ALL 5.7's HAVE LIFTER ISSUES?

[sgtryanusmc]

Do all the 5.7L's have lifter issues? I have exhaust manifold / header noise that I've gone rounds with. Changed out the manifold for BBS shorties. They supplied sh!tty gaskets that failed. Replaced those. May have a couple bolts that have backed out, again. The racket of this motor stresses meowt. I'm always listening and trying to decipher. It recently got a little quieter.... Exhaust leaks don't fix themselves. I'm anxious as it is in the first place. Mine is a 2014 with 140,*** miles and runs great. My wife moved my truck the other day and said, 'your truck sounds like its not going to last much longer...'
Am I gambling? should I go ahead and trade it in? If the motor goes, the whole truck about worthless in my opinion as I can only get about $9 or $10k for it today.
Is this my own fabrication? I think I read someone say, 'they all do' or 'they all have it' or 'they'll all experience it sooner or later'.

 

[Burla]

Most of the lifter fail window unofficially is 70-130k miles, usually if they are gonna fail they tend to fail then. But what you want a guarantee on an engine that has 140k miles on it? Maintain it well and follow known lubrication strategies in my sig is all you can do. Long idles aren't recommended.

Tolerances are open, if you are in cold places 0w30 HP oil if in mild weather 5w30 HP oil at a minimum weight.

 

[rjbar46]

Go get an oil filter, lots of recommendations in here, just get one and cut the one your are running now open. look for metal flakes in the paper element, that will give you an idea of what is, or is not going on inside the engine right now. Report your finding with pictures if there is junk in it.
Depending on your results, follow Burla's guidance!

 

[nlambert182]

Any of them "could" potentially have lifter issues. Not all of them do.

 

[alex6666]

I believe I heard that 8% of the 5.7s eventually have lifter issues.....

 

[tidefan1967]

My first RAM, a 2015 model had the cam and lifters replaced under warranty at 32K. I sold it to my best friend right before that happened and now at 150K it’s still going strong. I did have him start using 5W-30 in it after I was made aware of the problem. Thanks “Synthetic oil” thread!

 

[tron67j]

Had a 2500 2003 with 5.7, over 150,000 miles without a tick, parents drove it after me and sold it a couple years ago. Other people I know with 5.7s have no problem.

You sound like you are ready to pull the trigger. Just looking for validation. Can't say if your problems are bolts/headers or internal or even something else. Either invest in a really good mechanic to go through it all, or trade it in. Really your options right now. Good luck.

 

[Brandon-w]

I believe I heard that 8% of the 5.7s eventually have lifter issues.....

Only 20% of Russian roulette players die
But seriously if the numbers actually became public across the world on this Dodge would probly have to take some of the load on their shoulders and we know that's not gonna happen. It happened to me and Im religious with oil changes and good oil. In my opinion it's poor design and lowest bid parts supply. I mean I live in the cold, my truck is gonna idle I shouldn't have to worry about that killing an engine

 

[sgtryanusmc]

Had a 2500 2003 with 5.7, over 150,000 miles without a tick, parents drove it after me and sold it a couple years ago. Other people I know with 5.7s have no problem.

You sound like you are ready to pull the trigger. Just looking for validation. Can't say if your problems are bolts/headers or internal or even something else. Either invest in a really good mechanic to go through it all, or trade it in. Really your options right now. Good luck.

No, sir. Just dont want to get in a jam. I'm saving $600 or so every month I stay with it.

Appreciate the words, fellas!

 

[PaleFlyer]

110k on my '18 5.7, and no issues with the lifters. A little Hemi Tick when cold, IE just started and I'm idling in the parking lot, sometimes. (IE wife makes me start the truck to "warm up" for a bit while we buckle the boys in/load the groceries...)

60k was "oil change stations" (mostly Firestone, but a couple others), and PUP 5-20 since with Royal Purple filters.

 

[Rambo71]

145,000 on my 2015, no lifter issues, but 3 different manifold bolt fiascos. Stock oil, no mods. Luck of the draw? maybe. Drive it like its stolen daily, maybe the extra splashing is delaying the inevitable.

