'Any Recommendations on Lawyers in Michigan?:' Dodge Driver Says Dealership Added Murphy's to His Oil to Cover Their Tracks

"Changed the oil and this is what it sounds like."

Dodge driver says dealership added Murphy's to his oil. He says they did it to cover their tracks

Photo by: frostyvett & Martin Katler

Mustafa Gatollari

By: Mustafa Gatollari

Sep 7, 2025 at 5:00pm ET

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A Dodge owner believes a dealership used a well-known product to hide an engine tick that revealed itself only a day after purchasing the ride.

Rabbit Rabish (@frostyvett) posted a clip detailing his woes. His TikTok begins with a recording of him starting up a Dodge while seated inside the vehicle. After the engine turns, a clicking noise can be heard emanating from the front of the car.

The sound gets louder as he gets out of the vehicle and walks around the open hood.

Rabish writes in a text overlay of the clip, “Please help me destroy the dealership that added Murphy’s to the oil to hide the massive lifter tick.” In the caption, he indicates he’s considering taking legal action against the dealership that sold him the car.

“Any recommendations on lawyers in Michigan?” he writes. “Bought and the next day this started. Changed the oil and this is what it sounds like.”

Murphy USA Engine Products

The “Murphy’s” remark is a reference to a line of fuel products manufactured by Murphy USA. He’s suggesting that the dealership topped the car off with a Murphy’s product in order to temporarily mask the ticking engine sound.

Some drivers in a Quora discussion forum discussed this short-lived method of reducing grating engine noises. One person said that if oil levels in an engine are low, adding more can provide sufficient and necessary lubrication to a vehicle. Consequently, any clicking or ticking that reverberates from the engine bay will subside, they said. Another user in the same online discussion opined about the well-known dangers of running engines with low oil levels.

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What’s Wrong With the Dodge

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Many who replied to Rabish’s video offered assessments, which ran the gamut of severity. One person recommended that he should “change the rocker arm before it chops the cam.” They’re referring to the harm an improperly functioning, damaged, or over-worn rocker arm can have on engine camshafts. Bad rocker arms will usually result in a ticking or clicking noise, similar to Rabish’s Dodge.

Another person said they had the same exact make and model Dodge as the one shown in the clip. They don’t believe the noise was a “knock or tick” at all, but rather a qualm with the vehicle’s exhaust system. They specifically suggested Rabish assess the car’s manifold or catalytic converters.

A third had a different suggestion. “That’s an exhaust manifold bolt rattling,” they said.

Retired Police Vehicles

A few commenters inquired as to whether or not the car was a retired police patrol vehicle.

One person opined that if this was indeed the case, the issue was more than likely caused by long idle times. They noted that significant engine idle times cause undue stress on a vehicle’s lifters and camshafts.

These same words of caution were echoed by Powertrain Products, which suggested the issue could be related to cam and lifter wear. They proposed that Rabish take a look at the vehicle’s camshaft and lifters to see if they need to be replaced.

Judging by Rabish’s reply, the car’s lifters may in fact be the problem. He wrote, “The lifters decided to go to [a] disco party.”

Someone else also thought the lifters were the root cause, sharing that lifter ticks were a common problem with Dodge vehicles they’ve owned.

“Typical Dodge sound,” they wrote, “I had the 3.5 Pentastar & had that lift tick going on. And every Dodge after that that has come to the dealership has a lifter tick.”

What do you think?

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Another also thought this was the case. “Yup, lifter tick,” they said. “Lifter went out and it’s eating the cam away too. Dodge is notorious for this due to lifters/cam not getting proper lubrication till about 4krpms which doesn’t usually happen till you’re driving. Most mornings when people turn on the car, they’ll let it idle and warm up, leading to this.”

Motor1 has reached out to Dodge via email and Rabish via TikTok comment for further information. We’ll update this post if either responds.