What would you do?

[mtnman1000]

2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi

After experiencing a misfire on cyl 1 a mechanic I took it to replaced the heads, lifters, and a cam after finding a badly worn lobe at cyl 1. Once they finished, it ran far worse than before with at least 6 new codes from VVT, MDS to a new misfire on cyl 5 and terrible ticking. After my son tore it back down, he is finding lots of metal shavings plugging up the MDS solenoids and VVT which leads me to think the engine is toast.

My question is, should the mechanic have looked for metal shavings prior to replacing the parts since the cam lobe was totally gone, or would it be reasonable to just replace the parts and not even look? I spent $4800 for the work and parts and am not sure how to approach the original mechanic and if I even have any recourse since technically, he did fix the original issue (no more misfire on cyl 1) even though it came back worse.

Some mechanics I've talked to would never have installed new parts with a completely worn cam due to high chance metal all throughout the engine.

Also, is it possible to flush out the shavings or would a new engine be the most appropriate way to go?

 

[Dean2]

Cheaper to put in a whole new motor. As far as the mechanic that did the previous work, I would be looking for a refund. Anyone that knows what they are doing would have checked for metal BEFORE rebuilding. You son had no problems finding the metal. If the mechanic claims there was no metal prior to the work he did then he owes you more than a refund, he owes you a whole new motor because obviously something he did F'ed up major.

 

[Burla]

In legal terms most states require you give the original mechanic a chance to fix it. So the time to ask questions would have been before you let your kid open it up. Just a guess but is sounds like the original guy didnt cup the push rods correctly on 5, it happens so often it is hard to comprehend. What the oem does to determine whether or not to replace an engine is pop the oil control valve and check for metal, if there is metal they don't touch it if there isnt then they determine the risk is worth it. What's the state of the truck now? Fixing an engine like this is always a risk, even if no metal in oil control valve. If he said you want to pay me 1500 bucks to determine whether or not ro proceed with a new engine or fix it would you have paid it? So it would have been 1500 plus a new engine just to determine the risk level?

 

[Rlaf75]

More than likely the original mechanic won't touch it now because your son already tore it back down before they had the opportunity to diagnose it further. If it was me, I would brought the truck back to the mechanic at first sight of another problem after spending so much money already. I think now you'll be replacing the engine because you won't be able to flush out all the metal shavings. Good luck

 

[truck2569]

2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi

After experiencing a misfire on cyl 1 a mechanic I took it to replaced the heads, lifters, and a cam after finding a badly worn lobe at cyl 1. Once they finished, it ran far worse than before with at least 6 new codes from VVT, MDS to a new misfire on cyl 5 and terrible ticking. After my son tore it back down, he is finding lots of metal shavings plugging up the MDS solenoids and VVT which leads me to think the engine is toast.

My question is, should the mechanic have looked for metal shavings prior to replacing the parts since the cam lobe was totally gone, or would it be reasonable to just replace the parts and not even look? I spent $4800 for the work and parts and am not sure how to approach the original mechanic and if I even have any recourse since technically, he did fix the original issue (no more misfire on cyl 1) even though it came back worse.

Some mechanics I've talked to would never have installed new parts with a completely worn cam due to high chance metal all throughout the engine.

Also, is it possible to flush out the shavings or would a new engine be the most appropriate way to go?

Once you have shavings in the oil pan they have travelled all through the engine. Time for a complete break down or crate motor replacement my opinion.

 

[diymirage]

I think I would have back away from a shop that wants to replace the heads due to a bad camshaft