The dreaded 3.6 oil cooler replacement

[Yallaen]

Hello all!
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport-S, 71k miles.

I've been reading and watching vids about the problematic oil cooler on the 3.6l Pentastar motor. I'm being paranoid now, and have decided that I want to be proactive and replace the 4 year old cooler with an upgraded aluminum one. I know that Dorman makes one (that my local O'Reilly can get for me), but there are some sold on Amazon (and I am suspect on those). I was thinking of just going with the Dorman.

I did see where some have suggested replacing three sensors while in there. I also have read, but now can't find, the part numbers for those. I believe it's the oil pressure sensor, the oil cooler sensor, and the crank position sensor? I also heard to replace the sensors with the MOPAR sensors, as well as getting the MOPAR o-rings instead of what comes with the Dorman unit.

Does anyone have part numbers/suggestions? I went to my local dealer, and they were $$$ for these sensors. They did tell me..ahem...suggested...that I purchase via MOPAR Performance Online, and have them shipped to the dealer. I'd save $$$ that way.

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated! I'd like to start rounding up the parts, and tackle in the next couple weekends.

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[Tom C]

My suggetion, if you aren't having issues with your JT oil cooler, stop reading, stop watching videos, and stop worrying.

 

[Yallaen]

Not an option. I drive across country several times a year. 71k miles, and I know that the oil cooler's plastic is getting brittle. I don't want to be stranded. 2 hrs of work and I can save myself the hassle of potentially being stranded.

 

[jeepers29]

Not an option. I drive across country several times a year. 71k miles, and I know that the oil cooler's plastic is getting brittle. I don't want to be stranded. 2 hrs of work and I can save myself the hassle of potentially being stranded.

I do believe I read that the new OEM housing uses a different shape figure 8 seal. Not sure if Dorman kept up but there is a thread here with a link to some extra seals for dorman on alibaba

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And yet most of the MILLIONS of these out there do not suffer such failures.
Yeah, it happens, but the internet is a magnifying glass on such things. People flock to forums and youtube to talk about failures.
Millions never even know any of those things ever fail!

You do you - but I prefer my odds - over 15 million pentastar engines - and I bet the failures are fractions of 1% - going into the 10th decimal place.

 

[bleda2002]

I fixed this on my Dad's jk with 120k miles and 7 years of daily. It wasn't that bad, took about 2 hours as you said, just park it where you don't mind dropping about 2qts of oil on the floor.

He grabbed the dorman filter and just used the sensors it came with.

 

[Jteakus]

Just make sure you get the correct cooler for your year model. Be prepared to do an oil change after the install. Would be a good idea to change your spark plugs if they are nearing their time as well. Be careful not to unplug the knock sensors while you are unplugging the other sensors. lube the o-ring on the front of oil cooler and take your time.

 

[hjdca]

fyi, check out this video -- he made a mistake on the cooler replacement that you will want to avoid.... It's a JK, but, close enough... lol... Note: I would at least do the plugs and coil packs that are blocked by the intake manifold when you change the oil cooler or oil cooler gaskets.

 

[ErylFlynn]

fyi, check out this video -- he made a mistake on the cooler replacement that you will want to avoid.... It's a JK, but, close enought... lol... Note: I would at least do the plugs and coil packs that are blocked by the intake manifold when you change the oil cooler or oil cooler gaskets.

Yea, if I have to do anything in there and I have over 50k miles or so I will be tempted to change a few things out while in there including the oil cooler. I do alot of short trips so betting I have a higher chance of it failing. And having to take the intakes off makes replacing plugs a no brainer as well.

Oil cooler is on my radar but not something I am overly worried about. Might get proactive on it in about 6 years.

 

[betsy]

I changed the spark plugs and coils on my 2016 JKR at 100k miles looked over the oil cooler while I was in there, bone dry, looked like new, the guy I sold it to is still driving it, I don’t know what his mileage is now but he has been driving it for 4 years with no issues, if I had to guess, it’s probably got at least 170 k miles on it now.

 

[JTGuy]

I would not touch it till it leaks. Probably never will. I have not herd of any JLs or JTs failing. The cooler and the O rings were up dated several times.

 

[Hootbro]

Avoid the Amazon and Ebay ones. The Doorman unit is the one to get if you decide to go with the aluminum housing. The O-Rings and gaskets are unique to it and not compatible with the OEM ones.

That being said, I have high confidence in the OEM plastic one on the JL/JT, especially if you have done most or all of your own oil changes. I will probably not mess with mine until if or ever when it should fail.

 

[JTGuy]

I don't think we will ever see the failure rate we did on the 3.6 JK. Over on Wrangler forum it was a constant flow. I waited for my 14 to fail but it never did. Jeep knew there was an issue and revised the part and O rings several times but never a re call. There may have been some assistance on the repair.

 

[MeiMei]

Hello. First comment here. I had a wrangler a few years before the Gladiator. After the original one failed, I went 70k with no issues before trading and I did my own oil changes. The oil cooler failure/leaking is often due to over tightening, under tightening or even putting the oil filter in wrong during oil changes. If it didn’t fail in the first few months of ownership, it may never fail. The newer ones are even a bit more robust. I wouldn’t replace until/if fails. I don’t replace non-maintenance items if they still work, but it’s up to you.

 

[Yallaen]

Ok, seems like the consensus is to not be pro-active, and just let it ride. Thanks all for your input and advice! Now to start looking at a 68 Firebird of 73 Formula lol with a 455 swap

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