The engineer's statement doesn't mean this is a Hemi problem or even a common problem. It just means that when they see the lifter rollers damaged they see corresponding damage to the cam lobe. This is logical for any engine.

I understand if this doesn't make you feel any better, but when I was in the auto repair business many years ago there was a time when GM camshafts were so soft you'd think they were made out of wood. I've changed over a hundred of them and I don't ever recall having any reoccuring engine problem due to lost metal from the camshaft. Of course we always dropped the oil and installed a new oil filter before we ran the engine.

The cratering of the lifter roller indicates there could be a metalurgal problem with the roller, something came between the roller and the cam lobe while it was rotating, or there was a loss of lubrication to those select components.

Checked with the Dodge techs and they say they've never seen, or yet to see this particular problem.

I hope the issue gets resolved to your satisfaction.

Good luck.

Regards,
Dusty
2010 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 545RFE, 3.92 LSD, dual exhaust, 20” wheels

 

I was a GM tech when the 305/350 chevy soft cam issues were in full swing, many engines were replaced because of clogged oil pickup bypasses leading to oil pressure issues and other problems. It was a mess but it was fairly contained, there was no internet back then. Most people ended paying out of pocket for a cam change since there was only a 12/12 warranty at the time and many 'soft cam' cars made it over 50-75K miles before they showed issues. When people are paying out of their pocket they will take a chance, whole different story when it happened under warranty. Many did fail under 12K but most went well beyond that. Stuff like that is why the imports took hold in that time period but thats another story .

Its odd to have two bad rollers on one cylinder, plus having ground down valve stems on top of it. I'm sure those rockers are bad as well so what was root cause? Its possible it has something to do with the MDS as well.

What exactly happened is moot, its not like these engines are all blowing up at 25,000 miles. If it wasnt customer abuse then the engine should be replaced and then the engineers at Chrysler can take a look at it.

 

Good info, I just started researching the Raptor so I'm not married to that idea. What do you think of the Ecoboost engine? I dismissed it out of hand then watched the series of video's Ford put together, its kind of hard to argue watching it out pull the Dodge Hemi up that grade.

 

Imo I don't think that poor oiling had anything to do with those pitted metals I'm seeing...that's defective parts period (pitting). When bearings wear from poor oiling both journal and bearing will become grooved as in brake rotors will do when you hit the rivets. Bearings are purposely made of materials to sustain most or the majority of the damage and in some cases will even piggyback if ignored. I've never seen this before in all my days of racing but I've seen plenty of defected metals simular to this from rust. Or as in the gentleman in the post above mentipned...it could be a soft metal issue. Whatever, it def looks to be defected parts, just my opinion of course. I'd bet my life that these pics alone would prove my theory. Post these pics on Moparstyle attention Cranky or Fugly and you will get some solid and professional answers.

 

If you look closer to the numbers going up the grade, you can see that the Ford had a 11.9 sec lead over the Ram on the 0-60 MPH mark, but at the end of the course (hill climb), the lead had diminished to 3.2 sec. This tells me that after both trucks got going to 60 MPH, the Ram out-pulled the Ford by 8.7 seconds. In other words, if the trucks were side by side and both going 60MPH up hill with the same loads, the Ram would pull away from the ecoboost.

The 0-60 comparison is pretty useless since nobody does that on the highway, once you are out towing your rig, what matters most is how the truck does when it counts, uphill or passing. To me the Ram is superior to the ecoboost based on the test comparisons.

 

I drove an ecoboost for a few days (Lariat with towing package, forget what axle ratio), was going to trade my 2010 Ram for one. IMO its a little flat just putting around town and there is some lag on the highway if you just nail it, in a drag race I'm pretty sure it would have beat up my 3.55 4wd CC pretty bad, a real 6 speed trans with well spaced ratios is a big factor there. I didnt tow anything but the fuel mileage was no better than the Dodge, turning radius was a little larger, interior was so-so, styling is subjective. If I didnt have the Dodge I would have been pretty happy with the Ford though, drove nice and you could probably carry more weight in the back without helper springs - but you do sacrifice the car-like ride of the Ram.

Another factor for me was the best I could do on a nicely eqiuped 4x4 crew cab Lariat was my truck and 15 grand, for a 2012 Laramie was my truck and 10.5K. I decided to buy another Ram since my 2010 gave me no problems.

 

So back to the subject....What is Dodge going to give you for the truck?
"Cause I know your going to go in there and stomp your feet until you get either a new engine or at the very least a full lifetime warranty on that truck.
Fixing that engine and handing it back to you with nothing in your hand but a thanks and see ya is BS.

Make us proud..............

 

I spoke with Chrysler today, informed them that I have pictures of the damaged parts and spoke with the service manager and he agreed the engine is ruined. They asked about abuse. I told them not only had the truck not been abused by me but in fact babied, very light duty, never off road, and second the service manager said there was no sign of abuse, the engine was pretty clean and that it was just a bad lifter that caused the damage. I told them all the metal that used to be part of the rocker, valve, lifter, and cam has now circulated through the engine. They can't just shove some new parts in it and call it good. I told them at a minimum the engine would have to be completely disassembled, cleaned, inspected, and damaged parts replaced. I told them its time to stop trying to put a bandaid on it and ship the dealer a new engine and fix my truck its been 3 weeks now.

They said they will speak with the service manager and/or area manager and call me back tomorrow.

 

That's a good point actually.

 

Any word back from chrysler yet...? I wouldnt except anything less than a brand new engine.