Ive had 3 vehicles with the 3.6L Pentastar. Never a single issue with any of them. Ive always done 5000 mile oil and filter changes on them. Fantastic engine!
The first thing I did to insure I would not have internal issues was to remove the Pennzoil and put in my tried and trusted Valvoline. Change the oil on 7K mile intervals and we have had absolutely no issues. We actually were asked at the dealership we have had service it what we have done to keep the typical 3.6 noise down. All I can say is those who know use Valvoline.
@@rustyrussell901 I would think that the owner of an expensive Pentastar engine could afford synthetic Walmart oil and filter every 3000 miles at $19.00 for a 5 quart jug. It would be pretty cheap insurance.
@@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL Exactly, and the Walmart oil is no different and no less quality than the others. They have another brand put in Walmart bottles. The duty ratings of the oil are the same no matter who made it.
Do you want to triple the life of valve springs, rocker arms, camshafts, bearings any lubricated parts Pro Blend 1600 it's amazing , you add it to your oil of choice.
Work on the Pentastar everyday. The head and rocker arm issues are 100% accurate but the vehicle's affected are pretty low. Enough so that we purchased a 3.6 in my wife's car. For the most part they run great and have great power.
@asdad asdasd the trans does the same thing in my ‘15 GC it usually happens when i first drive the car for the day, if the trans is warmed up & it still does that. You might need to get it serviced
If you miss an oil change on these series of engine, they wear out. The magnetic ring on the cam shafts pack up with metal debris, and foul out the sensor. I never let my dad go passed 40%life of oil. He did it once, and it cost him $3500 in upper head and timing work, and his trans was always clunky and just got replaced. He has a 2016 Ram 3.6 with the locking 4x4.
As a Technician who repairs most brands, I have seen a few with worn rocker arms and some of the plastic cooling system components fail but they mostly all have problems with the use of plastic components. Compared to some of the engines today I would say that the 3.6 engine is above average for reliability.
Maybe compared to a Ford 5.4 three valve but I see Chrysler engines in the shop for major repairs long before 100k miles which in this day and age is unacceptable. And I’m not even a mechanic but almost without fail these Chrysler’s just start falling apart waaayyy to early. Bad rocker arms? Bad valve lifters? C’mon, man that’s just cheap parts right there Cheers
@@tomdavis3038 ..Toyota makes crap engines with major flaws as does Honda,VW,Hyundai,Ford and GM...they ALL have issues!!!!!! Now electric cars even have major issues,failing batteries/no drive range etc.... Chrysler mainly uses the 3.6 and 5.7 Hemi they make over a million per year or each engine and of course with 99% of your fleet is the Pentastar and Hemi you will have people and issues..Overall they are strong,reliable engines... Remember Toyota makes crap engines and they did since the 1970's..I know!!! Car dealer owner today,and I worked at a Toyota dealer back in the 1990's(I worked in the body shop but knew and helped out mechanics when needed/I work on cars/engines all the time)..Today Toyota has burning oil/bad piston rings that destroy the engines and Toyota cant make 50,000 miles without a rebuild!
Just did a major tune up and maintenance of my 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan at 140k miles. Let me tell you, this engine has given me probably the best "cheap car" experience I've ever had. Lots of good responsive power. Now, to be fair, the overall reliability experience with this van has been merely okay. The sliding doors and automatic windows had mechanical problems, and some flimsy plastic transmission lines cracked and leaked. It sure ain't a Honda or Toyota, you know? But certainly no major failures. But buying it used often means a BIG discount for a great engine and family car. That's how I got it. Plus all the seats fold down flat, and you have a pseudo-cargo van. So yeah, it's the kind of engine that you can find cheap and, with a bit of research, find a deal.
Biggest majority of 3.6s I've dealt with were oil cooler issues. Our shop always replaces them with the aluminum unit since most of them seem to start leaking from the seal between the plastic housing and the aluminum cooling block. Ford had a similar issue in the v6 engines and the plastic thermostat housings that would warp and lose their seal. I think in the past 3 years I've had 2 3.6s come in with rocker arm failures. I've yet to have one with a cylinder head failure. I've lost count on how many oil coolers I've replaced.
My problem on 2017 Pacifica-I noticed my antifreeze coolant level was depleting everyday where I had to add some. I looked for any leakage around the van to no avail. Finally after placing the problem on TH-cam, come to find out most of the Chrysler/Dodge 3.6L Pentastar V6 engines have a failed Oil filter housing and oil cooler (Made of Plastic warped due to the heat off the engine) that is a common cause of coolant and oil leaks on Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar engines. I went ahead and broke into the engine to the valley of the engine and replaced the failed Oil filter housing and oil cooler with a Dorman Upgraded Aluminum Engine Oil Filter Housing with Oil Cooler and Filter-No leaks now. With the breakdown of the engine I replaced the spark plugs, PCV valve, Air intake filter, Mobil 1 extended mileage oil change, with new "O" rings while I was there.
@@zama7477 I have a Dorman Aluminum Oil Filter / Cooler unit sitting in my garage. It is stamped with, "MADE IN USA." Hope to never need to install it.
