Did Redline Oil work against your Hemi Tick?

Did redline kill your hemi tick?


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Gamedog

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Just changed out the Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0/40 and replaced with Redline 5/40 and Royal Purple stock replacement filter. I will say the motor never really had a "tick" other than the standard valvetrain noise that tends to accompany the 6.4, but it sure is running quieter with the Redline.

I sent the Pennzoil off to Blackstone for a UOA and a TBN for ***** and gigs. Just over 7,200 miles on the oil change interval.

Will post up the analyses when they arrive.

As promised, just received my UOA from Blackstone:

Screenshot_20201008-152152_Drive.jpg

Looks like we'll be tracking PPM levels as some were a bit off. Viscosity was also a surprise.

Will continue to perform UOAs from here on out to keep an eye on things.

Interested in hearing any feedback from the oil gurus here.
 
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Burla

Burla

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As promised, just received my UOA from Blackstone:

View attachment 223999

Looks like we'll be tracking PPM levels as some were a bit off. Viscosity was also a surprise.

Will continue to perform UOAs from here on out to keep an eye on things.

Interested in hearing any feedback from the oil gurus here.

This is a redline thread, next time you can use other oil thread or blackstone. No big deal though.

So yes, 0w40 PUP is known for shear, but that viscosity is fine for the 6.4. Since this is fca's oil, it is also why I have kyle trying 5w30 redline, because it will be thicker then your 0w40 at the end of the interval for sure.

I know this wear looks troubling, but I wouldn't worry as the miles are so low, you are still in break in period. You can tell because you are getting wear in several areas even aluminum, this is just new engine wear. The oil looks fantastic, and your interval is perfect. With this much wear, a little over 3 tbn is perfect, I wouldn't change a thing. Do the same exact thing with the same exact oil with the same exact miles, my guess is next uoa wear will have dropped like a rock buddy.

Let me ask you, did/do you have any hemi tick, even dry starts?
 

ToxicFire

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I was using the amsoil ea and liked it but my order didn't come in on time so I bought a fram xp. The threads seemed poor and was hard to get on truck.
I found the amsoil to be way better built and threads on super easy

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk
 

dude22573

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Has anyone tried using redline combined with another brand of oil as a blend? I am thinking about adding some to my engine as an additive for the tick.
Thanks
 
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Burla

Burla

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Has anyone tried using redline combined with another brand of oil as a blend? I am thinking about adding some to my engine as an additive for the tick.
Thanks

I do think this is a good idea but not a lot of people have tried it. I really like the idea of doing this as opposed to doing otc additives that can be dangerous. We know the success rate against tick is great, I often wonder if we just mixed one or two quarts in if we would have similar results. More testing in this are would be beneficial, to know one way or the other. I would say go thick to maximize results, so like 0w30 for winter or 5w30 for warm state, added to whatever you use in the 5.7.
 

Plankton

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Here's a situation that went the other way:

I hadn't noticed any startup tick until after using Redline 5w30 on a previous oil change. I'd startup in the morning through the summer and it would tick for a good minute and then quiet down. Last week I put PUP 5w20 in and this morning I made a point to listen for the heck of it, and there was no tick at all. Nothing. Just a smooth running motor. The tick was there last week. I stood outside my truck and listened until it went away that morning before I changed my oil.

Both times I had also thrown in a bottle of Lubegard, and both times I used a Mobil 1 Premium filter.

Was it the weight of the oil?

Maybe. I have no idea. Kinda stumped as to why, but I'm happy it's gone. If it does happen to start ticking again, I'll report back.
 
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Burla

Burla

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Here's a situation that went the other way:

I hadn't noticed any startup tick until after using Redline 5w30 on a previous oil change. I'd startup in the morning through the summer and it would tick for a good minute and then quiet down. Last week I put PUP 5w20 in and this morning I made a point to listen for the heck of it, and there was no tick at all. Nothing. Just a smooth running motor. The tick was there last week. I stood outside my truck and listened until it went away that morning before I changed my oil.

Both times I had also thrown in a bottle of Lubegard, and both times I used a Mobil 1 Premium filter.

Was it the weight of the oil?

Maybe. I have no idea. Kinda stumped as to why, but I'm happy it's gone. If it does happen to start ticking again, I'll report back.

Whatever works is the rule. One thing redline 5w30 has been known for is cold piston slap, and I'd say it is certainly possible the weight of 5w30 redline could cause issues in theory especially when the engine is cold, and since you had that happen, you could say proven by you. Thanks for reporting the issue.

One thing for sure is every hemi is different, and each owner should develop a strategy using oils or additives that cause less tick and do no harm. Most of us 5w30 is hemi honey and has us butter smooth, but even some of us who have that butter smoothness have had issues with a cold engine, actually more then a couple. If PUP or something else is working, I'd just stay with that, PUP produces great wear numbers. If for some reason you want to try reldine there are three lighter weights to consider, 0w20, 5w20 and 0w30. The reason why 5w30 is so butter smooth is because of it's thickness and heavy additives, yes that thickness can create some noises in some hemi's.
 

