17' Ram 1500 CC 5.7 Hemi Reliabiliy

[dhulsey779]

I have a 17' Ram 1500 CC 5.7L hemi that I owned brand new with now 83k on the odometer.
Truck has been well maintained from day one with synthetic oil changes done at every 5k intervals. The only issue the truck currently has are a few broken manifold bolts in which will be taking care of very soon, but my mechanic kind of gave me a heads up on the replacement of the cam / lifters soon. Started that he has done a few of them anywhere from 90k - 110K Ram trucks.
Truck only has 380 idle hours, and I never drive it on the MDS mode from early on in its life.
My question is how many of you have experienced the Cam / Lifter issue? I really love the truck as I even rocked it to Florida on (4) separate trips.
Engine runs smooth and quite once the manifold bolts heat up, but now I got this in my head and unsure on what to do.
Nothing these days are made like they used to, so I am leaning towards purchasing another extended warranty and rocking the truck a few more years.

Thanks.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Given current offerings and the decline in their reliability. I would not get rid of it. You have a proven platform. I'd keep it for a while.

Rumor has it, the hemi and expanded offerings are returning for 2026
I'd wait

 

[Wild one]

I have a 17' Ram 1500 CC 5.7L hemi that I owned brand new with now 83k on the odometer.
Truck has been well maintained from day one with synthetic oil changes done at every 5k intervals. The only issue the truck currently has are a few broken manifold bolts in which will be taking care of very soon, but my mechanic kind of gave me a heads up on the replacement of the cam / lifters soon. Started that he has done a few of them anywhere from 90k - 110K Ram trucks.
Truck only has 380 idle hours, and I never drive it on the MDS mode from early on in its life.
My question is how many of you have experienced the Cam / Lifter issue? I really love the truck as I even rocked it to Florida on (4) separate trips.
Engine runs smooth and quite once the manifold bolts heat up, but now I got this in my head and unsure on what to do.
Nothing these days are made like they used to, so I am leaning towards purchasing another extended warranty and rocking the truck a few more years.

Thanks.

Spend 16 minutes and watch this complete video.You're not doing your lifters any good by turning off the MDS,they actually get more oil when the trucks in 4 cylinder mode.

Is MDS Damaging Your HEMI? The Answer May Surprise You!

I feel like MDS has been unfairly made the culprit for the lifter failures we see on Gen 3 Hemi engines. In this video I explain exactly how the system works...

www.youtube.com

 

[Curmudgeon]

If it matters, and it shouldn't because I think this is a bit of a coin toss,
but my 2014 5.7 now has 116,000 miles. I bought it with 22,000 miles
and took it to the dealer for all oil changes up to about 90,000 miles.
I always asked for Pennzoil full synthetic, but I don't know what they
actually used. I know they used that cheap Mopar 339 filter though.
I think I'm around 516 idle hours, and I never turn off MDS.

No engine work done (yet) and still runs quiet (knock on chromium).
Whatever you decide - good luck.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

My company has a 20' 5th gen with the HEMI and it's currently at 207,000KM's..

Always run on regular 87, beaten hard and loaded / towed to the max quite often, never had a tune up or trans service or anything other than air filters and oil changes, and idled to the heavens....

I've recently driven it and while it is sluggish and can tell it needs love, I'm impressed AF that it's still going as strong as it is. Go figure, eh!

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

My company has a 20' 5th gen with the HEMI and it's currently at 207,000KM's..

Always run on regular 87, beaten hard and loaded / towed to the max quite often, never had a tune up or trans service or anything other than air filters and oil changes, and idled to the heavens....

I've recently driven it and while it is sluggish and can tell it needs love, I'm impressed AF that it's still going as strong as it is. Go figure, eh!

I'd bet in 3 to 5 years, no one will be saying the exact thing about a 2025 with the hurricane

 

[dhulsey779]

My company has a 20' 5th gen with the HEMI and it's currently at 207,000KM's..

Always run on regular 87, beaten hard and loaded / towed to the max quite often, never had a tune up or trans service or anything other than air filters and oil changes, and idled to the heavens....

I've recently driven it and while it is sluggish and can tell it needs love, I'm impressed AF that it's still going as strong as it is. Go figure, eh!

Yep, I've always ran 87 and same on oil changes.
Love the truck and leaning towards swaping the interior to the 5th Gen 2500/3500 setup.

 

[Gero]

I have a 17 ccsb hemi with 130xxxkm. I have 302idle hours. I use 87ocymt, pennzoil ultra platinum 5w30, wix xp, and valvoline maxlife atf. I've had to change 1 battery, 1 front wheel bearing and 1 starter motor. I have some broken manifold bolts on the passenger side that I plan to tackle soon. Otherwise, she runs great. Hopefully I'll never had lifter issues.

