My engine (Hemi 5.7) is ticking...Gggrrrrrr!!!

[mikesram1500]

I know this has been posted time after time, but I'm feeling frustrated that my brand new 2018 Ram is ticking. It doesn't do it every time I start the engine, but when it does, it ticks for about 2 seconds, then the noise goes away. But once the engine warms up, I can hear a constant ticking noise from the engine.
I only have 4,600 miles on my truck. Started doing this around 4k miles.

 

[chrisbh17]

I know this has been posted time after time, but I'm feeling frustrated that my brand new 2018 Ram is ticking. It doesn't do it every time I start the engine, but when it does, it ticks for about 2 seconds, then the noise goes away. But once the engine warms up, I can hear a constant ticking noise from the engine.
I only have 4,600 miles on my truck. Started doing this around 4k miles.

Best bet is to get a video that "shows" the noise.

My truck idles quietly, but I can hear ticking while accelerating. Not sure its the "hemi tick" that everyone worries about. Yours might be the same....I think there is some normal amount of ticking even at idle, the actual hemi tick to worry about is like a deeper tone than that, almost a knock.

As far as the louder knock at startup, does it happen to follow this pattern? Start truck, idle for a bit and shut truck off, or start truck, drive very little (think: moving from one side of driveway to other), then shut truck off. On the *next* startup, you get a loud knocking for a second or two after startup? Mine actually does that too, as do a lot of others, apparently....sounds terrible but it seems to be "normal".

What oil are you running?

 

[Schultzestrength]

At 2200 on my 2018, mine has a tick at start up for about a second. I just noticed it last night for the first time.

 

[Ramnewbie]

Alot of that has to do with the 20wt oil, some are much worse than others. Off the shelf oil I had good luck with M1 EP in a 20wt. Ultimately I wound up at redline 5/30 because it covered all the bases for me. M1, PUP, Amsoil, Redline are all great oils but from many of the reports you will have to make up you're own mind what to use. For some reason these Hemi's are finnaky about what they like and not all are the same.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[mikesram1500]

Best bet is to get a video that "shows" the noise.

My truck idles quietly, but I can hear ticking while accelerating. Not sure its the "hemi tick" that everyone worries about. Yours might be the same....I think there is some normal amount of ticking even at idle, the actual hemi tick to worry about is like a deeper tone than that, almost a knock.

As far as the louder knock at startup, does it happen to follow this pattern? Start truck, idle for a bit and shut truck off, or start truck, drive very little (think: moving from one side of driveway to other), then shut truck off. On the *next* startup, you get a loud knocking for a second or two after startup? Mine actually does that too, as do a lot of others, apparently....sounds terrible but it seems to be "normal".

What oil are you running?

When it does it, mine usually does it on a cold start, but has also done it when the engine was already hot, stopped for a while, then start the warm engine again, and it would tick for a second or 2. But it doesn't do it in either situation every time. Completely random when it decides to tick.
I know the injectors make a certain amount of noise too and that's a normal clicking/ticking sound, but sounds louder than injector noise.
I'm still on the factory oil. Haven't done the first oil change yet.

 

[chrisbh17]

I bought my truck in the fall, so it was chilly and I dont think I ever drove it with the windows down. ignorance is bliss, I guess, because once spring showed up and I COULD drive with the windows down, I noticed the ticking during acceleration.

Like you mentioned, it could be injectors and possibly any number of other non-issues, but its there and it bothers me I could swear it wasnt there with factory fill, but again I didnt really drive windows-down while the factory fill oil was still in there. First oil change was at 2K miles with 5W-20 PYB (Pennzoil conventional), again still couldnt hear the tick because still not windows-down weather.

PUP 5W-30 in there now also shows the tick. Slightly heavier, supposedly much better (full synth) oil. Point being, the engines ARE finicky AND its possible its not oil or internal engine related anyway!

At some point Ill try RedLine just to see how good it is....but at this point I wouldnt be surprised if RL makes my engine sounds the same as it does now, basically proving the tick Im hearing is not internal.

 

[mcaligiuri]

Mine has 8300 miles and ticks when I move it out the driveway to mow the lawn. The start stop start it seems to tick for a second as the lifters build up. Only during this situation do I hear the lifters. Every other time it’s fine

 

[Firebird]

I switched to Redline at 2200 miles as a precaution

 

[69GWC]

Easy way to go is stick 5w30 Redline oil in it, give it close to 1,000 and I would bet after that all you will hear are the injectors firing off.

