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Anyone else have issues with their Pentastar?

TaiMc

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Well I think I got everything sorted out with the noise and oil pressure. Sorry for crap talking and hope I didn't cause any stress. I guess I got OCD or something. Thank you to all the people who helped out with their observations.
No worries. ?????
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TaiMc

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GM interiors have looked outdated for at least 20 years. Someone very high up at GM is still in love with the 1990s.
Eeyy…that “shoulder pad” mentality dies hard.. lol.
 

Heimkehr

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GM interiors have looked outdated for at least 20 years. Someone very high up at GM is still in love with the 1990s.
That was my exact thought after seeing the interior of the brand new Chevrolet Trax purchased by a family member. The 2017 refresh did little to bring the aesthetic forward.

That's not an absolute rejection of the design trend, though. E.g., the HVAC controls in that vehicle are still three straightforward analog knobs. This is a format that can't be improved upon, in my view, although the OEMs are doing their level best to introduce needless complexity...as more than a few Wrangler owners with buggy Uconnect touchscreen controls have come to discover for themselves.
 

JamesWyatt

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That was my exact thought after seeing the interior of the brand new Chevrolet Trax purchased by a family member. The 2017 refresh did little to bring the aesthetic forward.

That's not an absolute rejection of the design trend, though. E.g., the HVAC controls in that vehicle are still three straightforward analog knobs. This is a format that can't be improved upon, in my view, although the OEMs are doing their level best to introduce needless complexity...as more than a few Wrangler owners with buggy Uconnect touchscreen controls have come to discover for themselves.
I think the trend to eliminate analog AC controls is sheer stupidity. Why should I have to click a button on the screen to exit the radio and get to the control to change from normal to bi-level airflow? It's a safety hazard IMO, an unneeded distraction. Pushing an analog bi-level button is a single step that requires zero thought. Maybe this will get better once the Wrangler screen is tall enough to leave up the key controls at all times. Not sure if that's being done in the RAMs with the tall screens or if the AC controls remain buried.

Somewhat related is the similarly-dumb move of the hot/cold control from a round dial integrated with the fan speed dial over to up/down buttons. At least the vehicles without the dual-zone climate control should revert back to hot/cold dial and ditch the buttons. Ugh.
 

Willus

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Used to be when people referred to "The good 'ol days" they were talking decades ago. Now it means reminiscing about the way it was 5 years ago. You probably still have a good engine, just a Noisy one. Really frustrating for sure. Pick between dealing with it and paying a REAL engine guy or girl to make the stock motor behave.
 

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Yeah I might go back to the 2.0 turbo or get the Hybrid one. I am not a fan of the pentastar anymore. I am not keeping my current one past its power train warranty. Soon as those 5 years are up I will be trading it in like it has the plague.
I’m saying the exact same thing about the 2.0L Turbo! Right before the warranty expires I will sell it.
 

Marijan Jeep2

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I'm getting really burnt out on my JL wrangler's Pentastar engine, I have a 2022 with the 3.6L with 6 speed manual with 4000 miles and that engine has become a daily dread every time I have to cold start it. Sometimes it gets a lifter tick for 20 seconds until oil pressure builds in the lifter tappets and it has this weird idle down tapping noise off fast idle that I have been complaining about since new. Also I have noticed that after the engine has ran for a while my oil pressure will read 26 to 27 psi at low idle when other people say theirs idles at 29 psi. I have tried Pennzoil ultra platinum 0w20 and now has amsoil signature 0w20 with mopar filter and I still can't get this engine to sound decent on start up. Everything else about the jeep is great except the pentaturd and, surprise, the engine was made in mexico. Anyone else have these issues and have any suggestions on how to fix them. I've already taken the jeep to the dealer several times and they can't fix anything.
Bro, it’s time to relax and enjoy your Jeep. I bought a 2018 v6 penstar first off the line and loved this engine til it overheated at 128,000 kms. I traded it in for a Rubicon DIESEL, hated the sound at low revs, now I love it(except the $.80 difference in price vs regular …and still happy. If it drives fine when it’s warmed up then go with it. 4,000 miles is still new and could change over time like my engines downshifting did with my diving style. Loved the Penstar, but it is a high maintenance engine after 100,000 km. I didn’t hear you say , compression test or thst it has codes which would happen if there were real issues. Tip, report it to DCA cases, get it assessed by dealer and if it’s a pass your documented in case of issues during warranty. If your keeping it buy extended warranty, wish I did th fits tme.Driving yourself crazy changing oil brands trying to self diagnose will go nowhere. Like I said, warm up the Jeep , crank up the tunes and drive it then trade it in before warranty expires and you’ll get a great trade in value. It’s a Jeep, if you want perfection buy an Audi and pay for the perfect sounding engine, until something breaks down ($$$ouch) you’ll wish you had a Jeep again. Good Luck!
 

