs which burn cooler. Would this have any other impacts on the engine? or performance? (is it fairly easy to replace the sparks on a 3.9?)
3. Same question as #2 concerning the cooler thermastat. (easy to replace, too?)
Thanks,
John
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FastRT6Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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12/11/2002
19:23:40
|  RE: Spark plug knock
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Message:
I did both of the mods you mentioned when I had my 6'er, and neither one hurt performance. Believe it or not, they seemed to actually help. My theory: When the engine was knocking, the knock sensor was picking it up and retarding timing. When I changed out the parts and put in the cooler running stuff, the knock sensor wasn't picking up knock, so it didn't retard timing. I guess thats why people feel power differences after a plug and t-stat change. As for the fuel change, which do you think would hurt more, a few dollars more at the pump, or a few holes in a couple pistons? Spark knock, no matter how slight, does damage to gasoline engines. Oh yeah, one more thing you may want to try. Dodge has a TSB (service bulletin, not recall) out on that issue. It involves re-reouting the spark plug wires so they don't cross induce to each other. Try looking at http://www.speedtweaks.net/Instructions/V6%20Wire%20Reroute.doc
that is the exact copy of the fix. try the plugs, re-route the wires, install the 180 t-stat, and see if the knock goes away, if not, try the 89 octane. if it still knocks, take it to a dealer and have them re-flash the PCM to the corrected calibration (last resort- robs BIG power). good luck, repost me an update so I'm not in the dark. I'll help as much as possible.
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