Ticking noise

[CostaRam]

Common issue and dangerous if it is lifter tick no problem if it's exhaust bolts. Take some one inch plastic hose and put one side to your ear, the other to each exhaust bolt.

What should i hear doing that? My 5.7 HEMI is ticking and i wuld to know if it's the lifter tick or problems with exhaust bolts.
Thanks
Chris

 

[Burla]

I have watched a few youtubes, and unfortunately they sound exactly alike. One thing usually is indicative of lifter tick is after an oil change the tick changes characteristics. But, I would use some one inch hose (I like the clear firm type I get at hardware store) when you hear the tick, and go to each exhaust bolt and see if that is the area, I haven't had the issue but a forum member here said that works, one end on the bolt and the other on your ear, so make sure you get it long enough a couple ft will do. I have helped a few guys solve their ticks if it is lifter tick, always the same recipe of oil and filter choice, very high success rate but not 100%. Search the forum for Hemi tick and gather some info, identify the problem, if it isn't exhaust bolts then 95% chance it is lifter tick. There are actually a couple rare things it could be past that, but those are very rare, lifter tick and exhaust bolt tick are not rare at all. Feel free to PM me if you have some more questions. It has been a little trial and error, I solved my own lifter tick 5 years ago and it has been gone since. Much more pleasant experience driving a truck that doesn't sound like a sewing machine. So search the forum a bit, search thread titles for "Hemi Tick". I'm guessing that 2011 is out of warranty? You do have 5 years on engine depending on miles.

 

[CostaRam]

Thanks so much Burla!
Well then i will check the other treads regarding the HEMI TICK and see if i can figure it out what it is.
It is not loud, just not very noticable ticking noise (similar to injector noise) when i hear inside the wheel well,
from outside or inside the car it's not to hear.
Is the dealership changed the oil i have to investigate what type of oil they used and see then if i can change it to something "better" to have less tick.
Unfortunately i and the car live in Costa Rica and the warranty here is:
1 year for new cars
1 month for used cars
YES, living in the tropics has also it's bad sides ...

To get particular oils and filters means that i have to import them from the US,
filters fast by airfright while oils take about 4-6 weeks by container cargo ship.

The good news is that Pennzoil is widely available

Chris

 

[willischen]

Interestingly i have a 2012 Ram with the 5.7 Hemi that just rolled over 40k miles that started ticking also. It ticks upon cold start and lasts a short period until the engine warms up. It ticks again upon the starts throughout the day with less overall duration. It speeds up with the RPMs too. I live in central texas and weather is wildly variant. Just yesterday it was nearly 90 and today the day started at 38. Ticking lasts roughly the same no matter what weather though.

 

[Burla]

Chris if you are at worried about it, take your webcam out and get a little audio/video file on the tick and upload it to youtube. It may just be injector tick as you suggest, if it was traditional hemi tick, it is a monster sound almost like an engine knock. PM me if you have a question, i don't always follow up in threads.

 

[milspecmark]

Just to add my experience. I have a 2013 with 60k miles. I have noticed a ticking noise on a cold start for a while now (Couple years). When the engine warms up it goes away completely. I took it to the dealer last week and asked them to keep it overnight and start it up in the morning in the cold. Sure enough they called me and said I had broken exhaust manifold bolts and that my lifetime power train warranty covers the repair. Cant wait to get my truck back this week hopefully

 

[SyN]

Mark: Great news!
I only hope they replaced the proper parts with upgraded parts that will keep this from EVER happening again!

 

[milspecmark]

Mark: Great news!
I only hope they replaced the proper parts with upgraded parts that will keep this from EVER happening again!

Yeah, my understanding is that the heating and cooling of the manifold causes it to expand and break the bolts. I think now it will hold its shape. If not, I will bring it back to them. I love the lifetime powertrain warranty

 

[SyN]

Yeah, my understanding is that the heating and cooling of the manifold causes it to expand and break the bolts. I think now it will hold its shape. If not, I will bring it back to them. I love the lifetime powertrain warranty

This is almost exactly what my Service manager talk to me about just after I bought my RAM.
His solution which actually makes pretty good sense.
Basically I drove my RAM home 2 1/2 hours. I let my RAM totally cool down for almost 24 hours. Then I took her out again for about a half hour on the interstate make sure everything was at operating temp.
Then drove her back home parked her in the garage popped the hood and let her cool for about 15 to 16 hours. Did this basically four or five more times to totally give the exhaust manifold and bolts 5 to 8 total heat up and cool down cycles. This was all done before I reached 400 to 500 miles On the motor.
I take it the idea is to do this when the motor is still brand-new.

He has stated to me a few times owners who have done this so far have not ever come back with this issue.

I guess time will tell with mine. I still do it today, once a week ( I make the extra effort) to take it out on the same highway for about 20miles, (65-80mph) come back and let her cool off for at least 12 to 16 hours. (My days off allow me to do this). Although three quarters of my miles are interstate and Highway anyway.