Weird engine noise during warm up

[jokaly]

I just bought a new 2011 patriot - latitude 2.4L 4x4 and when I start my engine it sounds weird for the first few minutes. It is louder like i can hear the pistons going up and down or something. Once it warms up a bit though it sounds fine like any other engine being on.

Has anyone else experienced this before?

Also are there any restrictions on how to drive a new car (it is my first one, sorry if it is a dumb question!). I only seem to be averaging 21-22 mpg so far, and while I know the sticker said 21-26, even on the highway it seems to be low so I wasn't sure if I did something wrong.

Overall though I love my first jeep! remote start + heated seats = awesomeness

[h3nry8888]

i think its normal to be louder for the first few minutes during warm up. mines is like that too i just keep rpm below 2000 until the temp needle moves a bit. keep in mine rpm on a cold day will hold at 2000rpm or so. it will be louder

[MrJeepR44]

Mine sounded like that when I bought it in April. In the summer months I didn't notice it, but on cooler mornings I hear it again. It's normal for this engine to sound a bit like a diesel when its cold.

Something that seems to help a little is s good oil filter with an anti drainback valve

[Burly Rez Goat]

I have a 2011 and hear the same sound, but it goes away after it warms up.

[Afmcronnie]

I switched to a synthetic oil at 3000 miles (Mobil1 5w20) and it made the engine alot quieter at start up. There's no real "break-in" for a modern engine, other than drive sensibly. The tolerances in a modern engine are close enough that an old school "break-in" isnt strictly required. This is also why you see low fuel mileage with a new vehicle. It will ramp up over a few months as the engine and drivetrain loosen up.

A few good habits to follow with a new Patriot:

1) For the first 500 miles dont hold a steady speed for a long period of time. If you do alot of highway driving, dont stay at the same speed for more than about 10 minutes without going up or down 5 mph for a few minutes.
2) DONT take the motor up to the redline to see how it runs. Keep the RPM below 3000 for the first 3000 miles. Revving out the engine wont kill it, but it's so tight when new that you are just causing excessive, unecessary wear and cutting miles off it's service life.
3) Inspect the vehicle carefully. Inspect the interior for defective parts as soon as possible. I found an upper door panel on my 2011 that had a bulge in the soft touch material that only showed up when the Jeep was parked in the sun. Sometimes some of the radio functions dont work right. Ive heard of loose splash shield and fenderwell screws right off the lot.
4) Put a good coat of wax on it right away. Use a claybar on the paint, then use a quality wax.
5) Learn the features. Drive it! The best way to learn the features is to use them. Read the manual. Examine the jacking points for tire changes when its daylight, warm and dry. Then when it's nightime, snowy and cold you will know what you are doing.

Enjoy your new Jeep!

[Stonent]

When I got a 1/2 quart low on my Patriot the engine sounded a lot noisier. The VVT system in the Jeep needs oil pressure to operate correctly. If the oil is low or just the few seconds it takes to fill the VVT system you'll hear that sound.

[todde702]

It's a mechanical lifter engine so in the cold, there's a bit more clearance on the valve lifters. Once it warms up a bit the clearance tightens up. It's perfectly normal for the world engine. Thankfully they warm up pretty quick.

[Woody715]

Great to hear that it is normal...kinda wondered about mine. It does the same thing - a bit more noise when cold but not for a long time. I have about 1700 miles (2500 km) on mine now and plan on doing my first oil change at 3000km with Mobil1 5W20 (syntheic) soon. Some may say thats too early, but for my own piece of mind, thats what I will do. I have always been a big advocate for regular oil changes, and have never had any engine problems with any of my cars over 30 years of driving.

[NHPATRIOT]

Yeah, my 2011 2.4L sounds like a bag of rocks bouncing on a sewing machine at cold start too. Normal for the engine so they say. As the other member posted in the warmer months it doesn't do it. As the temps have dropped though it is quite loud.

Synthetic oil should help with it some.

[CrazyIvan]

Check your Oil level.

[Jman]

Originally Posted by todde702

It's a mechanical lifter engine so in the cold, there's a bit more clearance on the valve lifters. Once it warms up a bit the clearance tightens up. It's perfectly normal for the world engine. Thankfully they warm up pretty quick.

thumbs up on the descriptive

[TheDeadInMe]

if i were you i would add a engine block heater. also I think there is a blanket heater for your battery.a also, id slowly move over to full synthetic depending on how old your car is. The best way to go about switching over to full is run the 50/50 for about 10k miles then go to full synth.

[TheDeadInMe]

ps, both heaters are usually used at climates below freezing.

[MrJeepR44]

I use Mobil1 full synthetic and a Wix filter, and it still sounds rough starting it when it is 45 degrees outside. It doesn't sound rough for long, but it still makes "the noise"

[TheDeadInMe]

ya mine too. You know what it weird is the other morning, it was the coldest its been since the summer and the jeep was running better (more HP and smoother and faster acceleration) than in the summer. This is our second winter with it. I swear the jeep likes cold weather better. I hope I get o drive through snow this year since I will be lifting the patriot and going from 17" to 16" rims with Cooper tires. We drove in some major snow 2 times last year and it did so GREAT.