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Dave Miller of Hemi Garage Hacks says a design change in 2009-and-newer Hemi V8s may leave lifters without an oiling passage, contributing to roller and camshaft damage. He is developing a modified lifter, but the proposed cause and repair have not been independently validated in the source report.
Dave Miller, a mechanic behind the Hemi Garage Hacks YouTube channel, says he has identified a possible reason modern Hemi V8 lifters fail and develop a ticking sound: a missing oiling passage in 2009-and-newer engine blocks. Miller is developing a modified lifter intended to address the problem, but the proposed cause and repair remain unverified beyond his inspection and demonstrations.
In the video described by The Drive, Miller uses a borescope to compare an earlier Hemi engine with a later design. He points to a small opening in the earlier engine’s oil gallery that, he says, allows oil to reach the lifter as it moves. In the later engine, he says the opening is absent. Miller links the change to a revised block design that accommodates a longer camshaft snout for variable valve timing, while saying the cam journal designs remain similar.
Miller’s explanation is that inadequate lubrication can damage the lifter’s roller bearings. If those bearings stop turning, the roller can grind against the camshaft, wearing down a lobe and producing a tick. Continued damage can lead to a misfire and, if left unaddressed, potentially require extensive engine repairs. The Drive describes lifter trouble as a known issue affecting some 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemis built from 2009 onward, used in Ram, Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles.
To illustrate the oil flow he believes the passage permits, Miller loosens a bolt on a lifter test bench by a quarter-turn and shows oil streaming out. That demonstration supports his explanation of how an opening can allow lubrication, but it does not establish how often the suspected design difference causes failures across vehicles, or prove that a redesigned lifter will prevent them. The report says Miller estimates he has rebuilt more than 2,000 engines over his career; that figure is his estimate, not an independently audited count.
A Possible Route to Fewer Lifter Failures
If Miller’s diagnosis holds up, it could give owners and repair shops a specific design feature to investigate when a late-model Hemi develops a ticking noise. The stakes are practical: a worn lifter can damage the camshaft, and the source report warns that continued operation may lead to misfires and much more extensive repairs. A replacement part that reliably restores lubrication could offer an alternative to repeated repairs, but no such outcome has been demonstrated in the material provided.
For now, this is a mechanic’s proposed explanation and development project, not a confirmed manufacturer fix or a published test result. Owners should not treat the sound alone as proof of this failure mode. A ticking engine needs diagnosis by a qualified repair professional, since the report does not establish that every tick has the same cause or that Miller’s modification is ready for installation.
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How the Hemi Tick Develops
The Drive’s report describes the Hemi tick as a recurring concern among owners of some 2009-and-newer 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter engines. The problem had previously been traced to the valvetrain lifters, but the precise reason those parts fail has been difficult to establish, according to the report. Miller’s video offers a proposed explanation based on differences he says he observed inside early and later engines.
The damage sequence outlined in the report begins when a lifter roller does not receive enough oil. Its internal needle bearings can break down; the roller can then stop turning and wear against a camshaft lobe. A damaged camshaft and lifter may create a tick, with further deterioration potentially causing a misfire. The report does not provide a failure rate, a confirmed mileage threshold, or evidence that the suspected oiling difference is the only cause of lifter or camshaft damage.
“Miller says the oiling hole found in an earlier Hemi is absent in the later design.”
— Dave Miller of Hemi Garage Hacks, as described in The Drive’s report
Diagnosis and Repair Still Unproven
The report does not include independent engineering analysis confirming that the missing passage is the cause of lifter failures, nor controlled testing comparing affected and unaffected engines. It also does not establish how many engines have the feature Miller describes, whether other lubrication or operating factors contribute, or whether his planned lifter will solve the problem without creating new ones.
The project’s development stage, testing schedule, expected price and release date are not stated. The Drive reported that donations to Miller’s GoFundMe had reached $4,369 toward a $5,000 goal at the time of publication; that is a time-specific fundraising figure, not evidence that the part has been validated or released. The report also does not identify a Chrysler or Stellantis response.
Testing Needed Before Owners Rely on It
Miller is working on the modified lifter and has sought funding for the project, according to The Drive. The next meaningful evidence would be details of the finished design and documented testing showing whether it improves oil delivery and reduces wear under real operating conditions. The source material gives no timetable for those steps.
Until results are available, owners hearing a tick should seek a proper diagnosis rather than assume the proposed oiling issue is responsible or install an untested modification. It remains unclear whether Miller will publish test data, offer the part commercially or receive independent review of his explanation.
Key Questions
What is the proposed cause of the modern Hemi tick?
Miller says a small oiling passage visible in an earlier Hemi design is missing in 2009-and-newer engines he inspected. He believes the absence can leave lifter rollers inadequately lubricated, but the explanation has not been independently verified in the source report.
Which engines and vehicles are mentioned?
The Drive identifies some 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V8s built from 2009 onward, used in Ram, Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. The report does not provide a complete list of affected models or establish that every engine in those groups is affected.
Has Miller’s modified lifter been proven to fix the problem?
No. Miller is developing a modified lifter, but the report provides no completed test results, independent validation or confirmed repair outcomes.
What can happen if a lifter fails?
According to the report’s description, a failed roller can wear down a camshaft lobe and cause ticking. Continued damage may lead to a misfire and more extensive engine repairs. A mechanic should diagnose the sound rather than assuming it has this cause.
When might the proposed part be available?
The source material does not give a release date, price or testing schedule. It says Miller was developing the design and that donations had reached $4,369 of a $5,000 goal at the time The Drive published its report.
Source: thedrive.com
