3.6 liter Chrysler V6

[The Critic]

Well, since yours is an anecdote, I'll mention mine. We just traded it in (was in a JKU) with 125k miles. All oil changes done with about 20% left on the OLM.

Oil pressure switch failed under warranty at 15k - Changed under warranty
Oil cooler failed at 63k. Second one failed at 115k.
Radiator failed at 56k (not specific to the engine really)
Oil control solenoid in the oil pump itself failed at 84k.
First rocker arm failure at 109k. Second on the other bank at 118k.

In terms of engine I think that's it, but I may be forgetting something. It was also on its fourth set of front axle seals and sixth windshield.

It's a Jeep thing.

 

[jkasch]

‘14 JGC May ‘13 build. 82k, no tick, no leaks. 5k synthetic oci’s. Had oil pressure sensor replaced under warranty. I like it so much I bought a ‘22 Summit.

There’s a ridge on the oil filter cap. If you only tighten until it makes contact with the housing you’re not likely to get cracks.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

FWIW, the wife drives a 2014 T&C with the 3.6L. It has 81,000 miles on it an no noticeable issues I am aware of. It seems to run great and we just did a 1700 mile trip to Canada and back earlier this month...

just my $0.02

 

[Corollaman]

2015 Grand Caravan here, not too many miles though, just around 68k miles. 5w30 since the first OC and all changes made by me. Oil filter housing and cooler are fine and the valley is bone dry (that’s where the oil collects when the cooler cracks). No lifter tick or excessive valve train noise either.

The head problem affected around 1% of engines produced, which is around 10 million. You can be the judge of just how “known” this issue is.

Our 2014 Town and Country had a new head put on it under warranty right before we traded in. I'd like to think I was one of the 1% but the service department assured me there were a lot of heads being replaced on 3.6 engines so I personally think the actual percentage might be higher.

 

[Thermo1223]

Well, since yours is an anecdote, I'll mention mine. We just traded it in (was in a JKU) with 125k miles. All oil changes done with about 20% left on the OLM.

Oil pressure switch failed under warranty at 15k - Changed under warranty
Oil cooler failed at 63k. Second one failed at 115k.
Radiator failed at 56k (not specific to the engine really)
Oil control solenoid in the oil pump itself failed at 84k.
First rocker arm failure at 109k. Second on the other bank at 118k.

In terms of engine I think that's it, but I may be forgetting something. It was also on its fourth set of front axle seals and sixth windshield.

Not really anecdotal when the majority of posts corroborate that experience.

However there is always the case for a statistical anomaly. In PA you'll have suspension issues before most things as we are slowly figuring out how to pave roads

 

[MattPersman]

Well, since yours is an anecdote, I'll mention mine. We just traded it in (was in a JKU) with 125k miles. All oil changes done with about 20% left on the OLM.

Oil pressure switch failed under warranty at 15k - Changed under warranty
Oil cooler failed at 63k. Second one failed at 115k.
Radiator failed at 56k (not specific to the engine really)
Oil control solenoid in the oil pump itself failed at 84k.
First rocker arm failure at 109k. Second on the other bank at 118k.

In terms of engine I think that's it, but I may be forgetting something. It was also on its fourth set of front axle seals and sixth windshield.

So overall pretty reliable

 

[The Critic]

So overall pretty reliable

That is "average"

 

[newtoncd8]

2012 Jeep V6. 113k, still on original oil filter housing and no issues with cylinder head
My VIN was noted in the extended service notification (10 yr/150k).
I am careful to always hand torque the oil filter to 18 ft lbs.

 

[Fabulous50s]

Sounds like you are looking at a class B ProMaster RV?

I own a 2020 PM2500 159" wheel base as my work van. There are well documented things which can help especially with the 62te transaxle.

I run PP 5w-30, am gentle with the oil filter and a 5k OCI. I installed a drain plug on the trans fluid pan. And change what comes out (approx 5.5qts) annually. I did the filter at 25k miles. FCA had made 10,000,000+ of these engines, so they are plentiful and parts availability is excellent.

