A 3rd engine?!?! WTF

[FullForceRam]

I have never had one go, but #3 seems to be what I hear here quite often, so maybe that one is getting less oil up there then the others, I don't know.
i presume these rebuilders are buying good parts that cost the least amount of $.
They are in the business to make money. Now if they built one for their own truck, hot rod, It could be different.

It is quite interesting that it appears to have a high ratio of cylinder 3 misfires. The original engine had the same problem and now this one?! Something ain’t right. Regardless, new engine was shipped out on Friday and the shop will be receiving it in a few days, as soon as I get the truck back, I will be selling it with a new warranty on the engine.

 

[FullForceRam]

the LKQ is also a Mopar engine. It's just one that was re-assembled by someone else, with alot of used parts.

I called some of these rebuilders awhile back to ask about which brand lifters they use. Oddly, they wouldn't say, other than to repeat that the lifters were "tested", from one company and "proprietary, house brand" from another. Make what you will of that, but I took it to mean that "tested" means 'used', and "house brand" to mean 'not Mopar'.

But, I understand. Of course, since it's still under warranty, you should absolutely go with the free warranty engine. I would too. But, I would keep expectations low.



I'm just curious, but did you got more miles out of your LKQ than were on the original OEM engine? Because, if I only go by your first post, the OEM engine was 9 years old (2014 to 2023), and the LKQ lasted what? From June of 2023 to now. So 2 years?


That brand new Mopar long block is $5k with free shipping. How much was the rebuilt LKQ engine?

When I originally bought the truck, I was the second owner, and the truck was driven here in California, Sacramento area. We live in Brentwood, which is about an hour south, that original engine had 86,000 miles on it, and I only encountered the cam/lifter issue at 167,000 miles. That’s when I had the LKQ engine installed at a repair shop in Tulare, That engine only lasted 69,000 miles and now they are going to install the third engine sometime this coming week.

The price of the LKQ engine with a four year warranty with unlimited mileage back in 2023 was just a little over $5200, with labor and additional miscellaneous items (belt, pulley, fluids, some bolts and smaller items) The bill came up to $9200.

 

[Tominator223]

Ugh. So how much of lifter issues are not just oil problem. But the roller on the lifters not rolling on the cam because they are too smooth on the cam lobe . No grip to roll but sliding over cam. Just an idea. Hope ya get it worked out with no more problems.

 

[rvance]

I can't believe I'm having to get a 3rd engine in my truck....

June 2023, truck was running rough down the freeway especially under load, after spending a day in a local shop where it was towed to, it was determined that the lifter was hardly moving on cylinder #3, the cam had flattened out so I made the decision to install a reman LKQ engine because it had the best warranty. (4 years / unlimited mileage)

During the past year and half, the engine had multiple leaks that needed attention and repairs, all under warranty. Oil pan gasket was leaking, then 4 months later the timing cover had a leak, another 2 months and exhaust manifold bolts needed to be replaced and driver side exhaust manifold needed to be replaced, then most recently a oil pressure sending unit threw a code and had it replaced. Again, all under warranty..

Fast forward to 1 week ago (June 2025) and the replacement LKQ engine has only 70K miles on it. Climbing a small hill (with no trailer in tow) and check engine light starts blinking (typically means an misfire) and the engine is running rough like a misfire. Drive it over the summit and another 5 miles to an exit where I can park the truck and call AAA to have it towed to the same shop the LKQ engine was installed about an hour and 30 mins away. They have now had my truck since Tuesday and just today said that it looks like the intake valve seat and possible lifter/cam is having an issue on cylinder 3. It's a like a bad dream that never ends.
Should now by tomorrow what the decision will be to either replace the engine AGAIN, or replace the valve train components, however if there is metal in the oil and on the cylinder heads, they need to replace it with another engine.

I'm extremely **** about oil changes and really taking care of my truck, never race it around, always on top of maintenance items, stored inside the garage, I tow a 7x14 enclosed trailer for business but never more than 3500-4000 lbs about 4-6 times a month. 95% all local driving, 85% highway driving, never sitting in idle for very long at all.

Needless to say, once this is repaired I'm selling my truck and buying a diesel truck. There are so many people dealing with this same issue, it's truly mind boggling.

Analytical?

 

[SD2020]

My failed lifter was number 3 as well, but to be fair, the other cam lobes were not great.

 

[KerryinTN]

The new motor going in will have another 4 year unlimited mileage warranty which is transferable.

