Lost another one: HEMI #3

[OVERKILL]

283,000km (176,000 miles), dealership service department claims it ate a lifter (tear-down has not been performed).

Truck is a 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie (so, well equipped). It is getting a reman engine, which has already been ordered.

So, for those keeping track, this is the 3rd truck with claimed lifter failure, all of which were between 165,000 and 215,000 miles.

Truck #1: 2011 RAM 1500 Laramie, 167,000 miles, was intermittently making a "chirping" sound. No CEL, ran fine
Truck #2: 2012 RAM 1500 SXT, 210,000 miles, no noises, was throwing misfire codes and intermittently running rough
Truck #3: 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie, 176,000 miles, sounded like a major exhaust leak, apparently, no exhaust leak

So, that's 3 of 9 of the pre-2020 trucks we bought. So, 1/3rd of them have now been purported to have experienced lifter failure. None of them were actually torn-down to confirm that this was the case. The 2011 was sold, had an engine put in it and I see it around. The 2012 was traded on a 2023 Laramie, it's probably in the wreckers. The 2014, per this thread, is getting a reman engine and will be back on the road (guy loves the truck).

We still have in the fleet:
- 2012 RAM 1500 SXT
- 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie

Plus 3x DT's now, 2020 or newer, with the 5.7L, which have the updated lifters.

In case anyone is curious, trucks were all maintained by an indy using NAPA (Valvoline) 5W-20 with NAPA filters.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

283,000km (176,000 miles), dealership service department claims it ate a lifter (tear-down has not been performed).

Truck is a 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie (so, well equipped). It is getting a reman engine, which has already been ordered.

So, for those keeping track, this is the 3rd truck with claimed lifter failure, all of which were between 165,000 and 215,000 miles.

Truck #1: 2011 RAM 1500 Laramie, 167,000 miles, was intermittently making a "chirping" sound. No CEL, ran fine
Truck #2: 2012 RAM 1500 SXT, 210,000 miles, no noises, was throwing misfire codes and intermittently running rough
Truck #3: 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie, 176,000 miles, sounded like a major exhaust leak, apparently, no exhaust leak

So, that's 3 of 9 of the pre-2020 trucks we bought. So, 1/3rd of them have now been purported to have experienced lifter failure. None of them were actually torn-down to confirm that this was the case. The 2011 was sold, had an engine put in it and I see it around. The 2012 was traded on a 2023 Laramie, it's probably in the wreckers. The 2014, per this thread, is getting a reman engine and will be back on the road (guy loves the truck).

We still have in the fleet:
- 2012 RAM 1500 SXT
- 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie

Plus 3x DT's now, 2020 or newer, with the 5.7L, which have the updated lifters.

In case anyone is curious, trucks were all maintained by an indy using NAPA (Valvoline) 5W-20 with NAPA filters.

So will the decisionmakers opt for a different manufacturer in the future?

 

[KGMtech]

Did any of these engines use much oil between changes?

 

[OVERKILL]

So will the decisionmakers opt for a different manufacturer in the future?

Given that all of them that have been replaced have been replaced with new RAM's, I'm going to say no. We do still have our single Ford!

 

[Bjornviken]

Whats the cost of a reman engine?

 

[OVERKILL]

Did any of these engines use much oil between changes?

Not that I am aware of, but I'm not involved in the maintenance at all. I'm not sure the guys driving them check it TBH. Oil is changed frequently, I think like 5,000km intervals? But the first one, the 2011 Laramie, did have its valve cover removed and it was varnish city, which was surprising, given the short interval.

 

[OVERKILL]

Whats the cost of a reman engine?

I think around $7,000 from what I recall?

 

[Hermann]

Planned obsolescence at its finest. A prime example IMO

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I think around $7,000 from what I recall?

A $7k engine replacement vs. spending probably $75-100 when putting it together the first time.

Shame, shame Chrysler.

 

[SC Maintenance]

So is replacing lifters just not cost effective - or am I missing something?

