Jeep Cherokee easiest to service?

[SilverSnake]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
6.4L, And its crazy forced-induction sibling


Nice. Here is an example of a clean one in my Scat Pack. Not as tight as the GC but still fills up the compartment.

 

[OVERKILL]

I remember when mine was clean, LOL

You notice the difference in the engine covers despite them being the same year?

 

[SilverSnake]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I remember when mine was clean, LOL

You notice the difference in the engine covers despite them being the same year?


I guess I am cheating. Mine is clean because it never gets dirty. Only 3300 miles in 2 years. I only use it in perfect weather. Every time I take it out the engine gets vacuumed and dusted and the finish touched up with detail spray. Always show ready.

Interesting that the engine covers are different. Not sure why.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SilverSnake
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I remember when mine was clean, LOL

You notice the difference in the engine covers despite them being the same year?


I guess I am cheating. Mine is clean because it never gets dirty. Only 3300 miles in 2 years. I only use it in perfect weather. Every time I take it out the engine gets vacuumed and dusted and the finish touched up with detail spray. Always show ready.

Interesting that the engine covers are different. Not sure why.


Yeah, that's a huge difference. Mine gets driven year 'round, tows trailers, pushes snow..etc. I've got 33,000Km on it presently.



This is the engine cover from my '14 Charger SRT:


I'm wondering if the "Scat Pack" cars get the different covers because they aren't SRT-branded vehicles?

 

[SilverSnake]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I'm wondering if the "Scat Pack" cars get the different covers because they aren't SRT-branded vehicles?

I think you might be right. My car has the R/T badge on the back. Kind of a "stealth" SRT.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SilverSnake
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I'm wondering if the "Scat Pack" cars get the different covers because they aren't SRT-branded vehicles?

I think you might be right. My car has the R/T badge on the back. Kind of a "stealth" SRT.

 

[billt460]

When we were looking at Jeep Grand Cherokee's, we very briefly considered the Penstar V-6. (It's a well proven engine, with many on the road without any significant issues). But because of it's far less performance and towing ability, along with the fact I do my own oil changes, we went with the 5.7 V-8. I was turned off to the cartridge type oil filter sitting on the top of the engine. Located in a not so easy position to get at, that requires removal of the bonnet. Not to mention there is no way you're going to remove and replace it without getting oil all over the top of the engine. This regardless of how careful you are. Or how many rags you try to stuff around it.

And you will then have dirty oil leaking into all the nooks and crannies of the manifold. Which will be difficult to clean up. I don't understand why they design these engines with filters this difficult and messy to change. With the 5.7 HEMI it is a conventional spin on oil filter located on the bottom of the engine.

It can easily be removed and replaced without getting a drop of oil anywhere on the engine or frame itself. If there was any criticism of the oil filter, it would be the location is through an access hole in a protective guard on the bottom of the vehicle. But all that it required, was for me to purchase an oil filter wrench that accepts a 3/8" extension on the end of a ratchet. It reaches up and around the filter at the base, and allows good leverage to remove it. Problem solved for just $5.99.... (After trying a K&N oil filter with the cheap, sheet metal, spot welded "nut"). Which worked about as well as chewing tin foil to relieve a toothache.

 

[SteveSRT8]

excellent to consider the oil filter location first instead of finding out after your purchase!

Seems so silly to locate them in difficult places when they are regular service items!

 

[MotoGuzzi]

Between a 13 Durango, 14 Charger and 18 300, all with the 3.6 V6 I have done many oil changes. The top mounted oil filter is not an issue. Easily changed without making a mess. Just make sure you buy the correct filter. The 11-13 uses a different filter than the 14 and later.

 

[jeepman3071]

My father has a 2013 Grand Cherokee with the 5.7L V8. It just hit 120k miles, and has been very easy to service.

 

[pacem]

Quote:

When we were looking at Jeep Grand Cherokee's, we very briefly considered the Penstar V-6. (It's a well proven engine, with many on the road without any significant issues). But because of it's far less performance and towing ability, along with the fact I do my own oil changes, we went with the 5.7 V-8.


Wow. I am glad I asked. I had no idea and assumed the smaller V6 would entail less work. I am not removing anything to get to the plugs!

I guess that means 5.7 V8. Any other maintenance issues with it? Everything easy to get to? Years to avoid? I get it that 5.7L Hemi is fairly recent, only in the last generation or so?

 

[OVERKILL]

The 5.7L has been around since the early 2000's and is a time-tested design. With the MDS it actually yields decent fuel economy as well.

 

[billt460]

I'm surprised that cartridge type oil filters are still being used. They were used, but were never popular in some American cars back in the 50's and early 60's. Then once the spin on, disposable oil filter made it's debut, they disappeared faster than Polio outbreaks after the vaccine.

