CUT OPEN YOUR OIL FILTER! Guess they didn't fix the rocker / lifter / cam problem.

[clay282]

Thought this mess was fixed but I guess not. 2019, 3.6, meticulously maintained. Full synthetic, never exceeds 7000 miles on oil change interval. Had it at the shop 2 times now in the past couple months. Smoke on cold start sometimes. Heard a tapping on the top end and the service tech said it was just normal sounds from a 3.6 with 90k miles. They dismissed the random smoke on startup since they didn't see it. Then there's been an odd idle that seems to fluctuate 100-200rpm at idle sometimes.

Was searching YouTube wondering if there was anything on it. Mostly curious because the roller / lifter / cam issue was supposedly fixed in 2016. In one of those videos they said to open the oil filter and look for metal. I've still got the tick so I thought I would change the oil early this weekend at 6000 miles. Cut open the oil filter and there's glitter!

Wasn't really worried since I have an extended warranty with a company I have used several times and they have always been great. THEY SOLD OUT. I guess We'll see what they say on Wednesday. I showed the filter to the service tech and he said to keep the filter for evidence for warranty and he could hear the tick, just needed to verify. The service tech that could hear the tick and said it wasn't normal was at a DIFFERENT DEALER. I won't be using the regular dealership anymore after this.

Good tip though... CUT THAT FILTER OPEN. Ask for the used filter back if you have someone else change it. It's just paper and you can cut through it and look for glitter yourself. If nothing else, it might indicate when you should trade in, before the tick gets loud enough to affect your trade in.

 

[Mojo88]

Send out some of that oil for analysis.

 

[JHoward]

Hmm, ... I don't know why I didn't cut open my oil filter for inspection it's recent oci ... I'll post a few pics over on the oil filter thread.

 

[clay282]

Send out some of that oil for analysis.

In the container headed to Blackstone as we speak.

 

[star_deceiver]

What oil, brand name, weight, were you using? And filter? Same every oil change?

 

[Dan Topp]

I always inspect my filter every 3k.

 

[clay282]

What oil, brand name, weight, were you using? And filter? Same every oil change?

SuperTech full synthetic 0W20 and a Wix filter every time. I've actually had Blackstone test oil before and it was still good at 10,000 and the TBN would allow me to go longer but I always change 6-7000 to be safe.

 

[clay282]

Took it in today and I am a bit nervous because of how the warranty wants to do it but, what else can I do.

Monday I drop it off and had to guarantee the payment of tear down and put back together. Once it's tore down, they send whatever documentation the warranty company needs and they have to approve it from there for repair. IF, that's the scary part, IF they decline repair I will either have to eat a huge bill for the full rebuild myself or have them put it back together and pay a... still large bill. IF they approve it, they will pay for repair, tear down etc and I will just have to pay deductible of $100. This dealer actually took the time to ask me if I wanted to put new plugs and coil packs on since the top will be pulled already.

Sat in a 2025 while I waited. Makes me mad as he## actually. 11 years and they still have this same engine with the same weak top end they said they "fixed" in 2016. 6 years and they still have the same leaking 3rd brake light... same rear window leaks.

 

[star_deceiver]

Took it in today and I am a bit nervous because of how the warranty wants to do it but, what else can I do.

Guess you’ll see how deep the warranty company digs. Will they find issue with the fact you used 0w20 instead of the owners manual 5w20 or 30?

Also, they’ve put around 14 million pentastars in everything over the years. Based on posts in various forums, the failure rate of cams seems to be a lot less then the Hemis.

Any idea on what your idle/drive hours are in the computer?

 

[clay282]

Guess you’ll see how deep the warranty company digs. Will they find issue with the fact you used 0w20 instead of the owners manual 5w20 or 30?

What does your owners manual say?

Engine Oil Viscosity — 3.6L Engine

Mopar SAE 0W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.

 

[star_deceiver]

Mine says 5w20 or 5w30 if 20 isn’t available. My owners manual was written for the 21’ model year.