Redline is not cheap but I would rather pay for it than hear that ticking.
Some guys have had good luck with PUP 5w30 as well.
These motors just want a oil with better additives than the cheaper oils have.

 

[chrisbh17]

Ive had PUP 5W-30 in for about 600 miles so far, nothing has changed. I will give it another 500 miles or so then order up some RL if it still bothers me.

And I bet, after THAT, I will find out all I was hearing the whole time WAS the injectors. But then Ill be hooked on RL and spend oodles of $$$ on oil for the life of the truck

 

[69GWC]

The injectors are kinda loud on these motors thats for sure, but there sure is a difference between injectors and lifters banging..

I put some Lucas fuel cleaner lube in mine and it did quiet the injectors some.

 

[chrisbh17]

I havent had a good old American V8 since my first car....every vehicle since has been some form of Honda, Acura, Nissan or Infiniti, aka very very quiet engines.

As such, I cant really tell the difference between normal ticking and abnormal noises. None of the engines Ive had (aside from my first car) have had pushrods either! Call me spoiled.

 

[RamCares]

I know this has been posted time after time, but I'm feeling frustrated that my brand new 2018 Ram is ticking. It doesn't do it every time I start the engine, but when it does, it ticks for about 2 seconds, then the noise goes away. But once the engine warms up, I can hear a constant ticking noise from the engine.
I only have 4,600 miles on my truck. Started doing this around 4k miles.

I hate to hear you're having trouble with your new Ram! If you're planning on working with your dealer to get this addressed, please let us know. We'd be more than happy to help with this process and escalate if necessary.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[huntergreen]

At 2200 on my 2018, mine has a tick at start up for about a second. I just noticed it last night for the first time.

.

You might be able to fix this with a better oil filter.

 

[RamCares]

Mine has 8300 miles and ticks when I move it out the driveway to mow the lawn. The start stop start it seems to tick for a second as the lifters build up. Only during this situation do I hear the lifters. Every other time it’s fine

Sounds like this is pretty intermittent but if you decide you'd like to have this inspected by the dealer, let us know. Our team can be contacted via private message and can help.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Schultzestrength]

I will be upgrading to synthetic oil and filter soon. I didn't notice the tick yesterday at all. So far it's been a one time thing.

.

You might be able to fix this with a better oil filter.

 

[huntergreen]

I will be upgrading to synthetic oil and filter soon. I didn't notice the tick yesterday at all. So far it's been a one time thing.

I would suggest looking at the royal purple and amsoil ea filter.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Shultz, my 2018 6.4 has 5800 miles. When I had less than 1000, the 1-2 second start up, dry lifter noise was heard on every morning first start. Have done 3 oil changes and that noise is now rare. If the truck sits for two days, will hear it for a second. Found that the RP or Amsoil filters are Tier 1 quality filters. They "seem" to help with O N drain down, start up lifter noise. My 6.4 has progressively gotten quieter as it has been broken in. (Other than the on going exhaust leak) I am convinced that the PUP 0-40 oil is to thin for the 6.4 and contributes to the drain down and dry lifter start up. May be ideal for Canada and cold climates, but not effective lubrication in the warmer climates. My coldest start morning is never under +28* F. Our forum has 100's of threads and 1000's of post going back several years on this subject. I am betting that in the next couple years, marketing decisions will give way to what we used to see in our owners manual. Oil viscosity requirements based on climate temps.
As others have said, the tick issue can be confusing. The injectors in my 6.4 consistently tick hot or cold. Normal. My 03 5.7 injectors have never ticked. Suspect that is nothing more than vendor choice.

 

[KahneFan]

Are you using an OEM filter? My dealer told me not using an OEM filter can cause the tick... then again, this dealer doesn't know to screw a radio in, so I don't know what their advice is worth.

Something about the OEM filter has a way to keep oil in the engine, instead of completely draining out. When the engine fully drains it creates the tick until the oil has re-lubricated the engine. Supposedly the OEM filter has a way to prevent this.

 

[Burla]

Hey Mike another Mike here and for me hemi tick started at 3500 miles new as well. Search Ram forum, there are many hemi tick threads, one in my sig by member h395 can help if it is lifter related. If it is exhaust bolts that is an easy fix. Hound the dealer to fix it if they wont fear not there are options.