The “Hemi tick” is a ticking noise from a 5.7L or 6.4L Hemi V8, and it usually comes from one of two very different places: a broken exhaust manifold bolt letting exhaust leak, or a failing lifter in the engine. A tick that’s loud on a cold start and fades as the engine warms is usually the manifold. A tick that stays steady when warm, especially with a misfire, is more often a lifter.
That difference matters, because one is an exhaust repair and the other is engine work. Here’s how to tell which tick you have on a Ram, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Charger or Challenger.
Two very different ticks
| Clue | Exhaust manifold leak | Lifter or cam problem |
|---|---|---|
| When it’s loudest | Cold start, fades as it warms | Steady when warm, sometimes worse with heat |
| Where it sounds like it comes from | Lower, near the back corner of the engine | Inside the engine, top end |
| Check engine light | Sometimes, from oxygen sensor readings | Often, with misfire codes |
| Running | Usually runs normally | Misfire, rough idle, loss of power |
| Other clues | Soot near the manifold, exhaust smell | Tick that rises with rpm, metal in the oil |
Exhaust manifold bolts: the cheaper tick
Hemi exhaust manifolds go through huge heat swings. Over time, the manifold warps slightly, and the bolts holding it to the head snap, most often at the rear of the engine on the passenger side. Once a bolt breaks, the manifold gasket can’t seal, and exhaust puffs out of the gap with every pulse. That’s the tick.
It’s loudest on a cold start because the manifold is contracted and the gap is widest. As it heats up and expands, the gap closes and the tick fades. You may also smell exhaust or see black soot around the back of the manifold.
The repair means removing the broken bolt, which is often seized in the head, then replacing the bolts and gasket and sometimes the manifold itself if it has warped too far. It’s a fiddly job, but it’s an exhaust repair, not an engine rebuild.
Lifters and cam: the expensive tick
Many Hemi engines have the Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which shuts off four cylinders when you’re cruising to save fuel. It does that using special lifters. The rollers on the bottom of the lifters ride on the camshaft, and on some engines the needle bearings in those rollers fail. A failed roller stops turning, wears a flat spot into the cam lobe, and the tick gets louder as the damage grows.
Signs that point toward a lifter:
- A steady tick at operating temperature that doesn’t fade
- A misfire on one cylinder, often with a check engine light
- Rough idle or a loss of power
- Metal particles in the oil when it’s drained
Lifter failure doesn’t get better on its own. As the cam lobe wears, metal goes through the engine and the repair grows. The fix is replacing the lifters, and if the lobe is damaged, the camshaft too, which means removing the heads. That’s engine repair, and in bad cases an engine rebuild.
How we tell them apart
- Cold start listen. We hear the truck start cold, then again at full temperature. A tick that fades points to the manifold.
- Locate the sound. A mechanic’s stethoscope tells us whether the tick is at the manifold or inside the valve cover.
- Scan for misfires. Live misfire counts per cylinder show whether one cylinder is struggling, which points to a lifter.
- Look for soot and broken bolts. Broken manifold bolts are usually visible from underneath.
- Check the oil. Metal in the oil is bad news and changes the plan.
Sometimes a truck has both problems. Doing the diagnosis first means you only pay for the repair you need.
Can you drive with a Hemi tick?
- Manifold tick: usually yes in the short term, but the leak can damage the gasket surface, upset oxygen sensor readings and let exhaust into the engine bay. Get it fixed before it spreads to more bolts.
- Lifter tick: drive it as little as possible. Every mile wears the cam lobe further and spreads metal through the engine.
Regular oil changes with the correct oil help the lifters, and avoiding long periods of idling helps too, since the lifters get less oil at idle.
See our Ram and Dodge repair page for more of the work we do on Hemi trucks.
Great group of guys. They are honest and fair priced. They have worked on several of my vehicles. I had a thousand dollars worth of tools on the inside of my truck ( a lot more in the toolbox), personal stuff, and packages. Everything was were I left it when I picked my truck up.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Hemi tick?
It’s a ticking noise from a Hemi V8. It’s usually caused by a broken exhaust manifold bolt or by a failing lifter in the engine.
Is the Hemi tick bad?
A manifold tick is an exhaust leak that should be fixed but isn’t urgent. A lifter tick can damage the camshaft and should be checked as soon as possible.
Why does my Hemi tick go away when warm?
That usually points to an exhaust manifold leak. The manifold expands as it warms and closes the gap left by a broken bolt.
Which Hemi engines have lifter problems?
Lifter failures have been seen on 5.7L and 6.4L Hemi engines, especially those with the Multi-Displacement System.
Bring it to Figure Automotive in Huntsville
A Hemi tick can be a broken bolt or a failing lifter, and those are very different repairs. Bring the truck in and we’ll find out which one you have before you spend a dime on parts.
Call (936) 439-4346 or request a Free Written Estimate. We are at the shop Monday through Friday.
