Hemi Tick Next Steps

[imahnu17]

Hello all,

So I’ve just recently started hearing my 5.7 tick at idle and I’m relatively convinced it’s the start of the lifter issues. The last three oil changes I’ve had some metal shavings in my oil. Some might consider them to be really small chunks or pieces. However I do not have any engine codes for misfires.

Since I bought the truck with 32k miles on it I’ve only ran Fram XG filters and Pennzoil Platinum 5w-20. I did 10k mile changes until 120k miles when I switched to 5k mile oil changes. Truck now sits at 167k miles. The last two oil changes have been with Valvoline restore and protect.

I’m curious what my best course of action is at this point. I was basically sold on the idea of replacing all my lifters and cam and the supporting pieces like pushrods, water pump and hardware. But I’ve also seen some recommend the use of redline 5w-30 oil and RP 20-820 filter. Should give that a try before anything else?

Thanks for your time and expertise.

 

[EdGs]

I would NOT keep driving it.

IMO, if you have metal in your oil, something is definately going on in your engine. You can pull the valve covers and see if theres a difference n valve travel. You can also check your VVT solenoid for metal on the screens, but you will have to pull the intake manifold for this.

Chrysler recommends replacing the engine if shavings on the screens. I have seen pictures of some where the screens are covered in shavings. No bueno.

I am living this experience now. My VVT screens had very little shavings on them, so I'm hoping to get away with a refresh and flushing with clean oil before putting premium oil in it.

IF I ever get her cleaned up and reassembled.. .lol.

My thread:

Do I have a lifter going out? YES, I DO!!!!!!

UPDATE, June 7, 2025 YES, I DO HAVE A LIFTER GOING OUT!!! 1 cam lobe with moderate damage, 2 more lobes with very slight damage just beginning. :( :flame: I stopped driving it shortly after I started hearing the noise. I'm so glad I did. It's gonna be an expensive fix, but it could have...

www.ramforum.com

It won't be a cheap fix, but it needs to be done right.

You are in the right place for help. I myself am relying on those here who have way more experience than me.

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[imahnu17]

I would NOT keep driving it.

IMO, if you have metal in your oil, something is definately going on in your engine. You can pull the valve covers and see if theres a difference n valve travel. You can also check your VVT solenoid for metal on the screens, but you will have to pull the intake manifold for this.

Chrysler recommends replacing the engine if shavings on the screens. I have seen pictures of some where the screens are covered in shavings. No bueno.

I am living this experience now. My VVT screens had very litte shavings on them, so I'm hoping to get away with a refresh and flushing with clean oil before putting premium oil in it.

IF I ever get her cleaned up and reassembled.. .lol.

My thread:

Do I have a lifter going out? YES, I DO!!!!!!

UPDATE, June 7, 2025 YES, I DO HAVE A LIFTER GOING OUT!!! 1 cam lobe with moderate damage, 2 more lobes with very slight damage just beginning. :( :flame: I stopped driving it shortly after I started hearing the noise. I'm so glad I did. It's gonna be an expensive fix, but it could have...

www.ramforum.com

It won't be a cheap fix, but it needs to be done right.

You are in the right place for help. I myself am relying on those here who have way more experience than me.

Good luck, keep us posted.

Absolutely my truck is sitting until I can figure out the issue. Tonight when I get home from work I’ll be pulling the valve covers and the intake manifold to check the two things you recommended.

I’ll go through your thread, but if I understand it correctly, if there’s metal shavings in the screen then it’s basically just replace the engine regardless of if there’s play or not in the rocker arms? And if there’s play in the rocker arms but no metal in the screen then likely need new cam and lifters?

 

[EdGs]

Most of the ones that have worn to the point of misfire, the VVT solenoid screen is loaded with shavings. Mine had 20 - 30 or so. That's why I'm opting to fix mine.


Here's a pic of a loaded one from the net. Some are worse than this.


I did run it about 150 miles after hearing the tick, but I'm not sure if it was ticking before that. I dont know how long it takes to wear to the point of misfire once the lifter roller locks up.

I did find metal in my oil filter as well.

I feel your pain.

 

[imahnu17]

Most of the ones that have worn to the point of misfire, the VVT solenoid screen is loaded with shavings. Mine had 20 - 30 or so. That's why I'm opting to fix mine.
View attachment 570880
View attachment 570881
Here's a pic of a loaded one from the net. Some are worse than this.
View attachment 570882

I did run it about 150 miles after hearing the tick, but I'm not sure if it was ticking before that. I dont know how long it takes to wear to the point of misfire once the lifter roller locks up.

I did find metal in my oil filter as well.

I feel your pain.

Thank you for the pictures as that will definitely help. I cut my oil filter open yesterday after my oil change Saturday and I found 0 metal in it. I pulled a lot of the filter media apart.

 

[EdGs]

Thank you for the pictures as that will definitely help. I cut my oil filter open yesterday after my oil change Saturday and I found 0 metal in it. I pulled a lot of the filter media apart.

I would imagine it doesnt take long for the roller to eat the cam to the point of a misfire once the needles lock up.

The metal in my filter was really fine, and down in the pleats.

Great that you didn't find metal in your filter, here's to your VVT solenoid being clean as well.

 

[EdGs]

I'm not taking any chances with mine.

OE mds cam, lifters, cam phaser, vvt solenoid, mds solenoids, hellcat oil pump, timing set, cam bolt, crank bolt, head gaskets, head bolts, valve springs, valve stem seals, all push rods, oil pan gasket, timing cover gasket, and water pump gasket.

FelPro intake and valve cover gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets.

 

[imahnu17]

I’m planning on all OEM parts and possibly Fel-Pro gaskets. I was planning on switching to the hellcat oil pump but I’m still a little confused on that. I’ve heard people mention just swapping it but others talk about moving to a different spring?

Basically all the same parts in my cart except for the mds solenoid and cam phaser.

 

[EdGs]

I’m planning on all OEM parts and possibly Fel-Pro gaskets. I was planning on switching to the hellcat oil pump but I’m still a little confused on that. I’ve heard people mention just swapping it but others talk about moving to a different spring?

Basically all the same parts in my cart except for the mds solenoid and cam phaser.

You have to swap the spring from the OE pump or you will trip a P1524, AFAIK.

I decided to do new parts just because I am already in there, and dont want to risk a failure on a 200k mile part, and have to open her up all over again.

 

[imahnu17]

You have to swap the spring from the OE pump or you will trip a P1524, AFAIK.

I decided to do new parts just because I am already in there, and dont want to risk a failure on a 200k mile part, and have to open her up all over again.

Thank you, very helpful information.

 

[EdGs]

Thank you, very helpful information.

Learned it here, alot of very knowledgeable people, willing to share their knowledge.

 

[imahnu17]

Got my intake manifold loose enough to get the VVT solenoid out. Looks pretty clean but obviously some specs on it. Don’t see much compared to a lot of what I’ve seen on bad solenoids.

The attached picture does look like a relatively large amount of metal shavings specifically in that area.

Thoughts?

 

[EdGs]

Damn, that's a good bit less than what was on mine.

Looks like they changed the valve a little, too.