My dealer told me it was the aluminum engine block and that it was normal, that even the ones on the lot do it.

 

old post, but I'll comment anyways.....
Dealers like to make-up their own excuses, especially service managers who have zero mechanic experience other than hearsay such as ticking from exhaust. Reason being...it's from your heads reverberating through your headers/block.
Synthetic oil has nothing to do with the Hemi tick or any engine noise for that matter.
Dealer is an idiot if they tell people not to run Full Synthetic and it won't effect MDS at all. Dunno why they would say that?? 5w-20 is 5w-20 regardless of synthetic or not. There's a reason why it's labeled 5w-20.
To the last poster,
Aluminum blocks do tend to echo and enhance engine noises, but the Hemi's still should not present a tick IMO.
Mine started at just 400miles and ofcourse the dealer said it's normal. No it's not. It's common, not normal. Big difference.
Chrysler has had what i would call some major issue's thatthey turn cheeck on and refuse to fix because they would likely go broke in the process...Ohh wait...they already did...lol
rant end...

 

Are the Hemi blocks aluminum? This is the first mention of such,

 

No, it's a cast iron block with alum heads.

 

Did you get the Manifold studs replaced or did your truck need them?

 

I also have a noise and its a knocking sound on cold starts you dont realy notice it until the idle comes down and you put it in gear with the window down not impressed anyone else with an 09 notice this other people on other forums are complaining of the same issue .

 

I've been running Hemi engines since 2003 when Dodge recommended SAE 10W30 weight oil. The engine had a tic then when Dodge recommended 10W30 weight oil and my 2010 Hemi has it using the SAE 5W20 grade oil. Every Hemi I've listened to has the tic, weight of the oil is critical, type of oil is not as long as it has the right API certification(s). I feel synthetic oils lubricate better in extreem conditions (cold/hot) but regular oil is fine for most conditions if changed when recommended. Our truck engine is is capable of using both oil types and the tic is inherent to this engine and has nothing to do with using synthetic oil. FYI my 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 is running just fine using synthetic oil and it still tics. I think we need to accept the fact that this engine is noisy, no mechanical problem, just noisy.

 

The exhaust can also cause a tick.More with cold engine.Make sure that is not the issue.There is a RRT/TSB for exhaust manifold studs breaking.The issue is described as a 'ticking issue'. Mine 'ticked cold'until these was corrected.

 

My '09 with 30,000 miles now (built in '08) went in to the dealership for warranty at 7500 miles due to a bent push rod they had to replace. It had developed a tick noise while I was out of town on the left side and got worse as I was driving back, no choice but to keep going and it had bent and seized becoming a knock. Under acceleration it got really bad, but in MDS mode that cylinder actually shutdown and it would stop making the terrible noise. No problems since the repairs were made, the dealership had it for ten days though.

I have been running 5w-20 synthetic valvoline with no problems since the first oil change, with fresh oil and filter every 5000 miles.

 

Its a knock sound comming out of mine and its from the drivers side and only does it on cold starts or after it cools down 4 to 6 hrs or less depending how cold it is outside sounds almost like a piston slapping or bad wrist pin wants it warm up it goes away for the most part as i sead other people in other forum are complaining of the same problem no ticking sound its a knock .