I have a ticking noise coming from the front end of my 2008 Ram 1500 when the engine is running. It doesn't sound like a bad lifter. More like a bad bearing on a pulley or belt. Does anyone know what it could be? The noise makes the truck sound like crap.

 

maybe stethoscope around that area to see if you can narrow it down. Could be one of things you mentioned.

 

Hemi tick?

 

This! If it's a hemi it may be hemi tick. Mines done it for 53,000 miles. My friends think it'll blow but they aren't hemi owners! lol

 

when i was a dodge mechanic i did tune ups on hemi vehicles that had 220 thousand miles on them that we sold new and they ticked from day one.

 

Hemi Tick is much rarer than the exhaust manifold bolts rotting apart.

As far as **** talking on trucks, many possibilities exist. Fix the exhaust manifold bolts, keep the maintenance up to date, and enjoy your truck. It has many capabilities your friends will only rely on in the future.

The truck you have is a quality build and dont let those schmucks make you think different. I have individually pulled out every manufacturers truck available and only needed saved once myself. This was not an accident, as I took on a snow drift way too deep extending more than 30 yards, but nobody else would do it. It was used as an excuse to ridicule. I have pics and video. I hit the pile of snow so hard that I was resting on ice on the the frame. All four tires were suspended to the point of spinning slowly while in 4wd. No truck can pull through that. We look for capability, but dont want to be raped at the pump for the 10% of time we spend off roading and snow/mud crushing.

As far as the ticking,
One side or the other has possibly a loose exhaust manifold heat shield. If the heat shield is loose, then then the studs have broken and the nuts came free. Odds are it is the bolts nearer the firewall. If that is the case, you have a manifold that "slaps" the head under pressure and heat.

I have replaced both sides with new exhaust manifold bolts, studs, and nuts. The cost is about 60$ per side. Do both sides at the same time. If one fails, the other will soon. Believe this is the problem before anything else.

You could also get a 3865 and all will be well. I am J/K about this sentence, but if performance is your goal, the Superchips 3865 is it.. overall

 

I personally have seen the manifold bolts break on 4.7s on a LOT larger scale than on the Hemi, although I have seen it. Obviously the OP should check to see where the "tick" is coming from, but if it's internal it's more than likely just the "Hemi Tick" and isn't a concern...

 

I'm going to try Z-Max. I park on a slight incline, I get the "tick" more often than not. It is not always there but it more apt to happen when I park it on a slope. Just put fresh synthetic in and added 10 oz of Z-Max the rest of it went into my C-50 Suzuki and the valve clatter is quite now. Pricey stuff at $19.95 a bottle. But Marvel Mystery oil is my fuel additive of choice..

 

First thing I would do is crawl under it and check those exh manifold bolts. Then I would run better oil and forget about additives.

 

I agree with the other guys here. A bad bearing on a pulley will not tick, but screech and whine.

Does the tick go away after warming up? if so that would tend to point to an exhaust leak (small leaks will sometimes stop after the exhaust system heats up and expands a little)

best of luck trouble shooting