Josh keller

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Here's a situation that went the other way:

I hadn't noticed any startup tick until after using Redline 5w30 on a previous oil change. I'd startup in the morning through the summer and it would tick for a good minute and then quiet down. Last week I put PUP 5w20 in and this morning I made a point to listen for the heck of it, and there was no tick at all. Nothing. Just a smooth running motor. The tick was there last week. I stood outside my truck and listened until it went away that morning before I changed my oil.

Both times I had also thrown in a bottle of Lubegard, and both times I used a Mobil 1 Premium filter.

Was it the weight of the oil?

Maybe. I have no idea. Kinda stumped as to why, but I'm happy it's gone. If it does happen to start ticking again, I'll report back.


Same thing happened to me. Switched to qsud and the noise is gone.
 

Plankton

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Whatever works is the rule. One thing redline 5w30 has been known for is cold piston slap, and I'd say it is certainly possible the weight of 5w30 redline could cause issues in theory especially when the engine is cold, and since you had that happen, you could say proven by you. Thanks for reporting the issue.

One thing for sure is every hemi is different, and each owner should develop a strategy using oils or additives that cause less tick and do no harm. Most of us 5w30 is hemi honey and has us butter smooth, but even some of us who have that butter smoothness have had issues with a cold engine, actually more then a couple. If PUP or something else is working, I'd just stay with that, PUP produces great wear numbers. If for some reason you want to try reldine there are three lighter weights to consider, 0w20, 5w20 and 0w30. The reason why 5w30 is so butter smooth is because of it's thickness and heavy additives, yes that thickness can create some noises in some hemi's.

Way too may variables to narrow it down to one oil works for all. Happy to be of help.
 

Lyle Longboat

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Last winter (Jan -40s) I had the cold piston slap using RL 5W20. This early winter so far, 0W20 and she’s purring nicely like she did off the line. My not be that cold enough yet, but still cold (-10 to -15c) but will update in a couple weeks as the temps dropping fast!
 

Larry Meares

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Burla, just a little update. My 190,000 mile 2012 Ram 1500 W/5.7 litre Hemi definitely likes the Redline 5W-30 better than I originally thought. I changed my oil with the Redline at a little over 12,000 miles and decided to try the PP and added MOS2. I was really hoping for some great results. It was horrible!! The tick was so much worse. I end up pulling the passenger side valve cover thinking something was really bad. I replaced the exhaust pushrods with new ones, even though the old ones looked brand new and pulled the intake PR to see they were also in excellent shape. I ran the engine with the valve cover off and could not find any issues with the flow of oil and could not pin point the location of the tick. The noise was the same on each valve through a hose. WTH!! Anyway, I changed the PP out with 100 miles on it and went back to the RL 5W-30 and RP filter. The tick was instantly quieter.
 

HEMIMANN

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@Larry Meares, thanks for sharing your experience.

The difference seems to be the base stock, in your case. i.e. - your use of PP spiked with Moly means the major difference from Red Line is the base stock being an API Group III+ versus Polyol Ester Group V.

To me, this is more experimental evidence showing how the Polyol Ester Base Stock is critical in wetting the lubricated metal parts, and helps the moly & zinc absorb.

I'm more and more convinced the base oil is the main key in helping Hemi valvetrain lubricity.
 
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Burla

Burla

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Burla, just a little update. My 190,000 mile 2012 Ram 1500 W/5.7 litre Hemi definitely likes the Redline 5W-30 better than I originally thought. I changed my oil with the Redline at a little over 12,000 miles and decided to try the PP and added MOS2. I was really hoping for some great results. It was horrible!! The tick was so much worse. I end up pulling the passenger side valve cover thinking something was really bad. I replaced the exhaust pushrods with new ones, even though the old ones looked brand new and pulled the intake PR to see they were also in excellent shape. I ran the engine with the valve cover off and could not find any issues with the flow of oil and could not pin point the location of the tick. The noise was the same on each valve through a hose. WTH!! Anyway, I changed the PP out with 100 miles on it and went back to the RL 5W-30 and RP filter. The tick was instantly quieter.

The hemi's that are the most challenging to lubricate are the high mileage trucks. Before I tried redline I tried mos2, and had the same result as you. Update us when you get 1k-1500 miles on it.
 
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Burla

Burla

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@Larry Meares,
I'm more and more convinced the base oil is the main key in helping Hemi valvetrain lubricity.

Could be for sure, as lubegard also adds esters into their formula and also has success. I think motul has some ester oils with no moly if someone wants to test that, not their 300v which does have moly. If someone with hemi tick wants to try this let me know, I will try and see some options for esters with no moly. However, the white paper is clear on what benefits cam wear and that is moly.
 
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Burla

Burla

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The first time I used mos2 and it is recorded early in syn thread, it sounded like I dumped sand paper in there. Now, we know perhaps I should have given it longer as moly does plate over time, but I dumped it. Personally I wouldn't go back to that additive unless all else failed. I think it does have promise believe it or not, but at what cost? It sounds like I have been validated a little, it has taken this long to get another result as I did, but a lot of forum members have had good luck with mos2. I would definitely try lubegard before mos2, but if nothing worked and my truck still had lifter tick, moly in suspension might help it. Lucky for me redline is still holding up at a decade later.
 

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