I had both the oil cooler leak and rocker arm failure on my 2017 wrangler at 70,000 miles. The oil cooler leak was exactly as you described. Replaced with full aluminum upgrade. My friend, a Chrysler mechanic for 20yr. sadly tells me he's had to fix 100's(yes 100's) of 3.6's with the same problem and always recommends the aluminum upgrade. Why Jeep continues to put these plastic oil cooler parts on this engine is absolutely ridiculous.
@@SurfDweller yeah I've done a bunch of them, and I don't even work at a dealership. Just a small independent all makes/models shop in a Kentucky small town.
A lot of people don’t realize that usually the flawed engines are outliers. Maybe driven too hard, or not hard enough. Maybe not maintained. Maybe built on a Friday. It’s just that they tend to have more problems than other engines.
how many miles are on it tho? my 07 toyota 3.5 v6 have 260k miles still runs quarter mile in 13.8 , other than maintenance parts the only thing i’ve had to do to it was replace the alternator an fuel injectors , the engine will outlive the frame
I have one in a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I bought new and that now has 113,000+ miles. It's the quietest, smoothest, most trouble-free engine I've ever had. I change the oil myself, on schedule, and use quality oil and filter. (I love how easy, quick, and clean it is to change the oil and filter.) I also run a bottle of Techron concentrate through it each 3.000 miles.
@@Future-Preps35 Absolutely! Techron has polyether amine formulation, compared to polybutene amines used in all of the others. The latter clean injectors etc. but can actually contribute to deposits in combustion chambers that accumulate and cause knocks over time.
I have a 2011 grand cherokee with the 3.6 too with 165k on it right now, i change oil every 3-4k just to be safe with pennzoil high milage. runs and idles very smooth too i drive around 100 miles a day and have no problems.
@@MikeV8652 MMO is a fuel system and engine oil additive that cleans your fuel system, lubricates the fuel pump and upper part of the cylinder and absorbs moisture. It adds extra lubrication and cleans your engine out so it runs better.
My 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.6L Pentastar has been a great SUV so far. 141,000 miles and only needed a thermostat replacement 3 years ago. Other than that, it's reliable and continues to run great.
@@FredFlintstone21 The oil gets changed every 5,000 miles. I have my friend's shop do the changes and they use PennGrade 1. Now with having over 177,000 miles, still running great.
Have a 2012 chrysler 300s with the 3.6 pentastar engine. Have 229,000 km with no issues. Did get a misfire code after using 89 grade twice, switched to minimum 91 grade and issue went away. It is a tank with great power and fuel economy mix. Have driven 3 lengthy trips with no issues. Only use synthetic oil and regular changes. Love it.
Have a 2015 with the 3.6. It needed new lifter and rocker for one cylinder at 98k miles. Fortunately, I had bought the 100k extended warranty. As long as they had the engine out, I had them replace all the lifters and rockers. It was pricey, but the warranty covered much of the cost of opening the engine and it provided peace of mind.
I have a Chrysler 300s v6 pentastar and so far i have 58.000 miles on it, and i have never gone to the mechanic for any issue with the motor, no tics noise and I think is the best car i ever had. Very powerful, smooth i love it. My was made in Canada 🇨🇦
58,000 miles is still reletively new for a modern engine. Get to 250k and we'll talk about whether or not it was actually a good performer. Source: my chrysler 3.3 now has 253k on it and while its had some tune-ups, never had to have the block ripped apart for anything.
These people will never admit when they have had engine replacements. There was one guy, I replaced the timing chains and phasers on this Charger. Didnt stop the right head from dropping a seat. Just like this guy here, this guy was sooo clueless he said it never needed a thing even though I replaced the chains and phasers less than a year prior. I never buy Mopar/FCA products to flip. Headaches and tears with picky cheap customers.
@@jakobanderson6213 there's a joke in northern Canada that if you drive a journey you either have no brain or no money. Either way you'll be calling a tow truck sooner than later. ( mostly new vehicles, 2015 and up.
Lol you say lots of horsepower... you ever drive anything elts or do research my 2003 has more horsepower then our 2020 dodge promaster but of course it's an infiniti Japanese v6s have lots of power with more to push dodge had awsome v8s but the rest are garbage!
We got a 2011 Journey in 2015. Carfax says the head was replaced on 2,4,6 side. But started to have cylinder 1 misfire. I replaced coil, didn't fix it. I swapped an injector with another cylinder. Cylinder 1 still misfire & other cylinder was fine. It eventually went away, now 4 years later it came back for a few days after an oil change & now fine. I replaced the thermostat today (10-23-2021) because not much heat & temp gauge was low. It actually had a P0128 code for thermostat when I checked for codes from the misfiring.
I had this in my 14 Promaster. The motor was terrific. The radiator did leak early on and was replaced under warranty. I kept it 7 years and just sold it this spring. Great combination of power and economy and smoothness. Call me a fan. Knowing the roller rockers could be weak, I never let it sit idling as that reduces oil flow. And I always changed the oil with good synthetic every 5k miles. No issues on mine!
The biggest issue I saw while working at a dodge dealer. Was the oil cooler leaking. Causing oil to fill the valley of the engine. It was always a bad O-ring on the cooler. Constant heating and cooling would cause it to break and leak oil everywhere. Most people think it's the oil pan or drain bolt because of where the oil comes down. I guess that issue hasn't been reported enough yet, but it affects every 3.6L
@@louisbaiani6262 it's a huge issue. We would constantly have vehicles come back after an oil change complaining about an oil leak. So the Foreman would come out and inspect the vehicle, and would find oil in the valley. Those oil coolers are horribly designed.
