Mystery ticking noise. Help!

[chiprollo22]

Hey guys! I figured I ask for some opinions/help!

I have a 2019 DT ram 5.7 hemi with 90k miles and I’ve developed this noise/tick/ping what ever you want to call it lol.

At idle and driving speeds the car sounds perfect. You only hear it with the windows up accelerating from a stop or with the hood open holding it at 1-2k rpm

I’ve replaced the lifters using all oem parts and exhaust manifolds with the BD diesel kit.

Despite my best efforts the noise has persisted.

Things to note: I have religiously done an amsoil oil change ever 5k, the cam and old lifters looked perfectly fine (prob did not need to replace the lifters) and the cars only mods are a cold air intake, muffler delete and a pulsar. The pulsar stays on stock only use it to turn mds off and fix my speedo.

Also, I have 2k miles on the new lifters and have tried both 5w-20 and 5w-30 and it seems the 30 makes the noise a little quieter. I don’t want to keep throwing parts at the truck but I feel like my next step is rockers pushrods etc.

Thank you in advance and I’d really appreciate anyone’s advice or input. Hope you all have a day.

-Chip

August 29, 2025

youtube.com

 

[tron67j]

Broken header bolt, one or more. May not find all until you get into it.

 

[G-Ride990]

Agreed ^^^

5th gens are more likely to crack manifolds over bolts though. Check this thread I made on my dad's truck.

Cracked Exhaust Manifold

Not my truck. My dad has been complaining about a little tick at start up on his 2021 Bighorn 5.7 2wd truck with 47k miles. I told him to check the manifold bolts. Well he finally got around to doing it and he sent me this picture this morning. I don't remember seeing much about this on the...

www.ramforum.com

Either way, seems like FCA just can't figure out how to make a manifold last.

 

[Ken226]

I’ve replaced the lifters using all oem parts and exhaust manifolds with the BD diesel kit.

I'll assume that when you replaced the lifters, you also replaced the camshaft.

Also, since you replaced the manifolds with BD diesel units, i'll assume that the ticking was there immediately after, and not a situation where it was quiet for awhile first, then the BD manfolds warped later.


If that is the case and the lifters/cam and exhaust manifolds have been confidently ruled out, how well did you inspect the rocker arms and valve stems?

Take a look at Ed's valve stem:

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

Was checking things over, found a scratch on my front cam bearing, all I can do is polish it up with some 800 grit paper. Not sure if it came during cam removal or from a bit of metal, or both, it is what it is. Ed luck......lol

www.ramforum.com

and rocker arm:

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

Was checking things over, found a scratch on my front cam bearing, all I can do is polish it up with some 800 grit paper. Not sure if it came during cam removal or from a bit of metal, or both, it is what it is. Ed luck......lol

www.ramforum.com

Would you have noticed if anything like that was present?


All that said, from your video it kinda sounds more bottom end'ish, like cold piston slap to me. But, it's really hard to say with confidence.

Get a stethoscope and try and narrow it down to a specific area of the engine. If you and narrow it down to something like, timing chain area or valve covers, or lower crankcase, it would help. Harbor freight sells a stethoscope for about $10.

 

[G-Ride990]

Disregard my manifold comment didn't catch that you already swapped the manifolds.

 

[tron67j]

Disregard my manifold comment didn't catch that you already swapped the manifolds.

Dang it, I glossed right over that as well. I just know so many people who have had that bolt issue I guess I am like online AI now when I read a problem with 5.7s. Ignore my first post, my bad.

 

[Maverick 2021]

Well you might be running into the problem that i just had to deal with my 2021 Ram 1500 w/ 98,500 miles on it. I had a tick tick noise also and manifolds got replaced and the dealership said it was good to go. Next thing you know i'm back at dealership after 12hrs and told them there quality control sucks ass cause you still hear the tick tick. Well come to find out Cams and Lifters was bad and then when they took out the cam there was scoring in the block. So they had to put a brand new long block. If i didn't have the Extended Warranty I would have been screwed cause it was about 12k if i was out of pocket! I just got my truck back after 2 months of back and forth