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2019 3.6 engine noise?

39K views 106 replies 21 participants last post by  STINGRAY 
#1 ·
Since new and now with 3,000 miles my 2019 3.6 Challenger has been making a strange noise that in my opinion sounds like noisy lifters or maybe an exhaust leak? Car is completely quiet at idle. Only time I can hear the noise is when driving slowly and slightly pressing the gas putting a light load on the engine. Noise is worse when cold but never completely goes away. My 2015 SXT never had this issue . I haven't yet been at the dealer but suspect they will tell me that it is normal. I switched to synthetic but that didn't help. Has anyone else had this issue? Thanks
 
#3 ·
I recently thought I heard the same type of thing in my 2018 GT - when somewhat cold and under moderate throttle at low speed (25-45mph). To me, it sounded like a slight exhaust leak, but I thought it was probably just normal when cold. Really haven't tried to hear if it was there all of the time or what. I'll try to pay more attention...
 
#5 ·
Maybe.... I'm at about 5k miles on mine. When I heard mine, it was from underneath the car (not from the engine bay), which is why I say that it is most likely exhaust-related. May just be the way they sound when cold... It's warming up here (PA), but I'll make a point to listen for it more closely.
 
#6 ·
I listened for it again this morning and if I mute the radio and listen for it under moderate throttle, I can here it when cold, but not after the car warms up. To me, it sounds like an exhaust "tick", but it's hard to say. Personally, I'm not going to worry about it. I'll see how it behaves over the summer and after my first oil change (but I suspect it won't change since i think it's exhaust related).

Does it makes sense that an exhaust "noise" would only be audible when the car is cold?
 
#7 · (Edited)
Does it makes sense that an exhaust "noise" would only be audible when the car is cold?
Sure, as the metal gets hot it starts to expand.

The 3.6 has an exhaust manifold that is integrated with the head but there is still a gasket which is where I would start. Maybe try some soapy water to see if you can see where it is leaking on start-up when the system is cold.
 

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#8 ·
I'm just going to add it to the list of minor "issues" for the dealer to look at. Honestly, I'm really not concerned about it - just reporting what I've experienced. If it's a real issue, I'm sure it'll get worse long before my warranty is up (have 7 year/100k mile powertrain warranty since it's a "certified pre-owned" car). It might even just "go away" on it's own after some miles - maybe the carbon will "plug" the leak over time. :)
 
#10 ·
Could be just aerated lifters, this can happen on new 3.6Ls just from sitting on dealer lots for a while. It takes a bit to to prime them with oil again.

Diagnosis steps states: Run the engine between 2000 and 3000 RPM for three to five minutes. Return the engine to standard idle speed for 30 to 60 seconds. Evaluate noise. If noise is present, repeat the process an additional 4 cycles. If noise is present after additional cycles, take the vehicle on a typical drive cycle.

I say start with that. Also, don't bother looking at 2018+ Jeep forums for an answer. JL Wranglers have the 3.6L Pentastar upgrade, which is a very different engine from the classic 3.6 in the Challenger. They share just a few minor parts like some bolts, oil filter, maybe some gaskets. Any pattern failures or defects on one likely won't apply to the other.
 
#11 ·
The noise talked about on that forum is not what I've experienced. Mine is not a "rattle" sound - it's just a very minor tick-like sound that "goes with the exhaust". I'm 99% sure it's just a minor exhaust noise when cold. Not even sure it's a "leak" - just a different sound when cold. Definitely not a misfire or engine knock.
 
#29 ·
Hello 750-h2,

We'll keep our eyes peeled for your updates. While in service, if an additional layer of assistance is needed, don't hesitate to connect with us.

Jasmine
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#14 ·
I have a 2018 SXT, and I believe we have the same issue. I took it to the dodge dealership after 3k miles and they told me its normal. Im not sure if they said it was an electric solenoid or something of the sort... I was pretty upset but unfortunately there is nothing I could do about it... Sorry I'm not a professional to remember exactly what they said.
 
#16 ·
I listened for the noise this morning, which was significantly warmer than previous mornings when I did hear the noise - and there was no noise at all this morning. So ambient temperature definitely plays a part.

This morning it was about 55F degrees. Previously, when I could hear it (only if I muted the radio and listened for it), it was below 40F degrees.

I'm not concerned and will just consider it "normal", unless it gets much worse or something.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Well I know for sure the noise in my 2019 is not normal. Reason being my 2011 Charger and 2015 Challenger both with the 3.6 did not make this noise. With the radio turned off , you can usually hear it upon moderate acceleration. Sounds like exhaust leak or lifter noise, definitely coming from engine. Next tank of gas I will try 93 octane just to rule our detonation.
 
