3.6 Engine Tick

[ShadowsPapa]

FYI, we traded our 2020 Launch Edition in a couple weeks ago. Given its issues, I just didn't feel right selling it directly to another person, even though it had some nice mods and was in fantastic condition. I had to go through the same thing... "de-modding". Sold the RSI smart cap, reinstalled the factory bed cover, removed twin ARB, Warn winch, etc. Only stuff I left was the Mopar 2" and the 315/70r17 KO2 that were nearing the end of the line anyway. This was planned since May though, we when ordered a Rubicon X 4XE Wrangler (we have a Rubicon JT diesel that is staying put), which finally came in.

We had some awful clacking, described earlier in this thread, at around 42k miles and the dealership replaced the passenger side cam and associated parts. They didn't change the oil though... so stupid. But, I changed it the next day at home. All was good for about 3000 miles and it started making noises again. Dealer claimed it was "normal" and within specs. Granted, it was nothing like the initial noises. But it was a definite change and you could tell it was progressing.

Honestly, we loved that truck, but it had gremlins for sure. All the hinges were showing sings of the paint issues so many have... but we didn't push to have those addressed since we knew it was going away (and likely before we could get them repaired under warranty). Also had a couple good chips in the windshield, near the borders though... so not obvious at a quick glance.

I'm a hobby detailer on our own vehicles, so they are well cared for body/interior. So I cleaned it up decently inside and out. Dealership didn't even wash it. Marked it CPO, put it on the lot and it sold in about 4 days. LOL. At least the new buyer gets an extended powertrain to 100k miles with the CPO.

Wish you were closer - I'd hire you to detail 4 vehicles (the 4th can only be made good to a point since the idiot previous owner "professional body man" didn't know as much as I do about body work and that's a huge insult to him) 2 Jeeps need detailing and my wife will make sure that purple one has not even a sign of a finger print when done.

Too bad about the 2020s - those seem to be the ones with cam issues. I don't know what's up because some of the instances are repeat noises - telling me that the issue wasn't 100% cam shaft - otherwise replacement shafts would be lasting just like those in the 21 and later are lasting. Something's afoot......

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[WK2JT]

So my engine tick over the past week or two has definitely changed. It has gotten louder and changed in pitch. Other than the sound, what are the other telltale signs that it is in fact a cam issue... CEL, loss of power, oil analysis, etc? Also, at what point will a dealership likely address it? I'm concerned if I take it in now, I'll just be told it's a normal sound.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So my engine tick over the past week or two has definitely changed. It has gotten louder and changed in pitch. Other than the sound, what are the other telltale signs that it is in fact a cam issue... CEL, loss of power, oil analysis, etc? Also, at what point will a dealership likely address it? I'm concerned if I take it in now, I'll just be told it's a normal sound.

Oil analysis.
That's the easy way.
Otherwise, pull valve covers and look visually at the cams (almost always intake cam if it's a cam at all)
What year if your JT? There's a TSB out for ticking sounds that indicates to the dealership shop to replace lash adjusters. But it's for specific years as I recall.

 

[Lunentucker]

So my engine tick over the past week or two has definitely changed. It has gotten louder and changed in pitch. Other than the sound, what are the other telltale signs that it is in fact a cam issue... CEL, loss of power, oil analysis, etc? Also, at what point will a dealership likely address it? I'm concerned if I take it in now, I'll just be told it's a normal sound.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Yup. Cam damage would be evident in an analysis.
I need a few more miles on mine then I'll send a sample in to see how it's doing after towing. See how they say it is compared to the oil life gauge just for kicks. Heck, it's cheap, it's easy.

The kits are free and well done. Send in a sample and they'll send you two more sample kits.
I pull oil up through the dipstick tube since I usually want a sample before I change just to check myself to see if my thinking aligns with science.

 

[Lunentucker]

Yup. Cam damage would be evident in an analysis.
I need a few more miles on mine then I'll send a sample in to see how it's doing after towing. See how they say it is compared to the oil life gauge just for kicks. Heck, it's cheap, it's easy.

The kits are free and well done. Send in a sample and they'll send you two more sample kits.
I pull oil up through the dipstick tube since I usually want a sample before I change just to check myself to see if my thinking aligns with science.

You ever hold a magnet near the draining oil to see if it bends the stream?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You ever hold a magnet near the draining oil to see if it bends the stream?

No. But I've got a couple of magnets that would be good candidates for that. Once they stick to something, they don't let go (old big computer drive magnets)
If it bends the stream, time to go to the bank and get a loan............

 

[WK2JT]

2020… so the very suspect year. Just mailed off my sample to Blackstone earlier today. I don’t have a baseline for this engine, but suspect I won’t need it as the numbers would likely be very skewed if it is eating the cams

 

[Lunentucker]

2020… so the very suspect year. Just mailed off my sample to Blackstone earlier today. I don’t have a baseline for this engine, but suspect I won’t need it as the numbers would likely be very skewed if it is eating the cams

Yes, and they'll compare to others already in their database. They have a baseline.

 

[Minty JL]

Don't confuse a valvetrain tick with the injectors

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, and they'll compare to others already in their database. They have a baseline.

Yeah, it's nice to compare to your own vehicle history, but if it's off for that engine by a certain amount, they'll see it.

They'll have these universal averages -

2020 is the worst year (based on my observations) for cams.

Don't confuse a valvetrain tick with the injectors

Yeah, but you normally hear them in a nice rhythmic sequence without one standing out over the others.
I can't really say mine "tick" any more than the valve train on any normally sounding engine. My injectors are pretty quiet compared to other sounds and they are all quite even.

 

[Minty JL]

Yeah, it's nice to compare to your own vehicle history, but if it's off for that engine by a certain amount, they'll see it.

They'll have these universal averages -

2020 is the worst year (based on my observations) for cams.


Yeah, but you normally hear them in a nice rhythmic sequence without one standing out over the others.
I can't really say mine "tick" any more than the valve train on any normally sounding engine. My injectors are pretty quiet compared to other sounds and they are all quite even.

Lets be honest Bill, the average Jeeper does not know the difference

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Lets be honest Bill, the average Jeeper does not know the difference

Why do people keep bringing logic, fact and honesty into things? Just really messes the world up.
Just kidding of course. ?
Can't help myself.

 

[Minty JL]

Why do people keep bringing logic, fact and honesty into things? Just really messes the world up.
Just kidding of course. ?
Can't help myself.

You can't help yourself because its too easy LOL

 

[WK2JT]

Yeah, it's nice to compare to your own vehicle history, but if it's off for that engine by a certain amount, they'll see it.

They'll have these universal averages -

2020 is the worst year (based on my observations) for cams.


Yeah, but you normally hear them in a nice rhythmic sequence without one standing out over the others.
I can't really say mine "tick" any more than the valve train on any normally sounding engine. My injectors are pretty quiet compared to other sounds and they are all quite even.

Just dropped it off and they were not surprised I mentioned the cams. Service advisor said they have been doing a lot of those lately. I asked about parts due to the strike and he told me they keep a lot of those in a stock.

Yeah, definitely not an injector tick. I’ve heard that since it was new. This sounds like dominos/baseball card in the spokes over 2.5k rpm.

We’ll see soon enough.

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