3.6L Pentastar V6 Engine Failure

[Gvsskier]

I hope everyone's experience with their Gladiator has been better than mine. I am looking for advice:

I have a 2020 Jeep Gladiator with a 6-1/2" Lift 40" Tires and re-geared to 5:13. I had my check engine light come on at 61,500 miles. I took it in and had 3 spark plugs replaced, oil changed, and some new tires. 3 days later the light is back, this time I took it to the Jeep Dealership and low and behold I need a new engine. I have personally bought 3 consecutive Jeep / Chrysler products and my family has bought quite a few. I tried working with customer service on a warranty claim but they claim poor maintenance. I provided receipts and bank statements backing up my oil change history. I even let them know that I was willing to work on a split bill. The customer "Care Team" has been anything but that. Never once did they return a call or email. I had to initiate everything.

There are also a litany of other issues:
*Dash lights stay on when doors are off
*I have replaced the Aux Battery Twice Already
*The backup camera also quit working.

I guess being a loyal customer doesn't pay off anymore.

***Buyer Beware on the 3.6L Pentastar V6 Engine****

The internet calls it the "Sludge Brick", I am inclined to believe them.

Yours Truly
Once Loyal Jeep Owner

It’s somber news when you hear engine failed. Mine threw a rod threw the crank case at 60,500 kms. I had a Magnuson SC for 50,000 kms with 9 tunes to improve drive ability (6spd). There were signs the engine wasn’t happy. I primarily drive secondary mountainous roads and some freeway but seldom dipped into SC power for passing. All that aside I found a new 2023 engine /transmission from a V8 conversion with 10kms for $2500 ??. Another $4,000 to R&R and I have a new Gladiator again. This ‘23 engine is an improvement on the ‘20. I’d say significant improvement. After selling parts and getting some warranty reimbursement I’m sitting even financially. I like the vehicle’s flexibility (soft top) and utility. I’ve learned the dealer is ok but not great. The Jeep community is outstanding. It is comparable to another car community I also have an affliction for (Porsche)…seriously the people I’ve met in the Jeep community are excellent. It keeps me enjoying the vehicle.

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[Stan H]

Almost 30k on mine and zero problems.

Almost 68,000 on mine no problems with drive train . I have amsoil in everything . Use extended mileage amsoil but change jt at 6000 regardless. Never seen any sludge come out of my motor.
My front diff was probably the dirtiest oil of em all.
I suspect super high revs with inferior or wrong grade ir wrong type of oil. . IMO
Book actually says even under severe duty to not exceed 4000 but the oil change reminder always goes past that. And besides the original oil mine has had amsoil .

 

[Gvsskier]

Hey, so "slightly off topic" but if I was OP and he is legit going to have to buy a new 3.6, I'd personally put my money elsewhere at this point.....

How does the LS swap compare to the FCA hemi swaps? Seems those would end up cleaner in the end but I have nothing to base that on other than it's the same computer/brand. Is there a legit LS option? Apologies, I did see that video link but can't watch where I'm at currently. I love an LS.

Thanks!

Keppler
White Rock Dodge in BC ?? offers a Hemi swap program with factory warranty. I think that is a big factor when deciding which V8

 

[Gvsskier]

Almost 68,000 on mine no problems with drive train . I have amsoil in everything . Use extended mileage amsoil but change jt at 6000 regardless. Never seen any sludge come out of my motor.
My front diff was probably the dirtiest oil of em all.
I suspect super high revs with inferior or wrong grade ir wrong type of oil. . IMO
Book actually says even under severe duty to not exceed 4000 but the oil change reminder always goes past that. And besides the original oil mine has had amsoil .

No over revs (6speed). Engine was ticking and lash adjusters were crappy. Right cat 70% plugged. High back pressure likely lead to Rod failure. Liqui Moly exceeds specs. Oil change interval at 5,000 to 7,000 kms. No sludge. I race car and motorbike and use Liqui Moly in all engines. Tear downs show remarkably clean components.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Right cat 70% plugged. High back pressure likely lead to Rod failure.

No, it didn't.

 

[Gvsskier]

No, it didn't.

What are your thoughts then on my engine failure?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What are your thoughts then on my engine failure?

I have not looked in detail - but know that backpressure is a far cry from the pressures experienced by rods and pistons just in compressing the intake charge, then the rapidly expanding ignited mixture and what it creates.

Modern engines, take a Honda 4 valve per cylinder engine just as an example, can reach 120% and then some pumping efficiency. That means that you are filling that combustion chamber to over 100% normal capacity then compressing it, raising cylinder pressures.
Then the burning charge shoving the piston down hard is going to exert a lot more force than a rising piston pushing spent gases out - there's still the manifold and head pipe to press the exiting gases into.

(don't get into compression ratios as that's a different area and depends totally on valve timing, lift, duration, overlap (LSA) and so on and these can vary the valve timing quite a few degrees)

With the exhaust valve open, even if the cat was 100% plugged, you'd be compressing against a volume of gas that still can escape into the exhaust manifold and a bit of exhaust pipe. That means it's pushing the exhaust gases into a much larger "chamber" that it's pushing the intake charge.

 

[MoparDave]

42k miles on my 2020 Gladiator with zero issues on the 3.6 or anything else, except for a drivers sun visor replaced under warranty.

This is my first Jeep and I am a happy camper so far.

 

[J-GriffsGlad]

Thanks for your feedback, it seems my life lately is full of bad luck!

Well, I need a new engine because of the junk cam follower part FCA used. It has been long enough that now there is a class action lawsuit against FCA for this exact issue. So, I am going to replace my 3.6 with a remanufactured engine and sign up for the class action. I advise everyone in my position do the same:

https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/maugain-et-al-v-fca-us-llc/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well, I need a new engine because of the junk cam follower part FCA used. It has been long enough that now there is a class action lawsuit against FCA for this exact issue. So, I am going to replace my 3.6 with a remanufactured engine and sign up for the class action. I advise everyone in my position do the same:

https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/maugain-et-al-v-fca-us-llc/

I bet that case falls apart.
For one thing, there's this bit that some idiot included -

Plaintiffs also claim that FCA knew as early as 2013 about these severe defects, such as from internal testing, customer complaints, and supplier communications, but still touted the quality, durability, reliability, and performance of the vehicles at issue via its public statements and multimedia marketing campaigns.

They could not have known as early as 2013 as the PUG we have did not exist, the parts are totally different, the failure reasons are different, they are different engines.
That suit claims that it's the same thing with all 3.6 engines from 2013 up through 2020 - sorry, that's so wrong it will be shredded by an intern.

It should be two different groups. You can't lump owners of the JK in with the JL or JT owners.
I see other issues with the plaintiff claims.

 

[J-GriffsGlad]

I bet that case falls apart.
For one thing, there's this bit that some idiot included -

Plaintiffs also claim that FCA knew as early as 2013 about these severe defects, such as from internal testing, customer complaints, and supplier communications, but still touted the quality, durability, reliability, and performance of the vehicles at issue via its public statements and multimedia marketing campaigns.

They could not have known as early as 2013 as the PUG we have did not exist, the parts are totally different, the failure reasons are different, they are different engines.
That suit claims that it's the same thing with all 3.6 engines from 2013 up through 2020 - sorry, that's so wrong it will be shredded by an intern.

It should be two different groups. You can't lump owners of the JK in with the JL or JT owners.
I see other issues with the plaintiff claims.

I agree with you. I'd say further that my Gladiator has 63,000 miles on it and is 6 years old, so Jeep did in fact hold up their end of the deal (5yr 60k miles)... but it can't hurt. I love my Gladiator regardless. So, new engine it is!

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