2.7 noise...

Need some assistance identifying possible issues. Any help would be appreciated.

Last night, I started hearing a sound from under the hood. The best way to describe it would be to say "like a cardboard tag had been stapled to a belt and was slapping against the hood."

I immediately brought it to the mechanic. He popped the hood and it sounded different (worse). To describe where "2.7" is stamped on the engine, for lack of a tech term, I'll call it the "cover"... It sounded like a nut or bolt was bouncing around under the "cover" like popcorn.

The mechanic said, "It doesn't seem like an engine issue; it stops as you accelerate."

Changed the oil, but to no avail.

I strongly suggest the "sludge" possibilty that these engines are notorious for.

Today, he said there was no sound and, at this point, all he could do is put a "detergent" in the oil.

Again, ANY (non-trollish) input would be appreciated.

Sounds like you may have had a lifter that was not pumping up. There is not (that I know of) a safe way to de-sludge the engine if that is the problem. Adding a cleaner to the oil can cause the sludge to start detaching from the engine in pieces and plug something up that is important. That may have been what happened with the noise that you were hearing.
The only solution to the sludge problem that consistantly works, is to use MOBIL 1 or other synthetic oil. I have a friend with a 2000 Intrepid, he has used Mobile 1 since the first oil change and has not had any problem. He now has about 110K miles on the engine. I have never heard of anyone that used synthetic in these engine have a sludge problem or problem associated with sludge. The timing chains are real fragile on these engines, they often break, even when they don't have a sludge problem. The synthetic seems to have enough more friction protection to keep the chain from wearing out. If you have that part of the engine apart, put a new chain on it for good measure. If the chain breaks, the whole engine is toast.

Sounds like you may have had a lifter that was not pumping up. There is not (that I know of) a safe way to de-sludge the engine if that is the problem. Adding a cleaner to the oil can cause the sludge to start detaching from the engine in pieces and plug something up that is important. That may have been what happened with the noise that you were hearing.
The only solution to the sludge problem that consistantly works, is to use MOBIL 1 or other synthetic oil. I have a friend with a 2000 Intrepid, he has used Mobile 1 since the first oil change and has not had any problem. He now has about 110K miles on the engine. I have never heard of anyone that used synthetic in these engine have a sludge problem or problem associated with sludge. The timing chains are real fragile on these engines, they often break, even when they don't have a sludge problem. The synthetic seems to have enough more friction protection to keep the chain from wearing out. If you have that part of the engine apart, put a new chain on it for good measure. If the chain breaks, the whole engine is toast.


Unfortunately, your information is consistent with what I've dug up with numerous phone calls in my frantic search for information.

Thanks for the help. It hurt, but such is life.