2018 jl 3.6 sludge in engine?

[Jl-Family]

you are right about the short trips, but I don’t think at 41k miles that could create enough sludge to cause an engine failure.

there is something fishy. If the head gasket failed that could eventually (depending on where the coolant is going) cause engine failure. But that has nothing to do with oil changes

I never had an engine failure . All I got was a check engine light for misfire in cylinder 4 and random misfire . The Jeep never broke down .

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[The Last Cowboy]

Mobil 1 full synthetic

Curious on the weight, though it should not matter with this engine, you can easily run up to 5w40 full synthetic in areas like Death Valley or southern Arizona.

Also, did you notice any white "smoke" (steam) coming from the exhaust, even after it is warmed up?

 

[Stetson]

I never had an engine failure . All I got was a check engine light for misfire in cylinder 4 and random misfire . The Jeep never broke down .

i get that your Jeep still starts…but you said in your original post the dealer is recommending engine replacement. To me that is engine failure. They don’t think it is fixable…if you were leaking coolant into the engine you could have all kinds of piston scoring bad bearings and things like that.

if that is what they think then you do need an engine replaced.

 

[Jl-Family]

i get that your Jeep still starts…but you said in your original post the dealer is recommending engine replacement. To me that is engine failure. They don’t think it is fixable…if you were leaking coolant into the engine you could have all kinds of piston scoring bad bearings and things like that.

if that is what they think then you do need an engine replaced.

Gotcha .

 

[Stetson]

Gotcha .

i am still baffled that you had a head gasket failure at 41k. Definitely sounds like a warrantable item to me.

and don’t let them kid you. Oil changes have nothing to do with a head gasket failure.

 

[Jl-Family]

Curious on the weight, though it should not matter with this engine, you can easily run up to 5w40 full synthetic in areas like Death Valley or southern Arizona.

Also, did you notice any white "smoke" (steam) coming from the exhaust, even after it is warmed up?

I use Mobil 1 synthetic 0w-20 I never saw any white smoke .

 

[The Last Cowboy]

It's a whole lot easier for them to swap the engine than try to repair and clean it. I'm surprised they balked and pointed the finger at you. This would be an easy $8k payday for them from FCA USA. A new engine and radiator.

 

[entropy]

I use synthetic , and I would do the oil change when the oil change notification would come on . Why is it bad to wait for the engine oil life indicator ? I’ll ask for pictures today .

So I really doubt you using the engine oil life indicator is the cause of your issues at only 41k miles. And you are right, if you followed it, then why the heck would jeep have it there?

With that said though. I never follow the indicator. I use it as a reference.

To my knowledge, the Jeep doesnt have a real oil sensor, thatd be too expensive for a jeep. It uses the computer to estimate oil life based on certain data. It is a statistical eatimate and we dont know what the accuracy is. It could be complete crap. jeep doesnt tell us how good it is.

Anyway. This is a case of bad luck. They need to fix it under warranty.

 

[guarnibl]

Doesn't the computer track when the oil life indicator was reset? I thought it did. Additionally, mine emails me my oil life indicator on occasion -- so just with emails alone you would be able to prove the oil life was always in a good state I'd imagine.

 

[Jl-Family]

i am still baffled that you had a head gasket failure at 41k. Definitely sounds like a warrantable item to me.

and don’t let them kid you. Oil changes have nothing to do with a head gasket failure.

I know that

It's a whole lot easier for them to swap the engine than try to repair and clean it. I'm surprised they balked and pointed the finger at you. This would be an easy $8k payday for them from FCA USA. A new engine and radiator.

i thought the same thing , replacing the head gasket and cleaning the engine is more work that just replacing the engine . The engine is 8k and they want 13k total .

 

[Jebiruph]

I seem to recall seeing head gasket coolant leak related engine issue discussions on the gladiator forums, you might want to look there for information.

 

[calemasters]

The dealer told me they found sludge in the engine and that it was due to lack of maintenance but that’s bs because I did the oil changes myself when ever the Jeep notified me to do it .

There are operating conditions where you may need to change the oil and filter before the oil life monitor gets to 0%. Hopefully, you are using an engine oil with the correct specifications.

Provide the dealer with your maintenance records (showing dates, mileage and service performed) as well as all of your receipts for engine oil and engine oil filters purchases.

 

[openingshok]

Does the '18 JL manual give a mileage interval in the oil change maintenance chart?

 

[jellis4148]

The problem is waiting for the oil life monitor to tell you when to change oil. From GM, Ford, and Stellantis I see so many engines with sludge, and major failures because people wait for the oil life monitor to do an oil change. Every tech hates those things. I don't care who makes it or what oil you use. If you wait that long to change oil you are asking for problems. Obviously not every person will have an issue. A lot of factors are involved like temps, start/stop cycles, rpms, and other stuff. Why people wait for the OLM I will never understand. Most engines will use a little oil, and with the 3.6 only holding 5 quarts if it uses a quart every 7,000 miles that's a problem. Most manufactures allow for a quart every 5-7,000 miles and will says that normal. I change my oil every 3,000 miles. I'm sure some will say I waste money, but I've got an 06 Ford with a. 5.4 that was notorious for cam phaser problems, and they work fine, and still don't make noise. Why, because I changed the oil ever 3,000 miles. If I can't afford to keep fresh oil in my car I shouldn't have spent that much money on it.

 

[jaymz]

Have them take pictures of the sludge and show you. How often did you perform oil changes? Synthetic or conventional?

Modern engines have to get oil changed more often due to the heat generated to meet emission standards. As long as you were performing oil changes at reasonable miles there should not be sludge. If you were waiting for the "oil life" indicator then not good.

That is completely untrue. With advances in engine and oil technology, oil change intervals are easily double what they were back in the day. Anyone using the old “3 months or 3000 miles” rule of thumb is wasting their money. And using the oil life indicator to figure your oil change intervals is exactly what the manufacturers advise you to do.

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