3.6 Sounds like a diesel?!

[Puch]

I have 2020 3.6 with about 18500 on it. In the last couple months it has started to sound more and more like a diesel. And it developed a ticking sound similar to an exhaust leak. It’s gotten so bad that strangers actually ask me if it’s a diesel. No engine light or power issues.
It’s at the dealership now and they are claiming that it sounds normal.
I read a couple posts about “rattling engines” and “ ticking”. but was wondering if anyone has had experience with it getting louder with age? Was it resolved and how. Did you decide to live with it and what’s the status now.

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[Rusty PW]

I bet your cams have gone bad. Common problem.

 

[Lunentucker]

Under warranty unless you put 37's on it (joke). Make the call. Ask them to diagnose it, then order parts, then let you keep using it until the parts are in. Otherwise you may go months with no Gladiator.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What Russ said - not unusual for a 2020..... not necessarily common, but enough so that when it shows up on the internet, it's pretty sure bet that's what it is. (I've asked two dealerships about the cams in these, neither have seen the issue)

However, if you keep driving it, you risk more damage and by the time the parts come in, you may well need MORE parts - or worse.
Drive at your own risk. It won't get better and with shavings and metal floating around, it's gonna get worse with followers hammering on an already damaged cam.
You aren't doing it any favors and IMO, risk the future of the engine. If it gets bad enough, small particles can get into places you won't want them to be.
Put it this way, I've seen enough bad cams over 5 decades that if it was mine, it would be parked. The followers are hammering on the cam and the valve stems and lash adjusters.

 

[Puch]

Update: picked it up from the dealer. They said it “might be a lifter or rocker arm”. They ordered parts for the right bank. Guess I’ll wait and see where this goes.
Thanks to those that offered advice. I’ll keep this updated if anyone is interested.

 

[Idlethunder]

I have 2020 3.6 with about 18500 on it. In the last couple months it has started to sound more and more like a diesel. And it developed a ticking sound similar to an exhaust leak. It’s gotten so bad that strangers actually ask me if it’s a diesel. No engine light or power issues.
It’s at the dealership now and they are claiming that it sounds normal.
I read a couple posts about “rattling engines” and “ ticking”. but was wondering if anyone has had experience with it getting louder with age? Was it resolved and how. Did you decide to live with it and what’s the status now.

My 2022 rolled over 9,000 miles the first of the week and has gotten to the point of sounding rough. I picked it up the first or second week of March and by July the check light started coming on for misfires. It has been at the dealership a few times for them to read the codes, but they have not actually tried a repair yet. Starting about two months ago it started idling rougher and it now sounds dang close to a diesel. I am living with it until either the Stellantis engineers come up with something or I just can’t take it anymore.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Update: picked it up from the dealer. They said it “might be a lifter or rocker arm”. They ordered parts for the right bank. Guess I’ll wait and see where this goes.
Thanks to those that offered advice. I’ll keep this updated if anyone is interested.

Would be interested in seeing what all they replace - and if it has the correct lash adjusters (most still call them lifters out of habit, i guess).
There's some question as to whether or not some 2020s got let loose with the wrong lash adjusters in the intake spots. Often when these let loose, it's not 1 but more than one cylinder impacted and it's been the right bank, the odd numbered bank, each time.
And when they do the work, if I recall there's to be a PCM update as well.

 

[Puch]

My 2022 rolled over 9,000 miles the first of the week and has gotten to the point of sounding rough. I picked it up the first or second week of March and by July the check light started coming on for misfires. It has been at the dealership a few times for them to read the codes, but they have not actually tried a repair yet. Starting about two months ago it started idling rougher and it now sounds dang close to a diesel. I am living with it until either the Stellantis engineers come up with something or I just can’t take it anymore.
That’s a bummer. I haven’t had any engine light….yet, but I know how annoying it is. I don’t mean to offend the diesel owners, but man I hate the sound!

 

[IRQ]

I just had the passenger side rockers and cam replaced at 11,000 miles… seems it’s becoming fairly common.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Are there replacement parts (or did Jeep revise the oem parts) already that are known to reduce the risk (reinforrced/better hardened or something like that)?

@DAVECS1 @DAVECS2
@ShadowsPapa
@Rusty PW

 

[Puch]

Are there replacement parts (or did Jeep already revise the oem parts) already that are known to reduce the risk (reinforrced/better hardened or something like that)?

Good question?

 

[Puch]

Update: picked it up from the dealer. They said it “might be a lifter or rocker arm”. They ordered parts for the right bank. Guess I’ll wait and see where this goes.
Thanks to those that offered advice. I’ll keep this updated if anyone is interested.

Update #2: So, as I mentioned, the first dealer said it’s a right bank issue. That’s after 3 technicians and the service advisor looked it over and I had to explain the problem and sound a couple times.
Keep in mind I asked my wife (knows nothing about cars) to tell me if she could her anything unusual. She immediately picked the ticking sound on the left side.
After thinking about it, I decided to go to the dealership where I purchased the JT. It’s about an hour from me.
I explained the same symptoms to them and even told them that it REALLY REALLY sounds like an exhaust leak on the left side. Next day they called me and said they accidentally let it warm up and didn’t hear anything so they want to keep it another day and check it cold. I explained it has the tick warm or cold clear as day.
They called the next day and said it was fixed come pick it up. It was supposedly fixed with a flash per a TSB for misfiring with codes bla bla bla???
My scanner never picked up any codes! I was also told they would have to replace the cam if it happens again. I started it up and immediately heard the tick. Asked the tech to come out and listen to it.
After awhile I said “I might be old school, but it sounds like an exhaust leak”. He agreed and I left the Jeep there. More to come……
I also wanted to say that I’m not trying to bash the techs. I understand they have to follow the steps per Slantis…….Stalinist……..Jeep, but holy crap! Why is this so difficult??

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Are there replacement parts (or did Jeep revise the oem parts) already that are known to reduce the risk (reinforrced/better hardened or something like that)?

@DAVECS1 @DAVECS2
@ShadowsPapa
@Rusty PW

There must be some change - a PCM update is required when the right bank cam is replaced.
The fact that we aren't seeing this in the later 21 and any 22 model year JTs is a positive sign.......

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

I wish my 3.0 sounded like a diesel.

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