Grumble Grumble Ram Engineers

[racer12306]

Preface: This isn't my first filter change, been doing it for 110,000 miles and I curse them every time.

This oil filter, I swear.

I did do my first filter only change. UOA at 8600 miles look great (as expected based on several 10k UOAs) so I decided to change the filter extended out to 15k for resampling. Might take it to 20k, we'll see. If I had brought enough oil (service at my dad's garage with lift), there's a reasonable chance that I would've dumped the oil

However, I WILL NOT be doing a filter only change again. So much effort in changing that filter, it's just not worth it. If I had a Pentastar, I wouldn't think anything of it and you might see crazy** intervals like Wayne was doing.



** Data driven

 

[Kira]

So.......you're saying a 2019 RAM 5.7 with 4WD has a hard-to-reach oil filter?

Perhaps relocate the filter?

 

[racer12306]

So.......you're saying a 2019 RAM 5.7 with 4WD has a hard-to-reach oil filter?

Perhaps relocate the filter?

I've definitely considered that. There are kits.

 

[nwjones18]

The filter is in an annoying place. Drains right onto the electric solenoid for the 4wd too.. IMO doing a filter only swap is pretty silly anyway. If I'm making a mess new oil is going back in, but that's just me. I also don't drive a ton and am generally only doing 1 change per car per year.

 

[OVERKILL]

Are you using the oversized filter (FL-820S equivalent/XG2) or just the mini guy? I have fun every time I'm trying to get the oversized filter in there, but I run long-ish intervals, so at least it isn't all that often.

 

[QwikKota]

I use the XG2 as I did not think that small OE filter was fit for a decent sized V8. It is definitely not fun to change but running the oil that long doesn't make sense to me. It's less than $50 for 2 jugs of synthetic. How much is a cam and lifter replacement? These engines don't like extended drains.

 

[OVERKILL]

I use the XG2 as I did not think that small OE filter was fit for a decent sized V8. It is definitely not fun to change but running the oil that long doesn't make sense to me. It's less than $50 for 2 jugs of synthetic. How much is a cam and lifter replacement? These engines don't like extended drains.

The lifter issue is a materials problem that was supposedly addressed in 2018 with updated lifters that have larger needles in them. There were guys that were short-changing Unicorn semen (Redline 5W-30) that still had lifters pack it in on affected year trucks.

There have been instances of delaminating surface hardening on the lobes (which is a separate problem from lifter failure) but this is relatively rare compared to the heat treatment on the roller or centre pin failing, a ditch forming, and the needles eventually catching in that ditch, piling up, the roller stops rolling and takes the lobe off the cam.

But I generally agree with using the bigger, more efficient filter (which is why I use it), because the engines are not the cleanest running mills on the planet (as evidenced by them, and the GM V8's plugging up the smaller AMSOIL filters when run for extended drains).

 

[racer12306]

Are you using the oversized filter (FL-820S equivalent/XG2) or just the mini guy? I have fun every time I'm trying to get the oversized filter in there, but I run long-ish intervals, so at least it isn't all that often.

No, just the OEM size. I tried the large size but wasn't thrilled with how it fit. Wires would have rested on the filter and I didn't want to risk abrasion.

I use the XG2 as I did not think that small OE filter was fit for a decent sized V8. It is definitely not fun to change but running the oil that long doesn't make sense to me. It's less than $50 for 2 jugs of synthetic. How much is a cam and lifter replacement? These engines don't like extended drains.

The lifter issue is a materials problem that was supposedly addressed in 2018 with updated lifters that have larger needles in them. There were guys that were short-changing Unicorn semen (Redline 5W-30) that still had lifters pack it in on affected year trucks.

There have been instances of delaminating surface hardening on the lobes (which is a separate problem from lifter failure) but this is relatively rare compared to the heat treatment on the roller or centre pin failing, a ditch forming, and the needles eventually catching in that ditch, piling up, the roller stops rolling and takes the lobe off the cam.

But I generally agree with using the bigger, more efficient filter (which is why I use it), because the engines are not the cleanest running mills on the planet (as evidenced by them, and the GM V8's plugging up the smaller AMSOIL filters when run for extended drains).

I've been running 10k intervals for 100,000 miles. I have numerous UOAs (I understand they're not a guarantee) and I've been cutting filters open after most oil changes.

So far, so good. We'll see how long it continues.

 

[JunkMan55]

Work fleet has a 2010 and 2015 with the 5.7, they've had it in a dumb spot for years. Why they thought right above the steering rack is beyond me.

 

[Skippy722]

Agreed. Been debating a relocation kit.