I was a Chrysler tech also... I havent seen one leaking on the 2011-2013 unit they change the cooler in 2014. The cooler on my older 2012 Chrysler 200 never leaked but the one on my current 2015 200 was replace under warranty its was leaking
I'm the original owner of the 2012 T&C and I love the van. The only two things that I'm not happy with are the spare tire placement and no power sliding buttons on the back of the seats when stowing the second row seats. I have been extremely lucky to have no mechanical issues. The hood however had to be repaired due to rust under the paint. That happened about 4 1/2 years after I purchased it. The work was done under warranty and looks beautiful. I only have 54682 miles on it in 10 years.
The open deck design is used on all modern engines . It doesn't sacrifice cylinder strength , it keeps the tops of the bores round over time due to the fact that they are separated from the head bolts . On the old closed deck engines the pressure from the head bolts would pull the tops of the cylinders inward , making them out of round over time . The pentastar has an extremely robust bottom end that can handle a lot of boost .
Open deck design also cools the top of the cylinders better and lowers the tendency to knock. Manufacturer can run the engine with slight more efficient ignition advance.
The 3.6 is still a very reliable engine get the newer ones with updated parts. I seen one with 620k miles before losing a timing chain tensioner and locking it up.
My Avenger has one and it’s been perfect so far! 130k miles ain’t don’t anything but change oil and plugs coils! She still gets up and goes with you! 282hp in a lighter avenger and 200 with the 6 speed move pretty good! Great mid range! I got 20’s on mine so it hooks hard and goes!
I own a 2016 Chrysler 300C Platinum with the 3.6L VVT and I’ve had no issues 88k miles. Change the oil every 5k miles with synthetic oil and always used the 87 recommended octane gasoline. Not even a tick out of the engine is heard. It runs perfectly healthy so far!
@@jonc2914 I actually just passed 112k with no issues at all. I do agree, The 200 is an engineering nightmare which is why it was cancelled because they had so many issues. I’m not saying all 300s are perfect either but if you take care of these things generally they will last longer
A few BASIC things to prevent a lot of engine troubles. #1change your oil every 6 months or 5000kms(8000 is too much). #2 DON'T DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT. I can't stress that one enough And #3 do your daily, weekly, and monthly checks. It's your vehicle, you paid a shit tonne of money for it, look after it.
My 13" Charger SE got 197k miles with zero problems except for the oil cooler gaskets drying up and cracking causing a minor coolant leak. Fuel pump went out at 196k. Serviced religiously at oil change recommendations and tuned to match 91-93 octane gas. Real cheap prevention in total, hope this helps anyone concerned about their 3.6L.
The cylinder head issue hit my dad on his 300. Broke his heart. He'd already traded it in (after Chrysler fixed it with a refurbished part) before Chrysler sent him a notice saying they'd replace the part with a new part about 2 months later.
Update sept 2021* Been using 89 but Put 87 octane gas in our 3.6L since manual says higher octane fuels don’t provide benefits but definitely can tell it losses some of its thrust when above 3k rpm on paved roads. No noticeable issues w the 8 speed’s decision making. Gladiator rubicon is still geared for low end torque which it provides in addition w 410 gears. Rock crawler that can do the job on pavement. Hopefully it’s reliable 🤞🏻 I’m hearing good things.
@@louiewatson9389 I have a 2018 Pacifica and just hit 240k......business vam doing medical transport. Only thing I've done is normal maintenance, new serpentine belt etc. Still get 26mpg
I've owned three (2014 Journey, 2012 Wrangler & currently a 2014 Wrangler). No issues with any of them although it's worth noting that all were under 100k miles during my ownership. No complaints from me!
I had a 2013 AWD Charger with the V6. Never had a problem with the engine, although I did have issues with the alternator (covered by warranty), and some electronic quirks. The car was also equipped with e-shift, and there was a recall for that. Otherwise, the car had plenty of power, was quick to accelerate, and fun to drive. The AWD came in handy for adverse weather. I miss that car!
I bought a 2014 Dodge Charger SXT AWD with the V6 last July. Had the same issue with mine. Had the Alternator replaced just this past February. It’s a great car, luckily mine drives a lot better now, can definitely tell the difference. I’ll probably have to start putting the 89 in the tank every once in a while. Im planning to keep it stock, I put some Xenon lights in to replace those crappy Halogens and planning to recondition the wheels and the paint in the future, and put on some Michelin Tires when the Cooper Tires wear more. I’m planning to have some fun memories in mine for years to come! Hopefully you had a lot of great memories in that car, it sounds like you did!
@@MarspeedCars thank you for amazing videos you do to inform us, base in my research and as a owner 3.6 pentastar engine 2016 and up are the beset overall gasoline engine Have ever made!
Have a 2017 pentastar in my jeep jk . Been running 89 octane since I got it and will continue now after watching this video. I also change the oil more then average and use pennzoil synthetic . Hoping for many more years of happiness from the 3.6L.
