Any and all advice welcomed …

[JoeBurreaux]

Greeting fellas

Ran across this forum multiple times (unfortunately and thankfully) here recently. Just looking for tips and advice, it will be greatly appreciated. I have searched multiple threads on here and gathered great information on how to move forward so TIA for that.

Here’s the back story:

I have a 2015 ram 1500. Just a good ol SLT base model. I bought it about four years ago from an H&E equipment company. Purchased with a little over 100,000 miles on it, had great maintenance records. It was mostly used to travel in between site locations.

I’m approaching 200,000 miles, and recently got a misfire code. Specifically on cylinder five. Naturally, I replaced the coil first still to have the code show up. And no, I have not replaced the Plug’s yet. I have purchased them just not have had the time.

However, today, I’m now throwing a cylinder one misfire. Never had any issues with the truck and now all the sudden I have a cylinder five misfire, and two days later a cylinder one misfire.

It did start the notorious Hemi tick at approximately 150k miles, which is when I first discovered the whole issue these trucks have with the cams and lifters.

Overall, the truck really has been great, I really do not want to get rid of it for financial reasons, and somewhat of an attachment to the ol truck. I’m beginning to think however I will soon be replacing a cam and lifters. Even at this point for preventive reasons (even though I’m 99% sure that’s why I’m misfiring on 5&1). I’ve seen multiple videos and read multiple threads on here about people who decided to tackle it on their own. I am a machinist by trade, so I do feel comfortable (somewhat) Tearing into it. But I have a few questions it if y’all would be so thankful to help me out.

Generally speaking, how hard is the repair?
What is the best parts, gaskets etc. to go with?
Should I replace anything else while I’m in there?
What’s the off chance is it’s just the spark plugs or the injectors? I do plan on changing those tomorrow (the plugs).

Any and all advice, experiences, do’s and don’ts welcomed. Hopefully me and my 7 year old son can tear into it.

Look forward to the replies fellas, God bless and cheers.

 

[Dean2]

Start simple work up. Exactly what codes is it throwing, track those down first of all. Replace plugs, throw in two cans of seafoam as many misfires are cuased by gunked up injectors, get a can of throttle body cleaner and clean that and the map sensor.

If that doesnt fix it then time to maybe pull valve covers and look for problems in there.

 

[JoeBurreaux]

Start simple work up. Exactly what codes is it throwing, track those down first of all. Replace plugs, throw in two cans of seafoam as many misfires are cuased by gunked up injectors, get a can of throttle body cleaner and clean that and the map sensor.

If that doesnt fix it then time to maybe pull valve covers and look for problems in there.

On the seafoam.. how successful are those at cleaning injectors? Wonder if there’s any success stories of them actually being the issue… would be fantastic. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Dean2]

On the seafoam.. how successful are those at cleaning injectors? Wonder if there’s any success stories of them actually being the issue… would be fantastic. Thanks for the advice.

If you search this forum there are at least a handful of guys who fixed misfire problems exactly this way after I made the suggestion to them. I have fixed fuel delivery issues using it also. On my own vehicles I run a can through every 5-8000 miles.

One example

Cylinder 7 Misfire

I have a 2006 Hemi 5.7L (210K) started with a cylinder 7 misfire, changed the plugs (it was needed) didnt clear the code, tested the coils, they are good. Spoke to a mechanic and truck did have the infamous Hemi tick. Replaced the lifters, cam, head gasket, timing chain, etc. Still has a...

www.ramforum.com

 

[Burla]

Sea foam wont clean injectors for ish, it is great at what it does, it cleans combustion chambers through the vac lines better then anything, you want a PEA cleaner, I'd suggest redline si-1, but I am doubting it is injectors at this point. It is possible, but I'd say less likely then some other ones, good news it would be semi easy to deal with this. I would do sea foam through vac lines and redline si-1 full bottle in gas, do not use more, just one bottle. Did it only throw the cyl 1 misfire once? Do you have any number of times it through each specific cylinder, many times number 5 and 1 time on one?

You dont need to replace plugs, you just need to swap plugs, while swapping you can see condition. If you already bought plugs mise well hold on to them in case you do the cam, nice time to do plugs then. I's just swap 5 with anything and see if 5 keeps coming up or it moves. Doing a lot of these things like cleaning injectors and combustion chamber, no need to do this with new plugs, those are hard on plugs.

here is ram forum cam bible thread

 

[Travelin Ram]

+1 on a cleaner with PEA for fuel injectors. Chevron Techron is the most accessible, find it at Walmart or any auto parts store. I have successfully used it on Chrysler vehicles with misfires.

And do as @Dean2 suggested and diagnose before assuming the worst. Spark, fuel, compression. Hopefully it’s door number 1 or 2.

 

[JoeBurreaux]

If you search this forum there are at least a handful of guys who fixed misfire problems exactly this way after I made the suggestion to them. I have fixed fuel delivery issues using it also. On my own vehicles I run a can through every 5-8000 miles.

One example

Cylinder 7 Misfire

I have a 2006 Hemi 5.7L (210K) started with a cylinder 7 misfire, changed the plugs (it was needed) didnt clear the code, tested the coils, they are good. Spoke to a mechanic and truck did have the infamous Hemi tick. Replaced the lifters, cam, head gasket, timing chain, etc. Still has a...

www.ramforum.com

Awesome man thanks for linking that thread.

What is the general rule or ratio to run seafome through it?

 

[Mister Luck]

Misfire doesn’t necessarily mean spark, fuel treatment is supposed to be preventative maintenance but fleets don’t always keep up with everything
Battery Maintenance is something to be concerned about with a used vehicle and also known to throw random codes with our trucks.
Your vehicle should have had plugs changed, water pump replaced, timing chain replaced, pulleys because of their bearings tensioners because of their springs and serpentine belt, throw in a new radiator with hoses and you’ll know where your truck is maintenance wise.

 

[Jeepwalker]

2x on the battery

You can ohm out the plugs too ...and discover if one is damaged. Same with the coils. Maybe you got a bad coil? Seems unlikely, but it just takes a minutes to ohm all that stuff out when you have it in your hands. Good info to know before you make plans to tear into it. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[JoeBurreaux]

2x on the battery

You can ohm out the plugs too ...and discover if one is damaged. Same with the coils. Maybe you got a bad coil? Seems unlikely, but it just takes a minutes to ohm all that stuff out when you have it in your hands. Good info to know before you make plans to tear into it. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Interesting on the battery responses. I did change the battery about 1 month ago and that is about the time it started acting up. Cylinder 5 was first to throw a code, and about a week later cylinder 1.

I did elect to go with the generic brand and I’m honestly not even sure if the specs. I will look into this, I appreciate that.