2020 squealing at startup

[RndmGlitch]

My new 2020 PW has about 2K miles on it. Every since day one when I start it cold there is a squeal coming from somewhere that almost sounds like a belt - but I don't think it is. It goes away after the engine starts to warm up. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[2003F350]

Haven't experienced it, but it is entirely possible that you have a belt that is slipping at startup. Depending on how long your truck was sitting and how often it was started before you bought it, it's entirely possible the belt has dried out. I would suggest some belt dressing and see what it does on your next cold start.

It could even be something as simple as the belt has loaded up with paint from one of the pulleys, and causing some slippage.

 

[Gamedog]

2020 with 2,000 miles shouldn't be making ANY noise in my opinion... Much less noises an '87 Caprice makes at start up...

Take it in, have the dealership deal with it.

 

[RndmGlitch]

Haven't experienced it, but it is entirely possible that you have a belt that is slipping at startup. Depending on how long your truck was sitting and how often it was started before you bought it, it's entirely possible the belt has dried out. I would suggest some belt dressing and see what it does on your next cold start.

It could even be something as simple as the belt has loaded up with paint from one of the pulleys, and causing some slippage.

Good points. The build date was May 2020 and I don't think it had even been test driven when I got it this month (August). I will try the belt dressing first.

 

[Trailmaker]

My new 2020 PW has about 2K miles on it. Every since day one when I start it cold there is a squeal coming from somewhere that almost sounds like a belt - but I don't think it is. It goes away after the engine starts to warm up. Has anyone else experienced this?

I bought my truck new last year in July and it had a little squeak and a hard pull to the right. About 5k on the clock I started getting 2-3 mpg better gas, it stopped pulling and no squeak.
I changed the oil at 1000 and at 5000.

 

[RndmGlitch]

I bought my truck new last year in July and it had a little squeak and a hard pull to the right. About 5k on the clock I started getting 2-3 mpg better gas, it stopped pulling and no squeak.
I changed the oil at 1000 and at 5000.

Now that you mention it, mine pulls a little to the right. It is not a hard pull, but it is there. I had written it off to the aggressive tread on roads that are sloped to shed water. I only have 2,000 miles on mine so far - I was going to wait just a bit more before I did the first oil change and the diff fluid.

What oil did you use?

 

[ALRedneck]

Now that you mention it, mine pulls a little to the right. It is not a hard pull, but it is there. I had written it off to the aggressive tread on roads that are sloped to shed water. I only have 2,000 miles on mine so far - I was going to wait just a bit more before I did the first oil change and the diff fluid.

What oil did you use?

You shouldn’t asked about oil! Get ready to be overwhelmed with opinions! That’s like asking about politics or religion on this forum.

 

[donivan]

I have a squeak or chirping sound at startup. I keep telling myself to take it to the dealer but haven't gotten around to it. It does sound like a belt issue but I agree it shouldn't be doing this on a truck with 6K miles.

 

[donivan]

Made an appointment at my dealer for 1:30 this afternoon. Will see what they tell me.

 

[RndmGlitch]

Made an appointment at my dealer for 1:30 this afternoon. Will see what they tell me.

Let me know what they say...

 

[Trailmaker]

Now that you mention it, mine pulls a little to the right. It is not a hard pull, but it is there. I had written it off to the aggressive tread on roads that are sloped to shed water. I only have 2,000 miles on mine so far - I was going to wait just a bit more before I did the first oil change and the diff fluid.

What oil did you use?

Break in period is different for everyone... I stuck with the book on oil. Pennzoil synthetic. But Redline is the most popular with Hemi owners. And RP filter.

 

[2003F350]

Good points. The build date was May 2020 and I don't think it had even been test driven when I got it this month (August). I will try the belt dressing first.

Since it is a specific condition that the noise occurs (cold start), you may want to try recording it - stand outside the truck and have someone else start it. Then you can show it to the dealer and request that they specifically check it under those conditions if you have to take it in.

On a side note, I have also seen too much moisture cause this intermittently. If you live somewhere that is very humid every morning, then it could also cause belt slippage on a dried out belt. You didn't say where you live so I don't know if this could be a contributing factor.

 

[donivan]

Let me know what they say...

Apparently I called a different dealership with the same name but in a different part of town so truck didn't get looked at today. My new appointment at my dealership is next Wednesday. I'll be dropping of the truck Tuesday night so they can hear it in the morning with a cold start. Mine does go away after driving the truck for a little while. The service guy said it could be a number of things like a pulley, water pump, belt, etc.