My 2011 Challenger V6 ran great after owning it for 3 years before upgrading to a challenger srt8. I like to think what helped my engine from experiencing any problems were that I had replace the coolant overflow tank and added new coolant during the first few months of purchase. Driving mostly at night to work and avoid long drives during the hot summer. Also not doing alot of burnouts and high accelerations. It was a good commuter car. Got it used from 76k miles until I sold it with 108k miles. Only real I had was with the front right control arm.
Chrysler had that same problem with the LA series engines (273/318/340/360) where they weren't getting all the casting sand out of the blocks. We fixed a bunch of them back in the '80's
@@chrishansen7004 lol yeah , it’s more noticeable towards the end of oil life and it goes away after a few minutes warm up. But it’s there . I previously had a Nissan 350z with a VQ35DE motor. It had much louder valve tick.
@@hardrockrelics2157 my 2021 challenger with 700 miles on it ticks when cold started for about 5-10 seconds. Lol but so did my 2019 ram 3.6 and my 2016 ram 5.7. I think Chrysler makes the best looking , driving and riding vehicles but I definitely wouldn’t keep one past warranty lol
Since they fixed the original head issue these are one of the best v6s ever made in my opinion, I’ve put 100s of thousands of miles on this motor and never had a problem.
@@inse728 nah the 3800 is the best period. The 3.6 pentastar is just next on my list for the v6s the 4.0 i6 in jeeps and the 3.8 for Buick’s and other gm cars. Those are the best for the i6 and v6. The Nissan vqs is a cool engine but I wouldn’t want to own one long term.
Our 2011 wk2 with the 3.6 vvt has 178k and yes, shes been a little higher in maintenance then some but she still runs good, quiet and smooth, the oil looks clean between changes as well. Impressive at nearly 200k
I've had a 2012 Chrysler 200S, a 2014 Chrysler 300S, and now a 2019 Chrysler 300S, all with the 3.6L engine and no issues so far. They have been great engines.
Lucky you! I have a town and country 2014 with 3.6 engine 117k, I have issue #1 and #2 in it which are cylinder number 2 is misfiring, and I have a broken rocker arm and lifters 😩 I took it to a michanic and he advised me to change the whole engine I guess I’ll never buy Chrysler again
@@wildestcowboy2668 I maintain my cars regularly my friend! Matter of fact I have a Malibu 2008 4 cylinder (2.4L engine) it has 286k miles (original engine and transmission) still running very strong barely any issues with it! But that Town & Country was a cancer from the begging issues after issues after issues until the engine fail
I have a 2015 JKU with around 80K on the clock, the Pentastar is still running great, but I will be sure to keep my eyes peeled for any of these issues! Great video, thanks!
Just out of curiosity, have you done to cam phasers yet, or replaced the chains, tensioners and guides? If not, you'd better look into it, BTW it costs several thousand dollars.
I'm a salesman and drive my 2018 Dodge Challenger GT, purchased in 2017, a lot of miles to put it mildly. My V6 is closing in on 200k miles. From its first oil change at 500 miles, I've used nothing but Amsoil. Other than plugs, cooling system flush and recently the tranny fluid, second time, with Amsoil. Bottom line, any grease or fluids all have been replaced with Amsoil products. Its an amazing car that gets very close to 30 mpg highway. It doesn't leak fluids or use any oil. I change my oil and filter every 6000. I know it can go much longer but I feel it's cheap insurance. Best car I ever owned.
I just had to change my heating and cooling system on my 2013 Grand Cherokee. Also the auto-starter for it as well. I do love the engine and glad it has been running great. I make sure to take great care of my engine to keep it running as best as it could.
This engine is a hoss in our 2013 town and country 136kand no issues. BUT I am a used car dealer and I Can honestly say almost ever used town and country I see at Auction is making a ticking sound. I hear it on the Routan as well. Funny though newer grand caravans run very well at auction I have seen very few with a nasty tick
Hmm.Yeah I've heard of these engines having some issues. I guess I got a good one. My 2015 Grand Caravan has the 3.6 and it's got 340,000 kms on it and it's never given me any trouble. Still going on the original engine and transmission. AC/Heat has never needed servicing either.
Lucky you. I've got a '16 GrandCaravan and had to change the trans twice, injectors and lifters, rockers and cams. Also cooling/ overheating issues. All before 80k miles.
I had a 2015 dodge journey with the 3.6L V6 it was a amazing engine, HOWEVER. The maintenance I took care of it was over the top. I also used 10w40 which kept me from having chain stretch and pre mature timing chain adjuster failure, which was issues that I knew about. I never really knew about these other issues nor did I experience them in my 184 thousand miles I had the SUV. However it did crack the flywheel and the drive shaft to the rear wore out at around 114K and needed replaced. Which was expensive asf. I would still have it but unfortunately someone pulled out infront of me last week so it's in SUV heaven now 🤧
@@djkjthe3rd185 well usually that depends on the climate you live in colder climate's you want heavier oil I use 10w30 in every car I've had it's the best all around oil in everything from 4 cinders to V8's it does great in cold and hot climate's.
2015 Journey with 85,000 miles... Left Head Failure. We always had recommended maintenance performed, *independent shop Good Year affiliate, including oil changes at under 3,500 miles. Chrysler/ Dodge WILL NOT stand behind the Journey with that faulty Pentastar engine. Cost us $5,000.00 USD
160k miles in my WK2 and still going strong 👍 Now I know what to work on before boosting it 😈 For real though, the Pentastar is solid af. Compared to the horror stories I've heard from everyone in the other camps with their various V6s over the decades, Mopar really did an insanely good job on this thing. Decent power, uncannily smooth, and respectable potential too. Really a solid all 'rounder.
