Lifter Ticking on Initial Start Up

[CamperMike]

I was experiencing the same noise on startup on the driver's side on my 2014 5.7 a couple years ago. Took it to the dealer and they diagnosed it as broken bolts and a cracked exhaust manifold. They replaced it and the noise went away. Started to hear the same ticking on the passenger side several months ago. Again, took it to the dealer a couple weeks ago and the same issue happened with the passenger side exhaust manifold and bolts. They replaced the manifold and bolts and it's all quiet again. According to the service manager, there is an issue with this generation of 5.7's where the manifold bolts break and then cracks in the manifold soon follow. When this happens, they replace the manifold and bolts with an "upgraded design". The driver's side happened at 108k miles and the passenger side at 147k miles. I'd check the exhaust manifolds carefully before launching on a lifter replacement project. Further info he provided was that they had to TIG weld a nut onto the remaining piece of the broken manifold bolts still in the head in order to back them out. Fortunately, I have the Mopar Lifetime warranty that covered both of these repairs as these were jobs I'm glad I didn't need to tackle on my own. Good luck and keep us informed on what you find out.

Good thing you have the warranty. At last oil change dealer said both mine were loose and leaking and quoted me over $2300 to fix them. Luckily for me they were wrong... the heat shields are broken so they seem loose just like they would be if the manifold bolt broke. But it's only the heat shields. I know what a loose exhaust manifold sounds like and mine aren't. I also have belt sanded both and replaced bolts on them so i know the condition. Anyway in your case since they replaced the manifold with new ones they may just fail again. My passenger side was replaced under warranty just before 60k miles and it failed again at 95k or so.

 

[EdGs]

So I experienced this today. I just got this 2015 and am fixing it up. It has 125K on it. I had pulled it out of the garage and it sat awhile. On startup, there was definitely a lifter tap that lasted seconds. I know it isn't manifold issues because I just got done dealing with that on Saturday. Surfaced manifolds, new gaskets and bolts. That and I know the difference in the sound. Manifolds sound like a chirp more than a tick. Anyway, I'm glad this thread came up and it seems to be a common thing. I was fearing the worse. I do know with older vehicles I've had that a filter without anti drainback will do this. Since it has a lube sticker on it from a oil change place, I'm sure they don't use a premium filter. My next step is an oil change with a good filter.

I cringe everytime I hear it when I forget the clear flood procedure after short-tripping her. Even a 1/4 to 1/2 mile jaunt sometimes isn't quite enough to keep it from bleeding down.

Sets my teeth on edge whenever it does it. They says it does no harm but it sure doesn't sound like it.

I've been way better remembering to clear flood since my cam job.

 

[White six four]

So I experienced this today. I just got this 2015 and am fixing it up. It has 125K on it. I had pulled it out of the garage and it sat awhile. On startup, there was definitely a lifter tap that lasted seconds. I know it isn't manifold issues because I just got done dealing with that on Saturday. Surfaced manifolds, new gaskets and bolts. That and I know the difference in the sound. Manifolds sound like a chirp more than a tick. Anyway, I'm glad this thread came up and it seems to be a common thing. I was fearing the worse. I do know with older vehicles I've had that a filter without anti drainback will do this. Since it has a lube sticker on it from a oil change place, I'm sure they don't use a premium filter. My next step is an oil change with a good filter.

If you "short trip" just start it up to move it and shut it down right away rev it up to 1500rpm before you shut it off. Or do the clear flood method. When I park mine in its spot I always give a quick rev to 1500 before shutting it off. Never any startup noise even when it sits for up to 2 weeks. Any longer then 3 weeks I do the clear flood. Mine isn't a daily so it sits a lot.