I’ve been using PUP 5w30 almost exclusively except from November to February when I used PUP 0w20 for the stupid cold months. OCI over 10000kms with a wix xp filter. But in the last year I’ve lowered the OCI to 8000kms and switched to fram xg filter. I’m also going to stay on 5w30 year round. My idle /drive hours are around 60/1500.

 

[Towbar2]

Thought this mess was fixed but I guess not. 2019, 3.6, meticulously maintained. Full synthetic, never exceeds 7000 miles on oil change interval. Had it at the shop 2 times now in the past couple months. Smoke on cold start sometimes. Heard a tapping on the top end and the service tech said it was just normal sounds from a 3.6 with 90k miles. They dismissed the random smoke on startup since they didn't see it. Then there's been an odd idle that seems to fluctuate 100-200rpm at idle sometimes.

Was searching YouTube wondering if there was anything on it. Mostly curious because the roller / lifter / cam issue was supposedly fixed in 2016. In one of those videos they said to open the oil filter and look for metal. I've still got the tick so I thought I would change the oil early this weekend at 6000 miles. Cut open the oil filter and there's glitter!

Wasn't really worried since I have an extended warranty with a company I have used several times and they have always been great. THEY SOLD OUT. I guess We'll see what they say on Wednesday. I showed the filter to the service tech and he said to keep the filter for evidence for warranty and he could hear the tick, just needed to verify. The service tech that could hear the tick and said it wasn't normal was at a DIFFERENT DEALER. I won't be using the regular dealership anymore after this.

Good tip though... CUT THAT FILTER OPEN. Ask for the used filter back if you have someone else change it. It's just paper and you can cut through it and look for glitter yourself. If nothing else, it might indicate when you should trade in, before the tick gets loud enough to affect your trade in.

 

[Towbar2]

The oil corrupters did the driving public a great disfavor by eliminating ZDDP from their products for gasoline engines. I use it "religiously!" I get the Amsoil brand and use Amsoil or Mobil One

 

[JamesC22]

Thought this mess was fixed but I guess not. 2019, 3.6, meticulously maintained. Full synthetic, never exceeds 7000 miles on oil change interval. Had it at the shop 2 times now in the past couple months. Smoke on cold start sometimes. Heard a tapping on the top end and the service tech said it was just normal sounds from a 3.6 with 90k miles. They dismissed the random smoke on startup since they didn't see it. Then there's been an odd idle that seems to fluctuate 100-200rpm at idle sometimes.

Was searching YouTube wondering if there was anything on it. Mostly curious because the roller / lifter / cam issue was supposedly fixed in 2016. In one of those videos they said to open the oil filter and look for metal. I've still got the tick so I thought I would change the oil early this weekend at 6000 miles. Cut open the oil filter and there's glitter!

Wasn't really worried since I have an extended warranty with a company I have used several times and they have always been great. THEY SOLD OUT. I guess We'll see what they say on Wednesday. I showed the filter to the service tech and he said to keep the filter for evidence for warranty and he could hear the tick, just needed to verify. The service tech that could hear the tick and said it wasn't normal was at a DIFFERENT DEALER. I won't be using the regular dealership anymore after this.

Good tip though... CUT THAT FILTER OPEN. Ask for the used filter back if you have someone else change it. It's just paper and you can cut through it and look for glitter yourself. If nothing else, it might indicate when you should trade in, before the tick gets loud enough to affect your trade in.

Clay, I am currently pricing/checking ext warranties...whom did you choose and why? Thanks in advance. I have a 21 longhorn limited with the Eco which I love. love, love. Get 32 on Hwy at 67mph. So pissed they discontinued the eco...

 

[rvance]

I had a 2013 3.6 with 88k trouble free miles when it got totaled. My 2017 has 85k and I had to have a coil replaced. Still runs great. I've hauled heavy trailers 6k miles, driven it for hours at 85 mph and I change the oil when the meter says to. When I could still change the oil it got Shell Rotella T6. Now that I got old it gets. Mobil One. I guess I've been lucky.

