What is causing that loud, annoying metallic ticking noise on cold starts in the 2019+ 6.7L Cummins with hydraulic lifters?

[Intercooler_Ira01]

Ram switched the 6.7L Cummins from solid lifters to maintenance-free hydraulic lifters in 2019, and my 2022 Ram 3500 (22k miles) sounds like a sewing machine on cold mornings. It makes a very distinct metallic 'tick-tick-tick' that speeds up with engine RPM, then quietens down once the oil pressure stabilizes and the engine reaches operating temp.

Is this just a normal characteristic of the new hydraulic valvetrain bled-down overnight, or do I have a collapsed lifter or wiped camshaft lobe? The dealer says 'it's within normal operating spec,' but a $80k heavy-duty diesel shouldn't sound like it's throwing a rod every morning. What oil weight or filter are you guys running to quiet this down?

 

[HeavyHauler_Dave]

While some ticking is normal, keep a very close ear on it. There is a known issue on some 2019-2022 trucks where the hydraulic lifters actually collapse permanently or oil galleys get restricted, which eventually wipes out the camshaft lobes.

Here is how you test it: if that metallic tick-tick-tick stays loud even after you've been driving for 30 minutes and the engine is hot, you have a bad lifter. Since you only have 22k miles, make sure the dealer documents your complaint in writing on the service ticket. That way, if it does eat a camshaft down the road, your 100k-mile powertrain warranty will cover the massive teardown.