2021 Gladiator Eating Cams

[Ford302boss]

I have a 2021 Jeep Gladiator High Altitude that I just picked up from service where the left intake cam was replaced to address a misfiring issue (currently have ~55,000 miles on it). Previously, at ~35,000 miles, the intake cams on both banks were replaced on the engine to fix misfiring. At this point, it seems clear to me that there is a different issue causing premature camshaft wear.

Before the first intake camshaft set replacement, I typically would go 7000-7500 between oil and filter changes with full synthetic. After the first incident, I switched to closer to 5000 mile change intervals.

I tried to work with the dealership and @JeepCares , but both are telling me that since the camshaft/rocker replacement fixed the misfiring issue, there is nothing more they are willing to do under warranty. My OEM warranty runs out in ~4500 miles, the dealership recommends an extended warranty that is between $3600 and $5500, depending on how many months/mileage, for just mechanical components.

Has any one found a good fix to prevent camshaft/rocker failure or had any luck working with Jeep for a long term fix? I can't be replacing camshafts every ~20,000 miles.

Thanks!

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[Stan H]

I have a 2021 Jeep Gladiator High Altitude that I just picked up from service where the left intake cam was replaced to address a misfiring issue (currently have ~55,000 miles on it). Previously, at ~35,000 miles, the intake cams on both banks were replaced on the engine to fix misfiring. At this point, it seems clear to me that there is a different issue causing premature camshaft wear.

Before the first intake camshaft set replacement, I typically would go 7000-7500 between oil and filter changes with full synthetic. After the first incident, I switched to closer to 5000 mile change intervals.

I tried to work with the dealership and @JeepCares , but both are telling me that since the camshaft/rocker replacement fixed the misfiring issue, there is nothing more they are willing to do under warranty. My OEM warranty runs out in ~4500 miles, the dealership recommends an extended warranty that is between $3600 and $5500, depending on how many months/mileage, for just mechanical components.

Has any one found a good fix to prevent camshaft/rocker failure or had any luck working with Jeep for a long term fix? I can't be replacing camshafts every ~20,000 miles.

Thanks!

My 21' Rubicon JT has 105668 miles , what I have done is use Amsoil 0W-20 signature series oil when the oil minder gets to around 50-55% I change the filter when it gets to around 10% I change oil and filter. I have been doing this religiously and have had zero issue other than a camshaft sensor a month or so ago. Which I replaced in 5min. On passengers side bank. Not one single time have I ever used the same filter through the entire oil minder lifespan .

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Did they replace ALL of the rockers with the cams? Is it destroying the same lobes as before?

 

[Beat Army]

I can commiserate. My 21 had the passenger intake cam and all the associated rockers replaced at 29k. Due to a misfire issue. Now at 33. I still have 2 years and 27k on the powertrain warranty so I’m just gonna drive mine and take it when the check engine light comes in again. I have heard people recommend heavier oil (5-30) but I am not going to do that until it’s out of warranty. I will probably up my frequency of oil changes like you did. When I get to 60k I will probably buy an extended warranty…in the meantime I’ll keep an eye on the used market and look for an opportunity to dump this thing for something more reliable.

 

[swtrailboss]

Definitely change your oil out between 4-5K miles( regardless what a maintenance minder says your percentage is) . Not claiming by any means this will prevent a failure of a camshaft on a certain lot of shafts that the heat treatment process wasn’t performed properly? BUT as far as everyday engine I still replace my oil and filter AT LEAST every 4-5K miles. I Dont use any “special oil “ as long as it is changed out more frequently than specified by the maintenance minder.

 

[Firebird]

Are these cam failures primarily in specific model years?

 

[yoda13]

I have a 21, and mine defintely has developed the tick. I am not sure why this continues to happen. You would think that after 12 years of Pentastar motors, they would have addressed this. I think it must be a design flaw, or a manufacturing defect that only impacts engines on a certain line or something. I am uncertain if they are made at more than one plant, or not.

 

[JTGuy]

I now have 21K on mine without a problem. I'll change oil and filter every 4K and see what happens. I do have the extended 7 year warranty but with my mods it could be gone. If I have any problems the Jeep and I will part ways.

 

[willys 41]

You don't see cam and rocker failure on the Maserati 3.0 gas witch uses the same valve train.
Maserati run European 5w40 and run 195 to 200 degrees coolant temps.
I am now using European 5w40 and the RPM extreme JL fan controller keeping my temps under 200 degrees.
I am hopping that I avoid the dreaded cam issues.

