Loud engine

[donrebyct]

I have a 94 Falcon on a Dodge B350 with a 360 motor. I notice it's very loud when starting to move or climbing a hill starting at a slow speed. Is this normal. I know it has a lot of weight to get moving and is working hard, but I'm surprised how loud it is.

I've had the camper about four months, but hasn't been used much since I acquired it. Hopefully, the weather will cool down and I can use it a lot before it gets too cold.

Don A.

[Lorne_Lorraine]

Back in the 80's the thermostatic fan clutch failed on my first Class B, which was a 1979 Ford E250 with the 351 Windsor engine. That vehicle didn't have a tach so, at first, like others, I thought the extreme roaring noise (which didn't go away) was caused by high engine revs due to transmission slippage. But I finally figured out that the fan clutch had failed. I was on the road at the time so purchased a new clutch to put on when I got home. But since I still had over a 1000 miles to go and I couldn't stand the constant roar anymore, I ended up changing it out at our campsite. As others point out, it's normal for the fan clutch to engage for a short time when the engine is cold or kick in if the engine temps get on the higher side.

[Fastpaddler]

tatest description is accurate for those with thermostatic fans such as on diesel Sprinters and many cars nowadays. But for the 360 engine on donrebcyt vehicle I would be surprised if it has the free wheeling clutch system but likely the fan connected to the flywheel with no clutch.

[tatest]

A loud roar is usually the cooling fan. The circumstances of loud noise are being in lower gears when engine is hot, so that the fan is engaged, and when the engine is cold and you are starting from a standstill, so that it has not yet declutched.

If your engine fan is spinning full load all the time, the fan clutch needs to be replaced. These are designed to make "engage" the failure mode, to ensure a flow of cooling air when you ate not moving. Thermostatic fan clutches operate based on temperature of air flowing past the clutch, so often may not come on until after you've climbed the hill and raised the temperature in the radiator.

[donrebyct]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give it a try when I go camping later this week, if it doesn't get too hot.

[Fastpaddler]

Does sound like slipping transmission. I had it once and when I put it in drive,held down the foot brake and accelerated I felt the transmission slipping.It shouldnt do that as the vehicle should basically stall. Mine needed mid range bands adjusted(2nd gear in that car).Try my rather elementary procedure. I did not need a new transmission!!

[donrebyct]

Thanks again for the ideas. It's actually a loud roar as the camper starts moving. It soon quiets down as speed picks up and it upshifts. I sure as heck don't need a transmission problem. Maybe its' normal.

I don't know any mechanics around here, and I'm leery of dealerships. I've spent a lot of money for shoddy service too many times to have much faith in them.

Don

[mlts22]

Did someone steal the catalytic converter? I had a cow-orker who thought that his car sounded better after a weekend around Austin, but while he was out around town, someone managed to cut off and remove it.

[Horizon170]

Have a Dodge mechanic check it out. All we can do is constructive guessing. :>))

[Fastpaddler]

What kind of "loud"? Is it pulsating, intermittent, metallic,booming, or other? If a transmission is slipping(often 2nd gear) the engine is louder due to increased rpms. Heterodyne booming is sometimes experienced with older tranmissions and the sound can be a loud pulsating/booming. The 360 is a tough engine and usually not loud running. As noted it could be an exhaust problem or loose manifold, usually exhaust. But that noise is mostly a rattling on acceleration. Hmmm..

Al

[edm3rd]

Second checking the fan clutch. Some(times) fan engages at low rpm until fluid warms and thins a little (assuming you have a fluid fan clutch).

[donrebyct]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Along with all of the other work I need to do, I'll have the exhaust system checked.

Hope all of you can get out and use your B's.

[cps68500]

I once had a fan clutch let go on me and was stuck rotating at engine speeds full time. I can't explain the loud roar that came from that engine bay...

[amxpress]

Have someone inspect the exhaust system for leaks, be sure to inspect the exhaust manifolds.

[Gale_Hawkins]

That is a stout engine.