 

[Neomoritate]

My 2014 has 214,*** miles. No lifter issues. Manifold bolt(s) broken when I bought it, still are. Drives well, and I can't hear any exhaust noise with the radio on

 

[Tominator223]

I’ve got the 3rd gen 04. It take 15-40 same as the diesel . I know it’s not the lifter eater model. It’s valve seat dropper. I lost a valve seat at 160,000 miles got a used 50,000 mile engine for $900. The engines both had a light tap at idle . Still does. Truck has over 422,000 miles the engine has roughly 100,000 less. However I idle a lot in summer (why I don’t get a 4th gen truck) se tx summers. Bad cam & lifter imo is better than that gm 6.2 blowing rods out the bottom. Or a pop can ferd. (Aluminum body). I’ve seen what happens when aluminum ages. Stickin with ol’ blue for now. Just keep that earl changed. lol.

 

[Dusty]

I think you'll find that newer than 2014 engines had a much lower failure rate, and if you notice in these threads the ones you hear about the most are 2013-2016. The 5.7s got a lifter upgrade in mid-2014 (larger needle bearings) and a change in vendors of supplied parts.

The issue no one ever wants to discuss is how much of the failure rate is attributed to poor vehicle maintenance? Somewhere in the failure rate noise is going to be engines that were not maintained well. A lot of the failures I see mentioned are on vehicles that had previous owners where maintenance cannot be verified. In addition, one is going to hear of the failures far more than the ones that do not have a failure. That's the nature of self-reporting statistics.

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 126226 miles.

 

[Marshall]

My 2014 sport, 5.7, 8 sp has no problems ever, but I only have about 90KM on it , last 2 also had no problems, till a Chev guy tried to drive under my 2010, with the hemi as well, other was 2005.
I have never put hi mileage on any of them.

 

[ttoolman]

After five 5.7 rebuilds I have researched and found that it is not a lifter issue this is only a symptom of a bigger problem. 90% of the time it is the cam lobs wearing out due to the poor lubrication of the MDs lifters. Put an SRT oil pump in to prevent this if you have to do a tear down as it is a higher capacity pump and it will prolong the engine life exponentially

 

[PaleFlyer]

After five 5.7 rebuilds I have researched and found that it is not a lifter issue this is only a symptom of a bigger problem. 90% of the time it is the cam lobs wearing out due to the poor lubrication of the MDs lifters. Put an SRT oil pump in to prevent this if you have to do a tear down as it is a higher capacity pump and it will prolong the engine life exponentially

From what I have heard, the SRT pump swap fix isn't because of the capacity, but the pressure? The stock 5.7L oil pump is low 30 psi on my engine running 5-20 at idle. The SRT pump can 100% push more oil, which leads to more pressure, but I wasn't sure if it was flow, or pressure, due to the MDS/VVT/Stupid Bull Spit "gas saver" engine killer system disabling oil flow to moving parts.

As a lot of guys on this here forum also say they have prevented it/prolonged the engine life by just increasing the idle speed from 520 RPM to ~750 RPM.

 

[NCRaineman]

The cam and lifters in Hemi are oiled by splash. It has nothing to do with MDS, as the MDS lifters aren't always the ones that fail. Using the SRT oil pump will give you more pressure, but it won't flow more volume. Volume is the issue, not pressure. At idle RPMs there isn't enough oil splashing to properly lubricate the cam and lifters.

The best solution would be to use a tuner and bump the idle RPMs up slightly. More motion in the engine = more splashing. Of course the issue with this is our stupid locked PCM, which has to be replaced before you can tune.

Perhaps somebody should work on a right to repair lawsuit against Stellantis. It worked against John Deere. If I own the machine I should be able to access the computer files and alter them if I want to.

 

[pscarbor]

Do all the 5.7L's have lifter issues?

No. I own two 1500 5.7 hemis. One is a 4th gen 2009 that I bought new in 2010, and currently has 190,000 miles on it. Crappy transmission failed at 150k but the engine is solid, never had a tick.

The other 5.7 is a 2006 1500 that I bought used. It was not well maintained, generally ignored, and filthy. My wife and I spent three weeks just cleaning up oil (the previous owner worked in the oil fields) and trash out of it. I then spent a lot of time and money replacing broken or worn out parts. Currently has 290,000 miles on it and never had a tick or other lifter issue.

 

[GaryalpUSA]

16 2500 125000 lots of towing. Had broken header bolts at 90k. fixed that. No other ticks. I use 10w 30 synthetic. No difference in mileage or performance. Idle oil pressure 40 psi. I do not recommend thin oil. 0 or 5wt. If your in Alaska at 60 below then use it. Of course if you live in extreme cold areas then install a block heater or quick drain and bring your oil inside overnight. The cam in the 5.7 is high in the block and you need thicker oil to cling when it is off. Traditional Aircraft piston motors have cams at the very top of the case, (block) only get splash oil for lubrication. Part of the reason they use 50wt oil.