Most Reliable Engine

[Jeep Wick]

I'm getting ready to replace my tired '06 Liberty with a '10 to '18 Wrangler. I'm hearing about reliability issues from both the 3.8 and 3.6 camps.

My Wrangler is going to live most of its remaining days this side of the salvage yard as a street ride. I'm 65 now and disabled so I'm not real excited about the idea of crawling around in the mud hole I just buried my Jeep to the frame in, and Rick Murphy, Matt Wetzel, Paul Cox, and Rory Irish don't come to Indiana to rescue knuckle heads.

I'm just a little gun shy about both engines now because once I buy something, I run it until it won't run anymore, and buying new is COMPLETELY out of my reach!

Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

FWIW, it seems the ones with bad cams have made themselves known quickly. Everyone else is getting along just fine. I just turned 60k on my 22, it's been great. If you read enough, every engine has it's weaknesses. Modern vehicles are not built to last, but regular maintenance will serve you well.

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[kah.mun.rah]

regular maintenance will serve you well.

Exactly this. For a used Wrangler, the number of past oil changes probably means more than the number of liters in the engine size when it comes to reliability.

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

I got my JK new in 2010 and the motor has never been touched. Other than oil changes it hasn’t cost me anything, doesn’t burn a drop of oil. Still runs and idles quieter than both of my new Jeeps. The 3.8 is a bit of a dog but after a 4.88 regear she does pretty well on 35s. I still drive my JK more than both of the JLs combined.

 

[JINO]

Whatever you do, stay away from the 3.0

 

[basemodel]

I wouldn’t hesitate to run a Jeep with the 3.6, provided it was maintained well. It seems like a lot of the cam issues stem from crappy drive cycles combined with extended oil change intervals. I’ve had two delivery vans (2012 and 2016) go to 300k with the 3.6, and my mom had another van (2011) go to 200k before she sold it. My ‘21 JL has 104k on the clock now.

All of them needed the oil filter housing replaced, but other than that there hasn’t been an issue besides maybe valve cover gaskets, but that’s to be expected on any engine with that kind of mileage. Shoot, I don’t think the delivery vans ever had spark plugs changed now that I think about it. The 3.6 overall has been a very dependable engine!

 

[azjl#3]

16-18 jk will probably be the most reliable.

which oddly in my later years will probably be the choice for a 392 swap. My 15 was solid.

 

[Sportacus]

This of course is complete nonsense

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