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5.7 reliability issues?

General23cmp

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I have read that the 5.7 hemi had reliability issues. The one coming to mind is the timing chain. Were there other issues? What year hemi would the issues with the 5.7 have been resolved? I'm trying to find a transplant from a junkyard, and would like to avoid problematic years.
 
The early years of the 5.7 had issues with Valve Springs breakage.Neighbor's Ram 1500 that was a 04 or 05 broke 6 of them. Replaced under warranty.That's all I know about 'um.
 
Got an 06 and 09. Not a lot of miles, but no problems. The 5.7 in the 06 has the cylinder shutdown. The 09 6 speed does not. I’d prefer non shutdown. Something about a dormant component not getting splashed, then when power demand can cause a momentary lubricity (cam?) issue. Not sure I got it right, but the recommended 5-20 weight oil is too thin IN MY OPINION. I run 0-30 and no problems with either. 06 up, lower mileage manual shift sounds best to me. Put a Blower on it and you’re Golden.
 
My buddy has an 12 ram 5.7 with over100k on the clock....he also has a 14 RT challenger 5.7 with 125k miles on it....I do know the challenger runs pretty damn good...never been in his truck tho
 
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I heard way back when, that the 03 & 04 years had connecting rod failure problems. Something to do with a new material being used. Not sure about it. There may have been an TSB about it. Good luck!
 
I have a 05 5.7 in a ram, about 135k miles. It runs great. My wife has a 06 in a durango. It has 250k. That has been a great engine. The thing that I make sure is that they have plenty of water. I've had thermostat gaskets and water pumps over years go out, but if it doesn't get hot your good. The valve seats tend to drop in the cylinders if it does, and then your done. I prefer a newer 09-15 version, as they have better flowing heads and more HP out the gate. By the way, I happen to have one for sale if you're interested! A 2014 with 8,000 miles. How's that for a sales pitch. Hehe
 
05 and newer !
Older ones have valve spring issue s (easy enough to fix though) I had a 03 with 220000 replaced the valve springs it ran great!
 
I have an 05 Ram with 85,000 miles with no problems. It doesn't have all the other nonsense that kept breaking timing chains and tensioners. It took mopar a lot of trial and error to finally cure it. I also have a 10 SRT with the 6.1 that doesn't have all that stuff that broke.
 
I think 2012 and older had timing chains they recalled, so I’m avoiding anything 2012 and older
 
The most well known defect on the 5.7 is the valve seats falling out of the heads. This happens at an avg. of 80k-100k . Always occurs when starting engine after driving for a short period of time. Never when driving or acceleration. It is unrelated to overheating. Ask me how I know. I have a 2006 Magnum R/T 5.7 MDS now with an updated, reman. engine. Failed at 82k. Mobil 1 since new. Later years also had oil pump and timing chain issues. Oil pump and timing chain set is an easy and inexpensive upgrade. Best to get remanufactured with updated seats or aftermarket heads. Relatively reasonably priced also. Curious someone says 5w-20 is too thin ? Most manufacturers use it on late model engines. They are not built like the old days. But 0w-30 is ok ? Common knowledge that majority of oil related engine wear occurs at start up. 0W is thinner than 5w . so IDGI.
 
0 is for initial start up flow. Cold flow.
 
The most well known defect on the 5.7 is the valve seats falling out of the heads. This happens at an avg. of 80k-100k . Always occurs when starting engine after driving for a short period of time. Never when driving or acceleration. It is unrelated to overheating. Ask me how I know. I have a 2006 Magnum R/T 5.7 MDS now with an updated, reman. engine. Failed at 82k. Mobil 1 since new. Later years also had oil pump and timing chain issues. Oil pump and timing chain set is an easy and inexpensive upgrade. Best to get remanufactured with updated seats or aftermarket heads. Relatively reasonably priced also. Curious someone says 5w-20 is too thin ? Most manufacturers use it on late model engines. They are not built like the old days. But 0w-30 is ok ? Common knowledge that majority of oil related engine wear occurs at start up. 0W is thinner than 5w . so IDGI.

Was there a year that the valve seat issue went away, or did the issue stay with the 5.7 through the years? Seems like something dodge would improve, especially with the 6.1 and 6.4 coming out.
 
rams.jpg

My '04 Ram SLT 5.7 hemi 4x4. 170k miles, ZERO issues. Mobil1 10-30. (Non-MDS in '04).
Also notice the '06 back yonder, also a hemi. Over 200k on it, no issues.

100_1120.JPG


The wife's 2012 Charger R/T 5.7 hemi. 76k miles. Also Mobil1 10W-30 from new.
Zero issues also.

You may gather that I sort of like the late model 5.7. :)
 
Since 2006 I have owned 6 vehicles with 5.7 Hemis in them PLUS I transplanted an 07 from a Charger with 23k on it ion my 70 GTX. I have not had one single issue with any of these. 4 were work trucks and 2 were/are Chargers. My business partner also had an 06 300 with one and he had no problems.
 
The most well known defect on the 5.7 is the valve seats falling out of the heads. This happens at an avg. of 80k-100k.

Supposedly fixed with the introduction of the Eagle head in '09.
 
Supposedly fixed with the introduction of the Eagle head in '09.

Are the eagle heads on all the 2009+ 5.7 hemis (I know there was an Aspen and Durango that didn't get them in 09 and maybe 10, so besides them)? I had heard that the 4 cylinder gas-saving mode was not implemented on manual trans cars, so I just wonder if they received the Eagle heads that had VVT and 4 cylinder mode possible.
 
I have read that the 5.7 hemi had reliability issues. The one coming to mind is the timing chain. Were there other issues? What year hemi would the issues with the 5.7 have been resolved? I'm trying to find a transplant from a junkyard, and would like to avoid problematic years.

I just had lifter/cam failure on my 06 SRT-8 Chrysler 300. 105,000 miles, oil & filter (mobil1 0-40) changes every 5,000 since new. Roller lifter took out the cam. Cylinders were in great shape. Heads needed valve guides. I had the heads rebuilt with new valve guides, ground the valves and seats, New Cam and Lifters, New timing chain, water pump, new hoses and belts. I priced all the Chrysler parts on line and the Chrysler dealer matched the prices saving me over $900.00 in parts from their original quote. All together it was $1,540 parts and $1,900 labor $3,440 total

According to the Chrysler Tech. many of the 4.6, 5.7s and 6.1s have this issue. He showed me a shelf that had at least 25 cams they have replaced for cam/lifter failure. Most have the MDS lifters.
 
I thought recommended oil is 5-20 . I have always used 5-20 Mobil 5000 in our 08 300 5.7. So far 147000 trouble free miles and counting.
 
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