Listen for any lifter noise, and if you hear any pull the valve cover and fix it right away, and you won't need cams. Roller rocker arms can fail in all brands.

 

[KrisZ]

Our 2014 Town and Country had a new head put on it under warranty right before we traded in. I'd like to think I was one of the 1% but the service department assured me there were a lot of heads being replaced on 3.6 engines so I personally think the actual percentage might be higher.

The 1% is the officially available statistic, so that what we can reliably go by, not stories from dealerships.

Similar to Hyundai/Kia theta II engine casting debris that reportedly affected over 2% engines produced. Those could cause catastrophic engine failures, Hyundai issued multiple recalls and there are class action lawsuits for it. But do you hear anyone mention this when people ask about Hyundai/Kia vehicles? No, not really.

Chrysler is the whipping boy of Internet forums, not without some merit of course, but it gets ridiculous sometimes with the supposed horror stories, where other manufacturers also have them, and many times a lot worse, but that’s somehow different.

 

[Fabulous50s]

The 3.6 Pentastar is really a fantastic engine. For a DOHC American V engine, I'd put it in the top 3. We (Americans) have never really been able to make a decent OHC engine in mass...... Ford modular engines are kind of an exception, except for the 3 valve, those are junk! Asia and Europe had OHC mastered 40 years ago.

Don't talk to me about GM..... they make fantastic pushrod engines, but anything with a timing chain longer that a couple of feet......nope!

 

[4WD]

The 3.6 Pentastar is really a fantastic engine. For a DOHC American V engine, I'd put it in the top 3. We (Americans) have never really been able to make a decent OHC engine in mass...... Ford modular engines are kind of an exception, except for the 3 valve, those are junk! Asia and Europe had OHC mastered 40 years ago.

Don't talk to me about GM..... they make fantastic pushrod engines, but anything with a timing chain longer that a couple of feet......nope!

What do you think the 4.6L or 5.0 Ford was ? Or many other long lasting Ford engines …
Tig1 gets great runs from Ford V6’s …

 

[4WD]

I know they have improved the Pentastar - but my 2020 sounds like a diesel next to our 2017/2022 5.3L’s …
that‘s with M1 or RGT … I think lots of folks who complain about engine noise have DOHC engines …
My Pentastar is just plain loud …
Might try 5W30 next …

 

[OVERKILL]

The 3.6 Pentastar is really a fantastic engine. For a DOHC American V engine, I'd put it in the top 3. We (Americans) have never really been able to make a decent OHC engine in mass...... Ford modular engines are kind of an exception, except for the 3 valve, those are junk! Asia and Europe had OHC mastered 40 years ago.

Don't talk to me about GM..... they make fantastic pushrod engines, but anything with a timing chain longer that a couple of feet......nope!

You know Ford started doing OHC engines in the 60's right? The Ford Indy Cammer was probably the earliest example, then there was the 427 SOHC. The whole modular family (which the current Coyote engine is a member of) can't be an "exception", as it it simply soundly torpedoes the theory. Ford also made the excellent Duratec family of OHC engines which were both V6 and i4 (though a few were Mazda derived).

Chrysler's 4.7L wasn't awful, but was prone to some issues that had nothing to do with it being OHC.

Euro marques have had notable issues with OHC vee engines. BMW's M62 was somewhat notorious for timing chain issues, as was Audi's 4.2L V8.

The VAG EA888 (an i4) was the target of a class-action lawsuit for timing component related failures.

Honda's V6 with cylinder deactivation has been quite problem-prone with oil consumption and sludge/varnish.

I'm not up on my GM history, but I'm sure they have produced several successful OHC engines along with the black eyes like the early Northstar ones.

Ultimately, they've all produced some turds, doesn't matter whether they are OHC or OHV.

 

[Rand]

Similar to Hyundai/Kia theta II engine casting debris that reportedly affected over 2% engines produced. Those could cause catastrophic engine failures, Hyundai issued multiple recalls and there are class action lawsuits for it. But do you hear anyone mention this when people ask about Hyundai/Kia vehicles? No, not really.

They hid alot by declaring no issue.

