3.6 Pentastar Rattling

I think the only thing left turning on the front of the motor without the belt on is timing chains and cams. If its whinning with the belt, the power steering resevoir has a screen that will plug up, you can clean/replace it and that helped quiet ours down a bit.

i just did timing chain job on my then 173k mile GC the week before a 3600mile vacation. Its not "Fun" but it was pretty strait forward, plus i was able to pull cams and inspect every rocker, but thats more of a "ticking" sound when they are bad. Cams and rockers were about as perfect as could be though I suspect I might have just been lucky and/or good oil. Your timing chain cover is probably leaking and that will eventually burn up an alternator and/or its clutch. If you havent done a oil cooler, this is when you would buy that aluminium dorman replacement. Also time for water pump, Tstat, and trans service...

Cam chain guides will make a particular sound when they start to get sloppy. So much that i heard an engine start up and without looking you just know its a pentastar with some miles. Our van is noticiably quieter on startup though i also used 5w30.