Engine Knock at Idle
#32
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Location: Indiana
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 IL6
I bought my first Jeep one month ago. It's a 2000 Cherokee Limited and has 163K miles. At first I didn't know how to listen...and then I started hearing the sewing machine-like sounds, the knocking at idle etc. I was really worried until I started reading all this stuff about the I6.
I changed to a wix filter and Rotella T6 500 miles ago. It is amazing! Read SALAD's write up on oil...he convinced me to try it. The knock at idle is there but almost all other noise went away. The idle knock goes almost silent after a half-hour of driving. I get 23mpg on the highway and 17 in town. I got 19mpg driving in 4wd on the highway going to work in the snow last week. I feel loads better about the oil in my Jeep because it actually sounds better than the day I bought it. Just my two cents.
I changed to a wix filter and Rotella T6 500 miles ago. It is amazing! Read SALAD's write up on oil...he convinced me to try it. The knock at idle is there but almost all other noise went away. The idle knock goes almost silent after a half-hour of driving. I get 23mpg on the highway and 17 in town. I got 19mpg driving in 4wd on the highway going to work in the snow last week. I feel loads better about the oil in my Jeep because it actually sounds better than the day I bought it. Just my two cents.
#33
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Location: West Richland, WA
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
I bought my first Jeep one month ago. It's a 2000 Cherokee Limited and has 163K miles. At first I didn't know how to listen...and then I started hearing the sewing machine-like sounds, the knocking at idle etc. I was really worried until I started reading all this stuff about the I6.
I changed to a wix filter and Rotella T6 500 miles ago. It is amazing! Read SALAD's write up on oil...he convinced me to try it. The knock at idle is there but almost all other noise went away. The idle knock goes almost silent after a half-hour of driving. I get 23mpg on the highway and 17 in town. I got 19mpg driving in 4wd on the highway going to work in the snow last week. I feel loads better about the oil in my Jeep because it actually sounds better than the day I bought it. Just my two cents.
I changed to a wix filter and Rotella T6 500 miles ago. It is amazing! Read SALAD's write up on oil...he convinced me to try it. The knock at idle is there but almost all other noise went away. The idle knock goes almost silent after a half-hour of driving. I get 23mpg on the highway and 17 in town. I got 19mpg driving in 4wd on the highway going to work in the snow last week. I feel loads better about the oil in my Jeep because it actually sounds better than the day I bought it. Just my two cents.
#34
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Location: Nor-Cal Coast
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Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Yea. "don't feed the bears!" (enough of that, here....
Because I'm down wind of the biggest "heat sink" on earth, (the Pacific ocean), I run Straight WT Castrol 30 W. In my opinion that stuff is amazing. It's polymer chains will not break down like multy weigh might. I've learned NOT to use it on hacksaws or drill bits. They won't cut well. (ATF works). Since I started using it over 15 years ago, not a single rod or piston has gone in anything. Generators, the mower, power washer, water pumps, all "immortal". The Jeep, at 278K needs a quart every 1,500 miles or so, and does drip a tad. (don't even know where), don't care. Btw it's late for it's annual February oil change. (I'll use that for my chainsaw bar oil for next years wood). The catch is I'm the only driver. If it's freezing, you bet I'll give it a minute for that syrup to make it up. Also freezing here is rare. With that oil, some kid in Minnesota, or anyone, could easily ruin the engine.
A last note, I swear it sounds LOUDER, right after it's oil change. Idk. The "HD" means "High Degernt" Btw. Maybe some krud that muffels some noise gets dissolved. Anyway, one day I will post, "she finally blew"......unless she is taken and crushed.
Crusier runs the Rotilla 15-40. That's solid enough for me. I myself couldn't say if that would be right for extreme cold.
Because I'm down wind of the biggest "heat sink" on earth, (the Pacific ocean), I run Straight WT Castrol 30 W. In my opinion that stuff is amazing. It's polymer chains will not break down like multy weigh might. I've learned NOT to use it on hacksaws or drill bits. They won't cut well. (ATF works). Since I started using it over 15 years ago, not a single rod or piston has gone in anything. Generators, the mower, power washer, water pumps, all "immortal". The Jeep, at 278K needs a quart every 1,500 miles or so, and does drip a tad. (don't even know where), don't care. Btw it's late for it's annual February oil change. (I'll use that for my chainsaw bar oil for next years wood). The catch is I'm the only driver. If it's freezing, you bet I'll give it a minute for that syrup to make it up. Also freezing here is rare. With that oil, some kid in Minnesota, or anyone, could easily ruin the engine.
