3.6 Pentastar?

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RustyRatRod

RustyRatRod

I was born on a Monday. Not last Monday.
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Kitty and I are possibly looking to get a new vehicle maybe by the end of this year. Kinda lookin at the Gladiator, since I had an 08 Wrangler Unlimited. We liked it, but the 3.8 converted minivan motor was a total POS. Went out at 18K miles. Dealer covered it with a new engine but it was never the same so I sent it down the road. What about the Gladiator and the 3.6? Are they any good? Any of yall have one? Likes and dislikes?
 
I just did some research on these and there has been issues but if you get newer that 2016 you will get the PUG, Pentastar Upgrade.
I would buy a new one but since you said Gladiator it would be the latest and greatest. I think there were upgrades after the PUG. Here's a great article on the upgraded version. Biggest thing was the EGR cooler. That was the source of most of the hate for early Pentastars.

PUG — the Pentastar V6 engine upgrade
 
Wife and I have a 2013 grand caravan 3.6L and for the sheer weight of a grand caravan it's got some giddyup. Its got 149K on the clock. I dont go by their recommended mileage oil change intervals on the hobbs meter built into the computer that pops up on the odometer, I just change oil and the filter every 3k, slap a new sticker in the door jamb, and reset the oil change indicator when it pops up. You will love the fact that it's a drop in element filter in a plastic canister right on the top of the engine between the cylinder banks. Add a Fumoto engineering drain valve, and oil changes are about 15 minutes.
 
wife has an 2014 cherokee with the 3.6. 88k pn it now. runs great. no problems. took it to texas on vacation and got 28 plus mpg. drove on the toll way that has 85 mph speed limit and ran about 88 mph. drove fine. son has 2011 grand cherokee w/3.6 and 162k. no problem so far.
 
I've got the little brother, 3.2L. I like it. It's a little strange in that the exhaust manifold is kinda built into the head, but it doesn't seem to hinder it much. It has good enough pickup for me, more than enough for my wife. I use GOOD synthetic oil and change the oil & (Wix)filter every 5k miles.
 
A friend took me for a ride in a 2018 Challenger with the 3.6 v6. I was very impressed how well it ran. I believe they have 300 horsepower.
 
My son-in-law has a 2014 wrangler with the 3.6 auto and has 240km or 150k miles no big problems so far. We have changed all the fluids on time and did replace the rad when he took a big rock from underneath. We also replaced the door bushings once as well.
 
Thanks yall. Sound pretty good so far.
 
I just traded in my 2017 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for a new Gladiator Rubicon with the 3.0 liter diesel. It was a great car and a good engine, but I would get a 2018 or later with the 8-speed auto.The engine is not torquey and needs lots of gears. My ‘17 model spent a lot of time near the redline on hills.We decided to buy a small travel trailer and knew the 3.6 wouldn’t work in a Gladiator, no matter what it’s rated to tow. There are hills on every trip, even if you live in the plains states. The diesel is amazing. Drive them both in a Gladiator and you’ll see what I mean.





Unli
 
My old lady has a POS 2015 Journey (aka Eeyore) with a 3.6. So far with 75k miles the only issue we have had is an injector went out. The motor is great, I tested a 2017 Durango GT with it and the 8 speed was totally different than Eeyore, response was great in a heavier vehicle. Had a 2018 Charger SXT loaner while Eeyore was in for a recall, It was good, I liked it with the 8 speed, had it for 5 days and worked that sucker. I chalk the Journey issues with poor transmission programming that really don't do the 3.6 justice. Great engine, cheap **** car in that case, and my kids are wrecking that thing. I told my wife to get the Durango.....
 
azaustin said:
I just traded in my 2017 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for a new Gladiator Rubicon with the 3.0 liter diesel. It was a great car and a good engine, but I would get a 2018 or later with the 8-speed auto.The engine is not torquey and needs lots of gears. My ‘17 model spent a lot of time near the redline on hills.We decided to buy a small travel trailer and knew the 3.6 wouldn’t work in a Gladiator, no matter what it’s rated to tow. There are hills on every trip, even if you live in the plains states. The diesel is amazing. Drive them both in a
Gladiator and you’ll see what I mean.
Unli
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good suggestion, drive them both. I've driven a diesel for work, overall didn't care for it. 1) when you go to fill the tank, the nozzles ALWAYS leak, you get diesel on your hands and/or clothes and you can't get rid of that smell all day. 2) Your wife will NEVER fill the tank by herself (see #1). 3) You have to be really careful when you pump. I had to sniff the fuel nozzle, first, because I once filled up at a station which had diesel contaminated with gasoline. Fortunately, the engine didn't runaway on me, it just died and I had to be towed away. 4) I don't know enough about repairing a diesel, and don't have the time to learn how to repair them, nor the money to hire someone to fix them.
 
