Rattling engine (3.3L V6)

[davidalindsey]

vehicle Info: 2006 Dodge Caravan
Engine Info: 3.3L V6
I know this isnt a DSM but its my girlfriends van, means just as much to me as my car.
The engine is making a ticking/rattling noise, I have never worked on an engine bigger than a 4cyl 2.4L. So if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be great.
Thanks in advance.
VIDEO LINK

 

[whe3ls]

sound like the rockers need adjusted. that or its low on oil

 

[davidalindsey]

I think it was low on oil so I just changed the oil and oil filter.
Thie video was taken after the oil change.
How do you adjust the rockers and to what specs?
I am going to try and get a compression test done on one cylinder and report back.
Edit: I just took off one spark plug and the bottom half was covered in oil, not to much though.

 

[shockracer]

i would also say check the oil and valve's, may also be a spun bearing, it is hard to say with out being there in person.

 

[davidalindsey]

cylinder 2 reads 120
cylinder 4 reads 124
cylinder 6 reads 125
I could not reach the other spark plugs.
There is a light white smoke coming from the exhaust.
The ticking noise is really loud and gets louder and faster as the RPM is raised up.

 

[1990AWD]

like others said, try adjusting your valve clearance. there will obviously be more ticking as the RPMs go up because the valves are moving faster.

 

[davidalindsey]

How do you adjust valve clearance I dont even know where to begin.
I just want to thank you for all your help!

 

[1990AWD]

How do you adjust valve clearance I dont even know where to begin.
I just want to thank you for all your help!

I'm not familiar with Chrysler V-6 but under the valve covers you should be able to adjust the valve clearance with a nut/screw. btw the valve clearance refers to clearance between the valve stem tip and valve guide. I just googled it and the valve clearance for intake valves is .010" and exhaust is .016".

 

[davidalindsey]

^^^^^okay thanks, I will try.
I hope it is not a spun bearing.

 

[ruben2566]

Sounds like a spun bearing.

 

[BrokeTSI]

The valve clearance is not adjustable, noise in video really sounds like bottom end noise, like a rod bearing or wrist pin, try disconnecting the plug wires one at a time with insulated pliers and gloves so as not to get zapped. If the noise gets quieter then you've verified the location of the problem, and confirmed its not valve noise. I have replaced lifters in these before, it sucks because you have to remove the cylinder heads to do it.

You can access the rear bank for compression tests, etc. by taking off the wiper module. its actually reall easy, you take the wiper arms off, then the 5 or so t20 screws on the cover, then there is a series of 13mm bolts you need to remove, also some 13mm nuts or 10mm nuts depending on how its put together, easy to see what needs to be done once the cover is off, but then all the plastic above the intake is out of your way and its real easy to get to the back plugs.

Good luck

 

[davidalindsey]

^^^Thanks for the info.
would a spun bearing give low compression numbers?
I disconnected a plug wire and the noise does get quieter.
I wonder how much a shop would charge to repair a spun bearing?

 

[whe3ls]

youll need a feeler gauge a wrench and allen wrech or something like this, and a chiltons most likely

 

[DSMified92]

if you pulled a plug wire off and it got quieter then it is definetly a short block problem. might be a bad rod bearing or wrist pin or even a busted skirt on that piston causing it to slap. and i would only imagine it would cost you more than you are willing to spend on it if a shop does it.best of luck to you.you might want to look into just getting a motor from a junkyard and putting it in.

 

[shockracer]

if a shop changed the oil there is a good chance they started it with no oil then realised they forgot oil turned it off then put oil in it, i have seen it done menu times by people at oil change places.

 

[96eclipzGsT]

The Caravans have a problem with the valve springs breaking. I had to replace one on my Grandpa's van. You would think that it would drop the valve in the cylinder, but it didn't. I pulled the valve cover off and sure as shit one of them was broken in half. Thats exactly what it sounded like too. Same motor and year.

 

[davidalindsey]

I checked the valve springs on the front side of the engine, that where the noise is coming from and the springs seemed fine.

DSMified92 quote: "if you pulled a plug wire off and it got quieter then it is definetly a short block problem"

What happens if I pull a plug wire and it gets louder?
I pull all plugs and plug 6 is the only one that gets a louder rattle noise.
Video here:
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[BIRDCLAWTSi]

Throw a vacuum gauge on it.

 

[davidalindsey]

I dont have one...
What would vacuum tell me?

 

[brian9397gsx]

You pulled #6 it got louder would suggest the problem is with #3. Hate to tell you but thats bottom end. How sparkly is the oil?

Good thing about the 3.3 is they are cheap and easy to swap outta those caravans.

 

[davidalindsey]

Okay thats what I was thinking.
See the thing was I did not find any metal in the oil, so i wasnt sure.
Time to see what the Pick n Pull has, If they dont have anything good I will just try to sell it as is.
Hopfuly I can get atleast $2500 out of it.