I did find out I have 4 free oil changes/tire rotations so I scheduled that the same day. He said something about Power Wagons getting the free oil changes...had not heard of that. I guess I'll be saving the "Hemi Honey" I had bought until after I use up the free oil changes.

 

[MTRamFan]

99% sure the free oil thing with the PW is a Texas thing.

 

[olyelr]

My new 2020 PW has about 2K miles on it. Every since day one when I start it cold there is a squeal coming from somewhere that almost sounds like a belt - but I don't think it is. It goes away after the engine starts to warm up. Has anyone else experienced this?

Water pump?

 

[Halligan]

I think your going to find it's not a belt squeak. Heavy duty Ram trucks with the 6.4 make a unique sound when cold started. Most who have really given it great thought think It actually has to do with the exhaust piping and sound resonance through the pipe wall. The noise is very noticeable when the engine and exhaust are cold then goes away as it warms up.

Maybe I'm wrong in your situation but I've seen threads like this many times over the years on different forums that pertain to 6.4 Hemi powered Rams and the outcome is generally the same. Good luck.

Also, don't be alarmed by the loud lifter tick that happens occasionally. This will almost always happen under this following condition: You start your truck while it's cold, lets say move it in your driveway or park it in the street then shut it off. Total engine run time we'll say was under a minute for this. The next time you start your truck your engine will clatter like it's got no oil for 3-4 seconds. Again, the people who've pondered it conclude the cold engine oil doesn't make the rubber/silicone anti drain back valve in the oil filter soft and pliable enough to re-seat good after the engine is shut off and the oil system loses it's prime. Next time engine is started the oil system has to re-prime causing the hydraulic lifters to clatter while they're starved for oil.

 

[2003F350]

I think your going to find it's not a belt squeak. Heavy duty Ram trucks with the 6.4 make a unique sound when cold started. Most who have really given it great thought think It actually has to do with the exhaust piping and sound resonance through the pipe wall. The noise is very noticeable when the engine and exhaust are cold then goes away as it warms up.

Maybe I'm wrong in your situation but I've seen threads like this many times over the years on different forums that pertain to 6.4 Hemi powered Rams and the outcome is generally the same. Good luck.

Also, don't be alarmed by the loud lifter tick that happens occasionally. This will almost always happen under this following condition: You start your truck while it's cold, lets say move it in your driveway or park it in the street then shut it off. Total engine run time we'll say was under a minute for this. The next time you start your truck your engine will clatter like it's got no oil for 3-4 seconds. Again, the people who've pondered it conclude the cold engine oil doesn't make the rubber/silicone anti drain back valve in the oil filter soft and pliable enough to re-seat good after the engine is shut off and the oil system loses it's prime. Next time engine is started the oil system has to re-prime causing the hydraulic lifters to clatter while they're starved for oil.

Then maybe I have a weird truck, because even in sub-zero temps my truck does not make a squeal like what OP is talking about. Of course, without hearing it myself I wouldn't be able to confirm or deny, but my truck doesn't make any strange squeal-type noise. There is a slight drone that comes off the exhaust but that's about it.

Also, as a Polaris owner, I learned years ago that you never start and stop them frequently, you MUST let the spark plugs heat up at least some or they'll foul out quickly, not to mention a host of other potential motor issues. I've pretty much carried that over to all of my vehicles - at least let them run for a few minutes, even if you're just moving it in the yard a bit.

 

[RndmGlitch]

Here is a video of the squeal.

 

[2003F350]

That definitely isn't belt squeal, which is what I thought you were describing. It could possibly be a pulley squeak, to find out you would either need to start replacing them or be able to listen to the bearings while it's running (a mechanic's stethoscope is WONDERFUL). That said, I believe I have heard that noise, though not as loud. It went away and I never did figure out what it was.

 

[ALRedneck]

Mine has always had a little of a diesel rattle sound when cold cranked. I’ve never gotten under it when cranked to listen but I don’t think it has ever been that loud. I’ve heard other 6.4 making that little “diesel rattle” too so I’ve chalked it up to “what they sound like”. Mine only makes that rattle for 5-10 seconds when first cranked and goes away so that may be a difference. I have almost 40,000 miles on mine and no issues at all. I drive mine hard(screw gas mileage) and tow a lot too so figured if something wasn’t right it would break during the warranty period. Just passing that along to you in case they say all is fine.