The 3.6 Tick Bites Trail Recon at 31,000 Miles

[StevieY1]

Which Pentastar 3.6 did they say that about? Yes, it matters.
It was moved in the PUG to give a more accurate reading.



The pressure sensor is up high as well - so......... it's not right by the pump like with some engine designs. That means it's only going to show pressure when the system is pressurized.

I still believe this isn't as huge as the magnifying glass of the internet makes it appear. Over 20 million 3.6 and we can figure half of those are the PUG.
So 10 million (an estimate, I don't believe there are any real hard numbers for sure other than 6 million have come out of the Mexico plant alone as of 2023)
I'd bet we're not even up to 1% failure rate, and of those - can we say it was all the SAME root cause?
Techs say that the real numbers hit not right away but closer to 2020, and it appears the numbers are dwindling compared to what we saw reported in 2020/2021 where they were failing even as low as a few thousand miles.

2022 Jeep Gladiator that they were installing on

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[ShadowsPapa]

Buy what you want, but I'm more convinced than ever that the Baxter bit is really only going to make oil changes easier, not resolve any issue (other than in their marketing stuff) He believes the new location is not accurate? (on the other hand - what's that got to do with anything????? - oil temps VARY throughout the engine!)

Add what you want - but again, the better oils have things covered.

I prefer to spend money on things I care about, not hyped products to make money and solve issues that aren't issues.

Charles is a long-time MOPAR guy, a tech, been here a while, and I trust what he says. He sees these things daily - it's his JOB. He sticks to facts and avoids speculation.

I've found some other MOPAR techs online that pretty much echo what he's said about these engines, so I go back to - do whatever.
None of that is really "fixing" anything.

 

[JTGuy]

At 73K miles someone else will own it.
If it's your gladiator in the shop waiting for a cam that is back ordered for months , does it matter what the failure % rate is?

 

[WK2JT]

At 73K miles someone else will own it.
If it's your gladiator in the shop waiting for a cam that is back ordered for months , does it matter what the failure % rate is?

Bingo… I got lucky because the dealer here stockpiles them because they say they do several a week.

 

[Charles 236]

I have watched the oil pressure build from a hot start (ESS restart) where the engine had been auto stopped for long enough to completely lose oil pressure. Oil pressure on a start, hot or cold, builds faster than the gauge can show it. There isn't a dry start problem in these engines in regular use. If it sat long enough, oil might drip off of lubricated surfaces, but even then oil pressure would build in less than three seconds. When I replace lash adjusters in Pentastar engines, upgrade or original Pentastar, I have found that DRY lash adjusters (with only a drop of oil on the rocker arm lash adjuster socket), will fill and pressurize in less than five seconds.

As far as aftermarket oiling system upgrades, I haven't actually seen any that I would use, with the possible exception of the aluminum oil cooler adapter. This would only be if my original was damaged, and it won't be as long as I am the one changing the oil. Unfortunately, there are people who will overtighten the oil filter cap, and that is the reason the aluminum oil cooler adapters exist.

If a person wants to use the Baxter oil filter adapter, I don't think it will do any harm, it just adds another step to the oil change. I don't see it as actually solving a real problem though, and it might cause warranty issues in some cases.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bingo… I got lucky because the dealer here stockpiles them because they say they do several a week.

Totally contradicts what other techs here say - including Charles.
Our own service manager where I deal with has basically shrugged and asked "what camshaft problem" - saying no, they haven't done many at all.

Here's another - yes, from 2023, but still very valid -

 

[WK2JT]

Totally contradicts what other techs here say - including Charles.
Our own service manager where I deal with has basically shrugged and asked "what camshaft problem" - saying no, they haven't done many at all.

Here's another - yes, from 2023, but still very valid -

Maybe larger metro area here in Denver and more Jeeps per capita. I spoke to a couple of the techs and service manager and they stated they just keep ordering them to keep them in stock.

 

[DanW]

Buy what you want, but I'm more convinced than ever that the Baxter bit is really only going to make oil changes easier, not resolve any issue (other than in their marketing stuff) He believes the new location is not accurate? (on the other hand - what's that got to do with anything????? - oil temps VARY throughout the engine!)

Add what you want - but again, the better oils have things covered.

I prefer to spend money on things I care about, not hyped products to make money and solve issues that aren't issues.

Charles is a long-time MOPAR guy, a tech, been here a while, and I trust what he says. He sees these things daily - it's his JOB. He sticks to facts and avoids speculation.