@@iamtheoffenderofall lets do some quick math here: Assume 4 per week from just you, that's 52ish per year multiplied by say 200 other locations also condemning 4 per week all year you get 10,400, divide by we will go with 15Mil since the video said they already hit 10Mil awhile back so lets make this easy and we get total of .27% failure rate per year is not bad, nothing is perfect.
@@tartartar7198 quick math you neglect....at the height.. 500 per WEEK reported by dealers across the US. Cherry picking numbers will never help your case.
Even though I know Chrysler vehicles always have issues, I still refuse to look at other brands. I just like these cars, they arent boring. I had a newer Toyota once and couldnt really connect with it cause there was never nothing wrong with it...
@@Sak-zo1ui I think you're a bit wrong, they are VERY reliable in having Quality control issues and some random problems which are just dumb. Ofc dealers see the most, but i'd like to think once they're out of warranty they'd be one of the best.
I wish I could up-doot this more than once. That transmission is hot trash, failed at 89k on my Journey (3 months past 6 year powertrain warranty). Went from fine to grenade in 1 block. What the actual.. Thought my issue was a one-off until I had it rebuilt, the trans guy keeps them on the shelf because they're so common to fail. *sigh*
The ultra drive transmission is a 6-speed variant (62TE), introduced in the 2007 model year and remains in production for several models as of 2019 in front wheel drive application.
WOW! I've had every issue this video explained. I have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler, I had to replace my engine at 115K ($8K) approx. 2 months ago. My heater core is busted, haven't had heat or air in 3 years. And my Jeep randomly overheats, the overheating is not serious but I have to keep an eye on the needle. I love my Jeep just wish I didn't have all of these issues.
Thanks for the research on this issue. I've been seriously considering buying a Mopar with this engine, so I now know what to look (or listen to) for to avoid an expensive issue.
@@TJ-wv8fs it's in its 3rd Generation and all the issues are fixed. Not only is it reliable over time with normal maintenance, it's not losing power either. Most would rather have something refined than something new.
I was amazed at the gas mileage my 3.6 got in my 2014 Grand Cherokee and that thing was a tank of an suv. 24-27mpg at 75mph depending on wind and terrain. I'm back in a HEMI Ram but considered a brand new single cab short bed Ram with the 3.6 since they were going for so cheap but knew the HEMI in a single cab short bed was what I really wanted. In a car or suv I'd own another 3.6 because of how smooth and refined the feel was.
First 400 mile drive with this engine in a 2013 Journey used 6 gallons for the first 200 miles at 80 mph and the second leg back against the wind at 80 used 6.5 gallons so 30 mpg or better both ways. Took roof cross bars off and aired tires to 44 psi using Castrol 0 to 20 synthetic oil. 87 octane fuel.
I had 3 hemis and then I bought a 1500-classic warlock with the V6. Honestly in day to day driving I don't miss the hemi, the 6 just needs more revs and it's about a second and a half slower to 60. I'm getting 20 mpg with 275/65/20 mud tires.
I recently traded in a 2013 Silverado reg cab with the 5.3 L V8 for a used 4X4 2017 reg cab long bed Ram with the 3.6 L V6. I was dubious about the smaller engine but took a test drive and was pleasantly surprised at its performance. It is no hot rod but is very adequate for normal driving. And gets amazing gas mileage for a full-sized pickup. It generally gets 20+ mpg for my routine driving, in warm weather. I have seen 27 mpg for a 170 mile trip with a light load on two-lane roads driving 60 mph. My criteria for performance is passing capability towing my 3000 lb boat. No issues here, it exceeded expectations, subjectively pretty close to the previous Chevy. Admittedly it revved up a bit more, but I that's to be expected as its 305 hp peak RPM is higher than the Chevy's 335. (And the 3.6 L's torque is a lot less.) I had one problem with the engine shortly after purchase which was fixed by the dealer under warranty - the plastic housing for the oil cooler/oil filter/etc cracked during a -25° cold spell (I live in MN) causing oil leakage. The dealer said this is pretty common and can be caused by overtightening the oil filter, due to the added stress plus the plastic getting brittle in the cold.
Same here, had the SRT and sold it to get a small performance car and a 3.6 for the dog. 3.6 is way better than the 6.4 Hemi apart from the noise. Fuel consumption is amazing and I've not lost any points, lost 6 points in 6 months owning the SRT 😂 SRT is way to easy to drive fast, even my nan could drive that. Required a fast car with manual to help my need for satisfaction. The SRT was too boring and so many nanny aids. I watch all these punks driving it fast, wow! Such amazing drivers - not! Personally if your GF, Mum and nan can drive it = Not a performance car. Opted for a MK2 Focus RS and a 3.6 blackhawk with the money.
120k miles on my 2011 Charger 3.6. 10w30 Penzoil full synthetic every 8k, zero ticking. Did have to replace my oil cooler unit this winter. Upgraded to R/T shocks and brakes, Diablo tuner 91 octane tune, cold air intake, dual exhaust and Tranzformer II.... 0-60 in 5 secs flat. Awesome V6 when cared for.
