3.6 Pentastar Issues Thread

[Marine Les]

I think each motor should have its own thread to give owners awareness their particular motor.
So I am curious as to what problems 3.6 owners are having? I have only 8K on mine with no issues so far.

 

[RainDesert]

No problems at all in 25k on our Durango, now wife wants to buy another one this month as our lease is up on our "trial" Durango.

 

[huntergreen]

Over 60000 miles in my Wrangler. No issues.

 

[rule18]

No issues, 15k miles. My last 3.6 was in a Wrangler, no issues at 70k prior to a trade-in...

 

[stimpy433]

Hahaha, there's no thread cuz there's no problems. I have almost 40K on mine and it still running strong like the day I bought it.

 

[RLJ10X]

35,000+ on my 2 door, hard top Wrangler. No problems.

The Wrangler weighs 4000 pounds, on the dot. I have 3.73 gears with the 6 speed Manual. I'm always pleasantly surprised how hard this thing accelerates. But on the flip side, down low, it pulls like a tractor. Put it in 4 low, and it practically is a tractor. I've pulled a few smallish logs with it.

It's a great engine. Nothing has yet convinced me to get a new Ram. But if the ever add 2 cylinders to the Pentistar, I might.

 

[Marine Les]

There must be somebody that's had a problem with the 3.6 as nothing is perfect.

 

[PoMansRam]

Just 33k miles on my 2017 RAM 1500 Pentastar and flawless.

Previous Pentastar was in our 2013 grand caravan with 75k miles when we traded it. It was perfect too.

There was the bad cylinder head issue that supposedly was rectified around 2013.

I've also seen some rocker arm and valve spring breakage on youtube.

Plus the oil filter housing on models up to 2013 had some issues.

I've seen some coolant temp sensor and oil pressure sensor problems reported here and there too.

Main thing is, there are LOT of these engines out there and more being built every day for everything from sport sedans to cargo vans and light trucks. That wouldn't so much be the case if it was a ****. I know it's no V8, but it still brings a smile to my face and surprises me when I mash the go-pedal on my Ram 1500. It's hard to believe that tiny looking engine can sling a 1500 around like that.

 

[WhiTri24]

My wife's 15' van with the pentastar has near 70K and running strong. The trans seems to have a hicup at times. but the engine run's smooth and still feels like it has all it's power.

 

[Rado]

My 2015 Pentastar with around 58k on the clock ! My issue have been ???? 0..... Did have a broken stud on the Y pipe fixed under warranty so IMO not a problem..

 

[Marine Les]

PoMansRam I new about the early head problem and the oil filter housing issue but did not know of rocker arm/valve spring problems and am guessing they were all addressed as I am not hearing more on those items. I'm with you on being amazed by the amount of power that Chrysler has rung out of just 220 cubic inches.

 

[Marine Les]

I am still looking for somebody that has a problem with their 3.6. I know the 3.6 is a small portion of Ram sales but I will keep this post alive to see when somebody reports a problem.

 

[Rado]

I would be interested to see what issues do arrive

 

[PoMansRam]

PoMansRam I new about the early head problem and the oil filter housing issue but did not know of rocker arm/valve spring problems and am guessing they were all addressed as I am not hearing more on those items. I'm with you on being amazed by the amount of power that Chrysler has rung out of just 220 cubic inches.

I've not known anyone personally who's had valvetrain problems with their Pentastar, I've only seen it online through other automotive forums, youtube, etc. The ones I've seen were fairly easily fixed without having to remove the cylinder head from the effected bank.

There's one kind of silly, insignificant thing about the two Pentastars I've owned that I've noticed.. and maybe it's just me.. The engine bay gives off a slight oil burning smell that I notice after it's been parked hot. Dribbles from the oil filter housing maybe? Oil seeping into spark plug towers? I dunno. I do a soapy water and hose clean of my engine bay several times per year, so it's pretty spotless w/ no signs of oil leakage. It just smells like a 20yr/old engine with 200K miles on'er. LOL.

 

[grizzstang]

Our 2013 Jeep Wrangler 3.6 has 66,000 miles and no issues so far but it is not a matter of if the oil filter housing/cooler fails but when. It is plastic and is a wide spread problem. Every time I change the oil I wait for the "ping" where it launches the center section out or they crack on the bottom underneath the filter housing and **** oil underneath the intake. Whomever decided to make this part plastic should be fired as they are expensive and replacement requires the removal of the entire intake. I keep looking to see if the aftermarket has stepped up and made one out of Aluminum but so far, nothing.

 

[PoMansRam]

Yeah, I'm hoping for the best in regards to that OF housing. I did every oil change myself on our 2013 Grand Caravan the ~75K miles and 4yrs we owned it. Same with my 2017 Ram 1500 3.6.

I hear you though. I just snug that plastic housing with a 3/8" ratchet handle and I still wince every time. Not sure I could R/R myself or if I'd have to have it towed.

Why the base of it can't be aluminum and just the cap be plastic is beyond me. Way too much chance for failure as is the way that sucker snakes down there like an old school transmission funnel.

 

[guru1ofatl]

The wife's 2014 Grand Cherokee has 45,000 on it and the only issue she has had was the oil pressure sensor.

 

[GrumpyOleMan]

Only 3500 miles +/- so far but the only issue was ice in the throttle body that threw a ton of sensors and triggered limp mode. But it was about -35 at the time. Dealership cleaned out the throttle body and recommended I take it out and let it really warm up once in a while.
Most of my driving is very short distance. Ever since, I take it out about once every other week for a country drive and no issues.

 

[Marine Les]

I was under the impression that the oil filter housing had been redesigned to fix the issues but it sounds like I was wrong. I have not changed the oil myself yet and will go online to view an oil change before I do it. So far it looks like the oil filter housing is the only weak link for the motor and I appreciate PoMansRam tip on the issue.

 

[dav8388]

They did redesign the oil filter housing in 2013 or 14. I just rolled 14,000 miles on my 2017, and it has been flawless so far.