Which engine is easiest to work on?

[OrneryBear]

Hey all!

I'm trying to narrow down an engine choice for our JLU Willys. Avoiding 3.6 etorque and 4xe drivetrains due to the hybrid/electrical systems. That leaves me with 3 choices, 3.0ED, 2.0t, 3.6 manual. Obviously there's pros and cons to all 3. I ask this mainly because I will be working on the jeep myself when it makes sense and then of course do everything after warranty runs out. I have a lot of experience working on vehicles. This jeep will be offroad and modified in the long run. My thoughts from research are below and I'm hoping people can share their thoughts/experience as well.

3.0ED: Looking at pics/videos, the diesel looks crammed in that engine bay with the all the emissions equipment. We currently have a vw 3dr golf 6spd tdi and that's been a breeze to work on, not to mention our DT466 in our bus which is also a great diesel to deal with. This engine does not look easy/fun to work on. Aside from all the emissions stuff, it sounds like it's pretty reliable and comes with a great transmission. Also comes with 3.73 gears and D44 front and rear which is nice since we're going willys. I do love the idea of a diesel jeep.

2.0t: Drove it, loved it. Good power, great transmission. Small engine, so it should be easy to work around and access components. Light weight. Only downside I see with this engine is the added complexity of the turbo. I've had small turbo engines in the past, so that's fine with me, but it is a consideration. This is also a positive because it leaves room to upgrade the turbo after the warranty for more power. So far it sounds like the main reliability issue on these is the coolant system leaking due to improperly torqued fasteners? If we went with this engine, I'd likely get the XR package for the axles/knuckles and gearing.

3.6man: In theory this should be the reliable/cheap/simple choice. It's a jeep, so this is simple, and no etorque or turbos. The elephant in the room is the clutch. This leaves me with the added expense of putting a clutch in this thing, and there is still no evidence the CF2 clutch fixes the risk, though signs point to yes. I figure I could get a few thousand miles out of it without incident and at some point drop the transmission and install the clutch. My wife votes for manual, but she's not the one working on it haha.

Thanks for any insight you can provide, we plan on keeping this thing as long as possible, so I'd like to make that as easy on myself as I can, I have enough projects.

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[JT1]

What are your build plans? The 3.45s are BARELY adequate with stock tires. If a lift and bigger tires are on the table soon, budget regear money immediately. It might be smarter to start with a Rubi if the math works..

 

[Coltron_Actual]

A manual transmission will always be the easiest to maintain. Gear oil in, gear oil out. The biggest issue being the need for a jack to remove it from the vehicle for a clutch replacement. (I have no experience with the current Jeep manual transmissions or their clutches, although I did want one before finding a decent preowned JLUR with the 2.0L and 8-speed) Recent automatic transmissions are basically space-magic and there really isn't a lot for the at-home mechanic to do themselves besides a fluid and filter change, but I've not looked into anything to do with the 8-speed.

2.0L seems to have the easiest oil changes with the spin-on filter, and drain plug being right next to each other, and 5-qts of 5w-30 being dirt cheap everywhere. However, make sure it meets API SN-Plus or SP ratings, for low-speed per-ignition (Mobil 1, and Valvoline Full Synthetic off the top of my head.) My 2.0L doesn't have the etorque and I'm glad it doesn't, what of the model you are looking at?

I've only ever dealt with a 3.6L in a Grand Cherokee and JKUR and they weren''t difficult, but I really just don't like dealing with the cartridge filters. (Although this is a stupid reason to choose one engine over another.) The 3.6L seems pretty well sorted out by now.

 

[Xcoaste]

The 3.6 is really easy to do your own oil changes. They are all modern engines and not a lot of room to work compared to say a YJ or TJ. If you are versed in working on a VW, you shouldn’t have many issues.

 

[Reinen]

I totally get the keep it simple/stupid concept. However the reality today is that no engine options are simple/stupid anymore and are easier to be temporarily fixed on the side of the trail with baling wire and duct tape. With the JL engine options it's really quibbling over minutia in comparison. They're all tightly engineered. To get a truly simple to repair engine you need to go back to a CJ or YJ.

So bottom line is I wouldn't let easy to repair have too much influence on my engine choice beyond ease of routine maintenance.

 

[OrneryBear]

What are your build plans? The 3.45s are BARELY adequate with stock tires. If a lift and bigger tires are on the table soon, budget regear money immediately. It might be smarter to start with a Rubi if the math works..

Ya the rubi is only an option as of right now for these reasons if we go with the manual. I'm not a big fan of the rubicon interior or the electronic swaybar disconnect. Otherwise a diesel or 2.0 XR will do the trick, and I'll add a locker or two down the line.

