4th gen ram hemi avoid?

Woodbooger · Jan 27, 2020

116k miles and the only issues I've had are with Uconnect.

justtruckn · Jan 27, 2020

i have owned a bunch of hemi car's and trucks ..... I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE GO BAD ... 100s of thousnds of miles and only one cam fail .. and im betting the con rod hitting it at over 6500 rpm mite have something to do with it ... only had one with the so called hemi tick had over 200k on it when i got it and i drove it to the track every weekend... beat it like a rented honda all night ... drove it home. its still on the road and the 17 year old i sold it to beats it like a 17 year old. ... i will say this .. im big on oil changeing. every 2000 miles with full syn 5/20 valvoline. MDS likes clean oil. ..... Jmo

OCDTech · Jan 27, 2020

scott lass 18 said:
chat with local machinic chevy guess what lots of trucks msd same problems sad right they companys now buy the cheep parts this is why !

Well not saying hes right but thing is The Car Wizard said GMs lifter failures IS because of MDS, and he did also say Rams was NOT.

RVGuy · Jan 27, 2020

OCDTech said:
Well not saying hes right but thing is The Car Wizard said GMs lifter failures IS because of MDS, and he did also say Rams was NOT.

I don't know who the car wizard is but I've been leaning towards the same idea. GMs cylinder deactivation has been known to consume oil, the oil consumption problem stops as soon as you deactivate the cylinder deactivation. GMs have also been known to eat lifters very quickly early on, such as before the first OCI is even passed, which would lead me to believe that it's a completely different cause than what some people are seeing in the Hemi.

Some GMs make is as far as some Hemis though without issue. I just saw an '07 posted on another site with 746,000 miles. With luck and proper maintenance anything can last.

OCDTech · Jan 27, 2020

RVGuy said:
I don't know who the car wizard is.

Check him out on you tube. Hes got mechanic shop kinda humorous.

I havent heard of the GM problem s until recently thats a shame selling out a brand for epa cafe etc. might not have a lot of choice. Scary what the future brings.

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RVGuy · Jan 27, 2020

OCDTech said:
Check him out on you tube. Hes got mechanic shop kinda humorous.

I havent heard of the GM problem s until recently thats a shame selling out a brand for epa cafe etc. might not have a lot of choice. Scary what the future brings.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a buddy who works at a GM dealership and he was telling me he's already had a few of their 2.7 turbos back with bent valves. So I'm not sure it's as much a CAFE thing as it is that GM seems to be slipping quality wise. Heck my other friend is a GM master tech and guess what he drives, a Ram 1500 with the hemi.

I'd consider a Ford or another Ram for my next truck, but never will I have a GM in my driveway after what I've been reading on their forums for the past 5 years and how much of a fiasco my in-laws Cruze was when they bought it. I won't even bring up my wife's HHR from when we started dating...what a piece.

tomb · Jan 28, 2020

MRFREEZE57 said:
I would guess that for every one that had a failure there are maybe a thousand or more that have been doing fine for well over 100k miles, as the above poster said the thousands of trouble free hemi owners out there never post about having a trouble free engine.
my 2011 ford fusion, one could have months of reading on transmission problems but mine has been fine fore over 100k.

I agree with you-my Ram is 2012 with none of those issues to date and I have lots of buddies with the same Hemi that tell me the same. It is obviously an issue for some but to say its widespread might be going too far. Those whose trucks have the issue will obviously disagree. The best you can hope for is for it to happen under warranty. I got mine 3yrs old and still with a 5yr ext warranty that was carried over. All is still good. I have heard of owners just swapping over to headers--I am no mechanic so was wondering if you guys could tell me if that would prevent any future manifold gasket issues. I dont see how that could help with future lifter issues either. I am a guitar player-not even a back-yard mechanic! I just love driving and even just sitting in my RAM!!

FXCLM5 · Jan 28, 2020

roflmao, cousin just wanted to buy a used 09-14 ram 1500

couldnt find one that did not ticked or it was already a known issue where owner took it into dealer for the cam issue and they havent fixed it yet.

in other words, it is a way larger issue at hand then what the forum is telling you (relative small qty)

Lucy Girl · Jan 29, 2020

jmd4100 said:
The issue is you only hear posts about lifter failures because people only post things about lifter failures. No one wakes up in the morning and starts a post about how their truck doesnt have lifter failure. If you think about how many rams leave the assy line and compare that number to cam/lifter failures, it's a fraction smaller than anything. Yes it does happen but the likelihood of it occurring to your truck is minimal. I have an 07 with mds it has 138k miles and it goes in and out of 4 cylinders like it did when it was new and I have never had a failure. They're great engines. If you can buy one with about 60-70k miles and it doesnt tick, it most likely wont. The tick usually starts when it's relatively new

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Thanks for telling him the truth. It’s all about some one waking up and heard something in their dream.

gofishn · Jan 29, 2020

97K miles, just a hint of a tick. thought it was exhaust bolts.
No COdes whatsoever.
Turned out to be lifters and cam.

I will never buy another hemi.
Seriously doubt I ever buy another Chrysler product, of any kind.
FWIW< Been a Mopar fanboy my entire life. SInce the early 1970's
Mopar is gone. Its jsut a name bought by one international company after another.

jakearoo · Jan 29, 2020

My first RAM, 2013 express QC went in at around 80k for exhaust studs broken on both sides and when I went to pick it up it was still ticking, 2 weeks later it was in for cam and lifters. It went really quick from a mild tick to CEL and a horrendous tick. Very quiet after the cam and lifter swap until Hurricane Michael totaled it. My 2015 is pretty quiet when warmed up but makes a lot of noise getting up to temp and has had exhaust bolt replaced recently.