I've found some other MOPAR techs online that pretty much echo what he's said about these engines, so I go back to - do whatever.
None of that is really "fixing" anything.

I actually think the Baxter is not as easy to change as stock because you have the additional step of having to blow the oil out of it when you change it. Opening the cap and pulling the cartridge filter is about as easy as it gets. I do usually loosen the cap and let it drain a bit before pulling it out. For some unexplained reason, this oil filter that everyone says drains out keeps some oil in the cap, which tends to spill out of you are not careful.

If Baxter is so confident that their product is necessary, how about an engine warranty? Say 500,000 miles?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I do usually loosen the cap and let it drain a bit before pulling it out. For some unexplained reason, this oil filter that everyone says drains out keeps some oil in the cap, which tends to spill out of you are not careful.

On these, you are supposed to change the filter, then go down and drain the oil.

 

[Deleted member 67086]

I actually think the Baxter is not as easy to change as stock because you have the additional step of having to blow the oil out of it when you change it. Opening the cap and pulling the cartridge filter is about as easy as it gets. I do usually loosen the cap and let it drain a bit before pulling it out. For some unexplained reason, this oil filter that everyone says drains out keeps some oil in the cap, which tends to spill out of you are not careful.

If Baxter is so confident that their product is necessary, how about an engine warranty? Say 500,000 miles?

I agree on the additional step for the Baxter. Additionally, you are correct about the current gen Pentastar oil filter holding some oil. I noticed with mine, after draining the oil and with the drain plug still removed, if you wait and remove the oil filter at this point, a little more oil will drain out into the drain pan. I’m sure it’s due to the seal on the plastic ball on the bottom of the filter that the previous gen did not have. Do I feel it makes a difference? Not really, it certainly isn’t preventing any the current rocker arm/cam issue. Then again I’m not a believer in the dry start “issue” theory.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I actually think the Baxter is not as easy to change as stock because you have the additional step of having to blow the oil out of it when you change it.

Yeah, my bad.
If you can't make it a simple unscrew filter, screw on new filter, then forget it.
The stock system is very easy. Easy to access, and takes only seconds longer to swap out the o-ring than changing the traditional SBC can type filter - and those often meant oil down your arm. When I change filters on my cars, I need a pan under the filter and suspension as oil drains out of the filter as I unscrew it, making a mess on things.

 

[DanW]

Yeah, my bad.
If you can't make it a simple unscrew filter, screw on new filter, then forget it.
The stock system is very easy. Easy to access, and takes only seconds longer to swap out the o-ring than changing the traditional SBC can type filter - and those often meant oil down your arm. When I change filters on my cars, I need a pan under the filter and suspension as oil drains out of the filter as I unscrew it, making a mess on things.

My C6 Vette is that way. I´m glad the filter is vertical, but it still requires a pan and still gets the oil going right up my arm. Of course, I´m doing yoga to get under that sucker. Makes me REALLY appreciate the Jeeps.

 

[StevieY1]

My C6 Vette is that way. I´m glad the filter is vertical, but it still requires a pan and still gets the oil going right up my arm. Of course, I´m doing yoga to get under that sucker. Makes me REALLY appreciate the Jeeps.

Dang - just reminded me of my C5 2004 ZO6 - where I learned to love standard transmissions.

 

[DanW]

On these, you are supposed to change the filter, then go down and drain the oil.

I always pull the filter before replacing the drain plug. I wasn´t sure how it all worked, but I did notice early on that more oil comes out when you open the cap and pull the filter. That explains it. It also makes me wonder if we´re getting a dry start as much as some think.

Another funny Pentastar thing...You can drain that thing for an hour and put a glass under the drain hole and in the morning it´ll be half full. It´s crazy how much oil comes out after so much time has passed with this engine.

 

[davesparky6]

I always pull the filter before replacing the drain plug. I wasn´t sure how it all worked, but I did notice early on that more oil comes out when you open the cap and pull the filter. That explains it. It also makes me wonder if we´re getting a dry start as much as some think.

Another funny Pentastar thing...You can drain that thing for an hour and put a glass under the drain hole and in the morning it´ll be half full. It´s crazy how much oil comes out after so much time has passed with this engine.

That’s impossible, the oil drains from every component instantly. Haven’t you read the last ten pages?

Just follow whatever the manufacturer recommends, they have the most to lose, and know the most about the motor.

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