Idle and drive hours new to me truck

[Redcup]

So as you can see my idle time is twice my drive time. This truck is from Canada and I am guessing the previous owner(s) were hunters and or campers as it has a roof rack, lift, and big tires (35s). I read the buildsheet and the buyer added a block heater and extra insulation everywhere. When I bought the truck in August it had a nice knock for a minute or two but the truck had been sitting for months at the dealer. I changed the oil to 5w30 and I only have a faint knock that you can hear if you are next to the wheel well this goes away after a few minutes and is only on a cold start. Should I be worried? Is a set of cams/lifters in my future or is this screen wrong? Truck is a 2018 1500 Outdoorsman with the 5.7.

**EDIT** After doing math these numbers can't be right. I would have to be driving 230mph to get the drive hours. I mean it might be possible. Maybe superspeed is hidden in a menu somewhere. So is there a way to view the actual idle/drive hours? I have OBD Jscan.

 

[tron67j]

One possible scenario is that the cluster was replaced and the mileage was added from old one but hours represent total since replacement

 

[GTyankee]

if it only knocks at the FIRST Start of the Day & only for less than a minute.

Chances are the bolts that hold the Heat Shields on the Exhaust Manifold are broken.
You can grab the Heat Shield & try to wiggle it, when it is not hot

 

[Redcup]

One possible scenario is that the cluster was replaced and the mileage was added from old one but hours represent total since replacement

Is there anyway to get the real hours? I saw a thread about custom PIDs but that app no longer works according to the most recent comments.

if it only knocks at the FIRST Start of the Day & only for less than a minute.

Chances are the bolts that hold the Heat Shields on the Exhaust Manifold are broken.
You can grab the Heat Shield & try to wiggle it, when it is not hot

I notice this knock or tap either in the morning when I fire it up or after it has been sitting awhile (like 8-12 hours). It is really faint if you stand near the ds door but if you get close to the wheel well you can hear it. It's also not very rhythmic or it's just me. The paperwork for the previous repairs shows a manifold replacement a couple years ago due to a loud tapping sound. They only did the passenger's side. Wonder if the driver's side finally went. I'll check what you mentioned.

 

[Ken226]

Is there anyway to get the real hours? I saw a thread about custom PIDs but that app no longer works according to the most recent comments.


Wonder if the driver's side finally went. I'll check what you mentioned.

I'd say the probability is so high as to be almost certain.

If your truck is a 4wd, you're in for a treat. The driver side is the fun side.

The passenger side is so easy it almost does itself.

 

[Redcup]

So it's actually coming from the passenger's side and sounds like a chain going over gears. I recorded the sound.

Cold start after sitting for 3 days: https://youtu.be/l4C0a_YEFJQ
After driving to work for 30 minutes: https://youtu.be/FmGWytXZd4s


And would I be able to pull the actual drive/idle hours using OBD Jscan?

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I would put ZERO faith in the idle & drive time hour meters on our vehicles.

My (then) 19' which I purchased new in 19' had numerous instances where the EVIC displayed completely preposterous numbers that switched from high idling and low driving, to low idling and high driving hours.

IMHO, the best things you could consider are using top quality synthetic oil in 5W30 (or 0W30 in winter) and top quality synthetic media oil filters, keeping your own idling times to a minimum, and using quality fuel.

Not sure of the vehicles maintenance history: good time to look at spark plugs, cleaning the PCV valve, cleaning the throttle body, retightening the intake manifold bolts (these are known to back off and cause issues), new engine air filter, etc.

 

[Wild one]

So it's actually coming from the passenger's side and sounds like a chain going over gears. I recorded the sound.

Cold start after sitting for 3 days: https://youtu.be/l4C0a_YEFJQ
After driving to work for 30 minutes: https://youtu.be/FmGWytXZd4s


And would I be able to pull the actual drive/idle hours using OBD Jscan?

Sounds like noisy injectors more then anything.The injectors are famous for being noisy,pull the engine cover off and use a mechanics stethoscope on the injectors and see if they're your issue.

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-52500-Mechanics-Stethoscope/dp/B0002SQYSM?th=1

 

[Redcup]

I pulled the real hours and they are:

Idle: 838
Drive: 3457

So better but still over the 20%. I'll continue to follow the advice here and run good oil and try not to remote start unless it is really cold out. I'll be doing a tuneup next year as well as it's 100k maintenance. The carfax and repair paperwork I could find show the previous owner took care of the truck. Just lost their mind when doing lights as that was a nightmare to clean up...

 

[BadHemi2014]

You got nuthin to worry about lol. I hear crazy noisy injectors, I don't hear lifter knock/ tap what yacallit. This is my 2014, confirmed lifter failure.
#3 lifter failure
Also, my idle/ drive hours, this was an ex fleet truck I bought with 106K on the clock.

Haven't looked at them lately. But I've seen several members mention that their drive hours randomly reset to zero. So I wouldn't put much faith in that display. Just drive and enjoy!

