A Hemi newbie needs some advice

[megaswoltz]

So, I bought my first Ram and Hemi ever almost a year ago. 2004, only 89,000 miles, in really good shape, original everything. About 6 months into driving it, I noticed a miss, OBD tester said number 7 cylinder misfire. I bought the good factory Champion plugs, but cheaper coil packs and wires to switch out with; it seemed to fix the miss, but the power didn't seem the same. About a month ago, now at a little over 100,000 miles, I noticed the truck losing power and using quite a bit of gas unexpectedly for a week while I was driving it. Parked it on a Friday, went out to it on Sunday, and it just cranked and cranked. Nothing. I did eventually get it started, but it ranged from sounding like it was not hitting on one cylinder to several cylinders. Just running awful or not at all. Tester started giving me ALL kinds of random codes. Since that time, I've switched out the packs and wires for NGK, replaced the fuel pump, even cut off the cats (which were close to fully clogged) and straight piped it to test that. Nothing has worked. I then changed the crank position sensor; again, no change. It was at this time that I noticed that gas is getting in the oil (it's definitely gas, not water). A mechanic said he's done several of them at 100,000 miles and had to change the timing chain and he strongly thinks that's what it is. So, is that a likely scenario at 100,000 miles? I just want to know if anyone else has experienced this, or has any ideas/advice before I spend the weekend tearing the front of the engine off and dropping the pan. Again, sorry for the long post, I just wanted it to be detailed.

 

[Hanover Fiste]

My 2005 5.7L has >175k miles, with the original timing chain and coil packs; it still runs fantastic. What codes are you getting?

 

[megaswoltz]

It started off with a misfire on 5 and 7. Now it says it's running lean on both banks (too much air). I know it's not a fool proof method, but I used a stethoscope style listening rod, and all of the fuel injectors sound like they're working just fine. Plus, I'd like to think I'd get a code if one, or more of them were misfiring.

 

[Hanover Fiste]

When you cut off the cats, what did you do with the oxygen sensors?

 

[megaswoltz]

Nothing, they’re located before and after the cats. I just clamped a pipe in between them.

 

[Bmags]

I had 300k miles on my 2003... and I had to take the valve covers off twice to fix broken valve springs. From the sounds of your problem... I think that's what you have.

My truck would start to run a little funny and have misfire codes (since the compression was weak in those cylinders after the break) Generally the spring still has enough tension so it doesn't drop into the cylinder, but not enough to hold back the full compression. It was a very common issue in this gen hemi

I would take the valve covers off quick and REALLY EXAMINE the valve springs on the trouble cylinders. It's not always easy to see just looking at them, but I think you have some broken springs. Good news is you can replace them right with the valve cover off, they make a nice little tool for it. I did mine that way in a couple hours. Don't need to take the heads off or anything. It's an easy job.

 

[megaswoltz]

Then I’ll do that first. I would much rather check to see if that’s the problem instead of taking the whole front of the engine off. Thank you, sir!

 

[jws123]

On the older hemis the lower timing chain tensioners are known to break since they get brittle with age.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

lower timing chain tensioners

Thats, what I remember of the old school tensioners.

 

[megaswoltz]

Even at 100,000 miles? That seemed a little soon to me BUT, as I said, this is my first Hemi and I'm not super knowledgeable about them, so it may be normal. Thanks for the information!

 

[Tominator223]

Over 300,000 miles on my chain. 04. Fuel in oil sounds like stuck injector(s). May also have a weak fuel pump. If it sat for any time and those parts are OE with low miles that’s where I’d look.

 

[megaswoltz]

The last owner didn't use it much, but he didn't really let it sit either. I put a new fuel pump in, that didn't fix it. Someone else had said a stuck injector, which I was hoping wasn't it since they're stupid expensive. I just got the front of the engine off to check the time chain and the tensioners are still there holding the thing tighter than a drum. I got a new set anyway since it's at 100k, so I'm going to replace that, water and oil pump. I think I'm going to check compression when it's back together just to see what happens before I use half of a check on injectors. It's going to be a new engine by the time I'm done with it.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Welcome to the Ram forum!!! Keep us posted.

 

[megaswoltz]

Boy, didn't realize it has been four months. Well, I have a non-update update; I finally got back to the truck and checked the compression, and cylinders 1 and 3 were good; 172 and 170 (couldn't get it on 5 and 7, too much stuff in the way for the tester to spin straight). But when I checked 2, 4, and 6, I got 125, 110, and 115 (also couldn't get it on cylinder 8). I tested both sides MULTIPLE times getting the same results. So, I figured that I had the very famous "lifter spin" issue and the cam was messed up. I got the heads off, the lifters out, and from what I could tell, they had NOT spun around in the retainers. I don't have the cam out yet, but I'm going to assume I'll find it okay as well. So, any ideas? I don't think anything is wrong with the rings, and I'd be shocked if it was a head gasket because I never saw any burning of any coolant, nor did I ever overheat. But then again, I have no idea what this engine's gone through before I got it. And on a side note, I got the intake off and found out that it's not even the original engine, it has an MDS delete kit on it, and you all know there was no MDS in 2004. Since I'm this far in, I'm contemplating pulling it out and just rebuilding the whole thing.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Sounds like a 6.4 swap waiting to happen...

