Just curious, I have an 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 4.7L V8 in it and approximately 180k miles. I was on vacation recently and haven't drove it in a week and a half. Today when I started the truck, it was making a loud ticking noise and not running very well at all like its running on five cylinders. I'm just curious if my lash adjusters are the issue on say two cylinders, I'm wondering what was is involved with replacing them and what it would set me back?

Here's a video from my cell of it running. Oil pressure gauge reads normal, no codes, and no overheating.

http://vid328.photobucket.com/albums/l345/redx79/IMG_2948_zpsvnctkbzd.mp4

rocker fell off, pull the valve cover and put it back. very common issue and may or may not cause any other issues, best thing to do is just put it back and see. Valve cover gasket is re-useable so hopefully no parts will be needed. Once they start dropping rockers it tends to start happening more, if they get trapped between cam and valve it can cause bent valves, cracked pistons, busted cam stands...

Thank you Dave. I'm going to my let mechanic take a look at it. Last year I had already replaced the valve cover gaskets before some of my health issues. If it's going to be very expensive not sure if I'll fix it right now. Can you tell me if a sunken guide seat would cause the issue? When I had the valve covers off I thought the wear on the lobes of the cams was a little more than I would like but, I was told at the time it was normal. Here's a couple of shots from last year when I replaced the gaskets in which I used OEM Mopar. Sorry if the pictures aren't the best.

If any rockers fell off be aware that we had some valve seats come lose and cause that in some engines. If they are off yes put them back in and see how it runs. If it does it again before to long then I would consider pulling the head and checking the valve seats. Ron

Thank you Ron. That's what I was thinking too but, I wasn't sure with these newer engines. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

It's old news around here, but I picked up an 03 Durango 4 years ago with THREE rockers off that I found once I drove it's powerless self home. Had 113k then, now has 162k. Just oil changes since. If the valve seats were an issue, there should have been more trouble. I tow with it and take it out of state frequently. Good luck with yours. I work frequently on triton fords and the chains, guides etc, are really yacking at these miles on startup.

Thank you. I'll see what happens and see what the outcome is on it. Hopefully, it can be fixed for a reasonable cost otherwise I'll just wait to either fix it or replace it.

Okay so, I took it to my mechanic and it appears that the timing guide/shoe has failed on the one side. So, all the chains, sprockets, and guides, etc. are getting replaced.

Okay just a quick update so all the items have been replaced and it is now very quiet. Power seems to be up some though my mileage is about the same. It was not a cheap job by any means but, this truck is paid for so if I can keep it motoring along for a few more years than it is worth it.

I am glad that your 4.7 is back together and hope that you get several more years of value from it.

Reading this and other posts about the 4.7 has left me wondering if scheduled oil testing like that offered by Blackstone could predict 4.7 problems before they happen?

Caterpillar's oil analysis program seems to be able to red flag future problems in some of their engines.

The 4.7 seems to be an engine where more frequent oil changes may be economically beneficial.

I've had the truck for 11 years. I've switched from Mobil 1 regular oil to synthetic at around 50k miles and have ran synthetic oil ever since along with either Mobil 1 filters, Amsoil filters, and one K&N oil filter along the way. According the mechanic the weird thing is that the bottom chain was the one that jumped two teeth along with the worn guides/shoes but, the both camshafts (SOHC) will still in time when he replaced the parts. Hopefully, I can get another few years out of mainly just for winter driving since they use salt here and all the snow so I need 4x4 here.

The bottom chain has twice the load on it and it's exactly the same, except shorter, as the cam chains. That's why it's the one that wears. I found the same thing in the 4.7 I did a chain job to.