3.6L E-Torque Offroading and Overlanding Question

[BeachPilot74]

So, I ordered a 2022 JLU Rubi XR. The only option with the 8sp automatic Trans is the 3.6 Etorque. It will not let you order it without the etorque in the automatic trans configuration. My Question is... Did I screw up? I am going to heavily modify my Jeep for Overlanding and hitting some pretty difficult trails. I have been trying to find examples or other people that have this engine/drivetrain configuration that has intergrated solar, batteries, etc etc..... Are you just adding a 12v battery somewhere?? Since the Etorque does not have a standard 12v battery. How are you running your solar... How about offroading? Is this etorque engine handling the trails ok ?

I tried every combination of configuration to try to get the Regular 3.6l without etorque and an Automatic 8spd trans. But it wont let you configure it that way.

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[John VonJeep]

eTorque still has a regular 12v battery under the hood, in addition to the 48v out back.

For crawling, you can put a skid on the 48v battery. The cooling lines are a very minor concern, but I haven't seen reports of damage. They're tucked up pretty well in the frame rails.

Some people hate on eTorque, but really only people who don't have it. It's a terrific system, and you see way fewer reports of problems than with the ESS/motorcycle battery setup. I think all of us would prefer to have neither, but if you have to choose, eTorque is the way to go.

 

[BeachPilot74]

eTorque still has a regular 12v battery under the hood, in addition to the 48v out back.

For crawling, you can put a skid on the 48v battery. The cooling lines are a very minor concern, but I haven't seen reports of damage. They're tucked up pretty well in the frame rails.

Some people hate on eTorque, but really only people who don't have it. It's a terrific system, and you see way fewer reports of problems than with the ESS/motorcycle battery setup. I think all of us would prefer to have neither, but if you have to choose, eTorque is the way to go.

Thanks John.. I was unaware of that. I thought the 48v system totally replaced the 12v battery etc etc. Thats good to know. I was sitting here trying to figure out if I screwed up when I ordered my Rubi. Sure didnt want to cancel my order if I didnt have to.

 

[Probearded1]

I was also forced to get the e torque. While waiting for my build I was considering trading it and building one with a manual because I was so concerned. But if you search the forums the only complaints are from non etorque owners talking about the “extra technology” and how they are scared of it. I did not see any posts about the battery failing or lines being broken.

I’ve had my Rubicon for three months now and I have zero complaints. I’ve been to Moab and trails around Salt Lake pretty much every weekend. I upgraded from a jk and the 3.6 on the jl with etorque just drives so much better. I leave the start/stop on and just drive.

 

[BeachPilot74]

I was also forced to get the e torque. While waiting for my build I was considering trading it and building one with a manual because I was so concerned. But if you search the forums the only complaints are from non etorque owners talking about the “extra technology” and how they are scared of it. I did not see any posts about the battery failing or lines being broken.

I’ve had my Rubicon for three months now and I have zero complaints. I’ve been to Moab and trails around Salt Lake pretty much every weekend. I upgraded from a jk and the 3.6 on the jl with etorque just drives so much better. I leave the start/stop on and just drive.

I Fly into SL all the time and usually have a few days there.... Can't wait to get my 2022 and get to MOAB with it. Thanks for the info. What all upgrades have you done to yours?

 

[DanW]

From what I'm reading, the Etorque appears to be reliable. I think the 2.0 Etorque had some minor teething issues very early on but I don't see anyone with those complaining nowadays, either.

I've been under my wife's and the battery looks pretty well protected, to me. But then again, I tend to drag skid plates across stuff rather than bash them. The factory skids on my JLUR have held up well, so i suspect what's on the Etorque battery will handle bumps and scrapes pretty well, too.

 

[DavidArmen]

Some people hate on eTorque, but really only people who don't have it. It's a terrific system, and you see way fewer reports of problems than with the ESS/motorcycle battery setup. I think all of us would prefer to have neither, but if you have to choose, eTorque is the way to go.

This could not be more true. A vast majority of the haters are the ones who don’t own it, and most of them haven’t even bothered to learn what it actually is. It’s mainly fear of new technology imo. You will also find that the system is anecdotally very reliable, especially when compared with the regular ESS system. This forum is filled to the brim with all kinds of issues related to ESS and the auxiliary motorcycle battery, but you will be very hard pressed to find any complaints or reports of any issues related to the etorque system, from actual owners, on this forum or others. It’s honestly pretty funny how they always hate on eTorque and complain about its’ reliability when in reality it’s the non-eTorque version that is full of issues, even on brand new Jeeps..

