A 3rd engine?!?! WTF

[Dusty]

There may be a preponderance of non-MDS lifter failures, but for the record failures have been noted at all cam lobe positions.

As an aside, the first photo is typical of lifter roller lock up.

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 132914 miles.

 

[FullForceRam]

Analytical?

Well, the decision was made and LKQ is going to warranty the second engine that was originally installed back in 2023 with only 69,000 miles on it. Cam lobe was going flat, and lifter on the intake side was barely moving.
Looks like I'm picking it up on Tuesday after which, cleaning it up and putting it up for sale.

Just bought a new truck yesterday and saying goodbye to this headache.
Anyone interested in buying a 2014 with a new 5.7 - 4yr unlimited mileage warranty>? LOL

 

[Sherman Bird]

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.

Power Torque engines through O'Reilly's ALSO have 4 year/unlimited mileage warranty. To boot? They have a "No questions asked" policy upon a first claim.... FREE replacement of the motor with a new reman unit... No dilatory tactics such as a tear-down mandate and they send out an adjuster, etc.... Just, good old customer serving, heel clicking satisfaction to the customer to get them back on the road, post haste!

I've replaced about half a dozen engines over the past 5 years with Power Torque engines... So far, there has been ZERO claims or problems germane to the engine.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

Power Torque engines through O'Reilly's ALSO have 4 year/unlimited mileage warranty. To boot? They have a "No questions asked" policy upon a first claim.... FREE replacement of the motor with a new reman unit... No dilatory tactics such as a tear-down mandate and they send out an adjuster, etc.... Just, good old customer serving, heel clicking satisfaction to the customer to get them back on the road, post haste!

I've replaced about half a dozen engines over the past 5 years with Power Torque engines... So far, there has been ZERO claims or problems germane to the engine.

That’s great Sherman, please update the forum as these engines get some time and mileage on them

 

[Sherman Bird]

That’s great Sherman, please update the forum as these engines get some time and mileage on them

The first one I installed was/is on a 1999 Tahoe 4WD with the 4-L60e/ "R" Vortec 350 engine. It came as a long block. This was in 2018, and is still purring along for the guy I sold it to. Because I sold that one immediately after installing the engine, I'm not including it in the group of examples, because he isn't one of my customers.... He does his own work.

I installed a reman 5.3L in a 2006 GMC 1500 Crew Cab I final billed it and delivered it to the customer on August 9th, 2023. It had 197,000 miles on it. I last serviced it this past June 20th (less than a month ago) with 212,000 miles on it. So, he's just about halfway through the 4 year aspect of the warranty with no troubles at all with the reman engine.

The others have been really recent.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

The first one I installed was/is on a 1999 Tahoe 4WD with the 4-L60e/ "R" Vortec 350 engine. It came as a long block. This was in 2018, and is still purring along for the guy I sold it to. Because I sold that one immediately after installing the engine, I'm not including it in the group of examples, because he isn't one of my customers.... He does his own work.

I installed a reman 5.3L in a 2006 GMC 1500 Crew Cab I final billed it and delivered it to the customer on August 9th, 2023. It had 197,000 miles on it. I last serviced it this past June 20th (less than a month ago) with 212,000 miles on it. So, he's just about halfway through the 4 year aspect of the warranty with no troubles at all with the reman engine.

The others have been really recent.

You are a scholar and a gentleman and an asset to the forum

 

[Ken226]

The first one I installed was/is on a 1999 Tahoe 4WD with the 4-L60e/ "R" Vortec 350 engine. It came as a long block. This was in 2018, and is still purring along for the guy I sold it to. Because I sold that one immediately after installing the engine, I'm not including it in the group of examples, because he isn't one of my customers.... He does his own work.

I installed a reman 5.3L in a 2006 GMC 1500 Crew Cab I final billed it and delivered it to the customer on August 9th, 2023. It had 197,000 miles on it. I last serviced it this past June 20th (less than a month ago) with 212,000 miles on it. So, he's just about halfway through the 4 year aspect of the warranty with no troubles at all with the reman engine.

The others have been really recent.

How many were 2009+ 5.7 Hemis?

 

[Sherman Bird]

That’s great Sherman, please update the forum as these engines get some time and mileage on them

Today, the 2002 Ram was brought in for it's 2nd oil change at 2000 miles beyond the 500 mile first one... pursuant to warranty clause. Remember this is a 4.7 liter unit. He called me and said that there was "milkshake" under the fill cap yesterday, and we dealt with it today.
Turns out that the original rebuild incorporated Moly grease for the build, and, it wasn't Milkshake, it was that grease collected under the cap. I went to full synthetic on this oil change 5W30 with a O'Reilly's black house filter. Oil was Dexos1, generation3 API "SP".
This engine runs super smooth.