The best thing I ever owned was my 2000 F250 crew cab long bed 4x4 pickup with a 7.3 diesel in it. I ordered it new from the factory in 1999 and waited over four months to get it. Never had a problem with fueling it, never had a problem with fuel in 17 years and 211,000 miles. But different people have different experiences. They gave me 1/3 of the price of my new 2017 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited in on trade, and it was sold before I left the lot. It was a great truck and I still miss it sometimes. Diesel is different from gas, and it has its’ good points and bad points, but if you want torque, and efficiency, it’s the way to go. Always pick the right tool for the job.
 
We have a 2011 convertible s hardtop the penstar is a little overachiever. It will flat move that 4,000 lb car. No mechanical problems with 72,000 miles on it but changing the plugs is kind of stupid you have to separate the intake manifold. It seems ridiculous but after you do it it's not that bad. Definitely not a torque monster but if you wind it it will deliver.
 
my wife's 19 Cherokee has 3.2L Pentastar. Our old Cherokee's w/4.0 I6 got 15(when A/C is on) to 20mpg. Her new Cherokee gets 24 to 29mpg w/AC on all the time. I liked the old 4.0, it's tough as nails. But the new Pentastar is much smoother, much quieter, more powerful.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Kitty and I are possibly looking to get a new vehicle maybe by the end of this year. Kinda lookin at the Gladiator, since I had an 08 Wrangler Unlimited. We liked it, but the 3.8 converted minivan motor was a total POS. Went out at 18K miles. Dealer covered it with a new engine but it was never the same so I sent it down the road. What about the Gladiator and the 3.6? Are they any good? Any of yall have one? Likes and dislikes?
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I have a 2014 ram w/ the 3.6 , nary a problem w/ it , gets about 9-10 miles per gal.. better than the old 2002 dodge quadcab , and has about 60 more h.p. --------------I put the stock hemi dual tail pipes on it just for the look .
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RustyRatRod said:
Kitty and I are possibly looking to get a new vehicle maybe by the end of this year. Kinda lookin at the Gladiator, since I had an 08 Wrangler Unlimited. We liked it, but the 3.8 converted minivan motor was a total POS. Went out at 18K miles. Dealer covered it with a new engine but it was never the same so I sent it down the road. What about the Gladiator and the 3.6? Are they any good? Any of yall have one? Likes and dislikes?
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I work on these almost daily at the dealer. I also have a 2016 Durango with the 3.6 pen taster upgrade. They are generally a good engine but we are still seeing roller rocker failures occasionally wiping out cams. I think keeping the oil changed frequently and keeping the idle time low is the answer to that problem. Have you opened the hood on one of these new Jeep’s Rusty? Not very Tech friendly, they really stuff that engine bay tight! Not very do it yourself friendly for those who like to do their own work
 
I have the 3.6 in my Cherokee Trailhawk, 82,000 on the clock and it runs like a champ. Plenty of get with it if you need it too.
 
Wifes 2012 3.8 VVT mommyvan, still kicking hard at 136K. Gonna change the plugs this weekend. Never raised a wrench in vain in 6 years on that thing minus a set a brake pads and oil changes (oh, and a noisy front squirrel blower motor, 3 screws and out) . Texas and back with no issues. Flex fuel even...hardly worth the time as the $/M is about the same.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Kitty and I are possibly looking to get a new vehicle maybe by the end of this year. Kinda lookin at the Gladiator, since I had an 08 Wrangler Unlimited. We liked it, but the 3.8 converted minivan motor was a total POS. Went out at 18K miles. Dealer covered it with a new engine but it was never the same so I sent it down the road. What about the Gladiator and the 3.6? Are they any good? Any of yall have one? Likes and dislikes?
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It’s sad to admit but I had to look it up to see what it is. Sharp looking rig. My wife likes it. She’s not getting one. I already squashed that idea.
 
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