 

[clay282]

Clay, I am currently pricing/checking ext warranties...whom did you choose and why? Thanks in advance. I have a 21 longhorn limited with the Eco which I love. love, love. Get 32 on Hwy at 67mph. So pissed they discontinued the eco...

Several years ago I got my warranty through caredge.com. They sold Sentinel AUL warranties and only marked them up $500. Sonata, Frontier and this Ram all were bumper to bumper for 4-5 years and 100,000 miles $100 deductible right at $2000.00 per vehicle. EVEN covered the torque hybrid battery and equipment. The times I used it previously - Dealer diagnosis, call the company, 5 minutes and repair approved. They WERE very highly rated.

Sometime last year I think it was, the 4wd actuator went out, they were the same company and approved that on the initial dealer call. Since then I haven't used it until now. This time the service department called and said the company name the lady gave her was different. I called out of curiosity and they aren't going by Sentinal anymore and the Google machine has them at 1.4 stars now.

Caredge.com still sells warranties and you can price them yourself and decide what you want. They only mark them up $500 and give reviews and info on them. I would use them again because the equal coverage Mopar warranty was over $5000. It's a business and there's no promises a company won't be sold or changed but it is what it is. Mopar stopped maxcare lifetime and even changed their powertrain length so... Wadda ya gonna do?

 

[JamesC22]

Several years ago I got my warranty through caredge.com. They sold Sentinel AUL warranties and only marked them up $500. Sonata, Frontier and this Ram all were bumper to bumper for 4-5 years and 100,000 miles $100 deductible right at $2000.00 per vehicle. EVEN covered the torque hybrid battery and equipment. The times I used it previously - Dealer diagnosis, call the company, 5 minutes and repair approved. They WERE very highly rated.

Sometime last year I think it was, the 4wd actuator went out, they were the same company and approved that on the initial dealer call. Since then I haven't used it until now. This time the service department called and said the company name the lady gave her was different. I called out of curiosity and they aren't going by Sentinal anymore and the Google machine has them at 1.4 stars now.

Caredge.com still sells warranties and you can price them yourself and decide what you want. They only mark them up $500 and give reviews and info on them. I would use them again because the equal coverage Mopar warranty was over $5000. It's a business and there's no promises a company won't be sold or changed but it is what it is. Mopar stopped maxcare lifetime and even changed their powertrain length so... Wadda ya gonna do?

Clay, thanks for the quick repsonse....much appreciated. I called Endurance it was insanely priced, so thanks.

 

[Atcer2018]

What does your owners manual say?

Engine Oil Viscosity — 3.6L Engine

Mopar SAE 0W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.

As you noted in a different comment the 3.6 hasn’t changed much if at all in almost a decade. That said the 0W20 recommendation is a EPA placebo. Trying to squeeze out that last 1/4 mile of fuel efficiency. My 2018 calls for 5W20 and it’s the same engine as in your truck. Even 5W30 is an approved oil as per the note in the owners manual. I too use SuperTech oil but a Fram synthetic filter and change my oil every 4000 miles. SuperTech is decent oil for a common pedestrian motor like the 3.6. No issues after 86k miles using the high mileage full synthetic 5W30. I’m not a mechanical engineer but IMHO the new spec oils are too thin to protect in the long term.

 

[brad byron]

i use a VOTEX magnetic oil drain plug on my 2015 3.6......did 24 cam followers and with 24 lifters(all Melling parts) at approx 40 thousand miles because of a tick. All cam lobes were fine....one of the Rollers was bad(sloppy)....now, with 102,000 miles still no tick. and, no metal flakes on the drain plug(very strong magnet). i use a 5w-20 blend oil and Wix filters. Engine runs strong. I attribute it to quality Rollers and lifters. i oil soaked all 24 of each for days before doing the job.....perged all the air out of the lifters....did a new PCV valve since the cam covers were off........

 

[jr27236]

7000 miles between oil changes is just plain insane to me. I dont care what these oil companies proclaim. Im still a 3-4k max guy.