We've already been over this - manufacturers do not "wash their hands" after the warranty period. They live and die by their reputations. This is the 21st century and we expect NO internal engine issues within the life of a vehicle...not like the 90's where an engine that could make it to 100k without issue was a modern wonder. This century, you aren't "playin with the big boys" until you are firmly in the 200k club. So NO, manufacturers are NOT doing anything that's going to compromise engine longevity within the confines of the mileage that modern buyers expect out of their vehicles. Yes they make compromises for the sake of cost and CAFE, but those compromises look like DoD and Direct Injection - NEVER things like subpar lubrication. Garnering a reputation of building engines that implode at 120k would be an absolute disaster for any major automaker.
Yup. Every single forum ever...and they're all still going!!
If I were the only one seeing these temperatures, I would agree, but I am not and again a xW-20 is at the minimum for wear so shearing and temperatures can easily push its viscosity below that.
The fact is though that you shouldn't be. So either you have a cooling issue, or you are doing things that are well beyond what the vehicle was designed for and in that case the oil viscosity is pretty low on the list of things you should be concerned about.
The plastic filter housing is not a CAFE compromise. I doubt its even a cost thing (if low-cost is what they were after, a lower block mounted filter would have been the choice). Based on my extensive experience, I promise you it's just what some young designer considered "innovation".
I can tell you from our fleet experience with 2018 silverados using 0w20, they were drinking over 2 qts between oil changes and one went for major engine work under 50k miles. I'm not the fleet mechanic so I can't tell you what went wrong, but they told me specifically the silverados using the 0w20 were consuming oil heavily and it was a known issue. I have no knowledge of other model years,but our ford f150s didn't use 0w20 and had no issues. That doesn't conclude it was the oil alone, but I'm just stating our experience with silverados using 0w20. Maybe it was a problem with that model year.
I am not doing anything with my vehicle that other Jeepers have not done--just because you have yet to experience cooling issues with your 3.6L does not mean they do not exist...give it some time.
So then address the cooling issue, don't band-aid it by changing oil because you're not addressing all the other issues that heat will cause over time.
Sorry man but those parts are not plastic for weight savings. Those parts are plastic for cost - that's part of the "innovation" because many of those cost-saving stunts could not be created with metal. Besides, many of the plastic parts weigh more than their (usually formerly aluminum) counterparts anyway.
This statement I can agree to disagree on. It's only slightly off...0W-20 is not close to it's limit in these modern applications however if you choose a different viscosity for MORE cushion because it helps you sleep at night I won't fault you. I have many nonsensical rituals that I stick to on my vehicles also and I know how that feels. Peace of mind can be worth a LOT.
To date, I've had to replace two plastic radiators in two Hondas, due to hairline cracks developing on the tops of each. Said cracks were barely visible, but the combined effect of heat and pressure allowed just enough coolant to leach out that replacement of both radiators was compulsory. It annoyed me to know that I was just buying time here.
I can tell you what the "major engine work" was - the lifters. That's a given. But there is no documented systemic issue with oil consumption. These engines consume oil just as they have always done, but there's no evidence to support the idea that 0W-20 changed that behavior in any meaningful way. So perhaps it was abuse or there was a short term issue.
Subarus were notorious for their plastic radiator caps all the way back to the late 90s. If you had a Subaru over 80k miles, you replaced at least one radiator.
The amount of plastics that Jeep is using in these vehicles is asinine at best. Using the oil cooler as an example, Dorman is able to make it from aluminum, Ford and Mercedes can (and FCA should have copied that when Daimler owned Jeep) so why can't FCA? In addition, if plastic is going to be used, then make damn sure the design has enough support and clamping force to seal it. Had FCA machined grooves into the block for the orings to go into, the support would have been substantial. As it is, the orings harden and without "bottom" support, they simply start leaking and despite more than a decade of evidence, no improvements were made to ensure they will not leak. LAF
TBH, while I generally agree that the oil filter housing/cooler in the 3.6 would be best made of aluminum, I think there's more to the failures than just the design. My JK had the OG Gen 1 3.6 filter housing/cooler assembly and ran perfectly fine for a decade and 100k mi, with the 3.6 spinning 35s+ for every single mile, and since I had the NAG1 I was constantly at high RPM, so it tended to run warm which negatively impacts o-rings and plastics life. Of the folks I wheel with that have run 3.6s, every single failure I have seen and fixed with the assembly has been due to improper torque. Now, a better design would be more survivable when confronted with people who over torque the cap, absolutely, but generally speaking taking care with it can and does prevent leaking.
