Oh, I thought you had an older 3.8.
The horizontal filters on those have the occasional problem with the "dry" start noise.

The 3.6 have the new style filters, so I'd only be guessing.

 

Vacuum pump. Mine got even louder when I relocated from up front behind the bumper to under the hood to accommodate a light bar installation.

 

I have a 2012 and i had that same noise on cold starts, but as soon as i did my first oil change (mobil 1 synthetic) and replaced the oil filter (STP i believe), the cold starts noise completely went away.

 

I've an 08 and only when it's really cold when I start it it sounds like a cat is stuck under there right until the engine fires. But the engine fires good so I'm not to worried.

 

GOOD NEWS!! Mine did the exact same thing. Hard to explain but sounded awful every cold start (i.e. winter start). I took it in and they couldn't replicate it...Saw on here to maybe change the filter. One filter change and oil change later its fixed!

 

Mine was much better after switching to a K&N oil filter. Well worth the money imo.

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I ran k&n exclusively for 90k miles with 5w-30 and had more start-up noise with them than I have with the two Mopar filters (initial install and most recent experimental purchase)

 

Mine it is doing in it now with K&N filter. Normally I use NAPA Gold.

I have been blaming the starter. I will change the oil filter back to NAPA in th enext few days.

Make the grinding noise only in morning when cold.
mine is a 2009 JKUR.

 

Mine does the same thing. It makes me worry it's something serous. Mine also does it when it's really windy. I have 68k miles and nothing broke yet so I guess I'm going to wait and see

 

So i changed the oil filter from K&N to Napa Gold (this is what I have been using for a while), and the grinding stil there.
I guess next step is the starter?