Engine Ticking noise (on passenger side) when truck is cold

I know this has been attributed to the hydraulic lifter not being pumped up with oil. However, I had a similar issue back in the day and it was actually due to the exhaust gas heat riser. The tell-tale sign would be if this clicking is always on the passenger side (speculating here). The exhaust gas heat riser is a flap that is closed when then engine is cold which redirects exhaust gas to warm up the intake air while the choke is on. Once the engine warms up a metallic spring expands and the flap opens. When it's closed it causes pressure in the exhaust manifold and sometimes a slight leak.

So, my question to the forum does this clicking always happen on the passenger side (where the heat riser is) or does anyone ever get the noise on the driver side. I would think just at random it wouldn't always be on the passenger side, although if the issue stems from the oil filter draining down into the pan as some have suggested then maybe that could explain it always being on the passenger side. I have 90K miles on my 2018 with the 5.7 Hemi and this noise has been there for a long time.

Are you sure you don't have broken exhaust studs?

You can try heavy molybdenum additive or oil which coats lifter bore when oil isnt there, try redline 5w30 or luebgard biotech 15 ounces, been proven to kill start up tick or any tick that is non exhaust at a 80% success rate. It is hard to tell the difference between lifter tick or exhaust bolt tick because they hae the same cadence, some times on exhaust tick you will get a little swish or swoosh sound with it especially right at first. It is 99% one of these two ticks, you just need to figure out which one. Check exhaust bolts.

Sounds like broken exhaust studs, I don't believe that there is a heat riser on the hemi that was just for the choke it had to heat up that side, does the ticking go away when its warmed up.

I just last week had the exhaust studs replaced (they were broken on both manifolds) by my dealer. Cleared my ticking issue right up. But an expensive repair. Ouch! Truck is 2017 with 5.7L Hemi. 79K miles.

Same passenger side tick sound was broken manifold bolts. Just fyi

My 2019 had similar sound. Turned out to be cracked manifold not bolts. Can't find a replacement manifold online or at dealers. Forced to buy short headers for $1000. Been without my new truck for a month now.

Is the truck drivable with exhaust bolt tick? A month feels like waiting for a part, why be without truck?

you can definitely drive a truck with a leaky manifold if you are waiting for the repair. would not recommend long term driving with manifold leaks but it has been done before.

definitely no heat risers on modern hemis

After 2 months without my truck, Nick notified me he got a set of AFE short headers in stock. Couldn't place my order fast enough. Dealer installed them for free and wrote me a check to cover the headers. Still can't find stock manifolds. Glad I went with headers. Might be shorties but they made a big difference. Thabks again Nick!