Still Kicking

[ExpressRules]

When my daughters old Jeep Cherokee bit the dust I bought a used 2019 crew cab Bighorn and gave her my 2014 crew cab to use. The 14 had almost 150k on it then. Today I took it for an oil change for her and saw it now has close to 174k. When I passed it on to her it had a tap but still ran perfect. With extra 25k on the clock the tapping has not gotten worse. While I know I may be jinxing myself by posting this I am a bit surprised it hasn't gotten worse.

With that said now my next post may be all the cam lobs are totally destroyed and engine is toast.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Is it a 'tap' or a wisp coming out of a warped exh manifold leak?

 

[EdGs]

With that said now my next post may be all the cam lobs are totally destroyed and engine is toast.

A few months back, I was at the Auto shop across the street from my work to fix a vending machine. I noticed a set of clean hemi heads sitting in the office.

I told my friend, I've been lucky, my '15 just turned 200k, so far so good. Wasn't but a week or so after, and I hear the tap. My turn.

Totally coincidence, but still crazy. I have no reason to complain, either.

Love your truck, and fix her when she needs it.

 

[ExpressRules]

Is it a 'tap' or a wisp coming out of a warped exh manifold leak?

I wish it was only a manifold leak. But as I wrote it started after getting into the 140's

 

[EdGs]

I wish it was only a manifold leak. But as I wrote it started after getting into the 140's

Would a bad lifter last for 25k miles plus?

I don't think it takes nearly that long for a bad lifter to eat the cam, so maybe you do have an exhaust leak?

 

[ExpressRules]

Would a bad lifter last for 25k miles plus?

I don't think it takes nearly that long for a bad lifter to eat the cam, so maybe you do have an exhaust leak?

If it was a exhaust leak it would quiet when engine warms, this is a steady tap that gets faster with RPM.

 

[EdGs]

Sometimes the exhaust manifolds warp enough thst they don't seal completely when warmed up.

Not super-common, but does happen.

 

[EdGs]

If it was a exhaust leak it would quiet when engine warms, this is a steady tap that gets faster with RPM.

Maybe, go over the engine with a stethascope. When I did mine, I could hear my tap best on the intake side of the valve cover over #5 cylinder.

Sure as the rain, #5 intake lifter shat the bed.

Maybe your tap is something else. Hope you find it and it's a simple fix.

It is ecouraging that it doesn't seem to have gotten worse since you've been hearing it.

 

[rzr6-4]

If it was a exhaust leak it would quiet when engine warms, this is a steady tap that gets faster with RPM.

As @EdGs mentioned, it can get to where they won't seal even when warm. From when mine started to when I had it diagnosed and had time to actually fix it, it was about a month. 1st week it would seal when warm. 2nd week would get better but still there. Week 3 and 4 was obnoxiously loud no matter what. If it is a manifold, you should be able to reach up through the fender and feel the exhaust gasses escaping.

I have had a tick again for some time now, doesn't sound like a manifold and haven't been able to feel it. Don't think it a lifter because I've put close to 10k miles on it since it started. Noisy injectors? These engines are noisy in general. Yours definitely could be a lifter but I wouldn't put it down without confirming first.

 

[Dusty]

As @EdGs mentioned, it can get to where they won't seal even when warm. From when mine started to when I had it diagnosed and had time to actually fix it, it was about a month. 1st week it would seal when warm. 2nd week would get better but still there. Week 3 and 4 was obnoxiously loud no matter what. If it is a manifold, you should be able to reach up through the fender and feel the exhaust gasses escaping.

I have had a tick again for some time now, doesn't sound like a manifold and haven't been able to feel it. Don't think it a lifter because I've put close to 10k miles on it since it started. Noisy injectors? These engines are noisy in general. Yours definitely could be a lifter but I wouldn't put it down without confirming first.

Because "the hemi tick" and failed lifters are such a commonly discussed thing, people occasionally get lulled into that as the first "probable" cause. Outside of the exhaust manifold leak, there are at least three YouTube videos where the cause was eventually found to be a fuel injector.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 138998 miles.

 

[Hardracer]

If it was a exhaust leak it would quiet when engine warms, this is a steady tap that gets faster with RPM.

Not necessarily...it could depend on which bolts are broke...2-3 that are broke in order might be enough for it to not seal up after getting warm...
I myself have just been to lazy to fix the 3 I have 2 on 1 side ,1 on the other.but they do seal up after about a min.of running but I know there broken and really dont care at this point on this old *** truck to dump money into(my time and aggrevation)to fix it...truck has served me well way beyond what I expect a truck should last.
I'm with Ed on this one though..hes the latest victim of an eatin up cam...you just jinxed yourselfoh ya,2010 laramie with about 165k on her...beat the hell out of it almost daily at least once

 

[Dusty]

Could be a bad exhaust leak and I have seen some that never quieted down even when hot. I would recommend doing some diagnostics with a stethoscope first before jumping to conclusions, and pulling valve covers and physically checking for movement in the rocker arms (worn or fractured rocker, collapsed lifter, worn cam lobe, etc.).

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 139055 miles.