 

[dhulsey779]

Well, the water pump just went out on it @ 84K.
having that done under the extended warranty that I have until December.
Also taking care of the manifold bolts that are broken. Looks like I have 3-4 broken and the warranty company stated they would only pay out 30 minutes to drill out per bolt. Hopefully the shop gets more time to get that done also.

 

[ExpressRules]

My 2014 now has over 168,000 on it. My daughter needed a car when the 2008 Jeep I had her driving was not worth repairing anymore I put her into my 14 and bought a used 2019 for me. Ran 87 octane in it its entire life and dino oil every change. Motor has gotten a bit bit of a tap now but otherwise runs without complaint.

Any vehicle you buy today regardless of make and model has a percentage that have issues. Just keep up on maintenance and keep driving. I bought the 2019 because I refuse to buy a new Ram because I think pricing is getting outrageous. Made sense to me getting one that has already suffered major depreciation.

 

[Streetsport]

I drove 45k on a tick before it matured into a metallic chirp and I did a cam swap, everything was in tact except 1 lifter with worn needle bearings but I felt it was on borrowed time at that point. From what I’ve read about the engine geometry there is a 100% chance of failure given you drive long enough but some people make it longer than others. I haven’t heard of many making it past 200k without tick on the original lifters with the gen 3 vvt 5.7. Id love to hear anyone who has and post a video of their engine running at temp

 

[rzr6-4]

I drove 45k on a tick before it matured into a metallic chirp and I did a cam swap, everything was in tact except 1 lifter with worn needle bearings but I felt it was on borrowed time at that point. From what I’ve read about the engine geometry there is a 100% chance of failure given you drive long enough but some people make it longer than others. I haven’t heard of many making it past 200k without tick on the original lifters with the gen 3 vvt 5.7. Id love to hear anyone who has and post a video of their engine running at temp

Posts like this are so annoying. There are a bunch of people on this forum (myself included) that are well over 200k without a failed lifter. And given the nature of forums being a place for people to come when they have issues, if you just ask general population, the rate would be even lower yet.

Yes it's a systemic issue, yes it's something to be cautious of, but people with 13 posts who read a few threads here and act like a failed lifter is a guarantee........

 

[Jeepwalker]

There was a guy ..maybe a couple guys on a post like this some months ago whom had like 350k miles on their trucks ...on dino oil. No problems. Mine's got 176k on original engine and cam.

Just drive your truck and worry about it if it happens.

 

[Streetsport]

Posts like this are so annoying. There are a bunch of people on this forum (myself included) that are well over 200k without a failed lifter. And given the nature of forums being a place for people to come when they have issues, if you just ask general population, the rate would be even lower yet.

Yes it's a systemic issue, yes it's something to be cautious of, but people with 13 posts who read a few threads here and act like a failed lifter is a guarantee........

Just shoot a quick video on your phone showing odometer and idle and I’ll shut up I haven’t seen one yet personally, but if it isn’t 100% it’s a very high number. Think about how many times that tiny needle bearings rotates in its life time. At least that’s my expert 14 post opinion.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

I drove 45k on a tick before it matured into a metallic chirp and I did a cam swap, everything was in tact except 1 lifter with worn needle bearings but I felt it was on borrowed time at that point. From what I’ve read about the engine geometry there is a 100% chance of failure given you drive long enough but some people make it longer than others. I haven’t heard of many making it past 200k without tick on the original lifters with the gen 3 vvt 5.7. Id love to hear anyone who has and post a video of their engine running at temp

As men we have 100 percent chance of dying with prostate cancer if we live long enough. I’m not going to worry about either

 

[rzr6-4]

Just shoot a quick video on your phone showing odometer and idle and I’ll shut up I haven’t seen one yet personally, but if it isn’t 100% it’s a very high number. Think about how many times that tiny needle bearings rotates in its life time. At least that’s my expert 14 post opinion.

208K if I remember correctly, and if I took a video you would hear an exhaust leak, but not a lifter.

That said, I don't owe a random guy on the internet the time and effort of making/posting a video, so if you insist on living in a world of make believe then be my guest.

 

[Drifter667]

I'm the third owner of my 2017 1500, have 156,000 miles on my Hemi and only tick I have is the passenger side manifold bolts.

Only work I've done on the engine is a full set of NGK Ruthenium plugs, the EVAP vacuum solenoid, and ruthless 2000 mile oil changes.

 

[EdGs]

My '15 SLT, has a bad lifter and possibly bad cam. 201,000 miles.

She does not owe me anything, I'm gonna clean her up, put some OE parts in her, and keep on trucking.

Nothing lasts forever, do your due diligence on maintenance, love her, enjoy her. Fix her if she breaks.

 

[Drifter667]

Not sure how mine stack up to others but here is my idle hours.

No issues with the motor to date.

 

[Gero]

Not sure how mine stack up to others but here is my idle hours.

No issues with the motor to date.

View attachment 567960

18.5%. Definitely could do better. Im 11.5%.