2011 Hemi lifter/cam problem follow-up

[camelot]

2011 Dodge Ram with hemi and 150 000 km. Check engine light on. Cylinder 3 misfire, Changed plugs and coil, no luck. Turned out the cam lobes were so worn down from the lifter. $5500 total bill.
I change oil every 5000 km and do not abuse the truck. The mechanic and I feel like it was a Dodge flaw. I have read several posts of people with the same problem as mine.
1. Is there anything I can do, write a letter to Chrysler etc
2. Would synthetic oil have prevented this?

I do not want any more surprises

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

Definitely a design flaw, well known of...Nothing you can do but take the hit just like you did...NO oil will fix factory designed stupidity. Some think VooDoo oil will cure the HEMI TICK to the point that no damage is being done internally. But none of these oil legends have done what should be done by smart people with the tick and remove the covers and inspect the upperend, they think the oil is the cure all....looooooooool...

 

[Burla]

Nobody can say if synthetic oil would prevent this, if it was able to prevent the tick prior. Nobody can say it wouldn't have either if they had an oil stop the tick, we don't know yet or may never will. Also was it ticking a lot? If the truck wasn't ticking and this happened, then I doubt any oil would have prevented this.

But the main factor is Ram quality or lack of with this item.

150k miles on truck?

 

[nateinva]

It is a design flaw and we are all paying out the nose to fix it.

I was just getting on here to post an update on my identical situation and first thing I see is another post on this.

My mechanic has it all pulled apart right now and confirmed #3 lifter wiped out a lobe and #1 was starting to eat a lobe.

I'll be looking at $4500 out of pocket.

I wrote an email to RAM support yesterday and got a reply in less than 24 hours.

You need to contact them, even out of warranty, to discuss this issue. They need to hear about each and every case. Even if there is a future recall, save all your receipts. We may all be eligible for some reimbursement. I hope they step up to address this, we are nowhere close to isolated in this matter.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/webselfservice/ram/index.html

 

[nateinva]

Found my truck on Facebook tonight....turns out the mechanic and I know all the same people, family included and fun days from the strip years ago.

Small world...this guy has 8 custom engine builds in his shop right now for clients all over the state.

Happy to know my truck's in good hands.

 

[Wild one]

It's not just Chryco products with lifter issues,the 5.3 GM's are also famous for wiping out lifters to.

 

[nateinva]

It's not just Chryco products with lifter issues,the 5.3 GM's are also famous for wiping out lifters to.

That's the LS1 isn't it? I've heard several people say the same since I got nailed.

 

[Burla]

Do you know what a better question is, would high molybdenum have fixed this? Moly Basics.

Smooth running lifters I think is the fix, something with this issue seams to be too much back force on the Cam lobs. Anything that makes those lifters lift and fall better imo.

 

[nateinva]

Do you know what a better question is, would high molybdenum have fixed this? Moly Basics.

Smooth running lifters I think is the fix, something with this issue seams to be too much back force on the Cam lobs. Anything that makes those lifters lift and fall better imo.

Burla...fully agree. I'd been running Pennzoil Platinum for all my self changes and was switching to PUP...hard to get local but ordered on Amazon.

I had to get my parking brake cable replaced and due to crappy weather had them change the oil while it was there. I looked back at the receipt and it was something called Wild Wolf Synthetic 5w-20.

It was less than 2 weeks after this OC that the lifter failed.

I'm trying not to draw conclusions but it's hard not to.

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

That's the LS1 isn't it? I've heard several people say the same since I got nailed.

LoooooL...Heres todays GM engine history lesson for you...

http://www.hcdmag.com/ls1-engine/

 

[nateinva]

I feel edumacated now. I was thinking LS1 from the Camaro.....but there is 5.3L LS motor used widely. Oops......

 

[Cosmos]

I had this happen to my 2011 Charger. The lifters for the MDS seized and carved the cam up. I am waiting for it to happen on my truck.....

 

[Burla]

I had this happen to my 2011 Charger. The lifters for the MDS seized and carved the cam up. I am waiting for it to happen on my truck.....

Do you recall what oil you used? Seams like sometimes it can be a contributing factor. I encourage you to look at hemi tick threads, some oils and additives are good and making these engines run smoothly.

 

[68PowerWagon]

Yikes!!! Hope they have this figured out for my 16' 6.4! I have seen many over on the HD Forum that have over 100k on their trucks with no major problems yet. One guy over there tows constantly on his 16' 6.4 & has over a 100k on his with no major problems. Fingers crossed.
I feel that there are too many moving parts on the MDS lifters. For no more mpg gains you get out of the system, I don't really think it is worth it if you are only gonna get 100-150k on them before they kill your cam. I doubt very much you are gonna save $4-5,000 in fuel savings to make up for the cam/lifter repair.

 

[chrisbh17]

I dont think its been an issue on anything other than the 5.7L Hemi.

 

[69GWC]

Which is funny since they both take the same lifters.
I wonder if its the 5.7 l cam failing causing the lifters to fail as well.

 

[nateinva]

Which is funny since they both take the same lifters.
I wonder if its the 5.7 l cam failing causing the lifters to fail as well.

Jay Greene thinks exactly this and it's plausible. The cam that just came out of my truck looked 'soft' for lack of a better term. Aside from the failed lifter/lobe on #3, some of the other lobes looked pitted/porous like the material is wearing off and getting into the lifters, causing them to fail.

It would totally make sense.

 

[huntergreen]

Agree, quality control issue on the cam.

 

[69GWC]

This also makes me wonder about the dealers that are changing "A" lifter because it went bad are only stalling the real problem of a cam change.
Then the customer later after he is out of warrenty has to pay out for a full cam and lifter swap.

FCA probably knows these cams have a life of "it will last untill its out of warrenty " and went ahead and bought the cheapest cam they could soruce out...lol

 

[Ramnewbie]

Agree, quality control issue on the cam.

So the dealers just throwing a couple of lifters in there and calling it a day is just a bandaid at best. More like get it out the door till the warranty runs out then ain't our problem anymore.

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