Blown Hemi
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Blown Hemi
My son just blew the Hemi on his 04 Limited. 
He had just over 60k on it and was pulling a trailer with about 6500lbs. He has run pure synthetic oil in it for the last 30k and had just put a fresh change of oil in it. He was pulling a up small hill and the tach was at 5000 rpm. Everything was running and sounding great until, all of a sudden, BAM! The front 2 rods blew, putting holes in both sides of the block. Holy Hemi! Has anyone else had this problem with the Hemi? Is 5000 rpm too much for it to handle? If so, why would the computer allow it to run that fast? I personally examined the engine and the rod bearings were perfect - smooth as glass. Just snapped rods aboutan inch from the journals. One mechanic told me he just over-revved it. He said the rev limiter only worked on top end speed or while not in gear. But there is no red line on the tach, and I assume it's because the computer won't allow you to over-rev the engine. It just seems like weak rods to me. This notion was reinforced by the fact that the tow driver told him this was the third Hemihe had picked up on that stretch of I-10 (around Junction, TX) in the last month! All were in the 55-67k range. (I don't know if the others were pulling trailers, but there are steep hills in that section of road that would cause any vehicle in cruise to shift down.) This really has me wondering if this is just a fluke for Junction, TX or if other Hemi owners are having the same misfortune. Looking for answers! 
He had just over 60k on it and was pulling a trailer with about 6500lbs. He has run pure synthetic oil in it for the last 30k and had just put a fresh change of oil in it. He was pulling a up small hill and the tach was at 5000 rpm. Everything was running and sounding great until, all of a sudden, BAM! The front 2 rods blew, putting holes in both sides of the block. Holy Hemi! Has anyone else had this problem with the Hemi? Is 5000 rpm too much for it to handle? If so, why would the computer allow it to run that fast? I personally examined the engine and the rod bearings were perfect - smooth as glass. Just snapped rods aboutan inch from the journals. One mechanic told me he just over-revved it. He said the rev limiter only worked on top end speed or while not in gear. But there is no red line on the tach, and I assume it's because the computer won't allow you to over-rev the engine. It just seems like weak rods to me. This notion was reinforced by the fact that the tow driver told him this was the third Hemihe had picked up on that stretch of I-10 (around Junction, TX) in the last month! All were in the 55-67k range. (I don't know if the others were pulling trailers, but there are steep hills in that section of road that would cause any vehicle in cruise to shift down.) This really has me wondering if this is just a fluke for Junction, TX or if other Hemi owners are having the same misfortune. Looking for answers!
Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Indiana
RE: Blown Hemi
An '04 Durango with 60k on it is still under warranty. Go have it fixed. 9/11 chased DCX to change the warranties to 7/70 so you should be fine. Just don't tell them what you were doing to cause it to blow other than 'just driving'.
Yes, any sustained pull at 5000K RPMs is bad on any engine. 5000K and a shift point, that's one thing. Holding it at 5000K, not a good idea. Especially while towing.
IndyD
Yes, any sustained pull at 5000K RPMs is bad on any engine. 5000K and a shift point, that's one thing. Holding it at 5000K, not a good idea. Especially while towing.
IndyD
Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,822
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From: Indiana
RE: Blown Hemi
If the motor went, that tranny is toasted too... he just doesn't know it yet until they get it back up and running. The dealer will then know for sure what caused the failure, so don't tell them about looking at the trans. You will more than likely be buying a new tranny after you get a new motor... cheaper of the two repairs. No way do I think you will get both under warranty. Different dealers will still have access to your records.
I suggest you recommend he take a 'towing your RV' class at the sales place. Sounds like he needs it.
BTW, the D doesn't float either. Thought I'd mention that before he tried it.
IndyD
I suggest you recommend he take a 'towing your RV' class at the sales place. Sounds like he needs it.
BTW, the D doesn't float either. Thought I'd mention that before he tried it.
IndyD
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Joined: Feb 2007
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RE: Blown Hemi
Update from holyhemi:
Thanks for the good advice and tips! My son was definately a novice at towing, but has recieved a very memorable crash course.