Biggest solution for the cooling issues is to flush the cooling system early and often. Don't wait 150,000 miles to replace the coolant. Flush it in the first 50,000 miles and every 50,000 thereafter to get out any accumulated debris. Coolant is cheap, engines are expensive.
I have a 2014 Jeep Wrangler, bought new from local dealer here in Queensland, Australia. The vehicle has been serviced as per specifications up until this point. At 96K km a P0306 code (engine misfire cylinder 6) appeared and the technicians stated that even though the code was active the engine was not misfiring. I have spent a lot of money getting this looked at with coils, plugs, injectors and eventually rocker arms replaced to no avail. Further inspection revealed issues with the exhaust valves in cylinder 6 leaking. Not good and it's going to be expensive to remedy. There is no extended warranty for this (known) issue in Australia, so I'm not very happy. Thanks Jeep, I'll be steering well clear of your products in the future.
I drive Uber and Lyft. Average 200/500 miles a day. Currently have 286,000 plus. Almost zero maintenance. Just normal maintenance, air filter, new alternator, spark plugs ect. My passengers are amazed that my Pacifica has that high of miles and still runs so smoothly.
I'll have to remember to use mid grade gasoline in mine once in awhile. I usually cheap out at the pumps. My 2014 is been excellent so far never even went back to the dealership once.
It DEFINITELY is. Thats the problem with these videos is that they have to find "something" to vlog about and the headline must be negative...or else no one will watch. It obvious that with soooo many of these engines on the road, that there will be complaints; its simple math. These engines are in some vehicles that have the some of the best resale values ever...so the engine has a GREAT reputation or else values would plummet....i.e. Mazda's.
My 2014 Charger with the 3.6 is sitting at a cool 125k miles and the only engine related issue so far has been a leaking oil cooler assembly - but I have a hunch that the recent cold snap (-20 or so for a good week) just borked the rubber o-rings, as now that it's warmed up it doesn't seem to be leaking noticeably. Gonna replace it anyways, though. I love the engine and the car, just keep up on basic maintenance and I think most of these issues really don't show up very often, and if they do regardless it'd be earlier on in the engine's life.
The only "common" issue I see is the rocker/lifter issue. And while it is a PIA, IF you catch it early, you won't have to replace the cam (and all but one on each cam you "can" sneak in without removing the cam and risking timing chain misalignment). Keep the oil changed and stay below the redline and they're good runners.
To be honest I haven't experienced any of these problems. I bought my 2011 Caravan used with 168,000kms on it. I've put another 40,000 kms on it and no tick or coolant issues at all. Clearly idk what, if any, recalls or repairs may have been done before. I will only use full synthetic oil in this engine though because of seeing videos about the tick. Great job on the video.
I own a 2014 Grand Caravan and it just hit 150k. I have experienced basic issues since owning. The damn oil filler, it "needed" a new water pump (dealer said it was leaking but never saw a drop) and starter. Other than that I've needed to do brakes and tires. I have been very impressed with this engine and hope to have the same luck with the one in my wifes 20 Pacifica.
I used to work at a dealer, typically during inspections they can see the start of a leak forming with pink crust forming around the waterpump. Happens to Toyotas a lot. Once that pink crust forms, it could be any day when that seal lets go completely and you're stranded on the side of the road because the coolant dumped out.
Former pentastar 3.6 owner here. My engine tore itself apart after only 100,000km and only 7 years old. All proper maintenance was done on it, and no CELs before the problem manifested. Something happened that caused metal shavings in the oil and throughout the oil system, ruining the engine. A replacement would have cost me 10,000 or more.
Three of these engines. 2014 Avenger with 130K, 2016 Caravan 190K, 2018 Pacifica 112K, no problems on any of the three engines. Very good fuel economy, smoothness. Always use basic 87 octane fuel. Change oil every 8-10K miles.
Definitely one of the most reliable engines from FCA/Stellantis. But have to say if you want the V6 get the 3rd gen with ESS which resolved the problems from the previous generations. You'll find the 3rd gen only in Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 1500, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Dodge Durango. All the other models that I didn't mention with the 3.6 V6 like the Dodge Durango, Ram 1500 Classic, and Chrysler 200 for example uses the previous generation 2nd gen Penterstar V6.
Yea avoid any 1st and 2nd gen 3.6. I have a 2016 GrandCaravan and it had the infamous "tick". Had all cams, lifters and rockers changed due to that issue. Also bad injectors and 2 bad transmissions. I'd probably avoid most if not all Dodge/Chrysler products pre 2022, especially if you don't have a warranty worth paying for or if you're not mechanically inclined.
Had an 89 Voyager with 3L Mitsubishi V6. Valve guides twice, once under warranty. Bought a 98 Caravan with V6. Don't remember displacement. Ran that as well as the Voyager for over 150K miles.
@@curtisharrison5809 That 3,3 and 3,8 was bullet proof. As long as you changed oil regularly. A mate of mine still has 2 1997 caravans as company cars, cuz he likes them so much. They are both notching up to the half-million kilometers on the first engine, but do not ask me how many trannies those cars munched, haha :-D
I have a 2012 V W Routan w/the 3.6. At about 120,000 miles the flywheel failed, the center completely broke out of it. Engine still ran fine but w / a nocking sound from the broken flywheel. Engine now has 140.000 miles, runs great, very smooth, great power, 20 -22 m p g.
