3.6 or 2.0

[grimmjeeper]

Except today’s Chevy V8 shares only the names with the original small and big blocks.
LS1 being the first of the new generation, 1999-2000?

LS1 was introduced in 1997 in the Corvette. Made it into the Camarobird in 1998. It was a clean sheet design that basically shared nothing with the previous small block. The transmission bellhousing pattern and the 4.4" bore spacing, along with the OHV layout are about it.

The iron block 4.8/5.3/6.0 series showed up around 1999-2000. They were based on the LS1 design.

The original LS6 was a 454 big block in the early 70s. The original LT1 was a high performance 350 small block around the same time.

The 90s saw the second generation LT1, just before the LS1. It shared much with the original small block Chevy but had some significant changes.

The second LS6 came out in mid 2000s. It was a high performance LS1 small block with only minor changes. The third generation LT1 replaced the LS1 family. It is an evolution of the LS platform.

And apparently we have a brand new 3rd generation LS6 now but I haven't read much about it. I suspect it's also a small block.

The 6.6 engine is a small block that is about as big as you can reliably make it. GM got out of the big block game as far as light duty vehicles a long time ago.

I haven't checked recently but some of their Kodiak medium duty truck line uses the big block. Or at least they used to.

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[Zandcwhite]

Perhaps. Is the lawnmower sound when it is running on fuel only an xe thing?

The only knock anyone ever has for the 2.0t is the sound... and yet the v6 sounds like crap too? The 2.0t returned 15-16 mpg built similarly to our current 3.6L that gets 12mpg on average. 30% better fuel economy while being quicker and significantly more torque at elevation (where it really matters) to sound slightly worse than the one that still sounds bad? That's a no brainer to me. Unfortunately the 2019 was stolen during the height of new vehicle shortages in 2022 and the replacement with the 3.6L was the only one with the options we wanted within 1k miles. The 3.6L isn't bad enough that I'm itching to replace it, but having put 50k+ miles on basically the same JLs with the engine being the only difference, the 2.0t is the clear winner in my opinion.

 

[James Westfall]

Except today’s Chevy V8 shares only the names with the original small and big blocks.
LS1 being the first of the new generation, 1999-2000?

Ironically, that (1997) LS1 would be better in every way than any motor currently offered in the Wrangler, short of the 392...and even compared to the 392, the only category it falls short on is power. But it offers more power, a better torque curve, and better fuel mileage than the 2.0 or 3.6 not to mention bulletproof reliability. It isn't even that much heavier.

I don't know if it would pass emissions testing in every state though.

The only knock anyone ever has for the 2.0t is the sound... and yet the v6 sounds like air too? The 2.0t returned 15-16 mpg built similarly to our current 3.6L that gets 12mpg on average. 30% better fuel economy while being quicker and significantly more torque at elevation (where it really matters) to sound slightly worse than the one that still sounds bad? That's a no brainer to me. Unfortunately the 2019 was stolen during the height of new vehicle shortages in 2022 and the replacement with the 3.6L was the only one with the options we wanted within 1k miles. The 3.6L isn't bad enough that I'm itching to replace it, but having put 50k+ miles on basically the same JLs with the engine being the only difference, the 2.0t is the clear winner in my opinion.

There are a lot more "knocks" on the 2.0t than the sound, and they have been detailed repeatedly in this thread and pretty much all the others.

I'll just say that my experience with the 2.0t has been very different than yours.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

The only knock anyone ever has for the 2.0t is the sound... and yet the v6 sounds like air too? The 2.0t returned 15-16 mpg built similarly to our current 3.6L that gets 12mpg on average. 30% better fuel economy while being quicker and significantly more torque at elevation (where it really matters) to sound slightly worse than the one that still sounds bad? That's a no brainer to me. Unfortunately the 2019 was stolen during the height of new vehicle shortages in 2022 and the replacement with the 3.6L was the only one with the options we wanted within 1k miles. The 3.6L isn't bad enough that I'm itching to replace it, but having put 50k+ miles on basically the same JLs with the engine being the only difference, the 2.0t is the clear winner in my opinion.

You be you. I’ll take my 3.6L eTorque everyday all day and can’t wait to get rid of my 2.0L. You might want to check why your 3.6L is only getting 12 mpg. My 3.6L in a JLUR with a lot of aftermarket weight and 37” tires averages 17 mpg.

 

[Zandcwhite]

You be you. I’ll take my 3.6L eTorque everyday all day and can’t wait to get rid of my 2.0L. You might want to check why your 3.6L is only getting 12 mpg. My 3.6L in a JLUR with a lot of aftermarket weight and 37” tires averages 17 mpg.

Set the cruise control at 85mph and get back to me. The JT gets the same fuel economy. Both heavy builds, big tires, 3.5" lifts, etc. The box into the wind at speed will never be good for fuel economy, but even at current fuel prices my time is worth far more. The 2.0t guys all say they get 20mpg... which is why I posted my mpg for both under the same use. The 4xe is irrelevant to the discussion at hand though. The only advantage the 3.6L has over the 2.0t ICE JL is the sound... which still isn't good.

 

[Guv]

LS1 was introduced in 1997 in the Corvette. Made it into the Camarobird in 1998. It was a clean sheet design that basically shared nothing with the previous small block. The transmission bellhousing pattern and the 4.4" bore spacing, along with the OHV layout are about it.

The iron block 4.8/5.3/6.0 series showed up around 1999-2000. They were based on the LS1 design.

The original LS6 was a 454 big block in the early 70s. The original LT1 was a high performance 350 small block around the same time.

