Exhaust leak.

[evansr235]

Took my 2009 ram Laramie with 5.7 to the dealer today because if ticking noise on cold start. I believe this to be the notorious leaking exhaust manifold. I was told it would be 100% out of my pocket.ReAllly. I know of several doing the same exact thing. My truck only has 42k miles. Seem like they would help me out a little. I am the second owner but so what. Anybody got any advice for me. Shouldn't there be a recall when there is such a widespread problem. Thanks for any help guys.

 

[Hemi450hp]

Does the ticking go away once the motor has warmed up? If so, then it is most likely the common hemi tick which is caused by the lifters not getting enough oil on a cold start. If this is the issue, try using a lighter weight oil, or a better quality synthetic oil. This has been a known issue on these motors since they first came out in 03.

 

[Burla]

Yeah, that is the Hemi tick. Go get a great synthetic oil 5w20, either Amsoil or Redline. That tick is not benign, if you don't get lube on your top end damage will occur. Also, if your truck is sitting for a couple days, just go out and start her up and let her run a while. Hemi's are like Cummins, great engines but they need a little tlc.

 

[evansr235]

I really think its exhaust leak I run castrol synthetic 5w20. My boss has same engine same year model and his manifold sound like its half off already. Scared mine will be that bad if not adressed soon. Letting engine cool and gonna try and find the leak if it is a exhaust leak thanks for answering need all the help I can get.

 

[evansr235]

It does get better on warm up. But it takes a while and it's still there just not as bad.

 

[Hemi450hp]

The issue with the exhaust manifolds leaking is caused by the bolts breaking off in the head. I would just double check your exhaust manifold bolts first and go from there.

 

[Burla]

Anything is possible, but if it's an exhaust leak it will always leak. You can diagnose it, go get a a spray gun that mists water and while you engine is running spray the manifold, if there is a leak you will see it, and you would probably smell it in the cab. Castrol synthetic is not high end group 4 or 5 oil, it is group three. It will run cleaner then conventional oil but it wont react to the metal like a group 4 or 5 oil. Just trying to be helpful, good luck with it.

 

[Burla]

Here is a UAO (Used Oil Analysis) of your oil, there is no Moly (Molybdenum). Guy, I have never even heard of a high end oil without moly, that is horrible. Your oil had a lot of detergents but lacks friction modifiers like Moly. Moly is exactly what the hemi tick needs or visa versa. Read the synthetic thread and make a choice on a better oil. be careful with moly additives, they are not the same as the Moly used in high end oils. There are different types of moly.

At 42k miles on your truck it is probably time to replace pcv, that will als0 help oil rotate through your engine better if it is getting jinked up. When a pcv is gunked, oil sludge starts forming, often all you need to do it replace it and the oil system cleans the sludge out automatically.

I looked up a virgin oil analysis on castrol syntec just to verify, and again no Moly. Detergents like calcium help the oil run clean, but Moly content helps reduce friction on metal parts like lifters. I would bet 5 bucks of my hard earned money( I'm Retired ), if you switch to Redline that tick disappears. Redline has more Moly then any oil I've seen an analysis on. I would even try Running Royal Purple as a backup if you don't feel like ordering the online highend oils.

I just looked it up, Royal Purple has twice the Moly as Amsoil (i was pleasantly surprised at this), not close to as much as Redline. A very good choice to see if it helps that tick, on the off chance it is the Hemi Tick.

Castrol Syntec 0 Moly
Amsoil in the 85 range moly
Royal Purple 175 range moly
Redline 800 range moly

The very fact that your oil has no Moly leads me to believe it is very possible that is the Hemi tick.

 

[evansr235]

I just changed the oil today and admit that have Ben using castrol for a while in all my vehicles but I bought this truck with 30k mikes on it and am learning from u guys and am very appreciative. I have been running am soil in my bike and seem to be great oil but expensive. This is by far my favorite truck to date and want it to last. I will try a better oil ASAP. What seem to be the go to oil and do I need to stay with 5w 20 even in the summer time weather in the south. Again thanks alot.

