Premature failure - 2018 RAM 1500 (3.6 Penstar) — Coolant Intrusion into Cylinder #2, another Penstar problem.... Christmas Special!

[MarineTanker2018]

Not in defense of any stealership(and I just searched what kind of motor this pentastar is so I never knew....says overhead cams with an alum.block...is that correct? )I'm just spitballin here guys bear with me.
Here at work I do valve jobs on mostly outboards(and a few auto heads every so often)with overhead cams and a surface/milling if needed ....On some of these"bowed/twisted" heads those cams are locked up and require bolting and heating that head on a pretty thick plate to bring it back to free up those cams(we dont do that)....before a surfacing to true it and have those cams spin freely before being bolted back on the block...
If not one could surface the head and those cams are still bound up on the top side leading to the saddles galling eventually and shrapnel particles falling to the oil sump.Had one the other day..Intake cam was in 2 pieces and Ex. was in 3. Also a straight edge on the block especially if its aluminum should be done to make sure it isn't the "opposite" bow really throwing things out of whack when you bolt on a nice flat head..ours are allowed .004 bow(out of flatness)before a surfacing should be done(pretty much a blown head gasket at that pount).The block check is rarely ever done here as I never see the block side unless its a total rebuild.....but we've refused to surface a seriously overheated(its always an overheat)warped/twisted head to where the cams are locked up solid......I've seen them past .020.Theres more to these heads than just milling them and having them be back bolt-on perfect.
Only thing I could think of for a stealership to recommend a ridiculous diagnosis(and I really doubt this is the reason)of changing the motor without getting into it with a straightedge at least to see what's needed.
I say check the cams if they spin ok have it surfaced..if not try the junk yard and do the same or just get a new head and go with it......
Dam,that was a long one...sorry guys.

Getting a rebuilt and tryin to get another two years out of it. Laughing at the stealership reference....

 

[MarineTanker2018]

I used the dealer in Humble after a couple of bad experiences with the North Freeway one. These things change, but it's worth talking to them.
For long out of warranty card, we used this guy.
Vt Auto RepairAuto repair
Phone281) 999-6444
Closed now

• Sat8:00 AM - 6:30 PM

243 Blue Bell RdHouston, TX 77037

Im using a smaller independent guy to put in a rebuilt. A garage called Mueller's Auto Service off Hardin Store Rd (west of the Woodlands).

 

[Docwagon1776]

Im using a smaller independent guy to put in a rebuilt. A garage called Mueller's Auto Service off Hardin Store Rd (west of the Woodlands).

Good call. Local rebuild or a nat'l? Warranty?

 

[huntergreen]

Marine tanker, Good call on the rebuild . If I’m not mistaken, the trams is different model on the pentastar than the one that comes with the hemi. SEMPER FI from an old navy doc.