CEL & engine knock - and $746 hasn't fixed it

[Nissan]

I had a new engine replaced after 37K miles. And After 5K miles in the new engine,
the knocking started. After an inspection, they decided that the camshaft needed to be replaced
In my opinion, the quality of the materials has dropped considerably, and we, the customers, continue to pay dearly for the quality of cheap materials.

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[jellis4148]

My guess is a bad lifter. That's pretty common with the 3.6. Don't know why, but it is. It will create a slight knock. If it's the lifter it's wearing on the cam lobe, and will cost you more money to fix the more you drive it. Hope I'm wrong, and it's nothing major, but I'm going to bet I'm pretty close. Could be a lifter

 

[Ellbee410]

Hopefully, this is the last update. Picked up my Jeep yesterday and happily paid the $1,688 bill after it spent 25 days at the shop thanks to waiting on parts. Owner said the rocker arms, which were the last parts to arrive, doubled in price during that time...3 rocker arms were $321. It runs fine, no leaks, no CEL and everything that worked when I dropped it off is still working so I'm cautiously optimistic.

Since my plan is to keep it, I'm considering installing a Pentastar Cartridge to Spin-On Oil filter adapter after I do some more research and will do an oil change in a couple thousand miles then get on the 5K schedule.

Thanks to all who offered their thoughts and suggestions

 

[Ellbee410]

What a difference a couple of months makes. After the repairs were completed everything was good, until it wasn't.

In early April I started hearing another tick. Took it back to the local shop that did the repairs and they found that the new tick is from the driver side so they tore it apart and found the same damage as was found back in January on the passenger side. So, they also tore open the passenger side and their repairs from just over 2 months ago are trashed too.

They contacted Jeep Tech Support and Jeep said it sounds like a "blockage" somewhere in the lubrication system is not allowing oil to the upper half of the engine. Their recommendation? A new engine...which is on 3 month back order. Since the vehicle has 80K miles, I have told the shop to fix it and I will trade it in as-is.

ONLY bright spot is that the $1,688 repairs that were done in January are still covered under the NAPA warranty so there will be no charge for the passenger side work, but parts to do the total repair are on national back order so it's looking like a 6 week wait. Swell.

Based on my experience, I'm not a big fan of the 3.6 at this point. I know, I know, it's a very reliable engine - until it ain't.

More details are here https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/3-6-near-death-now-what-do-i-do.111634/

 

[mwilk012]

What a difference a couple of months makes. After the repairs were completed everything was good, until it wasn't.

In early April I started hearing another tick. Took it back to the local shop that did the repairs and they found that the new tick is from the driver side so they tore it apart and found the same damage as was found back in January on the passenger side. So, they also tore open the passenger side and their repairs from just over 2 months ago are trashed too.

They contacted Jeep Tech Support and Jeep said it sounds like a "blockage" somewhere in the lubrication system is not allowing oil to the upper half of the engine. Their recommendation? A new engine...which is on 3 month back order. Since the vehicle has 80K miles, I have told the shop to fix it and I will trade it in as-is.

ONLY bright spot is that the $1,688 repairs that were done in January are still covered under the NAPA warranty so there will be no charge for the passenger side work, but parts to do the total repair are on national back order so it's looking like a 6 week wait. Swell.

Based on my experience, I'm not a big fan of the 3.6 at this point. I know, I know, it's a very reliable engine - until it ain't.

More details are here https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/3-6-near-death-now-what-do-i-do.111634/

That’s a very reasonable price for the repair, sorry you’ve had such bad luck with this one. The 3.6 is a great engine, but yea, it’s got its problems. The new designed intake rockers are terrible.

 

[speedymart]

My guess is a bad lifter. That's pretty common with the 3.6. Don't know why, but it is. It will create a slight knock. If it's the lifter it's wearing on the cam lobe, and will cost you more money to fix the more you drive it. Hope I'm wrong, and it's nothing major, but I'm going to bet I'm pretty close. Could be a lifter

The oil is simply too thin for the engine. It was originally designed for 5w-30, and was then reduced to 5w-20 and eventually 0w-20 with the upgrade.