#92 ·
Well I know for sure the noise in my 2019 is not normal. Reason being my 2011 Charger and 2015 Challenger both with the 3.6 did not make this noise. With the radio turned off , you can usually hear it upon moderate acceleration. Sounds like exhaust leak or lifter noise, definitely coming from engine. Next tank of gas I will 9try 93 octane just to rule our detonation.
I'm hearing the same noise but also hear a clunking noise when I place it in reverse. Some what like a bad U-joint.
 
#18 ·
For what it's worth, I always use 93 octane in my 2018 GT and I still heard the noise when colder out, so I truly don't believe it's anything to do with knock.

I'm also not really sure that we're even talking about the same thing yet either..

See if you can get a recording of it and I'll do the same (if temperature dips down far enough again). What is the temperature like where you are at when it happens? Even when the car was cold, I couldn't here it all at this morning when it was ~55F out...
 
#20 ·
Found this information for you.


The Pentastar 3.6L engine in Dodge vehicles has had two common faults since its introduction in 2011, the first being that advanced exhaust cam phasing can trigger an engine warning light; this has no negative performance effects. The second, more serious, issue is overheating and failure of engine heads.
The cylinder head problem in the Chrysler Pentastar 3.6L engine affects the left bank containing cylinder number two. Symptoms first appear as a ticking sound coming from that cylinder, followed by misfire conditions, loss of power and possible stalling. The design flaw is reportedly fixed in models manufactured from 2012 but it is believed that 7,500 earlier vehicles may be susceptible to left cylinder head cracks. Chrysler has extended the five year/100,000 mile warranty to ten years or 150,000 miles on the left cylinder head of vehicles prone to the failure. Warranty bulletin D-14-12 of June 10, 2014, is available from dealers and contains details of which vehicles are covered.
The 3.6L V6 is the first of the Pentastar family of motors. It comes as the standard engine in the: Dodge Challenger and Charger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Ram Promaster and 1500, and Chrysler 300. The Pentastar is optional on both the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200.
 
#21 ·
Im going to my local Dodge dealership Thursday, I will mention this issue to them again and see what they say. The ticking noise that I get is based on throttle response, with moderate throttle is when its most prevalent. I will let everyone know exactly what they say.
 
#22 ·
From 2011 to probably 2015 the V6 Pentastar roller rocker arm bearings where the cause of the ticking. You could have one going bad. There are YouTube videos on this if you want to do a search on YouTube. It doesn't look like that hard a job to replace the roller rocker arms if your mechanically inclined and have the proper tools and torque wrench and toque specs and torque pattern. Hopefully yours is warranty and you can let Dodge deal with it.
Keep us posted please.
 
#23 ·
He has a 2019 though (and I have a 2018). Doesn't sound like these issues apply to these newer model years, right (if I understand what you posted correctly)?

If you can hear the tick, I would think that a cellphone regarding would pick it up. I guess it all depeneds on the quality of the phone too though. I'll try to get a recoding of mine, but not so sure it will get cold enough to even hear it again (I don't hear it on mine at all in warmer ambient temperatures or when engine is up to temperature in colder ambient temperatures).
 
#25 ·
I just took my "gear head" son for a ride and he heard the ticking noise right away. It seems like we can make the noise occur anytime we want by putting a light load on the engine at about 1500 to 1700 rpm. The slower you do this the more obvious the ticking is as there is less road noise. When you take the load off the engine the noise goes away. My son tried to replicate the ticking noise when the car was stopped by putting it in drive and brake torquing it the 1500 to 1700 rpm but the engine remained perfectly quiet? For some reason the car has to be rolling to do it? Maybe the ticking sound which really sounds like lifter or exhaust leak is caused by the AWD transaxle and not the engine?
 
#26 ·
Based on that description, I'm 90% sure that we're talking about differernt things then, becuase I never hear the tick noise at that low RPM - even when cold. I have to use moderate throttle and get RPM's up over 3k or so to hear it at all - and even then, only under a very specific set of circumstances (ambient and engine temperature).

Although, I almost ALWAYS have the radio on, so I guess it's possible that it happens in other situations and I just haven't specifically listened for it.

Do you ever hear it with the radio on? Or is it only audible if the radio is completely muted? Just trying to get an idea of how loud it is.

Also, there is a 2018 SXT owner above that hears it as well, so it doesn't seem to be AWD-specific (if he's talking about the same thing).

Part of the problem here is that none of us are really sure if we're talking about the same "issue" or not...
 
#28 ·
The ticking is not loud, my wife says she cannot even hear it, however on occasion while driving slowly in a subdivision when slightly accelerating I did hear the ticking even with the radio on. Hopefully it will warm up soon so I can test it in 2 wheel drive.
 
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