How long does a 3.6 exhast usually last?

Tangent · Apr 2, 2023

I have a 2016 with the 3.6 V6 with 134K and the exhaust smells terrible suddenly, and is louder, like an exhaust leak somewhere. Sounds like a tick under the truck.

The whole garage smells like burning oil a little bit, but not too bad.

I had the oil filter housing replaced last year.

Imma take it to my mechanic in the morning, just wondering if it's a known issue. Thanks.

ibike · Apr 2, 2023

Look in the valley just behind the filter cartridge. The 3.6 is notorious for cracked oil coolers. If it’s cracked and leaking you’ll see a lot of oil in the valley. Also check your oil level before you drive it. It could be low and not safe to drive.

1979PowerWagon360 · Apr 2, 2023

Yeah I would say with the climate in Texas your exhaust would probably last longer than the mileage/model year of yours, so ibike probably nailed your problem.

Tangent · Apr 3, 2023

The oil cooler was fine, so I dropped it off at my mechaninc.

The weird clacking noise doesnt happen until the truck is warmend up. Under the hood, it sounds like its coming from the lower front of the engin, and under the truck, it sounds like the exhaust, so i'm stumped. Not throwing any codes at all.

They cant look at it until later, so I am renting a car for now. I'll let you guys know what the issue is as soon as I know.

Tangent · Apr 3, 2023

crap. Bad rocker arm and lifter. Needs a new engine really when you factor in the cost of fixing everything.

Any additives I can add to quiet it down so I can trade it?

CamperMike · Apr 3, 2023

Tangent said:
crap. Bad rocker arm and lifter. Needs a new engine really when you factor in the cost of fixing everything.

Any additives I can add to quiet it down so I can trade it?

Fixing that shouldn't be near the cost of an engine I wouldn't think.... Did mechanic say the rocker was trashed or is it still salvageable? I would not want to "hide" the problem and screw someone else. Fix it the cheapest way you can then sell it if you don't want it anymore.

Tangent · Apr 3, 2023

I may get a second opinion. it still runs, just noisy.

CamperMike · Apr 3, 2023

I meant camshaft.. the rocker roller will tear up the camshaft which then means new camshaft. But pentastar is ohc so a lot easier to get to then the hemi. Not a cheap repair but not whole motor cost either. Nowhere near what it would cost to replace the camshaft on a hemi.

Rambo16 · May 5, 2023

I have had 4 ram 1500's with the 3.6 engine. I thought that I had a bad lifter noise, I took it to the dealer and serveral other shops. They all said drive it easy and you need new lifters and maybe cam bearings. Even my mechanic friends said the same thing. lifter cam bearing or somethin in the head. Well one morning I took off the serpentine belt and started the truck and there was no more noise. All this time is was the idler pulley (wheel). I went to the parts house and bought one and it installed it. No more noise. I can't believe that is what was making and noise. It was like driving a brand new truck again with out the noise.

BuschLatte420 · May 7, 2023

Rambo16 said:
I have had 4 ram 1500's with the 3.6 engine. I thought that I had a bad lifter noise, I took it to the dealer and serveral other shops. They all said drive it easy and you need new lifters and maybe cam bearings. Even my mechanic friends said the same thing. lifter cam bearing or somethin in the head. Well one morning I took off the serpentine belt and started the truck and there was no more noise. All this time is was the idler pulley (wheel). I went to the parts house and bought one and it installed it. No more noise. I can't believe that is what was making and noise. It was like driving a brand new truck again with out the noise.

Looks like multiple mechanics weee trying to take a nice vacation on you

How long does a 3.6 exhast usually last?

Tangent

Senior Member

ibike

Senior Member

1979PowerWagon360

Senior Member

Tangent

Senior Member

Tangent

Senior Member

CamperMike

Senior Member

Tangent

Senior Member

CamperMike

Senior Member

Rambo16

Junior Member

BuschLatte420

chill water by day, drink beer by night

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