Emotional Damage - 3.6L Engine Knock/Tick

[scottiea11]

I've just developed a knocking noise and it came in aggressively. I relocated from Texas to Denver, Colorado on a 4 day road trip. Passing through New Mexico I noticed a noise. After settling in and cruising around Denver I noticed something much louder and repetitive. Listen to the videos. Anyone know what might be going on here?

I've been able to replicate the issue by having my gf put it in Drive, engage the parking break, and step on the pedal to hit around 1500RPM. A loud knock results with the hood open but driving around it sounds like metal clanking really loud and fast but will stop once I pass 55mph or below 35mph. At idle and parked I can rev the engine with no knock at all. Also the engine is silent with no ticking noise like most videos I've seen. This Jeep is at around 100k miles now and prior had engine issues.

There are no CELs and no Engine Light but certainly noticed a slight loss in power where in Texas I was able to catchup with traffic on an 85mph highway easily. In Denver It seems to take longer and is in a higher gear at around 4th or 5th before hitting 50mph and slowly accelerates to 65mph.

Out of warranty, so does anyone recommend a dealer around the Denver area or a shop for diagnostics and repairs?

@JeepCares

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[dragoneggs]

Elevation matters. Try 89 instead of 87. Let the computer see if it will adjust.

 

[scottiea11]

Elevation matters. Try 89 instead of 87. Let the computer see if it will adjust.

Actually doing this tomorrow AM I've got about 10 miles left to E. I wanted to make sure I was bone dry before filling with higher octane. Thanks for the tip there. Will respond with result.

 

[Trails]

Keep in mind that at higher elevations, you can use LOWER octane. If you went up in elevation, it is unlikely that higher octane will help the situation. It is probably something else., unfortunately.

 

[dragoneggs]

Keep in mind that at higher elevations, you can use LOWER octane. If you went up in elevation, it is unlikely that higher octane will help the situation. It is probably something else., unfortunately.

Maybe but I would try it before taking it to a dealer especially. I don’t know how long the OP has been driving at elevation.

 

[scottiea11]

Keep in mind that at higher elevations, you can use LOWER octane. If you went up in elevation, it is unlikely that higher octane will help the situation. It is probably something else., unfortunately.

Absolutely, expecting the worst here. After reading a little on the whole 85 octane here it made me think higher wouldn't matter but honestly the cheapest attempt and first attempt.

 

[scottiea11]

Maybe but I would try it before taking it to a dealer especially. I don’t know how long the OP has been driving at elevation.

I've been here exactly eleven days. I gradually started to hear the knock after passing Pueblo, CO and much louder once getting to Denver.

 

[NPC 20883467]

As a general rule, a naturally aspirated combustion engine will lose 3% of its power for every 1,000 ft of elevation gain. If you have 100 horsepower at sea level by the time you get to 5,000 feet of elevation your engine is making 85 horsepower.

The knock, however, is not so easily explained. That sounds pretty grim.

 

[DaltonGang]

Park it, drain the oil, and get an oil analysis sample. Also, see if the oil filter shows signs of metal. Put some fresh oil in, not the 0w-20, and listen to see if the sound goes away.
It doesn't sound good, so I wouldn't drive it until the oil analysis comes back.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I've just developed a knocking noise and it came in aggressively. I relocated from Texas to Denver, Colorado on a 4 day road trip. Passing through New Mexico I noticed a noise. After settling in and cruising around Denver I noticed something much louder and repetitive. Listen to the videos. Anyone know what might be going on here?

I've been able to replicate the issue by having my gf put it in Drive, engage the parking break, and step on the pedal to hit around 1500RPM. A loud knock results with the hood open but driving around it sounds like metal clanking really loud and fast but will stop once I pass 55mph or below 35mph. At idle and parked I can rev the engine with no knock at all. Also the engine is silent with no ticking noise like most videos I've seen. This Jeep is at around 100k miles now and prior had engine issues.

There are no CELs and no Engine Light but certainly noticed a slight loss in power where in Texas I was able to catchup with traffic on an 85mph highway easily. In Denver It seems to take longer and is in a higher gear at around 4th or 5th before hitting 50mph and slowly accelerates to 65mph.

Out of warranty, so does anyone recommend a dealer around the Denver area or a shop for diagnostics and repairs?

@JeepCares

That sounds really bad!

If I was in your shoes, I would drive it to a shop and that's it! Otherwise I wouldn't drive drive it. It sounds like your engine is eating itself!

 

[TyRoosevelt]

It has absolutely nothing to do with the octane level. Take it to faricy boys in north Colorado Springs or Castle Rock Jeep. Both of them have excellent service departments. Their diagnostic fee is around $180 but they will both make sure to accurately diagnose it. Don’t take it to a non Jeep dealer. I have worked with a lot of these smaller shops for years and they may be more capable for suspension work and mods but engine work is a different animal. I would not drive on it.

 

[TheRaven]

Get it to a shop. DO NOT TRY TO "FIX" NOISES WITH HIGHER OCTANE!! Gas doesn't fix problems.

 

[Remorseless]

Yeah... you or someone else needs to look into that valvetrain. Willing to bet there's a cam in there that's dead.

 

[Spank]

It has absolutely nothing to do with the octane level. Take it to faricy boys in north Colorado Springs or Castle Rock Jeep. Both of them have excellent service departments. Their diagnostic fee is around $180 but they will both make sure to accurately diagnose it. Don’t take it to a non Jeep dealer. I have worked with a lot of these smaller shops for years and they may be more capable for suspension work and mods but engine work is a different animal. I would not drive on it.

If he's in the Denver area, he definitely shouldn't be making a trip down to Castle Rock, let alone Colorado Springs.

 

[TyRoosevelt]

If he's in the Denver area, he definitely shouldn't be making a trip down to Castle Rock, let alone Colorado Springs.

Do you live in Colorado? Castle Rock is 20 mins from south Denver. I drive it twice a week. The dealers in Denver are run by Larry H and Autonation. Neither of them have good or reputable service departments. They are also one month minimum out for anything that is not an oil change. I have a buddy who works at the autonation in Englewood.

Faricy has one of the best service departments I have ever been to and their service manager is a great guy which is why I suggested them. They also are taking appointments as soon as this week.

I just put a warranty request in myself.

But way to contribute to the post pal

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