Let me tell you, when hot 0w-20 drains like straight water. The roller bearings inside the rockers break down and fail, causing the rocker to slowly eat up the cam shaft. Wait too long and your 50$ is parts turns into 800$

 

[CenTX JPR]

The oil is simply too thin for the engine. It was originally designed for 5w-30, and was then reduced to 5w-20 and eventually 0w-20 with the upgrade.

Let me tell you, when hot 0w-20 drains like straight water. The roller bearings inside the rockers break down and fail, causing the rocker to slowly eat up the cam shaft. Wait too long and your 50$ is parts turns into 800$

@mwilk012, do you agree?

Is it OK to run 5w-30 in the 3.6, and would that help prevent the rocker disaster? I hate that every time I fire it up I have to have my ear tuned toward engine ticking noises.

 

[mwilk012]

@mwilk012, do you agree?

Is it OK to run 5w-30 in the 3.6, and would that help prevent the rocker disaster? I hate that every time I fire it up I have to have my ear tuned toward engine ticking noises.

It’s not something I have the specific knowledge on nor would I be comfortable recommending it regardless.

Although. It’s quite similar to the situation with the gear oil specified by Jeep for our differentials. 75w-90 or 75w-85, whatever it is instead of 75w-140 which is what is spec’d by the manufacturer.

of course, with each change in viscosity specification of the engine, significant internal engine parts were redesigned. I don’t believe there is any oil in the world that can keep these roller bearings from failing.

 

[Ellbee410]

An update. After the vehicle was examined by the local NAPA shop, I contacted Jeep Cares and opened a case back in mid-April...figured it wouldn't hurt. They said the vehicle had to be evaluated by a Jeep dealer so I had it towed there. Their tech evaluated it and told the service advisor that they could not find any oil passage blockages and that the local NAPA shop had not put it back together correctly back in January - I find that unlikely; the NAPA shop is well rated and knowledgeable - and for double what I originally paid NAPA, they would be happy to do the repair.

Since that was the dealer's diagnosis, Jeep Cares said I was not eligible for any financial assistance or rental reimbursement. No surprise. Tomorrow, it will be towed from Jeep back to NAPA and they will complete the repairs, half of which will be under their warranty. At this point, I have more confidence in the NAPA shop than the Jeep dealer.

As a side note, I have called 2 local Jeep dealers about placing an order for a 2023 Wrangler and can't get anyone to call me back. I guess a sale isn't that important to anyone...strange.

 

[1BadManVan]

An update. After the vehicle was examined by the local NAPA shop, I contacted Jeep Cares and opened a case back in mid-April...figured it wouldn't hurt. They said the vehicle had to be evaluated by a Jeep dealer so I had it towed there. Their tech evaluated it and told the service advisor that they could not find any oil passage blockages and that the local NAPA shop had not put it back together correctly back in January - I find that unlikely; the NAPA shop is well rated and knowledgeable - and for double what I originally paid NAPA, they would be happy to do the repair.

Since that was the dealer's diagnosis, Jeep Cares said I was not eligible for any financial assistance or rental reimbursement. No surprise. Tomorrow, it will be towed from Jeep back to NAPA and they will complete the repairs, half of which will be under their warranty. At this point, I have more confidence in the NAPA shop than the Jeep dealer.

As a side note, I have called 2 local Jeep dealers about placing an order for a 2023 Wrangler and can't get anyone to call me back. I guess a sale isn't that important to anyone...strange.

im surprised you want too buy another one considering the poor experience you've had so far! Sorry you've had such bad luck, there is definitely something wrong with that engine if yours. Ive owned the 3.6 pentastar now for over 10 years between 2 different vehicles and we continue to have great luck with this engine. Unfortunately, there will always be some bad eggs in the mix so sour it for others.

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