NASTY LIFTER TIC ON MY 17 RAM
- Thread starter circuitguy
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Tach_tech
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They definitely are on back order, worked on a older hemi the other day that the roller on the lifter seized and ate the cam.
I think it might be a supplier issue. We don’t really see failed lifters all that often. Every now and then we do but it’s usually on high mileage vehicles that spend a lot of time idling. See something like that maybe twice a year. Definitely not enough of an issue to cause a nationwide back order.
There’s a lot more common issues I see come in the shop than lifters. So if said it’s somewhat common but not like broken exhaust stud common.
I think it might be a supplier issue. We don’t really see failed lifters all that often. Every now and then we do but it’s usually on high mileage vehicles that spend a lot of time idling. See something like that maybe twice a year. Definitely not enough of an issue to cause a nationwide back order.
There’s a lot more common issues I see come in the shop than lifters. So if said it’s somewhat common but not like broken exhaust stud common.
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My neighbor son, works as a line tech for our local ram dealer. As Tach said, he claims exhaust manifold bolts on 5.7 and 6.4 are a weekly repair. they service the police cruisers (challengers) and they are getting 5.7 in at 50-70k miles with seized rollers and gouged cams. On those, FCA just ships a new motor. He says they can change out a motor in half the time it takes to tear down and replace a valve train. Claims they are seeing very few 6.4 valve train issues. Just suspect. FCA knows they have a problem and just maybe they are changing parts vendors or have told the vendor to up their quality game or else. Hopeful.
Tach_tech
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It’s usually the extended idling that causes the whole cam/lifter issue. That would sound about right for police vehicles. I imagine their idle hours are just ********.
chrisbh17
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Does that mean the real issue will not be fixed just by replacing the cam and lifters?
Is too much idle time starving them for oil?
Lubrication passages too small or path too complex to get enough flow at idle?
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circuitguy
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Ok, I'm all stressed out now! I will try changing to a different oil and let you all know how it worked.
Tach_tech
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I was at a training course quite a few years ago and one of the instructors was talking about this whole issue. I remember them saying it was a lack of oil at idle to the rear of the cam. Which does make sense since pretty much every time I’ve seen this issue it’s always a rear lifter that fails.
I can’t say that’s exactly what it is, cause I don’t know for sure but it makes sense. That would make using a good oil and keeping up on oil changes a high priority especially if you plan on keeping your truck for quite a lot no time.
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One of the things he says the senior tech's suspect, is the MDS system. They point out that they did not see this issue often, in the early hemi's.
Juniorss
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Are you talking about the ticking on startup that lasts for a few seconds? If so my 16 ram with 40k sometimes does it, my dads 2015 charger SRT392 with 2k miles (yes 2k) sometimes does it, and I think I have heard it on my Hellcat (its a manual trans so I can't remote start it).
I was looking at the gauge on my '17 and it jumps to about 52# at startup (hot) and slowly drops to 40# when it's idling. I really have trouble wrapping my head around 40# being insufficient to lubricate everything without exception. I try not to idle the engine unnecessarily. BTW, the hour meter tells tales and it's probably a good thing to check if you're checking out a prospective purchase.
OCDTech
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I have wondered this too. Only thing i can think is theres a difference in pressure and volume. Maybe Burla or someone with more knowlege than I will help us with this. I'm thinking maybe you can have high pressure low flow at idle and little more pressure and high flow highter rpms.
mondo
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Do you have a video of the sound?
Not reading the whole thread but I had this issue on my 2015...I went the Redline route and it got rid of my tick....it’s a little expensive but it works. Last oil change money was tight so I tired out the Penzoil Ultra Platinum. It worked at first but not that I’m down to 20% on my evic display for an oil change in am starting to hear the tick again. I’m going to use Redline again.
crawdad62
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I had a 2010 that I would've sworn was a lifter tic. Ended up being exhaust manifold.
boblonben
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bought a 17 RAM, 5.7 hemi, immediately change oil to Mobil 1 Extended performance and what little 'tick' there was went away and has stayed away. Really think this 'tick' is really based on the oil one is using, how you drive the truck and all. Have heard many complaints about the 'tick' and every time I've had the chance to ask directly about oil, oil changes, etc. I get pretty much the same answer - 'use regular oil and change it twice a year. The science will tell you regular oil twice a year is probably on the low side of sufficient. I really do not believe there is an engineering problem with the motor(S), no push rods are not too short, no the lifters are not p[umped up enough, etc. But most will listen to anyone who has some particular opinion instead of knowing the facts. No reason to reengineer a problem that is not an engineering problem. Oh well. Am sure every so often the plant making these has some less than perfect rods or lifter come thru and those get fixed but you never hear about them because they get taken care of quickly.
chrisbh17
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To add to this....everyones definition of "tick" is probably different.
Lots of things tick even in normal operation: evap purge solenoids (had that noise in all my Hondas), fuel injectors, variable valve timing and lift (my G37 sounds like a diesel when it starts, then just ticky during normal driving), etc.
To know if the tick is harmful or just normal is up to those with experience. Most owners (even me) probably wouldn't know for sure. So we rely on the dealers, who seem taught to say "normal" even without listening or checking anything. If the CEL isnt on, there isnt any issue.
I would be interested if someone took their truck to a reputable garage (not dealer) and paid them for some troubleshooting. Imagine if one day someone found the actual reason for the tick. Dealer would still say its normal though
In regards to oil, my engine has 6400 miles on it. Factory fill up to about 2K miles, then from 2K to 5K miles I had 5W-20 Pennzoil yellow bottle. At 5K miles switched out to Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30. My engine is what I would call "ticking", mostly under light acceleration under 2K RPM. Is that the hemi tick? I dont think so. Will Redline make it go away? I also dont think so. Is it normal? Maybe. Its surely not as bad as some of the video clips posted around here, so it could just be something else rattling somewhere (Ive yet to see anything loose under the truck, though)
Well, I'm going to put my hearing aids in (no, not kidding) and listen really closely to my 5.7 the next time I go out to start it. I also have a second pair of hearing aids that are tweaked up to the edge of scary and I'll listen with those, too. I don't think any of the hemi engines I have owned have ever ticked. BTW, I used to have the dealer change the oil/filter in October and April when I was driving close to five thousand miles per year. On this '17, the dealer says to go by the gauge. The gauge says there is 42% still left and the odometer is about 5100 miles. I checked the oil yesterday and it does not look even slightly bad and it hasn't used a drop.
chrisbh17
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The one thing I wouldnt do is go by that stupid gauge. I know there is supposed to be some science behind it, but Im not sure Id ever go longer than 6 months or 5K on the same oil.
Its just so inexpensive nowadays to buy oil and change yourself, or even to pay the dealer to do it. I cant see risking the engine to save maybe 50/yr in oil change cost.
Its just so inexpensive nowadays to buy oil and change yourself, or even to pay the dealer to do it. I cant see risking the engine to save maybe 50/yr in oil change cost.
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