Make sure you know the details. You may find that the 4yr warranty was only on the first replacement, and any replacement since then is “warranty work” which does not extend the original 4 yr expiration date.

 

[farmboy561]

All ram 1500 Hemi's from 2005 to current, have MDS, which is a complicated system to drop 4 cylinders in cruise.
The Hemi's all rely on "splash" at idle to lube the lifters.
If you have any oil leaks, it doesn't take much of a low level to make the rollers blow on these lifters. Then the cam takes the hit. And so on and so on.
My oil level slowly got low, and I kept adding oil every now and then. Not that often because it was a very slow leak.
If you sit at idle a lot, and you are low on the oil dip stick, the lifters are not getting enough lube from the lack of splash. I live in south Florida, and sit with the ac on for long periods of time.
The torque requirements on the lifters are very low and confusing, not to mention a wet area with no lock nuts under the bolts. Mine had a few loose bolts as I spun the engine over and over to re-torque them. (thus making my Hemi tick go away) I added lock washers too, and slightly over torqued, which the book doesn't call for.
After tons of research, I decided to put an MDS delete kit in. My cam, starting with #3, had worn the lobe due to lifter failure, A few others had also started to go.
Best decision ever!
I also found out, Dodge knows about this problem, but to recall all of the engines from 2005 up, would bankrupt them.
This is my experience. I now love my truck. Faster than ever without MDS and the new cam.

 

[hemihustlin]

this is interesting because just this week we took the valve cover off a 2018 5.7 8speed 330000km and guess what number 3 no movement
why would number 3 specifically get less oil than the others?

the customer didn't want to go any farther he had just bought the truck last week and was bringing it back

it was clear to me when doing the spark plugs the first day that someone had been searching in there! 4 out of 8 locking tabs were broken on the coil packs. some of the coil packs connecters were physically damaged. amateurs lol
drivers side had all the same age ngk spark plugs
pass side had a mix of new and old ngk along with some middle aged autolites lol wtf

 

[QwikKota]

Ugh. So how much of lifter issues are not just oil problem. But the roller on the lifters not rolling on the cam because they are too smooth on the cam lobe . No grip to roll but sliding over cam. Just an idea. Hope ya get it worked out with no more problems.

I don't think that would matter or cause damage. The lifter rotating in the bore is another story. They are only kept from rotating by the plastic retainer but at least it has flats on the lifters to mate up with flat surfaces inside the retainer. Still, it's not metal.

 

[rayrmjet]

The Hemi needs a factory recall

 

[hemihustlin]

The Hemi needs a factory recall

you should email them to tell them that! let us know what they say! thanks!

 

[rayrmjet]

you already know that answer lol

 

[indept]

Keep in mind, where do they get engines to rebuild? They get the old engine core that was too full of metal particles for the original owner to rebuild or from junk yards. Lets hope they have a way of cleaning it out BEFORE the rebuild.

 

[SD2020]

Our dealers did not have any factory motors available, and recommended the same 3rd party I had found lol. I deleted mds, so the 3rd party warranty folks would not build one in that manner.

 

[mtofell]

OP's Mopar engine blew up.... mine blew up at 110K

#3 misfire for me too. I didn't get many more details than that but damn is that one unlucky cylinder.

 

[CrazyHarleyGuy]

Our dealers did not have any factory motors available, and recommended the same 3rd party I had found lol. I deleted mds, so the 3rd party warranty folks would not build one in that manner.

Tell them it's for a 6 speed Challenger and not a truck. 6 speed Challengers do not have MDS.

 

[Tominator223]

I think the car block is different than the truck block. Missing some threaded holes

 

[Wild one]

I think the car block is different than the truck block. Missing some threaded holes

No it isn't,they have all the bolt holes for both styles of motor mounts. A 5.7 block is a 5.7 block whether it's for a car / Jeep or truck

 

[Dusty]

Ugh. So how much of lifter issues are not just oil problem. But the roller on the lifters not rolling on the cam because they are too smooth on the cam lobe . No grip to roll but sliding over cam. Just an idea. Hope ya get it worked out with no more problems.

It's called Stiction. It's an amount of friction needed to ensure the roller can start to rotate on the cam lobe. It can be an issue with certain oils.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 132850 miles.

 

[EdGs]

Was #5 for me. 201k miles.

But #8 had both lobes starting to wear. The 2nd and 4th cam lobe in the very back group.


Is it just me or is it mostly the non-mds lifters that fail?