Ticking in the engine...

[White six four]

My brother's 2004 Durango ran fine on just normal off the shelf oil and never had the tick. It had the MDS and it ran for about 290,000 kms before we sold it.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the 04 durangos didn't have mds.

 

[Travis8352]

So, it isn't this one?

I'm just going to stick with Red Line 5w/30. My HEMI is doing just fine using that and the Royal Purple 20-820/AMSOIL EAO11.

Thats the one to use the one you pictured. That hpl is the one he can get in dubai

 

[Travis8352]

@Travis8352
Castrol Edge would cost me about 108 USD.
Castrol Magnatec would be 73 USD.
Redline would be about 160 USD.
HPL is about 168 USD

Mobile 1 European blend isn't available. We have these..
View attachment 511742View attachment 511743
Both of which would cost about 122 AED each

* The prices are approximate based of Amazon pricing for a quantity of 8 Litres.

Thats the mobil 1 i was talking about. Sorry i forget your in dubai

 

[06 Dodge]

Thank you @Dodge 1500 4X4 & @06 Dodge.
I instructed the mechanic to use Redline 5W40 right now after the rebuild. We know it is available here and it is a proven oil; although at quite a premium compared with brands like Castrol. Lubegard is not available here locally, neither is Pennzoil. So using that combo is out of the question; unless I order them.
The plan is to use whatever is locally available and cost effective to save a bit of coin in maintenance; hence why I was looking at Castrol Magnatec.
Most of my commute is in the city, in traffic and I do run the MDS, so I was thinking that the Magnatec Stop Start would have been a good option.
View attachment 511706

If no one else has run this oil, I suppose I could use my truck as a test subject, but having spent so much on the fixing the tick, just using Redline seems like a no brainer.

I was reading the Synthetic oil thread and there are worries about Redline changing their formula. HPL is available in the market, but at a higher price than Redline. We also have Motul 300V, and it is the same.

My brother's 2004 Durango ran fine on just normal off the shelf oil and never had the tick. It had the MDS and it ran for about 290,000 kms before we sold it. Its manual called for 5w30 so that is what it ran from the beginning.
I know the Hemi in my 2014 Ram isn't really the same and had quite a few updates since then, but I figured that much of the design remained close to identical.

Can you get Shell Helix or Rimula oil?

 

[knightjp]

Can you get Shell Helix or Rimula oil?

Yes.. Shell Helix is readily available.

 

[06 Dodge]

Yes.. Shell Helix is readily available.

See if you can buy some gas/diesel oil, I know some say BS but I can say since 1980 when I went to gas/diesel oil I have never lost an engine or had oil related problems...

 

[knightjp]

See if you can buy some gas/diesel oil, I know some say BS but I can say since 1980 when I went to gas/diesel oil I have never lost an engine or had oil related problems...

What oil do you run on your engine? Looking at your profile and seeing that you don't have the 5.7 V8, guessing not Redline or PUP/Lubegard combo.

Castrol Magnatec is something that runs on Gas and Diesel engines. Hence why I was looking at using it. The info on whether it being a full synthetic is a bit hazy. At best we can say that it is a blend. Castrol Edge is the full synthetic and has the same "intelligent molecules" as per their marketing goes; although probably not as much as Magnatec does.
The trouble with either is that the moly content is about the same as PUP. This is what makes me hesitant on using it. I would probably have to add Lubegard to it.

The goal is prevention, now that the tick has been sorted out mechanically. My idea was to use an oil that is readily available here in Dubai and not have to use any extra additives, etc.
That is the general idea. If we can use something that is cheaper than Redline, then even better.
The hope is that Castrol Magnatec would be up to the task. My idea was to run 5w40 now for the first initial break in and then 5w30 in Winter and 5w40 / 0w40 / 10w40 in Summer & change it every 7000 kms.
In order for me to go ahead with it, I just need someone experienced in using the Castrol oils to weigh in this.
I know that @Rod Knock, @Treburkulosis & @jawzs2 ran Castrol in their engines. I would like to hear their take on this and whether they ran Edge with or without a moly additive like Lubegard.

 

[knightjp]

I decided to take the plunge and do some testing with Castrol Magnatec.

Let's see how it goes.

 

[Daily Driver44]

I have always used 10w30 or 10w40 oils and every other oil change added only the STP brand of oil additive. I have never had a problem doing that with the conventional engine no matter how many cylinders 4,6,8.
i did watch a YouTube video where a Canadian had proposed a potential cause that these lifters and cams were failing and it did catch my interest.
the you tuber, who's name i dont recall, stated that due to the cam setting the way it does at the angle the lifters do in the hemi only affect it due to the oil passageways in the block that deliver oil to the rest of the engine. He stated that if you miss an oil change and/or a few or ultimately trash get in and blocks said passageways then it will in fact starve the lifters of oil and destroy the cam.
This is the reason why the MDS delete is so popular due to the fact that removing the solenoids from their bore un-restricts the oil flow in just that one way.
i am getting older now and the thinner oils i still question because i see engines still having the same issue regardless. It ultimately is always going to come down to maintenance.

just my 2 cents worth. im not pushing my opinion and welcome any and all criticism.

