3.8 Engine issues

I know there are common issues with this engine and I just now started having problems. I own a 2010 Wrangler Sport mountain edition with roughly 68k miles, a few weeks ago I started hearing a faint ticking sound that would only occur if I was accelerating. But I've noticed this issue get worse day by day, at start up it's non stop until it idles down to normal, when I'm driving it only happens when I accelerate (now at all speeds) it's a constant noise, I have been told it could be anything from an exhaust leak, to piston slap, and or bad lifters. I do have a few videos of this noise, I will post them if it would be of any help. Thank you

 

Howdy,
I have a 2010 wrangler Sahara with the same engine and at times hear the same noise. I have chalked it up to the vehicle being under powered which it is. I could be wrong. Newer Jeeps have a bigger engine which makes a lot is sense. Thinking about re powering with diesel.
AceMan

 

Could be exhaust leak or lifter. To me, exhaust leaks have a definite metallic clang, where as the lifter sounds like a muffled tick. Pulleys can also cause ticks.

 

this is the current noise