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

So is replacing lifters just not cost effective - or am I missing something?

Once the needle bearings have departed the lifters, those little metal pieces floating around wreak havoc on everything. No telling what’s been damaged, or where some of those pieces ended up.

The only way to be sure is to rip the entire thing apart and start from scratch… with labor rates these days, the dealer techs is not who you want building your new engine anyways…

 

[SC Maintenance]

Once the needle bearings have departed the lifters, those little metal pieces floating around wreak havoc on everything. No telling what’s been damaged, or where some of those pieces ended up.

The only way to be sure is to rip the entire thing apart and start from scratch… with labor rates these days, the dealer techs is not who you want building your new engine anyways…

So I guess I could have googled, but the roller is in the lifter, and it appears replacing lifters is a heads off affair, so a pre-emptive replacement is a ton of work as well. Not a great design, or at least not a design conducive to repair unfortunately.

 

[jhellwig]

Planned obsolescence at its finest. A prime example IMO

Yes and no. If mechanical doesn't get it electrical or rot will at that age and miles.

 

[ripcord]

Given that all of them that have been replaced have been replaced with new RAM's, I'm going to say no. We do still have our single Ford!

Talk about brand loyalty. "Thank you, Sir! May I have another?"

 

[GMBoy]

283,000km (176,000 miles), dealership service department claims it ate a lifter (tear-down has not been performed).

Truck is a 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie (so, well equipped). It is getting a reman engine, which has already been ordered.

So, for those keeping track, this is the 3rd truck with claimed lifter failure, all of which were between 165,000 and 215,000 miles.

Truck #1: 2011 RAM 1500 Laramie, 167,000 miles, was intermittently making a "chirping" sound. No CEL, ran fine
Truck #2: 2012 RAM 1500 SXT, 210,000 miles, no noises, was throwing misfire codes and intermittently running rough
Truck #3: 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie, 176,000 miles, sounded like a major exhaust leak, apparently, no exhaust leak

So, that's 3 of 9 of the pre-2020 trucks we bought. So, 1/3rd of them have now been purported to have experienced lifter failure. None of them were actually torn-down to confirm that this was the case. The 2011 was sold, had an engine put in it and I see it around. The 2012 was traded on a 2023 Laramie, it's probably in the wreckers. The 2014, per this thread, is getting a reman engine and will be back on the road (guy loves the truck).

We still have in the fleet:
- 2012 RAM 1500 SXT
- 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie

Plus 3x DT's now, 2020 or newer, with the 5.7L, which have the updated lifters.

In case anyone is curious, trucks were all maintained by an indy using NAPA (Valvoline) 5W-20 with NAPA filters.

I always have the fear in the back of my head of this happening to my 2016 Ram Limited. It's been the best truck I ever had and at 127k miles not a single issue even the air suspension works as new. It has had a diet of full syn 5w/30 (Mobil 1 or QSUD) do you think I might have a better chance of avoiding this vs the ones such as yours that were run on 5w/20 conventional oils? In any event with GM having the lifter failures even on new 2023's still ...I am happy to have the Ram.

 

[ripcord]

@OVERKILL , do these trucks get idled a lot?

 

[KCJeep]

Clearly it was the steady diet of 5w20.

 

[Jetronic]

Clearly it was the steady diet of 5w20.

Someone had to say it

 

[97prizm]

Given that all of them that have been replaced have been replaced with new RAM's, I'm going to say no. We do still have our single Ford!

It sounds like heavy duty fleet use. Have you considered going to diesel? They did offer the ram 1500 with the ecodiesel

 

[supton]

It sounds like heavy duty fleet use. Have you considered going to diesel? They did offer the ram 1500 with the ecodiesel

What was the upcharge to go to Ecodiesel, and would that saved money pay for the possible Hemi swap, if it went? seems to me the Eco's were worse on the reliability front on top of the initial purchase--not sure the fuel savings works out.