Beware 3.6 Penstar

[salvino]

I have two Pentestars currently and had a 2011 GC with one. I have driven them many thousands of miles. I had a spark plug go bad in my 17 GC. Other than that they have been flawless, just saying.

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[Caspien]

Wife and I both have Pentastar vehicles, hers is a 2020 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, mine is a 21 Gladiator Rubicon....

26k on the Gladiator, 25k on the GC. Zero issues.

Every vehicle model/trim/part is going to occasionally have issues, it's more about how the manufacturer deals with those issues, when they arise.

I had a 2016 Kia Soul, with 60k miles on it.. and the engine blew up while traveling on the interstate. Kia, for all of their bluster regarding their 100k warranties, initially refused to honor the warranty, because I didn't have the dealership do all of the oil changes (I was generally doing 1 at the dealership, 2 at home...) All other maintenance was done there, and they even had the records of me buying the filters at a dealership... it wasn't until the dealership actually spoke up for me, when I started 'talking shop', with them, that Kia finally backed down.

For ME, the fact they were going to immediately deny their warranty, because they didn't believe I knew how to change friggen oil, was more than enough for me to never recommend them, again.

If your truck is in the shop, and you've been given a loaner than is on par (or better) than what you have in the shop.. then I'd say use their vehicle, and put all of your wear and tear on it, while they sort everything out.

Sounds like your dealership having not looked at it, is more of the issue.. not the engine model, or the manufacturer.



~ Casp

 

[kim_hates_olives]

Traded my Gladiator in because of that damn engine. Less than 2 years old and they had to take the entire engine apart to find the problem, they replaced an actuator and put the entire thing back together and after 2 weeks as I was driving home I experienced the same issues I brought it in for. 2 coworkers have Dodges with that same 3.6 and they both have ongoing issues.

 

[FLGladiator]

Im just over 33k kms. It doesn’t tick and is super smooth and quiet but it does consume coolant.

Did you notice that by temp or do you regularly check levels?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Did you notice that by temp or do you regularly check levels?

I first noticed with doing oil analysis reports which alerted me to consuming and I also kept topping up the bottle. Engine consumes 10-12 ounces every 10k km change.

 

[Fastwake]

2020 Sport S 20000 miles driven hard 85-90 MPH through Nevada desert Utah and Arizona. Sacramento to Reno many many many times Not a tick or a miss Runs absolutely flawless does not use a drop of oil. Very pleased after having many F150 and many New F250s.

 

[MattK]

The only problems I've ever had with the Pentastar 3.6 was in my 2013 Wrangler where the water pump started whining like crazy within the first 3 months of ownership. It seemed to be a common problem on the forums and the speculation was casting sand left in the blocks wearing out a bearing...all speculation though. It was replaced under warranty and the service department knew before I even pulled in what it was as they could hear me coming.

That's the only problem I've had in seven plus years of that engine and now 2.5 years of this Pentastar 3.6 in my Gladiator.

I'm not apologizing for the Pentastar, there surely have been problems with them throughout the first years of vehicle releases but it just seems to be hit or miss.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I first noticed with doing oil analysis reports which alerted me to consuming and I also kept topping up the bottle. Engine consumes 10-12 ounces every 10k km change.

Over 2 years - my 2020 took a whopping 8 ounces...

 

[Fastwake]

Over 2 years - my 2020 took a whopping 8 ounces...

Hello PaPa curious why you got rid of the 2020 gladi

 

[Fastwake]

Over 2 years - my 2020 took a whopping 8 ounces...

Hello PaPa curious why you got rid of the 2020 gladi

Why did you trade in the 2020

 

[sharpsicle]

I love how this thread has turned into the useless-anecdotal-evidence centerpiece. Just shows how far off the mark OP was.

For the record, I have an engine, and it makes the truck go places. I change the oil on it, and refill it with gas as I use it. It warms up as I use it and cools off after I'm done. I get things fixed when they need attention, some big and some small. It might break down at some point, or it might not. I've had the same experience on all the automobiles I've owned. I enjoy Jeeps.

 

[BajaTJ]

For the record, I have an engine, and it makes the truck go places. I change the oil on it, and refill it with gas as I use it. It warms up as I use it and cools off after I'm done. I get things fixed when they need attention, some big and some small. It might break down at some point, or it might not. I've had the same experience on all the automobiles I've owned. I enjoy Jeeps.

Crazy talk!!!

 

[jwolfejt]

2020 Sport S 20000 miles driven hard 85-90 MPH through Nevada desert Utah and Arizona. Sacramento to Reno many many many times Not a tick or a miss Runs absolutely flawless does not use a drop of oil. Very pleased after having many F150 and many New F250s.

I've had 4 F150's and a '20 F-250 with the 7.3 gas motor - they were not bad trucks, but also not Jeeps. Alot of people complained about the 2.7 Ecoboost i had a '19 F150 with about 60k miles on it when i traded it in for the F250 - not a single problem with it (just oil/fluid changes) - i always follow severe duty maintenance schedules and I haven't had an issue. I put 100k miles on my '14 F-150 in 2 years.. NEVER had an issue with that truck. I am sure shit happens and people may get the short end of the stick - so long as the manufacture/dealer does right by you - thats what matters. Every manufacture has their flaws (big and small).

 

[Fastwake]

I've had 4 F150's and a '20 F-250 with the 7.3 gas motor - they were not bad trucks, but also not Jeeps. Alot of people complained about the 2.7 Ecoboost i had a '19 F150 with about 60k miles on it when i traded it in for the F250 - not a single problem with it (just oil/fluid changes) - i always follow severe duty maintenance schedules and I haven't had an issue. I put 100k miles on my '14 F-150 in 2 years.. NEVER had an issue with that truck. I am sure shit happens and people may get the short end of the stick - so long as the manufacture/dealer does right by you - thats what matters. Every manufacture has their flaws (big and small).

Totally agree

 

[jwolfejt]

Totally agree

Would be awesome if I could get the axles off that F250 to put under my gladiator lol.

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