Marijan Jeep2

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This is my second Pentastar V6 and I feel this one is better than the one I had in my JK.

It does have a slight lifter tick at start up, but the thing I want to think about is these oil filters have no anti-drain back valves so I guess it’s part of the design. I know I won’t be driving mine much this Winter because I have a winter vehicle for that, but when I’ll try and start it, I’ll use the procedure to do a non-start till I see pressure come up and then start it.

Of course I’ve never really understood the Need for 0W-20 Oil. I do understand that it probably helps with MPG and such, but I also worry about Oil Pressure. Fo MY Jeep, I’ll probably head towards 5w-20 or 5W-30 full synthetic oils.
Wow, very surprised th hear you have a Wrangler and use another vehicle or winter driving. That reminds me of something, cars are like women…they love to be driven around ? I do 40,000 km / year. She’ll never sit for more than 1/2 dayat best. Love the 4 wheel in winter dailydriving..feels so safe and stable. Ko2,s are all you need , for all season all purpose driving anywhere/anytime. I rotate every 25,000 km…crazy I know but saves me $350 on rotation and all 70,000kms I roll the savings into new Ko2,s. NO down tme is the way I like it. Enjoy the ride !
 

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Wow, very surprised to hear you have a Wrangler and use another vehicle for winter driving.
The Honda Ridgeline that I used to own was better for driving in the snow than the Wrangler that replaced it. The Honda was heavier, with larger tires and thus a larger contact patch, and a complex electronic 4WD system that functioned flawlessly.

That's not to say that the Jeep is helpless in the snow -- it certainly isn't -- but if I still had the Ridgeline in the garage, I'd reach for its keys more often than not when snow accumulation made road conditions challenging.

As it stands, I use quality studded Generals on the Jeep when the white stuff falls, and it's all good.

Jeep Wrangler JL Anyone else have issues with their Pentastar? February
 

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Have no issues with our pentastar, it’s our second one in the family, plenty of power for what we need. Drive it through the Canadian Rocky Mountains this summer loaded down with kids and camping gear. I use Mobil 1 EP 0w20 in my vehicles and find it really helps them run quieter. My 5.7 hemi in my Durango also is known for start up tick and it’s very quiet on start up as well.
 
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So I figured out why my oil pressure was low at 26 psi, when the tech at jeep replaced my lifter tappets he left the oil control solenoid loose for the variable valve lift on bank one, the oil pressure was pushing the solenoid about 1/4 of an inch up from the plastic valve cover and it blew the three o rings out. When I tightened the solenoid back down the oil pressure went right back to 29-30 psi at hot idle. So I took the three broken o rings back to jeep and talked to management to get them to replace the oil control solenoid they left loose. Needless to say they had a very humble look on their face after blowing me off saying 26 psi was normal. I knew there was something wrong with it and finally found it.
 

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The Honda Ridgeline that I used to own was better for driving in the snow than the Wrangler that replaced it. The Honda was heavier, with larger tires and thus a larger contact patch, and a complex electronic 4WD system that functioned flawlessly.

That's not to say that the Jeep is helpless in the snow -- it certainly isn't -- but if I still had the Ridgeline in the garage, I'd reach for its keys more often than not when snow accumulation made road conditions challenging.

As it stands, I use quality studded Generals on the Jeep when the white stuff falls, and it's all good.

February.jpg
a larger tire contact patch is not better in snow, Narrow tires are considered to be better in snow because of ground pressure. The small contact patch means ground pressure is high, which means there's a greater chance the tire will break through the snow and end up on the road surface.
 

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Wow, very surprised th hear you have a Wrangler and use another vehicle or winter driving. That reminds me of something, cars are like women…they love to be driven around ? I do 40,000 km / year. She’ll never sit for more than 1/2 dayat best. Love the 4 wheel in winter dailydriving..feels so safe and stable. Ko2,s are all you need , for all season all purpose driving anywhere/anytime. I rotate every 25,000 km…crazy I know but saves me $350 on rotation and all 70,000kms I roll the savings into new Ko2,s. NO down tme is the way I like it. Enjoy the ride !
MJ, Well it is a simple matter of being in my late 60’s and having 3 years under my belt with the SUBI. I have Falken Wildpeaks tires on her and she has been super in the snow. Although none of my vehicles were as good as my 03 WJ. That Jeep with the Select-Trac worked so well.

My JL is new to me and so very clean. Never seen SNOW or the dreaded SALT. It’s a long term Jeep for me and I see what SALT does to some areas of a Jeep so for at least this year, I am cautious. Not sure if I’ve said this before, but many folks MY age would be swooning over a new Corvette. Well for my, this is my New Corvette and I want to keep it nice, even if it will include some trail rash from time to time.
 
 







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