 

[Dusty]

So as you can see my idle time is twice my drive time. This truck is from Canada and I am guessing the previous owner(s) were hunters and or campers as it has a roof rack, lift, and big tires (35s). I read the buildsheet and the buyer added a block heater and extra insulation everywhere. When I bought the truck in August it had a nice knock for a minute or two but the truck had been sitting for months at the dealer. I changed the oil to 5w30 and I only have a faint knock that you can hear if you are next to the wheel well this goes away after a few minutes and is only on a cold start. Should I be worried? Is a set of cams/lifters in my future or is this screen wrong? Truck is a 2018 1500 Outdoorsman with the 5.7.

**EDIT** After doing math these numbers can't be right. I would have to be driving 230mph to get the drive hours. I mean it might be possible. Maybe superspeed is hidden in a menu somewhere. So is there a way to view the actual idle/drive hours? I have OBD Jscan.


View attachment 553437

My suggestion would be to log the driving time manually to see if the cluster is reporting drive hours correctly. You could do the same for idle hours. You shouldn't need to do this for a long time to see a result.

I am being advised that it is possible that a PCM address has been corrupted causing a miss count.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 121577 miles.

 

[Mdoyle]

So as you can see my idle time is twice my drive time. This truck is from Canada and I am guessing the previous owner(s) were hunters and or campers as it has a roof rack, lift, and big tires (35s). I read the buildsheet and the buyer added a block heater and extra insulation everywhere. When I bought the truck in August it had a nice knock for a minute or two but the truck had been sitting for months at the dealer. I changed the oil to 5w30 and I only have a faint knock that you can hear if you are next to the wheel well this goes away after a few minutes and is only on a cold start. Should I be worried? Is a set of cams/lifters in my future or is this screen wrong? Truck is a 2018 1500 Outdoorsman with the 5.7.

**EDIT** After doing math these numbers can't be right. I would have to be driving 230mph to get the drive hours. I mean it might be possible. Maybe superspeed is hidden in a menu somewhere. So is there a way to view the actual idle/drive hours? I have OBD Jscan.


View attachment 553437

 

[Mdoyle]

Had the exact same issue with my 2019 5.7L . It’s the bolts holding the exhaust manifold and or the lifters . In my case it was both and my truck was only 3 yrs old . Fortunately I caught the tail end of the warranty by 30 days so the repairs were covered and it just so happens that my dealership has great mechanics and have been at the same location for years. That said , I was still very nervous to have that extensive amount of work done & concerned about having to drive over 1.5hrs back to have some tweaks done as a result of the extensive work. But they got it right in one shot. Any how the lifter issue also scored the cam lobe so that had to be replaced as well. Knowing this now, it may make more sense to you why the severity of the cold start noise decreased with warm up , however that makes me lean towards exhaust manifold bolts because my lifter issue did not decrease in severity with warm up. It was consistent . Ram the Co. As well as its mechanics have know about the issue who in means less hassle having to explain or convince the service intake rep. Good luck to you , I’m hoping this helps.

 

[Gettintired]

So as you can see my idle time is twice my drive time. This truck is from Canada and I am guessing the previous owner(s) were hunters and or campers as it has a roof rack, lift, and big tires (35s). I read the buildsheet and the buyer added a block heater and extra insulation everywhere. When I bought the truck in August it had a nice knock for a minute or two but the truck had been sitting for months at the dealer. I changed the oil to 5w30 and I only have a faint knock that you can hear if you are next to the wheel well this goes away after a few minutes and is only on a cold start. Should I be worried? Is a set of cams/lifters in my future or is this screen wrong? Truck is a 2018 1500 Outdoorsman with the 5.7.

**EDIT** After doing math these numbers can't be right. I would have to be driving 230mph to get the drive hours. I mean it might be possible. Maybe superspeed is hidden in a menu somewhere. So is there a way to view the actual idle/drive hours? I have OBD Jscan.


View attachment 553437

I took my truck in for 20 point check up and they said my trailer brake controller had come unplugged so they plugged it in for me at no charge but when I got in the truck it had changed my drive mile time to 1/5 th of what it was so that my idle time was much greater than my drive time. I confronted them about it and they told me that no matter they knew what my drive time was. They said sometimes that happens when they unplug or replug things in.

 

[Dustyroadz]

Regretfully we bought one some years ago just like that(strange high idle hours) with 30,000 miles and it ended badly-the motor ate itself.Oil pan full of shavings...it had started ticking which got much worst quickly and at 48,000 did a total engine lockdown in the middle of the road!!!
A differant dealership bought truck back from us after we brought it in at least 10 times with them saying it was fixed but wasn't(we got about same as we paid for it + under Ran warranty)...
Discovered ours too was a Canadian truck ....was used whereby owners would leave it idling through the work day to keep it from freezing up(extreme cold conditions & no motor warmer available).
Oil field workers would almost never turn their trucks off in frigid cold.
GET RID of it immediately.
Sorry.