How to stop V-6 drone over 2k RPM

[Yardbird]

2018 1500 with Pentastar. What will stop the drone from 2000 rpm and up? I don't want to choke out any power from the engine, but the drone annoys me. I want total quiet.

The wife's Ford Edge with a 3.5 V-6 has no exhaust sound at all. Do I need to buy a Ford factory muffler at a junk yard and have it put on? I don't want to hack thinks up, but will add on another resonator or replace the factory muffler if needed.

Why would they put out an exhaust that drones on a V-6, unless it has the same muffler as the Hemi? The exhaust looks like a factory Hemi single exhaust.

 

[DILLIGAF]

On my Jeep with that pencrap, I cut everything off that was OEM and I did a vibrant resonator https://a.co/d/8XwKlYp and a borla muffler https://a.co/d/62t8TXE

 

[SitKneelBend]

2018 1500 with Pentastar. What will stop the drone from 2000 rpm and up? I don't want to choke out any power from the engine, but the drone annoys me. I want total quiet.

The wife's Ford Edge with a 3.5 V-6 has no exhaust sound at all. Do I need to buy a Ford factory muffler at a junk yard and have it put on? I don't want to hack thinks up, but will add on another resonator or replace the factory muffler if needed.

Why would they put out an exhaust that drones on a V-6, unless it has the same muffler as the Hemi? The exhaust looks like a factory Hemi single exhaust.

I'm not aware of a drone BUT I put the stock Hemi Sport Exhaust on my pentastar almost immediately. Sounds great to me and only cost me $150 from a salvager off of a truck with less than 1000 miles.

 

[Yardbird]

I want it so quiet I can't hear the exhaust. It's that quiet now, until 2k RPM and above, which is where it runs 90% of the time.

 

[diymirage]

Best way is to replace it with a truck engine


But my advice would be to crawl under there and give the exhaust a thorough inspection...this is what caused my exhaust to drone, and it's only a year older then yours

 

[Mojo88]

I've had a couple of other vehicles with that issue and solved problem with biggest resonators I could fit. I used Vibrant both times, they make show-quality pieces. You can use a couple of band clamps for a nice clean installation. All stainless steel, looks great.

EDIT - and of course, the problem could be exactly what @diymirage posted above, haha!

 

[Rado]

Crawl under the truck and look at the flange where the Y pipe connects to the exhaust system and see if one of the studs rotted off!
That happened to my 2015 Pentstar

 

[Yardbird]

Everything is as new. I never have driven this truck in salt, and nothing is rusted. The previous owner didn't either. It's sounded this way since I bought it, and the other two 2018 Rams with 3.6 I tested sounded the same way.

It's perfectly quiet until 2000 and up.

I'm still trying to figure out how Ford can get the 3.5 in my wife's Edge completely quiet at any rpm, and Ram can't.

I would hate to hear it without the resonator close to the rear tire. Who knows, it may be better.

 

[star_deceiver]

No drone here. Maybe see if the nose canceling system is working properly.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Our 2020 Grand Cherokee with Pentastar has no drone whatsoever.

 

[Yardbird]

No drone here. Maybe see if the nose canceling system is working properly.

View attachment 576221

To sound dumb, does the Express have a noise cancelling system? I've never seen anything about it.

I don't know if it's an actual drone, or exhaust sound. It sounds like a buzzing 6 cylinder engine when above 2000 rpms.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I've only had rental V6 RAMs, but neither of them droned. Potentially dumb question, but are you sure it's not the tires humming at speed? Have you manually shifted gears to change motor RPM and seen if that correlates vs vehicle speed correlating?

 

[Yardbird]

Not the tires. They are super quiet Michelins I bought right after I got the truck. It's definitely the exhaust. It does it at the same RPM range in any gear when pulling, especially steeper hills.

It reminds me of a quieter f a r t can exhaust that used to be on so many ricers.

I think Ram used the same muffler on the HEMI and Pentastar, which is louder than a quiet muffler.

I was hoping there were others that noticed it with their Pentastars, and had a remedy like a queiter brand of muffler or resonator.