(Ignore me, I'll happily spend your money for you... )

 

[Wild one]

Boy, didn't realize it has been four months. Well, I have a non-update update; I finally got back to the truck and checked the compression, and cylinders 1 and 3 were good; 172 and 170 (couldn't get it on 5 and 7, too much stuff in the way for the tester to spin straight). But when I checked 2, 4, and 6, I got 125, 110, and 115 (also couldn't get it on cylinder 8). I tested both sides MULTIPLE times getting the same results. So, I figured that I had the very famous "lifter spin" issue and the cam was messed up. I got the heads off, the lifters out, and from what I could tell, they had NOT spun around in the retainers. I don't have the cam out yet, but I'm going to assume I'll find it okay as well. So, any ideas? I don't think anything is wrong with the rings, and I'd be shocked if it was a head gasket because I never saw any burning of any coolant, nor did I ever overheat. But then again, I have no idea what this engine's gone through before I got it. And on a side note, I got the intake off and found out that it's not even the original engine, it has an MDS delete kit on it, and you all know there was no MDS in 2004. Since I'm this far in, I'm contemplating pulling it out and just rebuilding the whole thing.

The blocks were still machined for MDS so it should have the delete plugs in the holes.The blocks were designed for MDS right from the get-go

 

[megaswoltz]

Interesting! That never popped up in any research I've done, the internet is slacking! Definitely good to know, though.

 

[HemiLonestar]

Interesting! That never popped up in any research I've done, the internet is slacking! Definitely good to know, though.

Designed from the beginning in 2003 but they didn't have a control system sophisticated enough (CAN) to make use of it until 2005 and that went into the cars. 2006 in the half tons. The "famous lifter issue" never afflicted the pre-eagles; they had busted valvesprings, dropping valve seats and crap transmission (RFE).

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Designed from the beginning in 2003 but they didn't have a control system sophisticated enough (CAN) to make use of it until 2005 and that went into the cars. 2006 in the half tons. The "famous lifter issue" never afflicted the pre-eagles; they had busted valvesprings, dropping valve seats and crap transmission (RFE).

You are one of the first people Ive heard that thinks the RFE is a crap transmission. I have put hundreds of thousands of miles on everyone of my 3rd gens and not 1 transmission failure. I'd say I've put on well over 600,000 miles on all of my 3rd gens Ive had over the years and never had a transmission issue.
I owned a 04 4x4 hemi that I bought from the original owner with 285,000 and sold it with all original drivetrain at 297,000 miles, still running and driving great. I made so much money on it I couldn't turn down his offer. He was in desperate need of another plow truck since his chevy frame broke in half during the middle of winter (imagine that) and I still see it around years later still plowing snow.
I have a current 04 4x4 hemi with 248,000, all original drivetrain thats pulled construction trailers every week since it was new. Trailers big enough to need trailer brakes might I add. I bought both these high mileage trucks from the original owners who verified that the major drivetrain (engine, trans, tcase, both diffs) were never rebuilt or apart.
The one with 248,000 still rips being a sc sb 4x4 with 3.92s with the anti spin rear.
I had a 03 laramie hemi 4x4 that was owned by an industrial company supervisor. The company bought it brand new. I bought it at 211,000 and it had all original drivetrain. I drove it until 260,000 with no major problems. That truck was hammered on so hard that the box floor was wavy from hauling heavy loads. The thing had airbags installed on it too LOL. The only "major" repair if you can call it that was one of the rear axle shafts was bent and I replaced it when I bought it. Probably from having the ever living **** kicked out of it being overloaded constantly. That truck also had a brake controller installed by that company.
Talk with Transtacman on dodge talk sometime. He will tell you his thoughts on these transmissions and my experiences speak for themselves

 

[HemiLonestar]

Good for you? You want a cookie? Bozo badge maybe?

You are one of the first people Ive heard that thinks the RFE is a crap transmission.

If I am one of the first people you've heard say that then you live in a hole & need to get out more lol.

Talk with Transtacman on dodge talk sometime. He will tell you his thoughts on these transmissions

Not that I care about his thoughts (the 6th one in 180k miles was the last straw) but that name doesn't exist; if you're going for a character reference at least choose someone who actually exists lol.