I had one in my 2012 200, loved it. No leaks, and always ran good. Then again, it had less than 50k on it. The fatal flaw was the stupid horrible performing/shifting transmission in those early 3.6's.
Yes the fwd 6 speed is not great but mine improved with a filter and ATF4 Mopar fluid change at 120,000 mile I wish I had done a fluid chain/filter change at 60k miles.
Yeah I also had a 2011 200. The trans was horrible. Intermit hard shifts into drive or reverse and harsh down shifts at times too. But the engine was great. Tons of power. Punch it from a stop and make sure you hold on the to steering wheel mad torque steer. Traded in with 60k for a 14 charger rt 5.7. I upgraded the intake plenum with the 6.4, wired the srv with a mds switch, cai, long tube headers, high flow cats, custom Jay Greene tune, and tranzformer shift kit. That thing was a rocket, then traded in for a 16 challenger 392 scat pack 6mt. This was was a handful to drive, all that torque and lack of traction was fun. Now I drive a 19 honda accord 2.0t, that gas guzzler was killing wallet.
Appreciate the objectivity! Even the best engines aren't perfect, and I consider this definitely one of the better V6 engines. It's cool to love MOPAR but understand there are imperfections... any time someone new hops in my '09 Town & Country, I like to point out every fit & finish issue I've found in the van (so far).
Especially door/panel gaps. My grandma's T&C's front doors aren't flush with the body. They stick out at least an 1/8 inch and the top rear edges of the doors flex under heavy wind, its so bad you can hear air rushing in and you can stick a finger between the gap between the seal on the frame and the top of the door.
I love Mopar but I buy Chrysler Corporation products-not German or Italian models. I drove a 68 Plymouth Sport Fury as a daily. Currently driving a 65 Dart 270 and am looking at a Newport or Imperial next. Chrysler did have quality control problems even in the late 50s because of high production due to demand for the Forward Look cars. It’s not new with them. Nonetheless, I will be driving Mopars until I die.
3.6 in my 2013 Grand Cherokee has been flawless. 93,000 miles on it now, runs perfect no ticks or coolant issues like described here. Guess I got a good one
We have a 2012 grand caravan. Had the misfire issue with the cylinder head, but it was replaced under warranty at around 60k. Had a broken thermostat, and after replacing it the housing leaked and had to replace that too. Had a ticking rocker arm and changed that at around 120k... thankfully before it wiped out the cam. Had a misfire issue at about 140k that drove me nuts. Finally figured out it was a bad cam phaser on the rear exhaust cam. Changed all of them while i was in there. Because of the misfire, the rear catalyst went bad but isn’t plugged, just setting a code every once in a while. Its got 160k on it now. Oh, and the drain back valve broke off in the oil filter housing last oil change but i was able to get one and replace it without changing the whole filter housing. Im a mechanic, and told my wife this was all going to happen when she wanted to buy it, but she didn’t believe me...
I bought a 2014 Journey Crossroad about a year ago and since then, Ive had to replace the PLASTIC oil filter housing, the oil cooler, and the oil pressure sensor. Buy that extended warranty ladies and gentlemen!
On my 2013 Wrangler 3.6 I started having reduced heat on drivers side and found sand in heater core when back-flushed. This was at 6 year 90,000. several videos on sand issue if you have reduced heat. Plugs replaced at 105,000 shown normal wear. Thermostat (spring stuck open) replaced at 105,000. So I'm relatively happy with the durability of the engine.
Had coolant flush i n April this year, still minimum heat on drivers side, just replaced my oil filler cooler was leaking, still drivers side little heat. 2017 jk 143,00km
2018 promaster here with 36k here I use 91 every day and WOT drive it everywhere and leave it running for hours only issues coolent leak I daily check it everyday great motor!!!
These are definitely the big three issues with the engine. FYI: There is an aftermarket fuel pump made of aluminum. Also make sure you only use the specific Mopar brand antifreeze.
I’ve had my 2013 Chrysler 200 limited Pentastar 3.6 V6 since 65k and have now roughly 136k doing regular maintenance and oil changes at 7k miles. Really surprised with how reliable it has been. Car still runs fantastic with no problems in sight (just make sure to change that tranny fluid). The 3.6 V6 engine is leaps and bounds better than the world i4 imo
I purchased a 2017 RAM 1500 Express with this engine in 2019. I find it an great power plant, had as much horsepower as my 2003 RAM with the 5.7 Hemi. Ironically I did purchase a factory extended and have that security in mind. Believe most owners are to blame for this engine issues as most don’t follow the maintenance needs, very typical.
Really well done video! I had to replace the oil cooler on my 2014 Chrysler 200 S at about 110k miles. Opted for the Dorman aluminum replacement. And I will be upgrading to other aluminum replacement parts if/when the original plastic parts fail.or wear. Other than that, no problems whatsoever. Great engine with lots of power.
I've been subscribed for a while now and I just happen to be currently looking at buying a 2011-2014 charger with the v6 engine. So this definitely is helpful for me right now and a funny coincidence.