I had my days of loud cars and trucks, and have a bad case of tinnitus to show for it. Back when I first started driving over the road, I would come home and my ears would roar and ring for two nights.

Now, they ring and whistle at a high pitch all the time. That's why I want a really quiet exhaust these days.

I know it can be done because as I mentioned earlier, the wife's Edge with a 3.5 is totally quiet at any speed and RPM. I drive it the way I do my truck, using the sport shift and selecting the gears I want.

 

[Daw14]

Research Helmholtz resonater,
Mufflex offers their version , calling it a drone suppression pipe .
Not sure if it would fit your needs.
but it’s supposed to be adjustable for finding the correct length.
I have no experience with the 3.6 , or the above product.

 

[star_deceiver]

To sound dumb, does the Express have a noise cancelling system? I've never seen anything about it.

For 2018, google tells me no. To be sure, when you’re sitting in any seat look above you. The ANC system has little microphones above your head in every seat position.

Other things to look at: On the inside of your hood, is the sound proof mat still there? Are the motor and transmission mounts still good? Are any of the heat shields touching the exhaust pipe? Are the rubber grommets that hold the exhaust pipe to the truck still soft or hard as a rock? If you grab the muffler and shake the exhaust system around, can you move or twist it as if something is loose?

Some of the other posters here have suggested some quiet mufflers, maybe try one of those as an option down the line.

 

[Yardbird]

For 2018, google tells me no. To be sure, when you’re sitting in any seat look above you. The ANC system has little microphones above your head in every seat position.

Other things to look at: On the inside of your hood, is the sound proof mat still there? Are the motor and transmission mounts still good? Are any of the heat shields touching the exhaust pipe? Are the rubber grommets that hold the exhaust pipe to the truck still soft or hard as a rock? If you grab the muffler and shake the exhaust system around, can you move or twist it as if something is loose?

Some of the other posters here have suggested some quiet mufflers, maybe try one of those as an option down the line.

I have the microphone looking things above both front seats, but, I believe there is nothing in them, unless it's mics for the hands free phone.

Everything is as it came from the factory. The exhaust sound is coming from the right rear exhaust tip area.

There is no doubt to me the sound is of a V-6 engine coming out the pipe above a certain rpm. I've been looking online at mufflers, but pretty much everything seems to be louder of an aluminized muffler that wont last like the factory one.

I may have to live with it, like it or not. It's only noticeable above a certain speed/rpm that I hit above 70 mph or above 2k rpm when pulling hills/mountains, which I do.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I have the microphone looking things above both front seats, but, I believe there is nothing in them, unless it's mics for the hands free phone.

Everything is as it came from the factory. The exhaust sound is coming from the right rear exhaust tip area.

There is no doubt to me the sound is of a V-6 engine coming out the pipe above a certain rpm. I've been looking online at mufflers, but pretty much everything seems to be louder of an aluminized muffler that wont last like the factory one.

I may have to live with it, like it or not. It's only noticeable above a certain speed/rpm that I hit above 70 mph or above 2k rpm when pulling hills/mountains, which I do.

I guess another alternative would be sound deadening for the cab. Nothing you can do for the glass, but dynamat (or competitors) on the floor and rear cab wall may help. Bonus is it'll cut down on all exterior noise, as whatever noise is reverberating in through that body panel is cut in half or better.

 

[tap4154]

I have a 2018 1500 with the Pentastar, and I don't notice any odd noises. I guess I'll have to listen more next time I go for a drive. Do passengers in the car hear it too, or just you? I'm still a huge fan of the engine. No problems yet at 58,000, knock wood.

 

[Rado]

I am curious on what you finally find !

 

[Sherman Bird]

Everything is as new. I never have driven this truck in salt, and nothing is rusted. The previous owner didn't either. It's sounded this way since I bought it, and the other two 2018 Rams with 3.6 I tested sounded the same way.

It's perfectly quiet until 2000 and up.

I'm still trying to figure out how Ford can get the 3.5 in my wife's Edge completely quiet at any rpm, and Ram can't.

I would hate to hear it without the resonator close to the rear tire. Who knows, it may be better.

Put a Ford oval on the grill???