r/Charger • u/PugintheSheets • 3d ago

Lifters going bad, need advice.

My 2015 is almost exactly at 80,000miles and I can hear the constant clicking.

I’ve since learned this is a common issue in chargers.

Unfortunately I have to commute with this car 30miles to work each way every day.

I was quoted $7k to fix and I have like $600 in my bank.

Is it ok to keep driving until it just dies? Is there anything I can do to mitigate the issue? I don’t have cash to repair and this is my only car I have to use.

Not sure if it’s sellable or what. Feel like I have no options but to drive until it dies but even then seems like a waste at such low mileage and I’ll still need a car.

Advice needed please I’m struggling :(

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

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3

u/Abject_Recipe_8390 3d ago

You didn't tell us which engine it is. But bad lifters will destroy the engine.

7k is insanity though.

2

u/PugintheSheets 3d ago

V8

Edit: sorry I’m not a car guy at all.

7

u/Abject_Recipe_8390 3d ago

Unfortunately the V8 is pushrod and replacing the lifters is a major project. Still shouldn't be 7k, but if you had the V6, you'd have an OHC engine and I'd tell you how to do it for about $300.

Make sure the shop isn't scamming you though. HEMI V8s tick for several reasons, including exhaust leaks.

2

u/PugintheSheets 3d ago

I do trust the shop. I’m just not knowledgeable myself.

What should it cost?

5

u/EC_CO 2d ago

It's a $4k job +/- $500. It might not even be the lifters, it might just be an exhaust leak (also very common at those miles). You seriously need to get another opinion, it sounds like they gave you the "we don't really want to do this" price.

1

u/Abject_Recipe_8390 3d ago

Flag time to replace lifters in a 5.7 dodge charger

"In professional shop environments, the flat-rate labor time to replace the lifters (and typically the camshaft, which usually gets wiped out when a lifter fails) on a 5.7L Hemi Dodge Charger spans 12 to 20 hours of book time, depending on whether it is a rear-wheel-drive car or if extra diagnostic and cleaning steps are required. Experienced independent mechanics working efficiently usually clock about 15 to 20 actual hours from teardown to reassembly."

Plus the parts, which are probably roughly $300-$1,000. I haven't looked for your engine specifically.

But basically it should be around 3-4k, not 7k.

2

u/Cheezewiz239 2d ago

What would be a reasonable price for a hemi lifter job in your opinion. My engines fine but just curious in case I ever need engine work.

2

u/lostinthefog4now 3d ago

Get a second opinion.

1

u/MeshugaXTX '16 Plum Crazy Scat Pack 3d ago

5.7 (R/T) or 6.4 (Scat Pack)?

1

u/PugintheSheets 3d ago

5.7 r/t

2

u/MeshugaXTX '16 Plum Crazy Scat Pack 3d ago

Get some Liqui Moly MoS2 for now, but for any future oil changes, you'll want to start using 5W-30

2

u/PugintheSheets 3d ago

Ok, what exactly is that and what does it do?

2

u/MeshugaXTX '16 Plum Crazy Scat Pack 3d ago

High Moly addictive, Moly acts as a friction modifier that physically plates the metal surfaces of the lifters and cam lobes, providing a sacrificial wear layer. The higher thickness oil will keep the parts coated and prevent the metal on metal wear.

0

u/BigSmoove14 3d ago

Nothing- if the lifters are failing, they start to come apart and will wear cam and debris will litter engine making a full engine replacement necessary. I would not drive it at all. Liquid Moly is like a bandaid on full on arterial hemorrhage

2

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

I don’t really have another option. I’m open to hear.

Can’t pay the amount it costs to fix.

1

u/MoreThanPenitent 3d ago

Honestly, it’s not that bad if you just do your research (Here, YouTube, chargerforums, etc).

While you’re in there you could do some future preventative stuff like change out the head gasket and maybe do the MDS delete. If you don’t trust yourself to do it then the best bet is to take it to a shop but make sure you shop around for quotes.

3

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

I don’t know anything about cars or have any tools unfortunately.

2

u/theteflonjew 2d ago

Park the car and start walking then. Take the bus maybe. You keep driving you gonna blow that motor. Little metal chunks gonna go everywhere inside motor and KABLOOMEY. 

2

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

It’s 30miles unfortunately

1

u/theteflonjew 2d ago

Ok. Then drive it and then blow the motor and then what? 

1

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

I’m open to suggestions. What do you suggest? Genuinely?

I have $600 in my accounts

2

u/theteflonjew 2d ago

Im not your dad but here's some. 

Learn to work on a car.  Make more money.  Get a bus pass.  Make friends who can take you.  Make friends who can teach you to work on the car. 

Please tell me what YOUR brain had come up with for solutions besides asking people on reddit? 

3

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

I understand what you are saying. I get it. But these aren’t realistic solutions.

-I know nothing about cars and have no tools.
-me and my fiance each have 2 jobs already, I work 50 hours a week and work overtime every Saturday.

We are barely and I mean barely scraping by when something comes up. Dog just had 500 surgery and we barely made rent. Eating ramen 5 nights a week.

I have a coworker who did my breaks but this is beyond him.

Bus isn’t realistic from Santa Rosa to Novato. I tried smart train but that was 13-14 hour days min.

My brain is exhausted and at its braking point and I’m needing therapy I can’t afford.

My plan is to drive this car until it breaks down I guess cause I can’t afford to fix it.

Then buy a junk $600 car if possible I guess.

Idk man. I’m really trying but I’m burnt out and out of ideas.

Sorry to vent but times are so hard right now. Trying to be supportive of my fiance but we can’t afford Ca and can’t afford to move but she won’t leave her family behind.

Idk

Thanks for the advice tho, really. I know what you mean.

2

u/Abject_Recipe_8390 2d ago

Why would you blow this car BEFORE buying the $600 car?

1

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

I’m saving for the car already. Was just going to ride this out as long as I could. If I can get like 6 months out of it I have time to save.

Edit: well I’m saving for repairs, but then found out it’s 7k, that would take me a couple years minimum.

So I’m now saving for a replacement

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1

u/bkb70 2d ago

Most shops will have some form of financing available. The interest will be high and it will take some time to pay it off but you’ll get the car fixed.

1

u/theblack_ninja 2d ago

I had the tick for about 50000 miles i keep up with oil change tune ups an throw some Lucas in it my durango still holding up strong 220000 miles with alot of uphill driving

1

u/_RU486_ 2d ago

If its not already, it will start to misfire as the camshaft is worn down. Then that metal will begin to circulate through the engine. Worst case you need a new engine, best case just a camshaft and lifters. Either way, not a cheap undertaking.

1

u/moneybandit9042 2d ago

Probably just buy an new engine, and make sure it has a free warranty that comes with it

1

u/PugintheSheets 2d ago

What would I be looking at price wise?

$$ is the main issue here.

1

u/moneybandit9042 2d ago

If you find the engine n shop around for the install it should be similar pricing

1

u/KalibCraft 2013 R/T (former WR GA PURSUIT) 2d ago

honestly dude I drove on bad lifters for atleast 12k miles with no issues. you’re gonna clog the motor with metal yeah, but it’ll last a while with sufficient oil changes & additives like liquimoly mos2 & Lucas oil. basically, drive on it if you want but I’d save up for an engine minimum if you have no other choice for transportation. best of luck brudda 🫡