Have you heard about 2011 RAM 1500 5.7 cam and lifter issues.

[Jory]

I have a 2011 slt 4x4 5.7 hemi. I heard some of them are common tk have lifter and cam issues.

I would like to know more about this. I bought mine 7 years ago with 140000 km and now have 245000. It is running tip top now. J did the camshaft celenoids and new intake manifold gaskets plugs rad flush a couple years back and I keep the oil fresh. I heard that's important for the camshaft celenoids. I had to do the TIPM. Thinking of rebuilding the old to have as a back up.

But what is this issue they talk about. Does it happen to all of them eventually, or is it a luck of the draw thing. What is involved fix it. I am putting about 10 grand in to the truck this fall into next spring. And a brand new 5.7 crate motor is 7500. I would just put a new one in the truck. Still cheaper then new or a decent used one which will still need works. But my motor runs like new. Couple broken manifold studs. But no ticking yet. Will put new ones on in the spring. But if this lifter issue is a problem I would rather put the money into a new motor before doing the manifolds. Everyone has said the 5 speed tranny is bulletproof and I have kept it serviced. Will do another service in the spring cause the pan in rough. Been on my back the last 3 weeks wiring brushing everything, painted underneath and did an roll on industrial coating the the rockers door seals frame, mounts and floor. All by hand no spraying wanted to make sure it bonded well. Very solid vehicle. Replacing the step bars rust proofing and new snow tire in 2 weeks and oem fender flares

 

[Zoe Saldana]

Good luck.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[mrack]

There are hundreds upon hundreds of places you can read about it, one search literally anywhere will give you plenty of results, it’s not like this isn’t talked about every single day. Google, facebook groups, or these forums. Learn to use the search bar

 

[jr27236]

Dont fix whats not broke. If your engine is good and you have the basic maintenance issues and use/time issues then fix them as they come. But as for the lifter issue. The answer is NO it does not happen to all. Lack of maintenance and excessive idle time seam to be the main causes of the roller lifter failing due to lack of lubrication. Seams like you have a great vehicle and by the way you take care of it im sure it will last a great while.

 

[Jory]

Thanks a lot. That helps and is some peace of mind. I still have my 2000 Ford F150 4x4 4.6v8 from new when I was 16. It still runs. But needs a body over haul. Never thought I would have a dodge. But I am beyond impressed with this vehicle. My Ford eats ball joints and tie rods cause of torsion bar suspension needs coils. This thing they can never find play 100 000km since I bought it. And it needed one outer tie rod then. Alignment still bang on. Nicest riding truck hands down, and close to just the nicer riding vehicle period. Mercedes electronics are glitch free. Other then the cd player not ejecting for weeks at a time and then it spits it out all of a sudden. Fuel milage is a dream for what it is. 3.5 v6's pretty much use the same amount of fuel. And the engineering how nothing gets under it and stays clean is very impressive. I will be driving 4th Gen 5.7s for as long as there is still fuel at the pumps. Just have to figure out what year I should go for the next one. But when they are used it is more about what the truck was used for.

 

[Burla]

Look up lubrication strategies in my sig, consider oil, additive, and filter. The things discussed where all started with science of all of those aspects, and then 100's of ram forum Members participated. Mostly finding answers for hemi tick, up to you if that also applies to protecting a cam with no tick. Best part is you need to have oil and filters anyhow, why not chose ones with science that says they perform better in areas of protecting metal.

I'm a Ford guy as well, to me nothing will ever beat the 351 twins Windsor and Cleveland, just served me without issue for 15 years and then some, and one of the people who bought them from me came back a decade later and told me man best engines ever, no lie.

 

[Burla]

You did a great job on coating, some guys don't like that, I love it. I line'xd my grill, bars, bed. It held up perfect many years later, maybe a decade now, the powder coat has long failed, industrial coatings the way to go.

 

[Jory]

Looks good. Works well with the blue. I was back on forth on doing it. The passager door had some paint peel on the bottoms I had to take it that high. Went off the curve in the sheet metal. I that to paint it tan like the interior, would have work with the dark down. But durability was most important. Little fiberglass zero filler. Two coat of flat Grey metal paint first. First cut really thin with acetone to let in flow into everything. Then a slight cut with acetone for the second coat. I find the flat is better then gloss for good adhesive for the coating. I wasn't to fussy with the age of a truck. And the oem fender flare will cover what I coated around the wheel wells. Going to be ready happy one it is rust proofed and driving through the mucky salty mess. You steps bar look good I order new ones was thinking of coating them as well. Think I will order new fenders when I do the manifolds make it easier for the mechanic while the fenders are off. Will just put the flares on the rear for now if I do that.