 

[yoda13]

You don't see cam and rocker failure on the Maserati 3.0 gas witch uses the same valve train.
Maserati run European 5w40 and run 195 to 200 degrees coolant temps.
I am now using European 5w40 and the RPM extreme JL fan controller keeping my temps under 200 degrees.
I am hopping that I avoid the dreaded cam issues.

I have also heard that this same engine is sold in other markets and they recommend 5w-30, but I have not been able to find written confirmation.

 

[willys 41]

I have also heard that this same engine is sold in other markets and they recommend 5w-30, but I have not been able to find written confirmation.

What I found on the oil was.
5w30 and lower can use up to 800ppm ZDDP anti wear additive.
5w40 can use up to 1200ppm ZDDP.

 

[MikeInMo]

I just had this issue early in the summer on my 21. It took a while to figure out because it would only misfire under heavy load. It turns out the lifter on #1 cracked in half and wore the lobe on its cam. It was discovered just past 60,000mi, and I have been trying to work with @JeepCares on it since the issue.

 

[Nitroexpress]

I’m at 85k miles and started getting a check engine warning for a P0301 cylinder 1 mis-fire. Took it in under the Mopar extended warranty and the dealer is saying it needs a new intake cam on the right bank.
I’m not sure if it’s a lubrication issue that causes it. I typically change mine at around 10-15% oil life remaining and used oil analysis indicates my oil change frequency is satisfactory. Not sure what more can be done.

 

[hjdca]

fyi, I had some problems with my Passenger side head intake cam and I learned a lot about these engines. On the intake cam only, At low lift, there are rollers that ride on two thin cam lobes. At high lift there is one thick cam lobe that rides on the "flat tappet" part of the rocker which is pumped up by oil pressure. There is no "roller rocker" at high lift. The Exhaust cam only has one lift, and it is all on rollers. I had no problem with my exhaust cam. Here is a great video that shows how the intake cam works with low lift and high lift. Watch the dark colored metal in the middle of the rocker - this is where you can see it pump up at high lift and de-pump at low lift and leave the work to the two rollers on the side of the rocker. Watch the first 18 seconds of this video.



There are a few things that can happen to the cams of the head:

1. The wide cam lobe for high lift that is not a roller can wear down the lobe. This happened in my truck. I believe this is mostly a 2020 Gladiator issue on the intake cam on the passenger side. I have not heard of the issue on later gladiators... I am adding pictures of my worn cam below.

2. The bearings in the rollers of the rockers wear out - intake or exhaust - ... This puts slop in the system - if intake cam, it gives you clicking at low rpm ; if on the exhaust cam, you get clicking at all rpm. The exhaust cam rockers have needle bearings in the rollers which was an issue on some JKs, but, not on our Gladiators. All the bearings in the rockers on my passenger side head for both cams were fine. I did not have this problem with my 2020 Gladiator with 68K miles. I actually had no clicking above the normal engine noise.

On my truck, P000A & P0300 meant bank 1 intake cam killed and maybe a dead phaser. All high lift lobes completely destroyed. All rockers destroyed. The OCV looked unclogged. I did not have any abnormal ticking or clicking because, Interestingly, the bearings in the low lift roller part of the rockers were fine. I mean there is no play in the roller part of the intake rockers, nor the roller exhaust rockers. The mating surfaces for the high lift lobes just wore out. The Exhaust cam is fine. I decided to change Bank 1 intake cam, phaser, oil control valve, rockers, & lash adjusters. I also changed the Exhaust cam roller rockers and lash adjusters, but, there was nothing wrong with the ones that were installed. I still do not know what caused this extensive wear. I have changed my oil 18 times, always around 3500 miles, using Pennzoil synthetic 0w20 and Mopar Oil filter... 68K miles.... I bought the JTR Oct. 2019, roughly a 2019 summer build... The truck is running great again. I changed to a different brand of oil and viscosity, but, I really do not think that had anything to do with it... There are thousands and thousands of these motors, and if you have a later Gladiator build, the chances that you have an issue are extremely low.... Here are the sad pictures of my passenger side intake cam and rockers...

One thing I would recommend is to download the JSCAN software and buy a license for your VIN - $30, buy the OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner, buy the security bypass Cable Adaptor Fits for Chrysler 12+8 Programming Cable Connector cable, and you can monitor the live data for misfires and cam misbehavior. Note: you do not need the cable if you already have a Tazer. Here is what my data looked like when I figured out my intake cam was bad.... Misfires all at once, big cam error on the intake cam

 

[Beat Army]

I am starting to think the right answer to this is an 8 year 100k extended warranty on the engine and transmission.

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