Do you do your own oil changes? Thats a lot of damage, looks almost like someone started it up and let it run a while with no oil. Could also be some antifreeze got in the oil, or there was a bunch of crap in the engine from day one.

Chances of valve stems (most likely rockers as well) and lifters all going bad in the same engine after only 27K miles with no major other problems (major overheat, head gasket/something cracked leaking antifreeze in oil, run out of oil etc) is pretty rare no matter whose name is on the side.

They would be crazy to put that thing back together, they should replace the engine and be done with it. They have complete engines from the same model year sitting in a warehouse for such things.

 

Whatever happens, I hope they take care of you right. It's been a few years since I turned a wrench for a living, but I have only seen galling like that when the metal is severely over-heated. I would bet there was serious oil starvation in the head. There is more at play than parts/metal fatigue-I'd bet my house on it.

 

p.s. I think kpevin and I are seeing the same thing. I took a long time to write/post cause I'm talking to my daughter. So I just saw his post.

 

wow, what dealer is taking care of you. i also live in jersey. ask to see the dealer rep. as stated, i wouldn't let them rebuild it for my truck.

 

The galling and wear in this particular case seems extreme and isolated. Don't find similar occurences when doing a Google search.

As far as unloading the Hemi, to each his own I guess. My 2009 Hemi has been great (now at 74,000 km) and I don't see any Ford or GM engines popping up on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list as frequently as the 5.7 litre Hemi does.

 

Dealer has performed ALL service and oil changes, oil changed every 3k miles thats the farthest I get before the oil change light comes. First oil change was 2,800 miles and the light has come on like clockwork about every 3k ever since no matter how I drove the truck, a mix of city, highway, and a couple 3,000 mile cross country trips no difference. Since the truck has seen very light duty since day one these frequent oil changes seemed odd to me.

Since the truck left the dealer lot new with maybe 20 miles on it I'm the only person who has driven the truck other than the dealers during service.

I think its damn odd that its only the #2 cylinder, if it was run without oil or something the damage would be more systemic.

 

I have been VERY happy with this truck, my favorite vehicle of all time and if they put a brand new engine in it I'd considering hanging onto it. That said I was lusting for a Ford SVT Raptor back in 2010 when I purchased the RAM but the 6.2 liter engine wasn't out yet. Now I'm thinking about the Raptor again and I'm doing some research.

I'm playing phone tag with Chrysler this afternoon, we'll see how they react to the demand for a new crated engine.

 

So you think a dealer couldnt screw up changing the oil, by doing it every 3000 instead of the usual 6000 you doubled the chance of that happening. I oversaw 20 dealer's when I was with Ford warranty - everyone screws up once in a while.

Also did they pull the rest of the lifters and send pics of them all? Just because #2 was throwing a code doesnt mean there wasnt a few other worn lifters/valve stems that still worked, it just means that was the one that wore down first.

Since I'm not that there looking at it I cant say for sure but the truck obviously had a dead cylinder and they gave it back it to you. Like I posted earlier, a simple cylinder balance test would have showed an issue, so I wouldnt really put too much stock in what they say. Who knows if it didnt come in there first with a bad coil or injector and someone didnt screw it up loosening/tightening the rockers to do a leakdown or check the valvetrain?

I'm not blaming the dealer, there are some great dealers and techs out there, unfortunately the good techs are retiring and being replaced with people that if someone on the phone, internet or diagnostic tool doesnt tell them whats wrong with it they have no idea. And sometimes the wrong guy gets a car and gets way in over his head. What they tell you and what they tell Dodge can be two totally different things.

Either way if you really want a Ratptor let them fix it and trade it in, I hate when I have a major issue with a newer car/truck and I'm the first to trade it off quick no matter what brand it is. I have no loyalty to Dodge, my 2010 was a 'good' one IMO, this new 2012 can be a total POS, and if it is it will gone quick.

 

I really hope you get satisfaction and the problem is fully resolved one way or the other. It sounds like you did everything "by the book" and then some and I know how frustrating a situation is like this with a brand new vehicle. Best advice I can give you is stick to your guns and insist on a new motor.

Years ago, I bought a brand new Ford Explorer with the 4.0 litre SOHC 6-cylinder engine. Shortly after purchase, it developed a rattling sound from the engine. Took it back to the dealer several times, got the usual "we didn't hear anything" crap and then finally had the cam chain tensioners replaced under recall. Still had the rattle. I made 7 trips to the dealer and finally unloaded on the service manager. He authorized a new motor. I guess the punch line is...20,000 km after installing the new motor--it started rattling too. Had something to do with long cam chains I believe. Anyway, I decided to just live with it and put 260,000 km on the truck before getting rid of it. Engine was still running strong. If you push them hard enough, I believe you'll get satisfaction. Good luck!

 

almost eight years a chrysler mechanic now two a ford mechanic. i can tell you for sure from those photos that engine was run with no oil on the top end period. whether they screwed up at oil change time or there was a problem at the oil pump or whatever but those parts were run dry.
as for the raptor i'm seeing a few tweaked frames and more 6.2 engine internals than i did on rams or hemi engines and for all the bad you ever heard about ram transmissions i have seen more fords torn up in two years than i did in eight years working on rams.
the raptor is a nice ride but i can tell you the grass aint greener.