I need some opinions before I go any further on my 2004 Durango.
I have the 5.7 hemi 97k miles. After being out of town for 3 weeks, I came home and started my truck, BAM ! started knocking / tapping like crazy. First I checked the oil, was not low, little dirty for my taste but not terrible. I added CD2 detergent assuming it was a lifter collapsed, ran it for about 30 minutes, no luck. Changed oil and filter, added Rislone. While it ran I cut open the oil filter and looked for shavings, none. After running for another 30 minutes on new oil and Rislone, no change, shut it off. I took a video of it. I need some opinions on which end to tear down. Top or bottom. I think it is louder at the bottom personally, but to me it doesnt sound like a rod knock when I change the RPM of the motor. I know the way the hemi is configured can alter how the sounds come out of the motor. Any educated opinions would be extremely helpful. Here is a link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiGQe4Ee8eo

 

The valve springs may the culprit,
FF

 

Wholly Farc.. How'd you fit a CTD in a Durango?

lol... sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

If its a possible valve or valve spring problem you can use a long dowel rod, pipe or screw driver etc and put it on the valve cover and put your ear on it and listen while the engines running. Better yet if you got a stehoscope would work wonders. If its loud and clear more than likely spring broken. I would also check exhaust leaking..but sorta sounds like a valvetrain problem.

Good luck!

 

Pat:

Saw your posting on another forum, but could not get the video to play there. After hearing it here, you need to be pulling both valve covers and looking for damage or anything that does not look right.

Be careful though, and one Hem owner did this and decided to start the engine to see if he could locate it better whilst running. A minute later, a rod came through the side of the block as he watched and listened!

Don

 

An engine with a view,
FF

 

Started tearing down the top end today, got down to getting the valve covers off. Took out the spark plugs and turned the motor over by hand several times and dont see anything irregular. Guess Im going for the whole enchilada, and gonna pull the motor out to check the bottom end for rod issues.

 

Timing Chain guide broke?

 

Im just curious if I should be able to obviously tell if it is a valve train issue. I have both valve covers off, and have turned the motor over a bunch by hand, dont see any gaps or anything irregular. I am proceeding with the motor removal, but was just wondering if it is a valvetrain issue, should I be able to tell immediately. Or if it could still be in the valve train and Im just not able to see it. I will also post pics of the removal. Just dont have real good internet where I am doing this at.

I will say, they really pack that motor in there, I didnt expect it to be easy, but JEEZE !

 

Pat:

The going rate today for a 5.7 swap seems to be in the $1.8 to $2k range for the labor alone. It is not like pulling a small block 350 from your favorite 60/70s muscle car by any stretch!

If you can't see anything up top, getting a look at the crank case is probably your next move. More than 1 Hemi owner hearing noises like yours has just opted for a replacement engine.

You may not be able to see the offending spring (if there is one) without removing them from the heads.

What is the build date on your D?

Don