2021 Ram Classic Warlock 3.6 startup rattle with video

[Mike00]

Hello, I have a 2021 Ram Classic Warlock 3.6 v6 with 37k miles that randomly makes a rattling noise on startup. I took it to the dealer since it's still under the powertrain warranty, and they said it's a normal lifter noise. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

https://youtube.com/shorts/xKO-eJjEigo?feature=share

 

[SitKneelBend]

Hello, I have a 2021 Ram Classic Warlock 3.6 v6 with 37k miles that randomly makes a rattling noise on startup. I took it to the dealer since it's still under the powertrain warranty, and they said it's a normal lifter noise. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

https://youtube.com/shorts/xKO-eJjEigo?feature=share

Not normal, sounds like brief oil starvation. You can see if it goes away by pre-cranking the engine (this is a common issue on 3.6 Jeeps as well but usually in cold weather). To do this, hold your foot on the brake and gas pedal BEFORE cranking/turning the key. The engine will crank until you release the pedals.

My 2014 3.6 has never done this...

 

[star_deceiver]

Mine does this on occasion. Its done this since new, maybe every 3rd start. Not nearly as harsh, more of a rattle of rockers and lifters. At 90000miles now.

A Ram dealer will do nothing about it unless you have either A: a visible oil leak, B: a check engine light, or C: it comes apart internally.

I recommend using PUP 5w30 or Mobil FS 0w40 and a fram xg11665 or better filters and change it at 5000miles or sooner. Also, keep $5k in the bank in case you need to tear it down.

Theres 14million pentastars out there with plenty of vids on youtube of them going more than half a million miles. Take care of it.

 

[Mike00]

Not normal, sounds like brief oil starvation. You can see if it goes away by pre-cranking the engine (this is a common issue on 3.6 Jeeps as well but usually in cold weather). To do this, hold your foot on the brake and gas pedal BEFORE cranking/turning the key. The engine will crank until you release the pedals.

My 2014 3.6 has never done this...

Thanks for the reply, I have tried pre-cranking the engine and it seems to prevent the noise, however it happens at random. It took me about a month of recording every start up to actually get a good video of it. Is there anything else I should try?

 

[SitKneelBend]

Thanks for the reply, I have tried pre-cranking the engine and it seems to prevent the noise, however it happens at random. It took me about a month of recording every start up to actually get a good video of it. Is there anything else I should try?

They make products like this to help prevent this condition but I've never heard a direct testimonial from a Ram owner using one so I can't really tell you if it works, but it's worth looking into.

Baxter Performance Spin-On Oil Filter Adapter | JT/JL/JK 3.6L

Install a spin-on oil filter with Baxter Performance’s adapter for JT/JL/JK 3.6L engines.

www.jeepcables.com

For the randomness, I think it is more likely to happen the longer the vehicle has sat (engine oil draining down off the top of the engine to the pan).

 

[Yardbird]

Mine has a dry start noise from what sounds like just the cam section. Yours seems to have a dry crankshaft sound also.

It could be that I've never been outside the truck when its been started cold.

If my truck has been sitting, I always hold the throttle to the floor for at least two 5 to 10 second spin overs to pre-lube everything.

It doesn't eliminate the upper rattle, but it sure cuts it back a lot. Too many rpm too quick when these things start cold. Thanks Ma Mopar for not putting an oil anti-drain back valve in these engines.

I'm running Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30 and Fram Endurance filters. 5w20 is just way too thin unless you are somewhere it gets below zero.

 

[star_deceiver]

They make products like this to help prevent this condition but I've never heard a direct testimonial from a Ram owner using one so I can't really tell you if it works, but it's worth looking into.

$570 plus tax and shipping for that piece of jewelry, here. I’m not a part of the Just Empty Every Pocket crowd so I’ve never bothered with this.



Also, there’s no chinesium copies that I can find. If China doesn’t copy it, do you really have a product worth selling?

Next oil change, I’ll do it cold. When you pull the hot filter cover, you can hear and see all the oil it holds draining out. We’ll see if it does it after sitting overnight.

 

[Mike00]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I took the truck to another dealer and they still claim the noise is normal unfortunately. I have been getting my oil changes at the dealership since I got an oil change package when I got the truck. Next oil change I’ll try 5w30 and see if there are any changes. Once my warranty expires I’ll look into the Baxter performance filter if the noise still persists.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

It will not help. The filter is designed to drain back at shut off. And you will get the dry start every time. The device designed by Baxter is the only thing that will stop the dry start.

What your hearing only a gear head will hear. The rest of the world doesn't care, trades often enough it doesn't matter and rarely listens to the engine as long as it runs

Engineering obsolescence built in.

 

[Yardbird]

It will not help. The filter is designed to drain back at shut off. And you will get the dry start every time. The device designed by Baxter is the only thing that will stop the dry start.

What your hearing only a gear head will hear. The rest of the world doesn't care, trades often enough it doesn't matter and rarely listens to the engine as long as it runs

Engineering obsolescence built in.

Even the Baxter design will drain back from the filter base to the oil pump after a while, though that is a lot shorter distance than from the pump to the cams.

I would like the Baxter with the remote filter so I could mount it with the filter opening facing the right direction.

Looking at many newer engines, it appears many of them now have cartridge filters mounted toward or at the top of the engines.