 

[knightjp]

@Daily Driver44 Thank you for your input.
Do you use the same weights in your current 2012 Truck? What brand of oil are you using?
Came across this recently,

What Type of Engine Oil for Dodge Ram 4st gen 2009-2014

Choosing the correct motor oil for Dodge Ram (4st generation) 2009-2014, technical help and recommended by manufacturers oil types.

oilincar.com

HEMIs are the only engines that are facing issues over using thinner oils. So I am hoping that my strategy with Castrol Magnatec and heavier weights will work.

 

[06 Dodge]

I decided to take the plunge and do some testing with Castrol Magnatec.
View attachment 511800
Let's see how it goes.

From what I know about this oil it looks to be a good oil and the 5w40 will cover a wide range of temps, I recall being told back around summer of 2014 by a Dodge tech that one of the reasons of them going to thinner oils was due to engines being made with small oil passages and being you have a 2014 you should do okay using 5w40 oil. I read above you plan on going to 5w30 winter, from what I read the 5w40 has a lower pour point than the 5w30, so why you would switch to 5w30, I didn't think it gets that cold in the UAE...

 

[Daily Driver44]

@Daily Driver44 Thank you for your input.
Do you use the same weights in your current 2012 Truck? What brand of oil are you using?
Came across this recently,

What Type of Engine Oil for Dodge Ram 4st gen 2009-2014

Choosing the correct motor oil for Dodge Ram (4st generation) 2009-2014, technical help and recommended by manufacturers oil types.

oilincar.com

HEMIs are the only engines that are facing issues over using thinner oils. So I am hoping that my strategy with Castrol Magnatec and heavier weights will work.

short answer - yes

to be honest its the grade of oil i use at this time. im not one for any one brand in particular. when i do mine though it is all one brand at that particular oil change.
that said i have had no issues at all with the oil i use. I understand its heavier than what the book calls for.

 

[knightjp]

@06 Dodge It actually does go to about 14.C or colder in some parts of the country.
I don’t want to go too thick during the cold season.

 

[06 Dodge]

@06 Dodge It actually does go to about 14.C or colder in some parts of the country.
I don’t want to go too thick during the cold season.

If that is 14C and not negative -14 then that's equal to 57 degrees F not all that cold in my book as I'm use to sub zero temps for winter. For 5w30 or 5w40 oil the cold winter weight for both oils is 5 not 30 or 40 weight. Also 5w40 oil has a lower pour point then 5w30, I recall 5w40 was -44 below zero compared to -39 below for 5w30. BTW I have personally used 5w40 oil in cold temps to -30 below zero or -34.4 C and in a few cases colder temps but then when it gets colder than -30 then its time to use oil pan, block heaters or both Oh if it makers you feel better to use 5w30 for winter then by all mean use it, its your truck not mine...

 

[knightjp]

Thanks for the advice and the feedback.
I have spoken to a couple of people that have used Castrol in their HEMIs and most use EDGE and without any Moly additives. I did notice that they live in colder climates than mine. So lets see how this pans out.
I wish that there was some way to get the oil tested over here after usage. How much does Blackstone Labs charge for their testing? Maybe I can send them a sample after and get it tested.

 

[ThunderMug95]

Thanks for the advice and the feedback.
I have spoken to a couple of people that have used Castrol in their HEMIs and most use EDGE and without any Moly additives. I did notice that they live in colder climates than mine. So lets see how this pans out.
I wish that there was some way to get the oil tested over here after usage. How much does Blackstone Labs charge for their testing? Maybe I can send them a sample after and get it tested.

$35

 

[knightjp]

$35

That sounds reasonable, however I live in Dubai. The shipping might take cost a lot more.

 

[ThunderMug95]

That sounds reasonable, however I live in Dubai. The shipping might take cost a lot more.

I’d imagine so on the shipping!
Given your location and all of the surrounding oil infustry, there has to be a lab that can test it. Then just post the values here and our “ In-House Experts” can compare and give you feedback. I will post mine here and you can see if theres a lab that test for these fields.
Heck, know any college students in this field? You could be their thesis paper. I will let others think of catchy names like “Studies in Male Petroleum Analysis Envy”

 

[knightjp]

@ThunderMug95 LOL.. I don't know any college students in that field. I did manage to find out there is a company that does such testing. I contacted them to see if they do the same kind of testing as Blackstone and if the price would be similar.
Looking at your test results, do you use Lubegard as well?

 

[knightjp]

Just came back from visiting the mechanic. He's got the parts and the oil..


Should be ready in a couple of days.