Lifter Ticking on Initial Start Up

[ZincMark]

So my 2014 RAM 1500 has 115,000 km on it. Over the last month the lifter tick is noticeably on start up. It goes away in 30 seconds or so.
So is this the beginning of the end of the lifters? I keep fresh Mobil 1 oil in it changed probably every 5000 to 6000 km. Is there any aftermarket additives that may stop the tick?
Thoughts
Thanks

 

[dvc357]

Hey,
Everybody has different experiences. I have a 2017, 105000 miles. It’s had a tick on start up for over 50000 miles. It always goes away after 30 seconds or so. Personally, I think it’s the norm.
Best of luck

 

[Burla]

redline 5w30 80%, lubegard biotech 50% success rates. m1 great oil but it isn't a tick killer.

Could be exhaust bolts as well.

 

[ZincMark]

redline 5w30 80%, lubegard biotech 50% success rates. m1 great oil but it isn't a tick killer.

Could be exhaust bolts as well.

No. This is definitely lifters.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

There are several reports on this, I think there are a couple of roller lifters losing pressure and that tin can rattle is noise you get between the rocker arm and the valve stem, I may be the MDS lifters, even on warm startups after its been sitting for a little while, I've done the flood clear on occasion and it seems to help.

 

[ZincMark]

No. This is definitely lifters.

Thanks though

There are several reports on this, I think there are a couple of roller lifters losing pressure and that tin can rattle is noise you get between the rocker arm and the valve stem, I may be the MDS lifters, even on warm startups after its been sitting for a little while, I've done the flood clear on occasion and it seems to help.

what is the flood clear?

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Flood clear is pushing accelerator pedal to the floor, crank it over with key or push button let it crank for about 5-10 seconds release key or push button take foot off accelerator pedal, don't keep cranking it, not good for the starter, this will pressurize lubrication system.

 

[Burla]

If the lifters are dry at start up the automotive and motor oil industry have used molybdenum to lower the coefficient of friction at start up. RAM forum back in the day used this science to develop their own strategies and recorded the results. Products that were having success obviously had more testers. In the end between 2011 and the next decade 100s of members tested two products and reported the results in those two threads. See the poll results read the testimonies. The fact is these worked over the oils that the owners previously were running. Just an oil change can give the lifters a lower coefficient at start up. It's not a brand thing it a science thing as those brands are not related. I cannot even guess how many times a guy changed lifters and it still ticked, it's been plenty.

Both of those products not only have moly but esters that hunt metal. These products leave a plate behind., and that plate is what silents ticks. The syn thread is a long read but has all the work as it happened. Nothing is 100% not even changing lifters. But almost surely if it is lifters using redline 5w30 at a minimum would change the characteristics of the tick 98% of the time. Chances are if nothing happens at that point look harder at the exhaust bolts again.

 

[EdGs]

When your engine is cold, reach in through the wheel wells and grab the corners of the heat shields over the exhaust manifolds. If any are loose, you have broken exhaust bolts, EXTREMELY common on our Rams. Usually, it is only the rear bolt(s) that break. It only takes 30-60 seconds to check.

Most of the time, if it is exhaust bolts, the tick will go away in 30 seconds to a minute, once the engine warms up a little bit. Sometimes the exhaust manifolds warp so badly that it does not seal up.

If it is broken exhaust manifold bolts, the fix is relatively simple, depending on how the bolts have broken.

If you short-trip your Ram, you can also get lifter clatter on startup, but usually lasts only 3-5 seconds. Clear-flood procedure helps this.

FWIW, my 2015 SLT with 219k miles and a new cam and lifters 18k miles ago will still do this, as it has done for the 190k miles I've owned her, unless I remember the clear-flood method.

Take a video, post it to Youtube, and post the link here.

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[Ken226]

No. This is definitely lifters.

Out of curiosity, how did you verify this to a high level of certainty.

If your going by sound alone, broken exhaust manifold bolts can sound so similar to lifter tick that even pro mechanics get fooled by it.

 

[jws123]

Exclusing the exhaust manifold tick. Lifter tick on startup is normal they bleed down make sure your using good and a good filter nothing to be worried about this is not the lifter tick that causes issues. The real Lifter tick happens at hot idle and causes misfires eventually.

 

[ZincMark]

Out of curiosity, how did you verify this to a high level of certainty.

If your going by sound alone, broken exhaust manifold bolts can sound so similar to lifter tick that even pro mechanics get fooled by it.

Will check out

 

[ZincMark]

Flood clear is pushing accelerator pedal to the floor, crank it over with key or push button let it crank for about 5-10 seconds release key or push button take foot off accelerator pedal, don't keep cranking it, not good for the starter, this will pressurize lubrication system.

I did not know that. Thanks