Serious Engine issues 2500 miles after Rocker Arms and Camshaft replacement.

[barryf73]

I bought a new 2023 Gladiator Willys in April this year. I'm now just under 19000kms (about 12000 miles). A couple of weeks ago a ticking sound started. It's mostly at higher rpm. When in 2nd gear and going over 2000 rpm it's the loudest. Once I get to 5th gear it's no longer there.
I went to the shop yesterday for a regular oil change and inspection.
They told me it is a common problem with the 3.6 v6 Pentastar engine and they will need to tear down the engine to get to the valves and check and probably do some replacements in that area. I don't know much about motors, so that's about the closest I get to explain.
They scheduled me by the end of the month to get it done and they expect it to take a couple of days work.
For now the advice is to drive relaxed without getting into higher rpm's.
I did some lookup online and would that be the rocker issue that I find in several forums? For what I read that should have been handled in engines since about 2020. So with it being the 2023 model I would be a bit surprised, especially if it is already known for such a long time.

I do have a trip planned in about 1,5 week which will involve some 4wd. Are there any recommendations to make sure I don't make it worse?
I live in BC, Canada and my trip will be in North Washington around the Omak region.

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[mtbjeeper]

Just had my right side cams, followers and lash adjusters replaced at 34,000 miles. 2020 Gladiator. Dealer was great to work with. Their only advice while I waited to get the work done was don't do anything crazy with it like drag race. I held off on a wheeling trip because of this as, at this particular location, I tend to get up in the revs on certain obstacles or mud holes and I didn't want to make a bad situation worse. If your trip is more on the fire road side I would think you'd be fine to carry on.

Of interesting note, regarding the cams, I read somewhere (might have been here) that the right side cams turn further without fresh oil as opposed to the left side. This oil delivery "flaw" was hypothesized as the reason the right side follower bearings prematurely fail, eating the cam lobes in the process, while the left side tends to survive the life of the engine.

This whole discussion I find very interesting, expensive and also a bit of a black art. My understanding of a DOHC valvetrain is rudimentary at best but I'm constantly trying to educate myself. Nonetheless, there is a deeper level discussion out there regarding these failures. This discussion centers around high-lift / low-lift valve operation and it's effect on cam wear. However the high-lift, low-lift conversation makes my brain hurt and my limited understanding falls to shambles.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

. Their only advice while I waited to get the work done was don't do anything crazy with it like drag race.

A bit of hyperbole, but a good point. If you already have the cam and follower issue it's almost certainly (not 100%, but not far from either) that it's the high lift portion of the system. So, it's not going to blow up if you are driving up an interstate entrance ramp and need to gain speed quickly to merge and go over 3,000 RPM, but avoid sustained speeds in that range and above. Normally it's no big deal to let these make power with the valves at full lift, letting it breathe, but when you already have abnormal wear - it's like flaking paint, it doesn't get better by picking at it.

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