HEMI Tick and GM Lifter Failure: Cam and Lifter Problems on the 5.7 HEMI, 5.3L and 6.2L

If you drive a Ram with the 5.7 HEMI, or a Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe or Yukon with the 5.3L or 6.2L V8, you've probably heard about lifter problems. A tick that won't go away or a misfire code can be the first sign. Here's what's happening inside the engine, how to spot it early, and why waiting makes the repair bigger.

What a lifter does

Lifters ride on the camshaft and push the valves open as the cam turns. Both the HEMI and GM's V8s use roller lifters: a small wheel at the bottom of each lifter rolls along the cam lobe. When that wheel or the lifter's internals fail, the valve stops opening properly and the cam lobe starts to wear.

The 5.7 HEMI problem

On the 5.7 HEMI, the common failure is inside the roller. Tiny needle bearings let the wheel spin. When they wear or seize, the wheel stops turning and drags across the cam lobe instead, grinding it down. That's the "HEMI tick" many owners talk about.

Not every HEMI tick is a lifter, though. A broken exhaust manifold bolt can make a similar sound and is a much cheaper fix. A proper diagnosis tells the two apart.

The GM 5.3L and 6.2L problem

GM's V8s use special lifters for Active Fuel Management (AFM) and, on newer trucks, Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM). These lifters can switch off cylinders to save fuel by collapsing on command. When one sticks or collapses when it shouldn't, that cylinder stops working properly and you get a misfire.

On AFM engines, cylinders 1, 4, 6 and 7 are the ones that switch off, so misfire codes on those cylinders are a strong hint that a lifter is the cause. A class action lawsuit over these lifters has been before a U.S. federal court in Michigan since 2021.

Warning signs

• A ticking or tapping noise that doesn't fade as the engine warms up.

• Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300 to P0308).

• Rough idle, shaking, hesitation or loss of power.

• On GM trucks, problems that come and go as the engine switches in and out of fuel-saving mode.

Why you shouldn't keep driving on it

A failed lifter doesn't get better. The damaged roller or collapsed lifter keeps wearing the cam lobe, and the metal it sheds travels through the oil to the rest of the engine. Caught early, it's a camshaft and lifter replacement. Left too long, it can mean a new engine.

What the repair involves

• Diagnosis to confirm it's a lifter, not ignition, an injector or an exhaust leak.

• Removing and inspecting the camshaft. A worn cam is replaced.

• Replacing the lifters. When one has failed, the others have the same wear.

• Cleaning metal debris out of the oil system and replacing related parts as needed.

• On GM trucks, choosing between updated factory-style AFM/DFM parts or an AFM/DFM delete with a matching tune.

Get it checked in south Edmonton

Big Toy Shop diagnoses and repairs cam and lifter problems on 5.7 HEMI and GM 5.3L and 6.2L trucks and SUVs. Book a diagnostic on our auto service page or call 780-298-2797. Already been quoted for a cam and lifter job or a new engine? Bring it in for a free second opinion.