6.4 HEMI 0 psi oil pressure in Black Hills

[Makensmoke]

Good friend of mine opted for a Power Wagon with the 6.4. Heading to vacation land- 2nd gear pull up a steep hill in the Black Hills yesterday pulling an enclosed trailer with 2) SXS in it his Hemi started to chatter. Tow truck came and hooked it off the hill with trailer in tow...

Truck is pampered, has around 10K on it, he bought it from the dealer new. Has anyone heard of a straight up oil pump failure on those engines? Sounds very rare.

I told him I would go get him with my Cummins and trailer him home so it can be handled back home, I am guessing it could be weeks.

 

[sag2]

Pretty unusual for the oil pump to just fail out of the blue. I'm assuming the oil light came on in addition to the engine noise?

 

[Makensmoke]

Yes, thank you I agree. He heard chatter looked down to a dash light and pulled over. Dipstick shows normal oil level.

 

[TFucili]

I towed heavy with my 6.4, and it took it like a champ. I read of cam/lifter failures, usually the roller, but less so than in the 5.7s for some reason.

 

[cerberusiam]

No choice but t take it apart and see if the oil pump did just die for some reason, or, the a lifter failed and it ate the cam up. Normally that would not drop oil pressure to 0 but enough metal thru the engine could stick the bypass open. 10k is really early to have lifter issues, usually more like 70-80k is when they fail but the OE lifters are a known weak point.

 

[Makensmoke]

Following up, my friend is the proud owner of a fresh complete engine via his Ram warranty. It was ruined.

...take 2!

I never heard what they found for sure.

MS

 

[AH64ID]

Wow... is it for sale now?

 

[Joe Mc]

Might suggest that he "do the right thing this time" = shop for a Cummins and trade in the "new" engine... MHO

 

[cerberusiam]

Roll of the dice with the newer 6.7's. The 6.4 aside from the crappy OE lifters and plastic intake the Gen III hemi is a solid engine. Thirsty when towing but overall not a bad choice if one does not need the grunt of a diesel. I think the CP-4 engineers were drinking with the Gen III designers and shared lifter technology, now they all have problems.

 

[Joe Mc]

Roll of the dice with the newer 6.7's. The 6.4 aside from the crappy OE lifters and plastic intake the Gen III hemi is a solid engine. I think the CP-4 engineers were drinking with the Gen III designers and shared lifter technology, now they all have problems.

Didn't know 6.7's were problematic, I'm happily forever in 2nd gen 24v land. Pretty good engineers drinking and sharing lifter tech. LOL

 

[Makensmoke]

I think he is feeling it out a bit before making a decision to move on- and sell it. It is new, and he loves it other than this issue.

I have 2 friends who recently bought 3/4 ton pickups with big gas motors. One a Ford and this Ram. Both tow toys and both have seen absolute horrible mileage (towing). Neither one wanted to pay up front for a diesel but I think they are having second thoughts. I also tow fun stuff with both my Cummins and can't believe the grunt that my newer one has. My wife is obviously tired of me telling her to watch me pull "this hill" without it dropping a gear.

 

[TFucili]

So far, my '19 CTD barely squeaks out 10 MPG pulling the empty toy hauler. My '15 6.4 got 7.5-8.5 MPG pulling the same trailer when loaded, so the MPG advantage is not that great. The CTD certainly does it in more relaxed fashion. The big difference is the exhaust brake coming down grades, and the availability of larger fuel tank for good range.