It never occured to me that I would need to tell him not to run the cruse when pulling hills. He took a very expensive course from the school of very hard knocks and knows better now. He got an 05 motor with only 16k on it to replace the blown one and has done fine pulling the trailer to LA and then on to Seattle. I guess the Amsoil in the tranny must have saved it from burning up. He says it's shifting fine. We'll see if we can get anything done with the warranty. Once again thanks for the help. PS - As of 3:00 pacific time today the D will be floating. It will be on a ferry for 4 days heading to Alaska. Pray it doesn't sink! 
Thanks for the good advice and tips! My son was definately a novice at towing, but has recieved a very memorable crash course.
It never occured to me that I would need to tell him not to run the cruse when pulling hills. He took a very expensive course from the school of very hard knocks and knows better now. He got an 05 motor with only 16k on it to replace the blown one and has done fine pulling the trailer to LA and then on to Seattle. I guess the Amsoil in the tranny must have saved it from burning up. He says it's shifting fine. We'll see if we can get anything done with the warranty. Once again thanks for the help. PS - As of 3:00 pacific time today the D will be floating. It will be on a ferry for 4 days heading to Alaska. Pray it doesn't sink!
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RE: Blown Hemi
Update from Holyhemi:
I just got back from a 2 week trip to Alaska where I drove the Durango (with '05 17k junkyard replacement engine) through some steep mountians. I wasn't towing anything, just had a topper and full load of people, and it performed flawlessly. One time I really put my foot in it and 5000 rpm is winding it up pretty tight. My son went on to drive that same trailer all the way from Texas to Fairbanks (3000+ miles and several mountian ranges) and had no problems with the new engine. His new engine rules were to take it out of cruise when he went to pull steep hills and not to constantly run over 4000 rpm on a hard pull. Live and learn. By the way, should you ever blow one of these engines, be sure to take it back to the dealer if it has less than 70k and (on an '04) check the vin # to see if it's under warranty. If you are the original owner or if you paid to have the warranty transferred, the later model 04's are covered to 70k. He had not paid to have the warranty transferred. Also, the shop that did the engine swap out liked to have never got the blown engine out! It took them 4 days and a few trips to the Chrysler shop for diagrams. (The 4 wheel drives are pretty tricky to unbolt!) Advice: stick with Chrysler if you have to replace one.Hope this helps and happy motoring!
I just got back from a 2 week trip to Alaska where I drove the Durango (with '05 17k junkyard replacement engine) through some steep mountians. I wasn't towing anything, just had a topper and full load of people, and it performed flawlessly. One time I really put my foot in it and 5000 rpm is winding it up pretty tight. My son went on to drive that same trailer all the way from Texas to Fairbanks (3000+ miles and several mountian ranges) and had no problems with the new engine. His new engine rules were to take it out of cruise when he went to pull steep hills and not to constantly run over 4000 rpm on a hard pull. Live and learn. By the way, should you ever blow one of these engines, be sure to take it back to the dealer if it has less than 70k and (on an '04) check the vin # to see if it's under warranty. If you are the original owner or if you paid to have the warranty transferred, the later model 04's are covered to 70k. He had not paid to have the warranty transferred.
Also, the shop that did the engine swap out liked to have never got the blown engine out! It took them 4 days and a few trips to the Chrysler shop for diagrams. (The 4 wheel drives are pretty tricky to unbolt!) Advice: stick with Chrysler if you have to replace one.Hope this helps and happy motoring!
Joined: Sep 2006
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RE: Blown Hemi
ORIGINAL: hunterjeff
Educate me on the tips to towing 6500 pounds up hills with my 2004 Hemi so I don't blow an engine. I thought the Hemi was made to pull 6500 pound trailers into the mountains.
Educate me on the tips to towing 6500 pounds up hills with my 2004 Hemi so I don't blow an engine. I thought the Hemi was made to pull 6500 pound trailers into the mountains.