Hemi Tick is Real

[Hearhear]

I noticed a pronounced ticking sound in my 392 engine. Most people said it was probably the normal Hemi Tick. But Youtube said it might be bad lifters, exhaust manifold leak, etc… so to get a real answer I took it to my local Jeep dealer today for diagnosis. This Jeep dealer also sells Hemi Dodges so they know the engine. I was expecting the worst, but it’s official. In writing. Diagnosis: “Hemi Tick”.

I feel a little better about it. Kinda like being diagnosed with a mild heart murmur instead of advanced heart disease. Now if I do have issues down the road, they can’t claim I should have taken it in earlier. Anyway, keep that oil changed folks. And now you’ve seen an official Jeep diagnosis of “Hemi Tick”. It’s real. In almost 40 years of driving, this is my first exposure to it. Threw me a little LOL

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[supermike]

I would bet a case of beer they return your jeep saying nothing is wrong and all operate as it should.....

I have serv 4wd lights and went to dealer they told me cannot duplicate issue, I even drop off the vehicle with the light on they told me no codes no issue found, then the moment they tell me it's a ok the transfer case is puking fluid......

 

[Rubi64L]

Various ticks just plain happen, and they're not problematic. All of my Vipers have a ticking sound because of a noisy fuel injector. Been told "normal" many times. My Jeep Grand Cherokee has a cold-start ticking due to a leaky lifter. It's been doing it forever, and it goes away when the lifter pumps up. So far, no noises from the 392, but I've heard from many people with the 392 engine that it "just happens."

Taking it in and documenting it is a good idea. If they diagnose it as "HEMI Tick" and later it turns out to be piston slap (and your engine gives up after 30k miles, you'll have some recourse.

For a while, "piston slap" was called "normal" and a LOT of LS engines had it. Then, after about 30k miles, owners started seeing oil consumption go up. Eventually, it was deemed a problem.

Piston slap generally only occurs on a cold engine because the piston hasn't had time to expand and it rocks around. But, during that time, the piston is contacting the cylinder walls and wearing them down.

 

[Hearhear]

Various ticks just plain happen, and they're not problematic. All of my Vipers have a ticking sound because of a noisy fuel injector. Been told "normal" many times. My Jeep Grand Cherokee has a cold-start ticking due to a leaky lifter. It's been doing it forever, and it goes away when the lifter pumps up. So far, no noises from the 392, but I've heard from many people with the 392 engine that it "just happens."

Taking it in and documenting it is a good idea. If they diagnose it as "HEMI Tick" and later it turns out to be piston slap (and your engine gives up after 30k miles, you'll have some recourse.

For a while, "piston slap" was called "normal" and a LOT of LS engines had it. Then, after about 30k miles, owners started seeing oil consumption go up. Eventually, it was deemed a problem.

Piston slap generally only occurs on a cold engine because the piston hasn't had time to expand and it rocks around. But, during that time, the piston is contacting the cylinder walls and wearing them down.

Yea I could have ignored it if it was just ticking at startup. But the reason I brought my Jeep in is because it was ticking almost constantly, not loud and obnoxious like piston slap but noticeable. Like a fairly muffled "tick tick tick tick". Sometimes (like 40%) you couldn't hear it at all, like when the engine is hot and everything expands. But most times (60%) just driving around town I could hear it pretty steadily. I thought it was better to take it in for an official diagnosis and deal with it now, while under warranty, if it were serious. But after this diagnosis I kind of feel better about it. Hopefully she makes it to 200,000 miles and by that time everything will probably be electric anyway LOL.

 

[carlhenry]

all mopar v8 sales come with a FREE bad valve lifter so u know when the engine is running all free of charge

 

[Rubi64L]

Yea I could have ignored it if it was just ticking at startup. But the reason I brought my Jeep in is because it was ticking almost constantly, not loud and obnoxious like piston slap but noticeable. Like a fairly muffled "tick tick tick tick". Sometimes (like 40%) you couldn't hear it at all, like when the engine is hot and everything expands. But most times (60%) just driving around town I could hear it pretty steadily. I thought it was better to take it in for an official diagnosis and deal with it now, while under warranty, if it were serious. But after this diagnosis I kind of feel better about it. Hopefully she makes it to 200,000 miles and by that time everything will probably be electric anyway LOL.

When my first Viper did it - I flipped out and brought it in. I was in traffic next to a Jersey barrier, and I heard this really loud ticking sound. Sounded to me like something was very wrong - either a bad lifter, bad rocker arm, or something in the valvetrain. So, I totally understand how freaky it is to hear something weird on a new car.

Ironically, on that save old '97 Viper, I was out driving about ten years later and I heard a REALLY loud ticking. I immediately shifted into 6th, and babied it back home. Pulled the valve cover, and found two bent pushrods. Very common issue in those Gen II engines. Easy fix, though - got a couple of new pushrods, popped them in, and it's been perfect ever since.

 

[Hearhear]

When my first Viper did it - I flipped out and brought it in. I was in traffic next to a Jersey barrier, and I heard this really loud ticking sound. Sounded to me like something was very wrong - either a bad lifter, bad rocker arm, or something in the valvetrain. So, I totally understand how freaky it is to hear something weird on a new car.

Ironically, on that save old '97 Viper, I was out driving about ten years later and I heard a REALLY loud ticking. I immediately shifted into 6th, and babied it back home. Pulled the valve cover, and found two bent pushrods. Very common issue in those Gen II engines. Easy fix, though - got a couple of new pushrods, popped them in, and it's been perfect ever since.

Yup. If my "muffled tick" ever becomes loud and obvious, if it changes, I'll know something's wrong. My ears are pretty tuned into the sound now and I'll notice if it gets louder and more pronounced. Then it goes back to the shop.

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