A last note, I swear it sounds LOUDER, right after it's oil change. Idk. The "HD" means "High Degernt" Btw. Maybe some krud that muffels some noise gets dissolved. Anyway, one day I will post, "she finally blew"......unless she is taken and crushed.
Crusier runs the Rotilla 15-40. That's solid enough for me. I myself couldn't say if that would be right for extreme cold.
Last edited by DFlintstone; 03-10-2014 at 01:00 AM.
#35
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Year: 91
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Cruiser is in the heat. Got to run the thick stuff. My dumb **** brother bought a Texas ford with no rust. Took it to the great lakes and followed the oil sticker. Thick oil and cold weather doesn't mix. Had to explain the viscosity rating to him several times. After several attempts he understood.
#36
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Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
6.9 Earthquake 50 miles West and about 80 South, just shook my house good. Might make the news. (it's all over my local). Yea, Oil. I just don't care if I'm doomed. After so many years, and so many miles on so many engines, I'm gonna just keep doing what I do. I've dealt with my share of bad rods and stuff blowing up. Smooth sailing now.
Last edited by DFlintstone; 03-10-2014 at 12:52 AM.
#37
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Someone earlier said it might be 'piston slap' I know center Ford trucks had this problem and factory said it's normal. I had a Ford work truck w/5.4 motor and it made similar noises as my XJ. I complained to dealer and he showed me a service notice saying noise wasn't detrimental to performance or longevity. It must have been true as I put about 100,000 miles on it and it never failed or used very much oil between changes. It sounded like an 8 cylinder version of my XJ, kind of like a lifter was bad, but even louder. Piston slap sounds good to me and I've gotten over the noise years ago. Just listen and don't over think it!
#38
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Year: '99
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
I put "Cherokee knock" into U-Tube search and found ME, (11 down)>> 4.0 Cherokee Jeep engine knock..... rod - YouTube
Not identical, but similar to yours. It's been doing that for well over 10 years. It's part of the reason the previous owner sold it to me in 02. Please use a Wix filter. or napa Gold, (same thing). Not Fram, the "Orange Can Of Death"
Not identical, but similar to yours. It's been doing that for well over 10 years. It's part of the reason the previous owner sold it to me in 02. Please use a Wix filter. or napa Gold, (same thing). Not Fram, the "Orange Can Of Death"
#39
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Year: '99
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
I just want to say thank you to all that have replied to this. It's great to have people I don't even know helping out with something that isn't a major issue. I've learned so much off of this forum and is what actually got me interested into taking care of and modding my xj. Couldn't have gotten this far, and trust me I will be taking her farther, without you guys. THANKS!
#40
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L6
One thing that seems to help mine is a brief run up to 3200K RPM or more to get the valves rotating at least once a day when the engine is good and warm. Doing a MMO soak to the lifters helps as well.
#41
Engine tick/knock noise
I remember way back when my dad bought a slightly used one from the dealership.. and it made a knocking and ticking noise. Almost like a train chugging... with a constant tick. Had it for years.. put a lot of miles on it, then traded it in and got another Cherokee (with less miles) that did the exact same thing. He said the dealer told him it was normal for all cherokees at the dealership to do(dad thought it was odd because this was in the 90s-2000 when most cars had a quiet v6). So if multiple slightly used ones did it back in the day I’d say it’s normal. Its a straight six. The first ones they used were back in 1952.. meaning amc i6s were probably designed in the 40s. About 20 years shy of 100 years ago 🍻
mine also makes some noise like that at about 300,000 miles
mine also makes some noise like that at about 300,000 miles
Last edited by Mark Glenn Eaton; 11-16-2019 at 09:49 PM.
#42
Member
I bought a rust free '98 with a horrible rod knock.
Originally a Florida vehicle, it was sold to some kid who trashed the interior and destroyed the engine.
The rod knock was the same as the worst one on the Youtube videos posted.
I isolated it to the #5 cylinder, sure enough here is the connecting rod bearing from that cylinder;
The oil came out thin and brown, like a cafe latte.
Full rebuild with American made parts, new interior.
Nice ride.
Originally a Florida vehicle, it was sold to some kid who trashed the interior and destroyed the engine.
The rod knock was the same as the worst one on the Youtube videos posted.
I isolated it to the #5 cylinder, sure enough here is the connecting rod bearing from that cylinder;
The oil came out thin and brown, like a cafe latte.
Full rebuild with American made parts, new interior.
Nice ride.
#43
i have a 98 Xj and it does the same thing, at idle in neutral or in park it makes the noise. When in gear it stops and with a lil bit pressure on the gas it stops immediately. Cant figure out what it is
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