Jeep Wranglers best engine

[autotragic]

Since the eTorque system provides energy to move the vehicle forward, I would think that a sensible survey would qualify the eTorque-equipped engines as different choice. But maybe my standards are too high.

No the Etorque only worked for something like the first half of turn of a wheel when you got on the throttle from a dead stop. That hardly qualifies it for anything.

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[Byrd746]

The way the question is asked there is really only one answer. Having personally owned a bunch of these engines, and specifically avoided others, anyone listing the 3.6L as the best most reliable is delusional. I owned one JK with a 3.6L and it had TONS of issues and zero low end torque. That engine was not a low end wheeling engine. There is a fatal flaw with the garbage oil cooler that explodes and drains your oil(happened to mine twice) there was also casting sand left in those JK. 3.6L heads. The radiator is trash. And lastly when you roll it, which I did, you can not pull the plugs on one side due to the intake manifold. Working on the 3.6 on the trail is an undertaking.

The 3.8L was delivered to you new burning oil.

392, isn’t reliable in anything.

the correct answer, based on the question as asked, is ONLY the 4.0L. Mine had 280k miles with no real issues and trail repairable.

This is the only correct answer.

 

[racerdude90]

No the Etorque only worked for something like the first half of turn of a wheel when you got on the throttle from a dead stop. That hardly qualifies it for anything.

i think it makes the shifting smoother too. i agree with you btw

 

[autotragic]

i think it makes the shifting smoother too. i agree with you btw

Yeah it had some minor functions for sure but it was a very mild system that was more of a assist than something you could rely on independently like the 4xe has.

 

[4a4c55]

No the Etorque only worked for something like the first half of turn of a wheel when you got on the throttle from a dead stop. That hardly qualifies it for anything.

Of course, that's not correct: there's also upshift and downshift rev-matching, regenerative breaking, and the different ESS system.

I know crap posts on forums are crap, but any kind of valid survey should include a complete domain of choices not just some of them.

 

[autotragic]

Of course, that's not correct: there's also upshift and downshift rev-matching, regenerative breaking, and the different ESS system.

I know crap posts on forums are crap, but any kind of valid survey should include a complete domain of choices not just some of them.

Oh you're one of those people never mind I should have known better before I even responded.

 

[4a4c55]

Oh you're one of those people never mind I should have known better before I even responded.

Well, with *that* I can agree!

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

The 3.8L was delivered to you new burning oil.

Just my experience with the 3.8, as a 2010 it hasn’t burned a drop of oil and other than the oil drain plug not a single bolt has been touched on that motor and it is the smoothest running engine I have owned. Yes it is doggy but I didn’t buy it to race in the Daytona 500.
Maybe I just got lucky.

I can’t put all the blame on the motor because I got it secondhand and didn’t know its history but the 4.0 in my YJ required more attention than Paris Hilton.

This poll is definitely a bias based poll, everyone has had different experiences with different engines. Mine just happens to be the opposite of the majority.

 

[Jeepdadd]

Just my experience with the 3.8, as a 2010 it hasn’t burned a drop of oil and other than the oil drain plug not a single bolt has been touched on that motor and it is the smoothest running engine I have owned. Yes it is doggy but I didn’t buy it to race in the Daytona 500.
Maybe I just got lucky.

I can’t put all the blame on the motor because I got it secondhand and didn’t know its history but the 4.0 in my YJ required more attention than Paris Hilton.

This poll is definitely a bias based poll, everyone has had different experiences with different engines. Mine just happens to be the opposite of the majority.

Agreed, this is a bias poll. But it’s fun anyway, my 4.0L did require regular valve cover tightening, other than that it really just always worked. My current jeep has the 2.0L turbo. Really been good to me so far, 30k miles. I threw in an oil separator/catch can being that it’s DI right away with 15 miles on it. So far it’s caught nothing really. Just needed to wipe it out. Pretty impressive engine that seems really simple to work on.

 

[Spartan99]

Just my experience with the 3.8, as a 2010 it hasn’t burned a drop of oil and other than the oil drain plug not a single bolt has been touched on that motor and it is the smoothest running engine I have owned. Yes it is doggy but I didn’t buy it to race in the Daytona 500.
Maybe I just got lucky.

I can’t put all the blame on the motor because I got it secondhand and didn’t know its history but the 4.0 in my YJ required more attention than Paris Hilton.

This poll is definitely a bias based poll, everyone has had different experiences with different engines. Mine just happens to be the opposite of the majority.

Cheap Pedal Commander knock off wakes up the 3.8 a ton. Add a gear change and it’s a whole different experience.

 

[FrickinAdam]

My first Wrangler is the JL with the 3.6 but my XJ has the 4.0. Love that thing, and is sometimes more fun to drive than the JL. Both jeeps have a MT. XJ with a MT is a blast.

 

[FriendOfMisery]

The 258ci in my 1977 CJ5 still runs strong, but needs some TLC. the 4.0 in my 1998 TJ was awesome, so I'm going with that one. I wish I still had it but it met an untimely death when rear ended at freeway speed by a shuttle bus. The 3.6 in my 2024 JLRX is nice, but too soon to tell. The 3.6 may win in the long run when I have more time with it.

 

[Jtphoto]

Just my experience with the 3.8, as a 2010 it hasn’t burned a drop of oil and other than the oil drain plug not a single bolt has been touched on that motor and it is the smoothest running engine I have owned. Yes it is doggy but I didn’t buy it to race in the Daytona 500.
Maybe I just got lucky.

I can’t put all the blame on the motor because I got it secondhand and didn’t know its history but the 4.0 in my YJ required more attention than Paris Hilton.

This poll is definitely a bias based poll, everyone has had different experiences with different engines. Mine just happens to be the opposite of the majority.

Limited ownership of the 3.8 here is apparent. My 3.8 was more reliable then the 3.6s as I stated some time ago. Traded in at 321,000 klm, that Jeep ran 5.38 gears on 37” tires most of the 11 years I owned it.
As for the oil cooler issues, one should pole what caused their failure. I’ll guarantee more then 90% are cracked housings caused by improper oil filter cap torque, generally by quicky lub places. I Agee Jeep should have made the housing out of aluminum.

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