Friend bought a 2017 santa fe (his 3rd hyundai)with 15k miles on it (so no 100k warranty)
around 65k miles it started using a quart per 400-800 miles.
They rigged it up so it passed consumption once and said nope no problem its using less than 1qt per 1000 miles.
He then traded it in.. that must have been one that wasnt included in the 2% eh.

Guess what brand he is not shopping now.

Pentastar is not the greatest engine ever made .. but would you rather have an ecoboost 1.5? .

 

[4WD]

I have sisters with 2006 and 2008 GM V6’s - (Saturn & Chevy) -
they just motor on with tires brakes, and batteries -

 

[4WD]

They hid alot by declaring no issue.

Friend bought a 2017 santa fe (his 3rd hyundai)with 15k miles on it (so no 100k warranty)
around 65k miles it started using a quart per 400-800 miles.
They rigged it up so it passed consumption once and said nope no problem its using less than 1qt per 1000 miles.
He then traded it in.. that must have been one that wasnt included in the 2% eh.

Guess what brand he is not shopping now.

Pentastar is not the greatest engine ever made .. but would you rather have an ecoboost 1.5? .

DNewton used to post some really long OCI’s on conventional oil used in Ford OHC’s …
I wonder if there are not correlation’s between easy on oil motors and great designs
He mentioned the DMax could care less what brand you pour in …

 

[KrisZ]

They hid alot by declaring no issue.

That’s what I find so intriguing how people talk about other brands. Especially Internet forums.

Hyundai hid the issue, denied warranty claims and it wasn’t until an engineer whistleblower came out and spilled the beans and NHTSA got involved, that they started fixing these engines.
Where Chrysler, from what I read, is actually very good at covering the head and rocker arm issues, even outside of warranty.

 

[jkasch]

You know Ford started doing OHC engines in the 60's right? The Ford Indy Cammer was probably the earliest example, then there was the 427 SOHC. The whole modular family (which the current Coyote engine is a member of) can't be an "exception", as it it simply soundly torpedoes the theory. Ford also made the excellent Duratec family of OHC engines which were both V6 and i4 (though a few were Mazda derived).

Chrysler's 4.7L wasn't awful, but was prone to some issues that had nothing to do with it being OHC.

Euro marques have had notable issues with OHC vee engines. BMW's M62 was somewhat notorious for timing chain issues, as was Audi's 4.2L V8.

The VAG EA888 (an i4) was the target of a class-action lawsuit for timing component related failures.

Honda's V6 with cylinder deactivation has been quite problem-prone with oil consumption and sludge/varnish.

I'm not up on my GM history, but I'm sure they have produced several successful OHC engines along with the black eyes like the early Northstar ones.

Ultimately, they've all produced some turds, doesn't matter whether they are OHC or OHV.

Wasn’t the Indy Ford a Ford/Cosworth? Cosworth had been doing DOHC’s for some time, IIRC.

 

[BornSlippy]

You know Ford started doing OHC engines in the 60's right? The Ford Indy Cammer was probably the earliest example, then there was the 427 SOHC. The whole modular family (which the current Coyote engine is a member of) can't be an "exception", as it it simply soundly torpedoes the theory. Ford also made the excellent Duratec family of OHC engines which were both V6 and i4 (though a few were Mazda derived).

Chrysler's 4.7L wasn't awful, but was prone to some issues that had nothing to do with it being OHC.

Euro marques have had notable issues with OHC vee engines. BMW's M62 was somewhat notorious for timing chain issues, as was Audi's 4.2L V8.

The VAG EA888 (an i4) was the target of a class-action lawsuit for timing component related failures.

Honda's V6 with cylinder deactivation has been quite problem-prone with oil consumption and sludge/varnish.

I'm not up on my GM history, but I'm sure they have produced several successful OHC engines along with the black eyes like the early Northstar ones.

Ultimately, they've all produced some turds, doesn't matter whether they are OHC or OHV.

GM 2.3 DOHC Quad Four.

https://jalopnik.com/heres-why-the-quad-4-was-one-of-gms-most-important-engi-1829719965