I have a 2008 Durango. It has the 4.7 with 100,000 miles on it.
When I start it up it always ticks loudly for at least a few minutes, sometimes longer.
It seems to be getting worse but the weather has been extra cold also.
I've read that an exhaust bolt might be broke but I don't see any broken ones.
The truck runs great and I don't really have any other problems with it.
But the ticking seems to be getting worse.
I don't want to keep driving it if I'm hurting it.
Any ideas or thought?

4.7s were notorious for spitting rocker arms due to the lifters seizing up. You may have a lifter starting to go bad.

I have taken several apart where the lifter seized & it broke the rocker & the hole in the head when it jammed everything up. A few others it just spit the rocker out & was able to replace the lifters & it was good to go.

No way of telling for sure until the valve covers are pulled & they are checked. I'd eliminate an exhaust leak first though.

Thanks Hemirunner for the responce.
Is there a special tool needed for the rocker arms?
What do I look for when I take the covers off?
I am not familar with the 4.7 at all.

I've been putting a ton of miles on the truck. It sounds like I better be careful.
I'm about 300 miles from home right now.

Anyone else experience this ticking?

Give a tug on your exhaust manifold heat shields (when its cold of course) and see if any of the bolts are broke that hold the shield on. They are usually the ones to break. The 4.7 also have valve seats that like to pop out of the head also.

I didn't realize that there were so many issues with the 4.7.

I'll check the shields after I park it in the shop in the morning.

Anyone else?

My 4.7 started a very light ticking at 9000 miles at start up.It has 143,000 on it now,so I don't worry about it.

Dustya440,

If you find it's not an exhaust leak, pull the valve covers & check all the rockers to make sure there isn't any cracks or broken rockers at the lifter end. Also look at all the lifters, they set in a hole in the head, look for cracks there. The rockers set under the cams & I guess you would call them more followers than rockers.

I have replaced lifters & rockers by loosening the cam stands just enough to get them out. Otherwise you have to disassemble the front of the engine to get the cam chain cover off & remove the chains & remove the cams. If you just loosen the stands, pull the plugs to make it easier to spin the engine by the crank bolt as some times you have to turn it a little to get the rocker out. When tightening the stands back up go a little at a time & snug them up to make sure nothing is binding, then torque them down.

The wifes 04 DuranGO, with 4.7, ticks upon cold start. Gots 118k+, runs great. Been doing it for a while now.

Hemirunner,
Does it matter if my 4.7 is a flex fuel vehicle?
Maybe a dumb question, but are all 4.7's the same cam type?

Thanks again for the info.

No difference in cam design. The flex fuel only pertains to the fuel system.