3.6 Engine - Now I understand the power issue

[smlobx]

Hard disagree. I'm at 6,000+ feet for 6 months every year. I have never needed more power. This Jeep rips up and down the passes. 8k feet? No problemo. I'm passing people left and right. It likes to rev, sure, but I think it's meant to eat at 4,500 rpm in the steep mountains.

Empty, maybe.
But add 1000 pounds to your Jeep and try that and you’ll see the difference. As an example I drove over Vail Pass this past Spring fully loaded for a month long Overlanding trip and it was all I could do to keep up with the traffic. Also the engine temps were pushing almost 250 degrees…and this was in a freakin’ snowstorm with outside temps in the 20’s. It was screaming just trying to keep up.

I think it’s what we are all used to. In my case the Jeep is the slowest vehicle I have, by a long shot.

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[Zachanadandy]

Empty, maybe.
But add 1000 pounds to your Jeep and try that and you’ll see the difference. As an example I drove over Vail Pass this past Spring fully loaded for a month long Overlanding trip and it was all I could do to keep up with the traffic. Also the engine temps were pushing almost 250 degrees…and this was in a freakin’ snowstorm with outside temps in the 20’s. It was screaming just trying to keep up.

I think it’s what we are all used to. In my case the Jeep is the slowest vehicle I have, by a long shot.

The nature of the pentastar requires it to be screaming all over the place if you need the power. It doesn't make peak torque until 4300 rpms and peak hp until 6200. If you need it to work you need it up around redline. Vail pass is worst case scenario for an NA engine that isn't over powered at sea level. You're down 30% on power at 10k feet and it's gets worse from there. It's not the weight its the altitude. I had no problems maintaining 65mph up steep grades with an 8k pound trailer without overheating... but that's at 4500'-5000' max.

 

[jmr]

My 3.6 will complain about cooling the entire trip. Coolant temp will see 235 degrees on the trail with ease, 245 degrees on any highway mountain pass while it bogs down. Temps will climb until self-destruction if I don't back off.

It's one of the biggest reasons I have my 3.6 for sale right now and I'm swapping to the eco diesel.

I have not seen cooling issues like that mine is steady between 203-208 (must be my functional hood scoop lol) . On heavy load the 3.6 oil temp is slightly higher than water temp. It's nothing like my 392 running it briskly having oil temps hit 260. In contrast my 2025 RAM 3.0L S/O water temps would cycle up and down between 192 and 226 on the highway oil temp matched water temp. The thermostat for the 2025 RAM 3.0L was released using the 5th revision of it.

 

[professorkx]

My 3.6 will complain about cooling the entire trip. Coolant temp will see 235 degrees on the trail with ease, 245 degrees on any highway mountain pass while it bogs down. Temps will climb until self-destruction if I don't back off.

It's one of the biggest reasons I have my 3.6 for sale right now and I'm swapping to the eco diesel.

I’ve never heard of a systemic cooling issue with the 3.6, even after an internet search. Must be something unique to your setup…

 

[jmr]

I had a 2014 RAM Reg Cab Short Bed 2WD with the 3.6 the temps would creep up to 232 degrees when driving and threw code P26AB. My dealer replaced the 3 way coolant valve part # 5201492-AC under warranty.

 

[ericw.]

I’ve never heard of a systemic cooling issue with the 3.6, even after an internet search. Must be something unique to your setup…

A simple google search will return so many results on the 3.6 overheating issues. It's a frequent thread on the Wrangler Forums and CDJR actually designed their coolant temp gauge to stay center with coolant temps up to 230/235 degrees so people aren't alarmed when it's running hot. lol

Mine has a new engine (16,500 miles on it now, professionally installed by a reputable engine shop. Cost me around 10,500. I have 169k on the chassis), transmission serviced and trans runs great.

 

[professorkx]

A simple google search will return so many results on the 3.6 overheating issues. It's a frequent thread on the Wrangler Forums and CDJR actually designed their temperature gauge to stay center with coolant temps up to 230/235 degrees so people aren't alarmed when it's running hot. lol

Mine has a new engine (16,500 miles on it now, professionally installed by a reputable engine shop. Cost me around 10,500. I have 169k on the chassis), transmission serviced and trans runs great.

A simple google search for 3.6 overheating issues yields some results for the JK, but compare that to searching for Jeep diesel Overheating issues and my computer crashed…might have overheated out of sympathy for those who own the
Diesel version…

 

[ericw.]

A simple google search for 3.6 overheating issues yields some results for the JK, but compare that to searching for Jeep diesel Overheating issues and my computer crashed…might have overheated out of sympathy for those who own the
Diesel version…

har har har

if only there were stats.
About 19,500 results for diesel
About 54,200 results for 3.6L

 

[Chasm]

I’ve never heard of a systemic cooling issue with the 3.6, even after an internet search. Must be something unique to your setup…

"Whys is my Jeep suddenly running hot?"

 

[bill61]

I’m probably out of line here, but I just don’t understand pushing an engine (that you are relying on to transport you to a destination miles away) to the breaking point and then complain about power issues. Ease off the skinny pedal a bit and put on the emergency flashers. Or pull over and let the engine cool a bit.

 

[ericw.]

"Whys is my Jeep suddenly running hot?"

lmao that's pretty good.

I have a factory grille though and kept the engine stock for reliability and ease of repairs.

I’m probably out of line here, but I just don’t understand pushing an engine (that you are relying on to transport you to a destination miles away) to the breaking point and then complain about power issues. Ease off the skinny pedal a bit and put on the emergency flashers. Or pull over and let the engine cool a bit.

Yeah reading about revving it to 6800 RPMs all the time to stay at peak power just sounds like a bad idea, at least a recipe for blown gaskets if not worse. Not to mention, the 3.6 at high RPM sounds like you're slowly rolling over a sea lion, tail first, with a steam roller. lol

 

[biodiesel]

Ease off the skinny pedal a bit and put on the emergency flashers. Or pull over and let the engine cool a bit.

You're absolutely right. More fuel = more heat. I keep trying to help the EcoDiesel guys understand that, but many of them don't want to slow down. The EcoDiesel won't derate as long as you manage the speed.

 

[Zachanadandy]

lmao that's pretty good.

I have a factory grille though and kept the engine stock for reliability and ease of repairs.


Yeah reading about revving it to 6800 RPMs all the time to stay at peak power just sounds like a bad idea, at least a recipe for blown gaskets if not worse. Not to mention, the 3.6 at high RPM sounds like you're slowly rolling over a sea lion, tail first, with a steam roller. lol

Every engine isn't a 70s era v8 with a 6k redline. Being afraid to run this v6 up to mid 6k is like saying don't run your street bike up to 11k rpms where it mags power because your Harley spit the rods out doing that. The 3.6L is perfectly happy at 6k plus as that is where it makes peak power. If you're pushing past the roll off point where power is dropping you're pushing too hard and there's nothing to be gained. That's just not the case up to 7k with this engine.

 

[Hootbro]

har har har

if only there were stats.
About 19,500 results for diesel
About 54,200 results for 3.6L

Speaking of stats, divide that by how many made and which one has the worst ratio numbers?

Google results are a crap way for raw number data collection anyways. It is what Google wants you to see.

 

[professorkx]

har har har

if only there were stats.
About 19,500 results for diesel
About 54,200 results for 3.6L

If diesel jeeps were so great I suspect they would still be produced. As I’ve said, I would LOVE a diesel jeep, but not all the cooling headaches. I’ve dealt with those issues before on motor swaps, and they are exhausting to try to find the answer to keeping things cool…

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