 

[aldo98229]

The easiest powertrain to work on is that which doesn’t require constant work and attention.

So far, the automatic transmission is proving 100 times more durable and reliable than the manual.

 

[JT1]

Ya the rubi is only an option as of right now for these reasons if we go with the manual. I'm not a big fan of the rubicon interior or the electronic swaybar disconnect. Otherwise a diesel or 2.0 XR will do the trick, and I'll add a locker or two down the line.

I HATE the red on the rubi.. wish Jeep would offer it with white stitching or not force ugly tan seats.. I get it. The swaybar isn't a big deal, run it til it quits and then convert to manual engagement.

 

[OrneryBear]

A manual transmission will always be the easiest to maintain. Gear oil in, gear oil out. The biggest issue being the need for a jack to remove it from the vehicle for a clutch replacement. (I have no experience with the current Jeep manual transmissions or their clutches, although I did want one before finding a decent preowned JLUR with the 2.0L and 8-speed) Recent automatic transmissions are basically space-magic and there really isn't a lot for the at-home mechanic to do themselves besides a fluid and filter change, but I've not looked into anything to do with the 8-speed.

2.0L seems to have the easiest oil changes with the spin-on filter, and drain plug being right next to each other, and 5-qts of 5w-30 being dirt cheap everywhere. However, make sure it meets API SN-Plus or SP ratings, for low-speed per-ignition (Mobil 1, and Valvoline Full Synthetic off the top of my head.) My 2.0L doesn't have the etorque and I'm glad it doesn't, what of the model you are looking at?

I've only ever dealt with a 3.6L in a Grand Cherokee and JKUR and they weren''t difficult, but I really just don't like dealing with the cartridge filters. (Although this is a stupid reason to choose one engine over another.) The 3.6L seems pretty well sorted out by now.

Ya I have a pretty hefty jack to drop the transmission, if I'm real lucky my friend with a lift and real deal transmission jack will offer his garage and a hand since I did help him put his LS in his drift car.

I definitely agree these new ZF trans are especially space magic, it's kinda nice that if I go that route I can just not worry about them.

thanks for the info, the 2.0t definitely seems easy to maintain, and so far it's fairly easy to access components on. We're looking at a new JL so no etorque on the 2.0, thank god.

 

[OrneryBear]

I totally get the keep it simple/stupid concept. However the reality today is that no engine options are simple/stupid anymore and are easier to be temporarily fixed on the side of the trail with baling wire and duct tape. With the JL engine options it's really quibbling over minutia in comparison. They're all tightly engineered. To get a truly simple to repair engine you need to go back to a CJ or YJ.

So bottom line is I wouldn't let easy to repair have too much influence on my engine choice beyond ease of routine maintenance.

Ya I agree with what you're saying. I guess a lot of it comes down to I'm trying to go with the option with fewer things to break, and easiest to get to components when they do. The diesel looks like I'd have to rip apart half the engine bay to get to anything.

 

[OrneryBear]

The easiest powertrain to work on is that which doesn’t require constant work and attention.

So far, the automatic transmission is proving 100 times more durable and reliable than the manual.

Are people seeing issues with the actual manual transmission, or is it just the clutch though? I agree though, these auto ZF transmissions are mighty appealing.

 

[OrneryBear]

I HATE the red on the rubi.. wish Jeep would offer it with white stitching or not force ugly tan seats.. I get it. The swaybar isn't a big deal, run it til it quits and then convert to manual engagement.

We are going with sarge green, so the red is especially jarring. I don't mind the tan on green, so that might be the route.

 

[JT1]

We are going with sarge green, so the red is especially jarring. I don't mind the tan on green, so that might be the route.

With Sarge, the tan leather looks great! If I was ordering new, I'd order a base Rubi with the manual, spend the $995 for 4.88s and add cold weather and call it a day..

 

[Reinen]

Ya I agree with what you're saying. I guess a lot of it comes down to I'm trying to go with the option with fewer things to break, and easiest to get to components when they do. The diesel looks like I'd have to rip apart half the engine bay to get to anything.

I'd suggest the 2.0t. Yes it has the turbo but it does have the most room in the engine compartment (relatively speaking), its reliability is still so far so good, and in this era of conversion to EV, the 2.0t will have the longest production lifespan. The diesel already has a rapidly approaching expiration date and the 3.6 is quite likely to be next on the chopping block.

 

[aldo98229]

Are people seeing issues with the actual manual transmission, or is it just the clutch though? I agree though, these auto ZF transmissions are mighty appealing.

Yes, it is the clutch. But you need a clutch to operate the manual transmission.

I have seen mixed results from people who replaced the OE clutch with an aftermarket one.

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