The 90s saw the second generation LT1, just before the LS1. It shared much with the original small block Chevy but had some significant changes.

The second LS6 came out in mid 2000s. It was a high performance LS1 small block with only minor changes. The third generation LT1 replaced the LS1 family. It is an evolution of the LS platform.

And apparently we have a brand new 3rd generation LS6 now but I haven't read much about it. I suspect it's also a small block.

The 6.6 engine is a small block that is about as big as you can reliably make it. GM got out of the big block game as far as light duty vehicles a long time ago.

I haven't checked recently but some of their Kodiak medium duty truck line uses the big block. Or at least they used to.

I bet some right minded people at GM really regretted the closure of Pontiac when the 6.6 was about to be released. I think some black and gold TA’s based on the Camaro would have flown out of the showrooms.

 

[James Westfall]

The difference in fuel mileage between the two engines has been, for me, about 0.5mpg. Sometimes I can average close to 1mpg better with the 2.0t...but mostly it's close to 0.5mpg. That's a comparison with same gears/lift/tires.

I've NEVER seen average MPGs lower than 17 on either engine, and even that was offroad, in sub-freezing temps, with lots of idling. Interestingly, the highest average MPG i've achieved in a JL was in my 2021 3.6 JLU Sport (stock gears, 33's, Rubicon springs) - I got 27.2mpg on a half hour long, totally flat, totally straight drive. I've done that same drive several times a year since then and i've never seen that number again with either motor. Best i've ever done in a 2.0 is 24.0mpg.

 

[T800]

I bet some right minded people at GM really regretted the closure of Pontiac when the 6.6 was about to be released. I think some black and gold TA’s based on the Camaro would have flown out of the showrooms.

This is the 'Smart Car' that I always wanted. Self driving? No problem!

 

[smitty-04]

This is the 'Smart Car' that I always wanted. Self driving? No problem!

Be sure to get the "Super Pursuit Mode" option.

 

[GinaC]

According to my dash, I get an average of 15.5 mpg on my stock Willys. But I only take 1-2 mile trips up and down steep hills.

 

[Remorseless]

The difference in fuel mileage between the two engines has been, for me, about 0.5mpg. Sometimes I can average close to 1mpg better with the 2.0t...but mostly it's close to 0.5mpg. That's a comparison with same gears/lift/tires.

I've NEVER seen average MPGs lower than 17 on either engine, and even that was offroad, in sub-freezing temps, with lots of idling. Interestingly, the highest average MPG i've achieved in a JL was in my 2021 3.6 JLU Sport (stock gears, 33's, Rubicon springs) - I got 27.2mpg on a half hour long, totally flat, totally straight drive. I've done that same drive several times a year since then and i've never seen that number again with either motor. Best i've ever done in a 2.0 is 24.0mpg.

Man the only time I've approached 25+ with a Pentastar was in my KL with the horrid 9 speed and SUPER tall highway gears. Apples/oranges, but results I typically saw/see with each of my Jeeps (and one crossover that doesn't deserve to be called a Jeep):

JK - NAG1 5 speed auto, 3.6, 4.10s and 4.88s, 35s and 37s - 13-15 MPG no matter what I did.

KL - ZF 9 speed, 3.2, believe the gearing in the transaxle was in the 2.xx range??, stock crossover size tires (28" or 29" or something??) - 22-27 MPG depending on side roads vs highway.

JL - 8 speed auto, 2.0, 4.10s, 37s - 19-21 MPG, depending on temps and amount of highway driving, have seen up to about 23 MPG, but that's not consistent with my typical driving loop.

JT - 8 speed auto, 3.6, 4.10s, 33s - 17-19 MPG, mostly sit around 18 MPG, but have touched 19 with enough regularity that I'll call it the upper end. Even on the highway I can't get the average above 19, but we're fairly hilly in central NC, so I can't get it to stay in 8th for horribly long.

 

[grimmjeeper]

If I keep it at 65, the diesel gets 30. More often I end up around 25-26.

 

[yokramer]

Man the only time I've approached 25+ with a Pentastar was in my KL with the horrid 9 speed and SUPER tall highway gears. Apples/oranges, but results I typically saw/see with each of my Jeeps (and one crossover that doesn't deserve to be called a Jeep):

JK - NAG1 5 speed auto, 3.6, 4.10s and 4.88s, 35s and 37s - 13-15 MPG no matter what I did.

KL - ZF 9 speed, 3.2, believe the gearing in the transaxle was in the 2.xx range??, stock crossover size tires (28" or 29" or something??) - 22-27 MPG depending on side roads vs highway.

JL - 8 speed auto, 2.0, 4.10s, 37s - 19-21 MPG, depending on temps and amount of highway driving, have seen up to about 23 MPG, but that's not consistent with my typical driving loop.

JT - 8 speed auto, 3.6, 4.10s, 33s - 17-19 MPG, mostly sit around 18 MPG, but have touched 19 with enough regularity that I'll call it the upper end. Even on the highway I can't get the average above 19, but we're fairly hilly in central NC, so I can't get it to stay in 8th for horribly long.

Drive <60mph and never see more than like 12% throttle

 

[Remorseless]

Drive <60mph and never see more than like 12% throttle

I mean I don't use a ton of throttle driving around, it's really the kicking down into lower gears on the highway that does it to me - even though I'm only doing 65-70 typically.

 

[smitty-04]

2.0T Last 3 months. 90% of the travel has been back and forth to work or the store on paved country or town roads. No hills, it's NE Ohio. I'm getting 18.5, about the same as I was getting in my 5.7 HEMI Durango

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