 

[dchapma1957]

Your work looks great. I have a 2011 SLT 2x2 with 132,000 miles on it and I just went through the lifter/cam failure. It started out with a cylinder 5 misfire, code P0305.

I ended up putting in a genuine Mopar cam, Lifters, all 4 MDS solenoids, VVT solenoit, Timing chain, VVT phaser, Melling HV oil pump, water pump, all new coils, spark plugs and both heads, remanufactured.

I think it all cost me ~ #3,500 but I figure it will now outlast me!

Best advice I can give it don't let it sit and idle for prolonged periods of time and keep the oil changed every ~ 5K miles.

 

[Marshall]

I have had 3 of these trucks with the 5.7 since 2005, and never had a motor trouble with any of them, Mind you I never got the mileage you have.
I am too old to worry about stuff that may or not happen.
I sure would not be buying a remand motor just because you may have trouble .
A remand motor can go to hell , it has already or it would not be a rebuilt motor.
Who did the work? that is what you worry about.

 

[Trashy2121]

Lifter failure is inevitable, I am currently rebuilding the top end of the wife's durango because of mds lifter failure. I knew about this problem. To help safe guard I changed oil every 3-4k miles. We got 190k miles from it before they gave up. I should have done this before the lifter failed but I got lucky and it didn't wipe out the cam bearings. Refreshed top end with me doing the work put me at $1800 and a couple of weekends

 

[tgrfan2]

I had a 2004 D1500 that was still running perfectly when I sold it at 140K miles. I have a 2008 Aspen with 294k miles that the MDS code came on years ago but I haven't touched the engine and it still runs great.
I bought a 2011 Durango with 80K miles on it from the local Chrysler dealer. Looked great and they have serviced it. Luckily I bought an extended warranty that I never bought before on anything. It ate the cam at 90K miles. It started missing one day and the light came on with my wife driving. turned out to be the cam and lifters.
The Hemi Aspen is the best car I have ever had and I use it daily to keep from short hopping my diesels, but that 2011 Durango is the worst car or truck I ever had.

 

[Bfleming]

I have a 2011 slt 4x4 5.7 hemi. I heard some of them are common tk have lifter and cam issues.

I would like to know more about this. I bought mine 7 years ago with 140000 km and now have 245000. It is running tip top now. J did the camshaft celenoids and new intake manifold gaskets plugs rad flush a couple years back and I keep the oil fresh. I heard that's important for the camshaft celenoids. I had to do the TIPM. Thinking of rebuilding the old to have as a back up.

But what is this issue they talk about. Does it happen to all of them eventually, or is it a luck of the draw thing. What is involved fix it. I am putting about 10 grand in to the truck this fall into next spring. And a brand new 5.7 crate motor is 7500. I would just put a new one in the truck. Still cheaper then new or a decent used one which will still need works. But my motor runs like new. Couple broken manifold studs. But no ticking yet. Will put new ones on in the spring. But if this lifter issue is a problem I would rather put the money into a new motor before doing the manifolds. Everyone has said the 5 speed tranny is bulletproof and I have kept it serviced. Will do another service in the spring cause the pan in rough. Been on my back the last 3 weeks wiring brushing everything, painted underneath and did an roll on industrial coating the the rockers door seals frame, mounts and floor. All by hand no spraying wanted to make sure it bonded well. Very solid vehicle. Replacing the step bars rust proofing and new snow tire in 2 weeks and oem fender flares View attachment 553452View attachment 553453View attachment 553451View attachment 553455View attachment 553456View attachment 553457View attachment 553458View attachment 553455View attachment 553459

 

[Hardracer]

I'm gonna chime in Jory on my personal experience and just say these dodge/ram trucks are far from glitch free on the electronic workings..Of course just my opinion here.Ive had radio deals where I cant explain what just happened.A TIPM that failed without an explanation from the dealer as to why(big news flash there... lol).I'm on my 4th drivers side window switch that all of a sudden just fails to work the front windows or the locks(i think something on the BCM with that issue but cant find a fault with it).Horn random beeps once in awhile...I cant explain any of it.Seat recall sometimes doesnt go automatic on startup,hit the button to recall and it goes to where it should.....Anyone who has any opinions on any of this please throw out some ideas...Overall I love the quality of the ride and power though.My next ride will not be of the same make,I've already decided this(although I do kinda like the idea of that hurricane motor, hopefully it will be problem free)....I'm kinda old school and run a vehicle to where I refuse to dump money into it,hence I've only owned 3 trucks since 1988.
Mine is a '10 now so we are in the same vintage I'll call it.
Zero rust for a southern truck I'll give them that,paint is perfect(tonneau paint sucks,but not factorys fault),but overall I think these trucks do have a bunch of electronic glitches.
My .02