Like most other eTorque owners on this forum, I have had zero issues with my 2021 JLUR with the 3.6etorque since purchasing it fifteen months ago. And as a bonus, if you decide to use ESS, the 48v motor-generator restarts the engine so smoothly that you barely even notice it. It’s literally the smoothest ESS system I’ve experienced. Smoother than even bmw and mBenz ESS systems.

 

[AcesandEights]

Pretty much everyone with a 3.6L and without a manual transmission has the e-torque, so most people with the 3.6L have the e-torque and you don't hear of widespread complaints or panic. It's a robust system, as are the other systems Jeep offers. No need to fear the e-torque...although I bought the manual transmission just so I wouldn't have to get an e-torque...just kidding, I wanted a manual trans.

 

[UniqueUserName]

I also have a JLUR-XR on order and was forced into the 3.6 etorque (coulda done the 392, I guess). I live at 8,700ft elevation so I'm generally partial to turbos, but bigger than 2.0L. I've been trying to research and like others have found all sorts of complaints about the 3.6L w/ basic ESS system and concern over etorque added complexity, weight, relability, cooling, etc. but few if any actual owner complaints about the 3.6L etorque.

In fact, there's not a lot of first-hand reports on the etorque experience other than the effect on ESS and shifting. I'm curious to know how much it helps in off-the-line acceleration. Since the 12v battery is charged by the 48v battery and not the motor/generator, I would think it would provide a significant power reserve and increased electrical generation capacity over an alternator for electrically intensive tasks, like winching but haven't heard anything to that effect. I'm hoping it's good at off-brake regen and aids engine braking as we are constantly either going up a mountain or down a mountain out here and there's a lot of energy that can be generated on the downhills. I'm looking forward to it now and hoping it provides some not-so-obvious benefits for our use case.

Since the 12v battery is charged by the 48v battery, you probably want to do some research to see if there are any idiosyncracies about charging from PVs, etc. before you go too far in hooking it up.

 

[Probearded1]

I’ve seen some people say you get extra torque off the line and others said that was false.
In my opinion my jl feels a lot quicker. I don’t know if it’s the 410 gears compared to the 3.73 I had in my jk. I’m running the same size tires but the jk always felt sluggish.

 

[Probearded1]

I Fly into SL all the time and usually have a few days there.... Can't wait to get my 2022 and get to MOAB with it. Thanks for the info. What all upgrades have you done to yours?

My wife limits my upgrades so the list Is small. The only thing I’ve done so far is a poison spyder front bumper and I changed out my winch cable to synthetic.

 

[FLTrailRider]

They have had the eTorque in the RAM1500 for years without issues.

I have the 2dr eTorque 3.6 rubicon. 2021.

Skid plates I went with metal cloak and they include a special skid plat for the 48 volt starting battery which sit under the vehicle just behind the transfer case.

I have 35's and can get 20+mpg around town driving smoothly.

 

[DanW]

No question the etorque is proving reliable. But 4 years ago, with the dawn of it on the 2.0, we didn't have hindsight data, so it was a safe and logical decision to avoid it until proven. So I wouldn't go beating up those who bypassed it then. I certainly wouldn't have been an early adopter.

But as the miles pile up, things are looking good. FCA clearly put some engineering muscle into it. I think their powertrain folks have done an outstanding job across the board the last 10 to 12 years, honestly. They've made a nice track record for themselves, at least in North America.

 

[BeachPilot74]

Thanks for all the replies! Ok I feel much better now. I can't wait to get this thing! I had on old Cj7 in High School... So looking forward to getting back into the Jeep Community and wheeling!

 

[FLTrailRider]

No question the etorque is proving reliable. But 4 years ago, with the dawn of it on the 2.0, we didn't have hindsight data, so it was a safe and logical decision to avoid it until proven. So I wouldn't go beating up those who bypassed it then. I certainly wouldn't have been an early adopter.

But as the miles pile up, things are looking good. FCA clearly put some engineering muscle into it. I think their powertrain folks have done an outstanding job across the board the last 10 to 12 years, honestly. They've made a nice track record for themselves, at least in North America.

Some folk know and some not, but the 2.0 has also been around for many years, but It was not engineered by Jeep. , It's an Alfa Romeo 2.0 motor in a variety euro cars for many years. Some minor differences hanging off it for "jeep" but they are the same engine.

They are both proven good engines.

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