 

[garycarrick]

I had a random rattle/flutter on my 2015 Ram 3.6 i was chasing.. Intermittent on start up and sometimes heard on slow acceleration. Had dodge look at it, they told me they could not find/replicate. After picking it up, the sound persisted. Turns out after a massive inspection of everything, i had a missing cat bolt and a loose cat bolt causing the flutter/rattle. New bolts properly torqued and it was gone.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Sounds exactly like my POS 3.6L in the JK

Redline 5w30 helpped it a lot. but once my oil cooler ***** the bed, Ill add the Baxter performance adapter.

Dodge cant build a good engine to save their lives.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I had a random rattle/flutter on my 2015 Ram 3.6 i was chasing.. Intermittent on start up and sometimes heard on slow acceleration. Had dodge look at it, they told me they could not find/replicate. After picking it up, the sound persisted. Turns out after a massive inspection of everything, i had a missing cat bolt and a loose cat bolt causing the flutter/rattle. New bolts properly torqued and it was gone.

I had the exact issue on my new 2014 from factory. It's not a noise one can get used to either (sounds like a beater albeit intermittently).

 

[Toon12]

Installed the Baxter oil filter adapter at 33,864 kms. which is about 15,000 Km ago, because I was starting to get an intermittent tick while running and a regular rattle on start up. The Baxter adapter has a good anti drain back valve built in and if you buy the right spin on filter the filter itself will also have an anti drain back valve so you are double protected.
The cost is outrageously high $654 to my house here in Canada, but weighed against the cost of an engine repair I went for it.
One drawback is the Baxter filter location is underneath the cold air intake cover which has to be removed to change the filter and doesn't allow room for a longer filter body.
I solved that by installing a K&N cold air intake system but that option is pricey as well at $619 to my door. I'm sure these items would be cheaper south of the border.

Cold start rattle and intermittent engine tick are gone, and I can now use a longer spin on oil filter with more filter media. The cold air intake has quite a loud roar when you put your foot into the throttle if you're into that sort of thing as well.
Both of these upgrades are easy to do if you're handy and willing to part with the cash.
One other note is that I waited for the extended warranty to run out before I did these upgrades, so there would be no issue with Mopar if a problem should arise.
My 2019 now has about 48,000 kms on it and it sounds better on start up than the day I drove her home. Smooth as silk.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Installed the Baxter oil filter adapter at 33,864 kms. which is about 15,000 Km ago, because I was starting to get an intermittent tick while running and a regular rattle on start up. The Baxter adapter has a good anti drain back valve built in and if you buy the right spin on filter the filter itself will also have an anti drain back valve so you are double protected.
The cost is outrageously high $654 to my house here in Canada, but weighed against the cost of an engine repair I went for it.
One drawback is the Baxter filter location is underneath the cold air intake cover which has to be removed to change the filter and doesn't allow room for a longer filter body.
I solved that by installing a K&N cold air intake system but that option is pricey as well at $619 to my door. I'm sure these items would be cheaper south of the border.
View attachment 575676
Cold start rattle and intermittent engine tick are gone, and I can now use a longer spin on oil filter with more filter media. The cold air intake has quite a loud roar when you put your foot into the throttle if you're into that sort of thing as well.
Both of these upgrades are easy to do if you're handy and willing to part with the cash.
One other note is that I waited for the extended warranty to run out before I did these upgrades, so there would be no issue with Mopar if a problem should arise.
My 2019 now has about 48,000 kms on it and it sounds better on start up than the day I drove her home. Smooth as silk.

If you want to quiet it down you can make that K&N tube fit the stock filter intake box with the right couplers.

 

[Yardbird]

I would really like to do a Baxter kit, but I keep waiting for the price to come down. Probably won't though........

One question I keep wondering about though, will the weight of a real oil filter full of oil poking up into the air make the plastic oil cooler start leaking sooner.

I would love to stop the startup noise. I always pre-spin the engine for about 10 seconds after it has sat for a day, which really cuts down on startup noise, but I keep expecting to wear the starter out doing so.

 

[Toon12]

Thanks sitkneelbend but myself and even the wifey likes the new louder engine sound. That's not why I bought it, but it sounds much more aggressive than the stock unit. Looks OK too.

I'm also hopping with the stock cold air tube removed the engine and oil filter area will run a bit cooler as well. A cooler oil filter base should reduce the chance of breakage and leaks as well. On my last oil filter change before the K&N install the Fram filter got hot enough to blister the non slip paint on the oil filter so this assembly sees some serious heat. I will see if this upgrade helps in keeping the filter cooler when I do the next oil change in the spring.

 

[Toon12]

We used to own a Uniflite cabin cruiser that had a pair of 318 4bbl engines having trough hull exhausts, and they really rumbled when the engines fired up so I guess it just reminds me a bit of when we used to boat.

You just don't see copper exhausts anymore.

 

[DILLIGAF]

One question I keep wondering about though, will the weight of a real oil filter full of oil poking up into the air make the plastic oil cooler start leaking sooner.

Dont use plastic, problem solved. There's no way in hell im going in there to put OEM junk back in. But I do my own oil changes, I Just hand tight the housing back on and its still not leaking at 95xxxkm. So I guess it will be a while before I do the upgrade.

Jeep Performance Parts | Mishimoto

www.mishimoto.com

 

[Yardbird]

Dont use plastic, problem solved. There's no way in hell im going in there to put OEM junk back in. But I do my own oil changes, I Just hand tight the housing back on and its still not leaking at 95xxxkm. So I guess it will be a while before I do the upgrade.

Jeep Performance Parts | Mishimoto

www.mishimoto.com

My oil cooler housing isn't leaking, so I was just going to put the Baxter unit onto the factory housing.