CYSTemrebel · Jan 30, 2020

Just back from a trip to the Colorado Rockies and my 2008 regular cab hemi six speed standard once again hauled a 2000 pound camper with an extra 500 pounds of supplies and my fat ass. (183 pounds) It is close to 316,000km (only 210,000 miles) with regular component failure only since I bought it new. (pullleys, serpentine, brakes, alternator) Runs great and never let me down yet. Just changed on the counsel of a Dodge fan who raced and owned Dodge vehicles all his life, (to 10W 30 oil (synthetic) and I will keep this truck forever which means when the box rusts out I will replace it and when the engine dies I will get another new one, etc. Enough bangs and dents on the body as well as rust from the damned pinch joint defect inner rear fenders to merit some minor work and a paint job now though the ONLY rust on the vehicle is the rear fenders. Lots of power, oil pressure gauge has not shown a reduction yet and vehicle is used as a work truck in my business. Carries heavy equipment in the back but rarely over load rating. Goes into woods to transport firewood out all the time. When I work so does it, when I play so does it. This is not your regular shiny and no scratch marked truck that has never been off a paved road but a truck that is used for many things including trailers loaded with heavy equipment. I go on road trips every winter with the longest being over 12000 miles (Pacific coast highway) but usually around four thousand miles all over USA. Any misery I have suffered with this truck has been 100% of my own doing related to after market non OEM parts though the problems were minor.

RVGuy · Jan 30, 2020

CYSTemrebel said:
Just back from a trip to the Colorado Rockies and my 2008 regular cab hemi six speed standard once again hauled a 2000 pound camper with an extra 500 pounds of supplies and my fat ass. (183 pounds) It is close to 316,000km (only 210,000 miles) with regular component failure only since I bought it new. (pullleys, serpentine, brakes, alternator) Runs great and never let me down yet. Just changed on the counsel of a Dodge fan who raced and owned Dodge vehicles all his life, (to 10W 30 oil (synthetic) and I will keep this truck forever which means when the box rusts out I will replace it and when the engine dies I will get another new one, etc. Enough bangs and dents on the body as well as rust from the damned pinch joint defect inner rear fenders to merit some minor work and a paint job now though the ONLY rust on the vehicle is the rear fenders. Lots of power, oil pressure gauge has not shown a reduction yet and vehicle is used as a work truck in my business. Carries heavy equipment in the back but rarely over load rating. Goes into woods to transport firewood out all the time. When I work so does it, when I play so does it. This is not your regular shiny and no scratch marked truck that has never been off a paved road but a truck that is used for many things including trailers loaded with heavy equipment. I go on road trips every winter with the longest being over 12000 miles (Pacific coast highway) but usually around four thousand miles all over USA. Any misery I have suffered with this truck has been 100% of my own doing related to after market non OEM parts though the problems were minor.

2008 would be a 3rd gen but still good to hear about problem free trucks regardless.

Joe Lischinsky · Jan 30, 2020

09 5.7 1500 QC Sport. 125k. Runs like a top. Shifts awesome. Lot's of power. Synth oil every 5k. Best vehicle I have ever owned. Starting to get rust behind front mud flaps ,rockers and rear bumper. I blame the salty winter's. I'll run it into the ground.

Kenneth Bator · Jan 30, 2020

AnEngineer said:
I have been looking for a newer truck (4th gen). I currently drive an 03 hemi and want another hemi. However I have read an alarming number of posts about lifter and cam shaft failures on the mds motors. Just how prolific is this problem? My third gen hemi has ticked for the 93k miles I have owned it and it has never failed but from what I've read the tick on the mds motors likely means lifter failure.

Kenneth Bator · Jan 30, 2020

I bought my 2015 sport new, now have 45,000 miles. No issues except the battery failed after 3 years. The Hemi performs flawlessly! Would definitely recommend to anyone interested!

Floyd1979 · Jan 31, 2020

scott lass 18 said:
so what warrinty u had on power train like 100,00 they just replace parts right ?

Not in 2009 , you probably don’t remember but 2009 was Dodge Ram . New body style , sales were poor , right before they filed for government help.

Anyway 2009 came with lifetime power train warranty for FREE
I purchased lifetime Maxcare warranty with 100.00 deductible

I ran regular 5w-20 Castrol oil
Changed every 5,000 miles
( every 2 months )

Iiplus · Feb 20, 2020

AnEngineer said:
I have been looking for a newer truck (4th gen). I currently drive an 03 hemi and want another hemi. However I have read an alarming number of posts about lifter and cam shaft failures on the mds motors. Just how prolific is this problem? My third gen hemi has ticked for the 93k miles I have owned it and it has never failed but from what I've read the tick on the mds motors likely means lifter failure.

Iiplus · Feb 20, 2020

My 2011 Ram has been maintained well; everyone performed well before schedule. At 138K i had lifter fallure that caused my camshaft to flat spot also at 120K i had valve spring failure. I machined the heads and upgraded all parts. There a couple other guys in my area who have experienced the flat spotting on camshaft because of lifters

Octane · Feb 20, 2020

But it's not just the mds lifters that fail.Ive had both hemis.130k on a non mds and 130k on a mds motor with no lifter failures or exhaust bolts breaking. 100's of thousands of motors built without problems I believe.But some draw the losing ticket I hear.I don't concern myself with it.I've had every make domestic engine and some are bound to outlast others.

4th gen ram hemi avoid?

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