3.6 Penstar Poll!

[ShadowsPapa]

The Pentastar is the best Chrysler engine since the Slant Six. Gear it correctly and use it as intended and it has no gas engine peer.

Those darned slant six engines keep making lists of "best I6 engines" every so often.
They were maybe not the strongest, most torque ever produced, but dang, they were bullet-proof for their design era.
My parents had at least 3 I can recall - Mom had a 1960 Valiant with one, then Dad got a 68 Valiant, Mom's 60 was rusting apart (headlight areas as well as other parts, you know -that fender brow over the headlights trapped crud and rotted), and they got her a 1970 that had been - RACED by a goofy guy who was a customer of the family mechanic. It started out light yellow, our HS shop class got it in as a project for painting, ended up a nice deeper green and my parents bought it. I bet that thing had way over 100,000 miles by the time they retired it - never really needed much for engine work.
That 68 Valiant was fancy - had dealer-installed AC! Went all over with that on family vacations and such (yeah, 2 parents and us 3 boys)

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[ChrisNLA]

It's fine. I feel its a bit anemic but I don't hate my truck for it. It does the job.

On the other hand, while turbo and EV power is nice - I am fine that this truck has neither turbos and intercoolers packed in it, nor batteries and advanced controllers for them because if I keep this truck beyond warranty it's just simple enough that I could get it apart in my driveway with (relative) ease with typical tools and an up to date scan tool.

TBH I'm almost turning into the person that would rather buy a 99-06 Silverado and keep it on the road indefinitely because they were a wonderful mix of creature comforts, reliability, and ease of repair....but that's getting wildly off topic.

 

[Banned]

My opinion's not worth much, but I think a 3.5 Ecoboost would be just right for Gladiator.

 

[Jeeper44mag]

Funny how our expectations have changed. I clearly remember how when my dad bought his new '70 Chevy C-10 pickup (small block V8 - 305), I remember hearing all my mom & dad's relatives saying what a great engine it was and that it should last for at least 100,000 miles.

That WAS the benchmark at that time... at least my my elders. Any engine considered reliable enough to hit 100,000 miles without a rebuild was considered to be "extremely reliable", and likewise, any engine with ~100,000+ miles was considered as nearing the end of it's life expectancy. Having said that, my dad's old C-10 had something like 170,000 on it with only routine maintenance when he traded it in some 16+ years later, and his first Honda civic ('74) had 240,000 on it before the odometer quit working... and we drove it for another 5+ years AFTER that. I'd estimate it had ~400k miles on it when he traded it in.

NOW.... we consider anything that isn't expected to run 200k+ to be mediocre at best, and if it's only good for 100k miles it's a total POS.

It also seems to me that we drive a lot more than our elders (or at least mine) did. I know my parents NEVER just "spur of the moment" drove into town unless they HAD to. Every trip was planned in advance to minimize mileage and expense.

 

[DanW]

My opinion's not worth much, but I think a 3.5 Ecoboost would be just right for Gladiator.

Until one blows. $12,000 in 2018 for a factory reman, installed. Probably more now. Ask me how I know.

Great engine, though. Mine blowing was not the fault of the engine itself. But yeah, a powerhouse, for sure.

 

[BearFootSam]

The Pentastar is the best Chrysler engine since the Slant Six. Gear it correctly and use it as intended and it has no gas engine peer.

Folks won't start singing the praise of an engine until you can't buy one anymore. It would be interesting to know when the love for the 4.0 started, I'm guessing it only got more popular after it was discontinued. The pentastar will be the same, folks will pine for the days of naturally aspirated V6's when the only engine they can get is a 300hp 1.5l three-cylinder triple turbo.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Folks won't start singing the praise of an engine until you can't buy one anymore. It would be interesting to know when the love for the 4.0 started, I'm guessing it only got more popular after it was discontinued. The pentastar will be the same, folks will pine for the days of naturally aspirated V6's when the only engine they can get is a 300hp 1.5l three-cylinder triple turbo.

I was praising the 4.0 come around 1987 or so,.......except for the RENIX system. Torque enough to handle many of my farm needs. Liked it enough we owned several others after that.

 

[Hootbro]

Funny how our expectations have changed. I clearly remember how when my dad bought his new '70 Chevy C-10 pickup (small block V8 - 305), I remember hearing all my mom & dad's relatives saying what a great engine it was and that it should last for at least 100,000 miles.

That WAS the benchmark at that time... at least my my elders. Any engine considered reliable enough to hit 100,000 miles without a rebuild was considered to be "extremely reliable", and likewise, any engine with ~100,000+ miles was considered as nearing the end of it's life expectancy. Having said that, my dad's old C-10 had something like 170,000 on it with only routine maintenance when he traded it in some 16+ years later, and his first Honda civic ('74) had 240,000 on it before the odometer quit working... and we drove it for another 5+ years AFTER that. I'd estimate it had ~400k miles on it when he traded it in.

NOW.... we consider anything that isn't expected to run 200k+ to be mediocre at best, and if it's only good for 100k miles it's a total POS.