Cartridge type oil filters are inherently messy, and are a PITA by their very design. Once you remove them they not only drip everywhere, but you are forced to handle the thing in order to separate the filter from the cover. (At least on the Penstar V-6). Another thing is unless you change the oil on a dead cold engine that's been sitting, you have to allow for the filter housing itself to drain after shutting the engine off, otherwise you'll end up with a bigger mess. And many models never drain completely, regardless of how long you wait.

If you do your own work, you can be patient and take your time. But the kid at Jiffy Lube sure isn't. He'll have that filter out 2 minutes after he pulls it in. And you'll be lucky if he takes 15 seconds to wipe up after himself. Especially in the Summer, when everything under the hood is just cooking. He'll leave so much oil you won't have a clue if it's leaking or not.

Which brings us to the O-Ring that comes with every new filter. And should be replaced every time the filter is replaced. Yet another PITA that involves handling the hot, oily, dripping cover it fits on to. Will he do it? Maybe. Correctly without damaging it? Perhaps. But probably only if he sees you watching him.

Spin on, disposable oil filters come in all sizes. There is simply no need for manufacturers to keep using messy cartridge oil filters. Let alone come up with new places to hide them.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
There really isnt much difference on WK2 maintenance with 3.6 or 5.7, both fairly easy.

Diffs have fill/ drain plugs, ditto t-case, oil changes easy, only PITA is the ZF 8spd .

pushing 40k on hemi Overland, no issues, great SUV with quadra drive and air suspension

Would like to hear this explanation?

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: MotoGuzzi
Between a 13 Durango, 14 Charger and 18 300, all with the 3.6 V6 I have done many oil changes. The top mounted oil filter is not an issue. Easily changed without making a mess. Just make sure you buy the correct filter. The 11-13 uses a different filter than the 14 and later.


I found filter replacement on my 2016 Wrangler to be very easy, and neat. I haven't spilled a drop of oil on it yet doing an oil change. My only beef is they could have made the filter housing out of something other than plastic, [aluminum would have been nice] so I just make sure not to over torque it when I change the filter. Other than that the engine has been great so far. OTOH my 3.7L Liberty filter is a PITA to change. That can be a messy job, getting the filter out of the stupid location they put it in.

 

[billt460]

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Originally Posted By: VNTS
There really isnt much difference on WK2 maintenance with 3.6 or 5.7, both fairly easy.

Diffs have fill/ drain plugs, ditto t-case, oil changes easy, only PITA is the ZF 8spd .

pushing 40k on hemi Overland, no issues, great SUV with quadra drive and air suspension

Would like to hear this explanation?


The ZF 8-Speed isn't really a PITA, as much as it is expensive to do a fluid and filter change. The filter is more or less "built into" the pan. Which in essence makes the pan pretty much a disposable item. So when you do a fluid and filter change, you're stuck with buying a new pan and filter assembly.

The dealer wants $47.00 a quart for this fluid. (I believe it is a 9 or 10 quart capacity). I don't think it's available anywhere else. And even if it is, it's meaningless if you have the job done at the dealer. The filter and pan assembly runs $335.00 To $378.55. So when you add up the fluid, parts, and labor cost, you're looking at anywhere from $824.00 to $1105.00 (before taxes) to do a transmission drain and flush for a ZF 8-Speed automatic. (They run around $4K to replace).

https://www.oildepot.ca/dodge-dealer-home-of-1000-atf-flush/

All the 8-Speed ZF automatics are pretty much identical regardless if they're in a Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, or a Ram truck. By comparison it cost me $800.00 and change to have my 1991 Ford 4-Speed Automatic Overdrive automatic transmission completely rebuilt in my 1991 Mustang when I had it.

 

[billt460]

Doing a quick Internet check, here is the fluid for "only" $22.33 @ quart.

https://www.getoemparts.com/oem-parts/mo...JhoCCIMQAvD_BwE

And the pan and filter assembly for $189.60. (The pan and filter listed is for the Eco Diesel. But I'm sure the others are priced accordingly).

https://www.idparts.com/transmission-filter-pan-assembly-zf-8hp70d-p-5251.html

So going by that, if you do it yourself, you're looking at "only" $412.90 + shipping. That's a big savings, and would most certainly be worth looking into. My guess is the longer, and more of these things that are on the road, the cheaper this will all get.

 

[billt460]

If you can live though the awful music, here is a pretty good video showing the fluid and filter change process on a ZF 8-Speed.

 

[Nick1994]

I have to admit, I don't like the ZF 8 speed... At least the one in my grandpa's 14' Grand Cherokee is jerky and takes too long to kick down when passing.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I have to admit, I don't like the ZF 8 speed... At least the one in my grandpa's 14' Grand Cherokee is jerky and takes too long to kick down when passing.


That's just programming. There's a big difference between sport and "auto" in my GC for example.