My wife’s Durango decided to lose oil pressure about three weeks ago. Luckily she shut it down right away and I towed it home. In the weeks prior it had started making a rattling noise at about 2500 rpm and at one point it developed a miss on #1 cylinder for a short time and then went away. Out came the engine, in tear down I found the oil pump relief valve had stuck causing the loss of oil pressure. I pulled a couple rod bearings and a main bearing cap to check damage and the bearings looked perfect and the cylinder walls still show a nice crosshatch. So I decided the plan was to rering the engine as it also had started using some oil between changes. Well as I tore into it farther I found my #1 misfire issue with a wiped out lobe on the camshaft. I was also planning to get rid of the cylinder shut down system anyways as I hate it and it is what usually causing the rings to stick when the motors get mileage on them. There are lots of companies selling delete kits so I ordered it up and then sent the heads to the machine shop just for good measure. Here are some pictures of all the fun.
How many miles are on the vehicle? Mopar still continues to have problems with the cams in the Hemi going flat & its been going on since the 5.7 came out in the 90s. Its amazes me that Chrysler hasn't fixed this problem. They really aren't that bad of engines. Im still hearing dealers are on backorder for replacement cam kits for vehicles under warranty.
Dave Seitz said
Jun 23, 2019
Friend of mine was over today and asked about replacing cam bearings in his Hemi pick up. I said no go to a shop I am to busy with the everything I have going now the way it is.
67ss said
Jun 23, 2019
Motor has 137000. Owned it since 39000 and have always used mobile 1 oil in it.
Derek69SS said
Jun 24, 2019
Not just a Dodge thing, GM's LS platform isn't immune either. The "Displacement on Demand" system is a ticking timebomb in the LS's, and will send a lot of metal through the engine when they go... planning to delete it in the G8 soon, and do a cam swap while we're at it. ;)
67ss said
Jun 24, 2019
You are correct the LS is just as prone for issues. It surprised me how similar the hemi and ls platforms are to each other.
Chris R said
Jun 24, 2019
I feel like I remember back in my days as an auto tech that ever since that 5.7 hemi came out in the new style pickups not long after the square body Dodges ended, dealers were getting warranty valve train problems even back then when Daimler owned them. This whole DOD generation has made the issue worse. Especially for the LS. Problems didn't seem to be quite like this before DOD.
Back in Black said
Jun 26, 2019
I can disable the MDS system on my '14 Ram by pressing the - of the -+ gear button on the steering wheel.
67ss said
Aug 1, 2019
Engine is back in and has been running for a few weeks now. So far so good just need to get it to the tuners to shut off the codes for the MDS solenoids and it should be all done. My plan going forward is to put a small amount of zddp additive in with the oil changes. Yes it may shorten the life of the cats but I don't care.
Lost in the 60s said
Aug 1, 2019
If the engine isn't burning the ZDDP, it really shouldn't hurt the cats either. Even if it does, a sawzall and mig to change them is a whole lot easier than pulling and rebuilding an engine.
August tech session at your place to get the Malibu on the road ?
My wife’s Durango decided to lose oil pressure about three weeks ago. Luckily she shut it down right away and I towed it home. In the weeks prior it had started making a rattling noise at about 2500 rpm and at one point it developed a miss on #1 cylinder for a short time and then went away. Out came the engine, in tear down I found the oil pump relief valve had stuck causing the loss of oil pressure. I pulled a couple rod bearings and a main bearing cap to check damage and the bearings looked perfect and the cylinder walls still show a nice crosshatch. So I decided the plan was to rering the engine as it also had started using some oil between changes. Well as I tore into it farther I found my #1 misfire issue with a wiped out lobe on the camshaft. I was also planning to get rid of the cylinder shut down system anyways as I hate it and it is what usually causing the rings to stick when the motors get mileage on them. There are lots of companies selling delete kits so I ordered it up and then sent the heads to the machine shop just for good measure. Here are some pictures of all the fun.
How many miles are on the vehicle? Mopar still continues to have problems with the cams in the Hemi going flat & its been going on since the 5.7 came out in the 90s. Its amazes me that Chrysler hasn't fixed this problem. They really aren't that bad of engines. Im still hearing dealers are on backorder for replacement cam kits for vehicles under warranty.
Motor has 137000. Owned it since 39000 and have always used mobile 1 oil in it.
You are correct the LS is just as prone for issues. It surprised me how similar the hemi and ls platforms are to each other.
I feel like I remember back in my days as an auto tech that ever since that 5.7 hemi came out in the new style pickups not long after the square body Dodges ended, dealers were getting warranty valve train problems even back then when Daimler owned them. This whole DOD generation has made the issue worse. Especially for the LS. Problems didn't seem to be quite like this before DOD.
Engine is back in and has been running for a few weeks now. So far so good just need to get it to the tuners to shut off the codes for the MDS solenoids and it should be all done. My plan going forward is to put a small amount of zddp additive in with the oil changes. Yes it may shorten the life of the cats but I don't care.
If the engine isn't burning the ZDDP, it really shouldn't hurt the cats either. Even if it does, a sawzall and mig to change them is a whole lot easier than pulling and rebuilding an engine.
August tech session at your place to get the Malibu on the road ?