It also seems to me that we drive a lot more than our elders (or at least mine) did. I know my parents NEVER just "spur of the moment" drove into town unless they HAD to. Every trip was planned in advance to minimize mileage and expense.

They were a lot more disposable back then. I just remember as a kid with my father and grandfather working on the old Detroit Iron back in the day that every 30K miles was a big ordeal. It meant a radiator flush, all fluids (diff, trans, etc...), Tune up (plugs, wires and points), new shocks on all 4 corners and usually a new set of tires. Those were the milestones where the talk of trading it in or spending the money for the major service happened.

 

[DanW]

Folks won't start singing the praise of an engine until you can't buy one anymore. It would be interesting to know when the love for the 4.0 started, I'm guessing it only got more popular after it was discontinued. The pentastar will be the same, folks will pine for the days of naturally aspirated V6's when the only engine they can get is a 300hp 1.5l three-cylinder triple turbo.

So true. Enjoy it while we have it!

I was praising the 4.0 come around 1987 or so,.......except for the RENIX system. Torque enough to handle many of my farm needs. Liked it enough we owned several others after that.

Yep, I loved it when it came out. Wished I could have one. Would have bought one in my YJ if I could have afforded it. Turns out I completely fell in love with the 2.5 in that Jeep, so no worries. And I saw a 2.5 first hand a couple years ago that was well past 500k with no rebuild! Tough little engine. But the 4.0 was a great one, too!

 

[Charles 236]

Those darned slant six engines keep making lists of "best I6 engines" every so often.
They were maybe not the strongest, most torque ever produced, but dang, they were bullet-proof for their design era.
My parents had at least 3 I can recall - Mom had a 1960 Valiant with one, then Dad got a 68 Valiant, Mom's 60 was rusting apart (headlight areas as well as other parts, you know -that fender brow over the headlights trapped crud and rotted), and they got her a 1970 that had been - RACED by a goofy guy who was a customer of the family mechanic. It started out light yellow, our HS shop class got it in as a project for painting, ended up a nice deeper green and my parents bought it. I bet that thing had way over 100,000 miles by the time they retired it - never really needed much for engine work.
That 68 Valiant was fancy - had dealer-installed AC! Went all over with that on family vacations and such (yeah, 2 parents and us 3 boys)

I owned three Dodge Darts with the /6 (Slant Six). Two had the Torqueflite automatic trans, one was a bolt action manual (three on the tree). I wanted more power in the one with the manual, so I decided on a V8 swap. I brought a V8 K frame and a 360 4 barrel engine for it. But I hated to take a good running engine out, even if it was a /6. So I started a campaign to kill it, but it just wouldn't break. I ended up pulling it out and setting it outside. No one wanted that /6. I soon lost interest in the Dart and moved on to other projects. I sold the Dart to a couple of guys who claimed they just wanted the engine, but it turned out that the Dart had a very successful street racing career after they bought it. The /6 is probably still sitting behind that house, hoping to be used again.

 

[Zachanadandy]

The ZF 8-speed is a fantastic partner for the engine. The feel and usability are a product of the engine, transmission, and differential gearing. With 4.10’s and the wide ratio spread it shifts seamlessly between low rpm cruise and winding up for power as required. I’ve never liked an automatic prior to this one and I think it’s a great package.

My ram rebel had the zf 8-speed paired with the 5.7L hemi and 3.92 gears. The truck was 800lbs heavier than the gladiator, accelerated way harder, sounded a million times better, and got better MPGs even lifted on 35s than the JT did stock. It was easier to maintain thanks to the oil filter being mounted right side up and in a spot where you can reach it from where you drain the oil (mindblowing that 125+ years of automotive history and we still get crap like the pentastar oil filter housing/orientation/location). If they offered the 5.7L for the same $3k it cost over the 3.6L in the rams I'd trade my 2023 in today.

 

[Tommyd]

It's fine. I feel its a bit anemic but I don't hate my truck for it. It does the job.

On the other hand, while turbo and EV power is nice - I am fine that this truck has neither turbos and intercoolers packed in it, nor batteries and advanced controllers for them because if I keep this truck beyond warranty it's just simple enough that I could get it apart in my driveway with (relative) ease with typical tools and an up to date scan tool.

TBH I'm almost turning into the person that would rather buy a 99-06 Silverado and keep it on the road indefinitely because they were a wonderful mix of creature comforts, reliability, and ease of repair....but that's getting wildly off topic.

Me too!!

 

[GobiMojave]

I feel like the 3.6 is underpowered and has mild valve train noise. My wife has the same engine in her Pacifica and it's quiet with about 15k more miles on it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I feel like the 3.6 is underpowered and has mild valve train noise. My wife has the same engine in her Pacifica and it's quiet with about 15k more miles on it.

Is part of that body and engine bay insulation, and weight of the vehicle?

 

[GobiMojave]

Is part of that body and engine bay insulation, and weight of the vehicle?

With the van weighing about 4330 lbs, its definitely more peppy than the JT. But even standing outside with the hood up, it's relatively quiet.

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