0BigBlue7

I know there is many posts about this. But none of them really describe the same thing I have. My 07 3.8 has what seems to me like ALOT of pinging at ticking and such, especially when the engine is cold. Now it doesn't happen all the time though. Some days it sounds really good, and It quiets down a bit when warmed up. I check the oil religiously because of all the talk about the 3.8 drinking oil, and it drinks about a quart between changes. Last time I changed I went from 5w-20 to 10w-30 and this seemed to help maybe a little. Next change I'm going to give 10w-40 a shot I think. Hopefully living in WA the weather won't be too cold for that.

So is there anything else I should look into? I know I didn't give a very good description of the sound, but it's hard to put into words. Any help is appreciated

TxRdStr

Try changing PCV valve, pinging can be caused by many things, good starting point.

rob_engineer

You can try the seafoam treatment in the intake. Have you tried to run a couple tanks of 93 octane? I had a ford explorer that the pinging would only stop if I ran 93. Anything less and she would ping and rattle, particularly when trying to pass someone on he highway. The root cause may have been air leaking into the intake manifold, but I never pursued a fix other than to always use super gas.

0BigBlue7

I've done the seafoam in the intake, and half in the oil. And as for the fuel, I run middle grade consistently, 89 I think it is, maybe I need to bump it up and try the PCV valve

Ryan0260

Are you sure it is pinging and not an exhaust manifold leak? Normally pinging becomes worse when the engine is hot. If it is pinging, and you are running mid grade gas, the next step should be to try and remove the carbon from the engine. I recommend getting a can of the Chrysler combustion chamber cleaner. It is sprayed directly into the throttle body. It works great. If the deposits are heavy, it may take more than one treatment.

0BigBlue7

It could be an exhaust manifold. But I'm 80% sure it's not. And if it was, why would it be louder when engine is cold?

Ryan0260

Because when metal heats, it expands. This can cause the leak to subside.

Ryan0260

Pinging generally happens when engine is warm, and under load, such a going up a hill, or accelerating.

0BigBlue7

Well to be completely honest, I can't hear it from inside while driving at a all. But stepping out of jeep, engine just sounds like shit

Kojack

Mine sounded like it had rocks going through it, switched to 91, and quiet from then on.