Most Reliable Engine

[Dan W]

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!

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[Terrymo]

You’re on a JL forum that focuses on mid 2018 to present. Although some folks have experience with the JK, if you are interested in something prior to the JL, may get better answers on a JK specific forum. Best of luck on your purchase.

 

[yokramer]

Probably not the one that the cams are wear items.

 

[croppz]

Probably not the one that the cams are wear items.

 

[yokramer]

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Our 2010 Wrangler has the 3.8L with about 250K original miles (most of them pushing 37" tires). It isn't as powerful as the 2012+ 3.6L versions but so far has been very reliable.

 

[Sportacus]

Jeeps and reliable dont exactly belong in the same sentence together, unless there is an “aren’t” between them.

 

[Sportacus]

once I buy something, I run it until it won't run anymore,

Dont worry, Jeep already has that part figured out for you

 

[Cutterone]

My first Jeep was an '09 2dr stick 3.8. I ran it for 10 years and about 165k miles. It was pretty stout, just 1 or 2 cylinder misfires and liked to drink oil in her later years, but I wouldn't shy away from the 3.8, old school pushrod, simple, easy to fix...

 

[jeepingib]

Pentastar came out in 2012 for the JK, the first few years had some issues with casting sand in the block that destroyed some engines, but that would have been discovered by now. The 3.6 in the JK is a bit more reliable than the same engine in the JL, the 3.8 that was in 2007-10 JKs is pretty reliable, but consumes oil and very underpowered. Plus the early JK interior was rather cheap and you are pretty much stuck with that.

 

[alphawolff]

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!

16-18 jk will probably be the most reliable.

 

[azjl#3]

funny, 3.8 is the new 4.0

 

[yokramer]

funny, 3.8 is the new 4.0

For sure had issues when it was the engine of the day but people look back at it as if it had no flaws?

 

[ODDs]

Every mechanic that I took a JK to for a pre-purchase inspection referred the 3.8 as 'the good one' or as 'the one you want'.

 

[mwilk012]

Jeeps and reliable dont exactly belong in the same sentence together, unless there is an “aren’t” between them.

This of course is complete nonsense

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