Intermittent HEMI Tick on Startup????

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Curt Gobbell

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2020
Posts
216
Reaction score
211
Location
Memphis TN Area
Ram Year
2014
Engine
HEMI 5.7L
Anyone have the HEMI tick on some mornings but not all?

I start my 2014 5.7 every morning at the same time. Some mornings it will tick for 2-5 seconds until the lifter(s) pump up, but other mornings it will not tick on startup.

Looking for folks with the same anomaly and what they found.
 

zogg

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Posts
784
Reaction score
696
Location
Southern Illinois
Ram Year
2018 Ram Express Quad Cab
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Yep. Pretty common. The newest owners manual state this is normal especially after a short run prior to shutting down. Chrysler says there’s nothing to worry about.
Well, I worry. I’ve tried 5w30 in lieu of 5w20, I’ve tried various oil filter brands and sizes (small and large). NOTHING HELPS
If I make a short run to a store and it doesn’t get warm, I can bet on lifter rattle on the next start up. Hate it.
 

EdGs

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Posts
2,478
Reaction score
3,556
Location
FL
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7L
My '15 will do that if I have done a very short run where the engine is not warmed up. Without fail.

Mine has also done it if it has sat for several days.

Someone posted somewhere on this site to raise the rpms to 2k for a few seconds before you shut it off.

Others have said to put the pedal to the floor before cranking. The engine won't start because it sees a flooded condition?

Have never tried it, though.

I do cringe every time I hear the lifter tap. sounds like utter crap.
 

Burla

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Posts
23,113
Reaction score
44,456
Ram Year
2010 Hemi Reg Cab 4x4
Engine
Hemi
If you want easy to understand paper here, or if you want detailed white papers they are in syn thread. I'm not saying it will or wont kill your tick, but it does in most situations as polls have proven. It is the science of EP additives, they plate and that plate survives even when the engine is off. Now, even that plate can dry, so if you didnt start your engine for a month or two or longer you can still get tick, but in most cases it will work, that is the reason most oils have it, but clearly there is more benefit in hemi's to have over the average moly levels. Look up did lubegard biotech kill your hemi tick, or did redline kill your hemi tick, yes start up tick is part of hemi tick, the other being warm idle tick, which is deadly for sure. A filter choice will more address warm idle tick then cold idle tick or start up tick, but that tick is not related to oil being on the lifters, but rather no oil being on the lifters, as in nothing is gonna help that except heavy EP additives. Have you tried any of those strategies yet?
 

Jeepwalker

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Posts
3,137
Reaction score
3,330
Location
WI
Ram Year
2012 Reg Cab, 4x4
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Maybe the OP's oil filter drain-back valve isn't sealing as it should.
 
OP
OP
Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2020
Posts
216
Reaction score
211
Location
Memphis TN Area
Ram Year
2014
Engine
HEMI 5.7L
Thank you all. Nice to know I'm not alone.

As a side note, after my last oil change (Castrol high mileage 100% synthetic, fram filter and rislone oil treatment, my HEMI did not tick at startup for several weeks...then the tick came back.
 
Top