Luv my HEMI

 

[mattman_13]

They recommend the 5w20 in these supposedly due to the MDS system.
I am no guru and do not understand the mechanics of it. But will be back to see the educate replies.
I myself wouldn't switch from it.

 

[Hammer75]

I have an exhaust leak on mine as well, it doesn't sound like a tick, it sounds like a ****** sound when idling. I have stock exhaust on my truck. I purchased it 5 months ago and switched it from regular oil to Pennzoil platinum 5w20.

 

[Burla]

5w20 is a good oil to combat the hemi tick as well. It is thin so will reach the metal parts much sooner at start-up then the thicker weights that are better protection for a long trip. Just invest in an oil that has good Moly, I just looked up another and Mobil One has a Moly content in the 80 range. Please do not use any additives, 95% of them are junk and harmful, it is much better to use a high end oil then use any additives. learn more about Moly here.

This is a must read for anyone with a Hemi who wants to avoid the hemi tick. It is not about supporting any one product over another, it is simply about choosing a product that has the material your Hemi needs to reduce friction. I can't believe an oil like Castrol doesn't use Moly but the virgin oil analysis do not lie, there is no moly in that product.

 

[Hammer75]

Is Moly content around 50 or so good? That is what I read Pennzoil Platinum has. Does mine sound like an exhaust leak or like a hemi tick? I have never heard it tick, it sounds more like a ****** sound.

 

[Burla]

As much energy I have put in learning about and also spreading the word about Moly, it is just one factor in a good oil. That oil has maybe a little below average for a "synthetic oil", and my research shows the 5w20 weight of your oil has the 40 range on Moly. Another issue is that oil is a group 3 oil, in other words it doesn't have the tiny uniformed molecules that is also beneficial when combating metal to metal wear. One really good thing about your oil is it has a very high TBN which is how they measure total additive package, it is up there with Amsoil which is the highest you can find. It also has a very good calcium content and decent Zinc, which is another friction modifier but in my opinion no where near the same as Moly. So your oil has very good features, but isn't great on Moly and does not have the benefit of the smaller oil molecules of the true synthetic group 4 and 5. Bottom line is if you like that oil and you are not running into any problems then keep running it, there is good stuff there.

It sounds to me that you don't have the hemi tick, if you ever develop it you might want to try an oil with more Moly. The Hemi Tick is definitely a tick, scares the hell out of you when you first hear it, it sounds so bad it almost reaches the level of a knock. You can always run something like Royal Purple or Redline just once to see if you like what the additional Moly does to reducing friction. But that is just a suggestion, bottom line what you are using is a good oil.

 

[Oscurida]

So I'm going to go with royal purple. Which motor oil and transmission oil I should purchase? I'm going to get the oil filter as well.

 

[russscarce]

Since this thread pertains to "Exhaust Leak" I'll chime in. I have a 2007 1500 and the manifold leak is driving me crazy. Passenger side rear manifold bolts snap. It is a 2 stage bolt, allowing spacing for the heat shield. I know of 3 RAM owners that have or have had this issue. Why won't Dodge admit this is a problem and fix it?

 

[Burla]

Does your exhaust leak tick only at cold start up? I think the OP possibly had the wrong diagnosis.

 

[wiram]

My 2006 had 4 bolts snapped off along with a hairline crack in the one manifold. Had the same problem with the bolts on an 05. The tick was the worst when cold and once it warmed up everything would expand and the tick would be less noticeable unless your pulling. Ended up getting shorty headers with better grade bolts.

 

[Burla]

yeah, exhaust leak and opportunity knocking looks an awful lot a like. Time to get some headers, dang I hate it when that happens

 

[Oscurida]

i took a video and you can cleary hear the tick i have. im looking to switch to royal purple oil, oil filter, trans oil and what else? also, which royal purple would i get for these parts?