Honestly I have a sxt challenger and Ik videos and numbers say 0-60 in about 6.2 but mine is stock besides a cai and has a nail in a tire causing it to stay stupid low on air and I still hit 5.7 every time and sometimes run a 5.6
Before you buy used car designed 20 years ago and made by the worst and car manufacturing entity in NA and Europe ( Fiat-Chrysler and now Peugeot, financial pyramid is complete ) ask yourself what are your priorities, if its high quality reliable car with excellent handling and good power well FCA never made a car like that , its either one of those qualities or none of them ( its never quality/reliability) never a full package, if you want to become a stereotype like minded will be impressed and welcoming though
@@MegaNinjaMonkeyZord My family has been almost exclusively Mopar since the 1960s. Out of the four newer vehicles that we have had, two being from 2011 and 2012 respectively, we have experienced zero major issues. I get behind the wheel of my Challenger, and it’s a joy to drive. Handles well if you know what you’re doing, and has plenty of power. Pretty damn good quality on the interior, paint, etc. I always hear people complain about Chrysler products, but, based upon my experience, which is pretty significant, it’s mostly horse shit. What’s your experience with FCA or, hell, even Daimler for that matter?
They made really difficult and time consuming to replace the oil pressure switch which fails a lot. Have to remove the entire intake manifold to get to a $20 part. Was never an issue doing it in under a min on the old 4.0
@@JJ4848 I just replaced the sensor myself, after my mechanic did the oil filter housing replacement the sensor he put in was junk, and the code returned. I bought an oem sensor from amazon and 6 hours later, I did a lot of cussing without taking the intakes off. Had to buy a special socket but saved me 350 $ from taking it to my mechanic. If you have basic tools you can do it hardest part was trying to thread the sensor while laying on top of the engine lol
I drove a 2019 Dodge Charger with the 3.6 v6 Pentastar engine from College station Texas to Portland Oregon and averaged 36mpg. It was a rental. I will definitely buy one.
Doesn't sound like this is a big deal for 99% of us who own these engines. The 3.6L is a wonderful engine, as mentioned, that has great fuel economy, performance and drivability. Th latter makes driving very enjoyable. When I replaced my 2013 Grand Cherokee I wanted a Hemi as I have had before in my Grand Cherokees but they were hard to get in 2017 due to EPA restrictions. The dealer let me drive his personal vehicle and I was very pleased with it. Much better drivability than my previous Hemis.
@@Haltech92 Any oil cooler fails if the oil is contaminated due to neglect, coolant entering oil or major engine failure (metal particles in oil galleries/passages etc.) Never clean or reuse an oil cooler/elements. Get a new one.
@@Haltech92 That is strange. Not flushing out the entire engine oil passages/galleries improperly or not fully is one thing that comes to mind. This is a tough one. Haven't ran into that one.....
Oh man I had that engine in my 09 Ram and HATED it, lol. With 3.55's and 5 speed auto that truck couldn't get out of its own way. Drank the hell out of gas too for amount (or lack of) power it put out.
@@austinreed347 LOL no clue I haven't owned that truck since 2011. Once you go HEMI you can't go back even though I did have a 2 year fling with my loaded Grand Cherokee with the Pentastar. Wasn't the same after it got rear ended pretty bad so went back to a HEMI Ram and glad I got the loaded SUV thing out of my system. Gotta have an open bed behind me to be happy.
@@billyhill2488 I really respect Mopar guys just because of how loyal they are. Almost all Mopar owners have problems with their vehicle but still stick with them. Even the Pentastar V6 is an average engine and yet from Mopar guys, you would think it’s the greatest engine ever.
wow this is pretty interesting for these motors I think it is pretty cool how they were going to name them phoenix. So far with my own v6 challenger I have had no issues thus far and am looking into tuning. I have seen that certain companies that offer tunning for these engines say that with a certain tune, things like knocking can be prevented as well as fuel economy seem to go up more. I am interested in learning more about these engines so I will keep looking.
The reason they didn't name it the Phoenix is there is a movie called Flight of the Phoenix. The Phoenix crashed. With whats happening with these engines you can see the irony.
Thank you. Your video was very thorough. I'm having a lot of problems with my 2011 Town and Country. I'm just searching for answers to help my mechanics help me.
A couple weeks ago I noticed my 2012 Jeep wrangler was starting to over heat and the heat would blow cold. Brought it into the shop and they replaced the temp gauge and everything ran great for the next couple days. I went away for a week and when I came back all the issues came back as well. I just got back from the mechanic for a second time and now they said there’s a warped cylinder head causing exhaust to flow into the cooling system. They quoted $5k to fix the issue including the rocker arms which they said could fail anytime in the near future. This is shocking to me since the car only has 97k miles on it and the temp gauge never read H only 3 quarters at most when it was overheating and the check engine light never came on once. I like the pentastar engine and Dodge and Jeep products but this is uncalled for. Even if the pentastar engine is overall reliable, a simple thing such as a thermostat failure should not cause catastrophic engine damage after only driving a few miles with it running a little hot.
Ive had 3 vehicles with the 3.6L Pentastar. Never a single issue with any of them. Ive always done 5000 mile oil and filter changes on them. Fantastic engine!
The first thing I did to insure I would not have internal issues was to remove the Pennzoil and put in my tried and trusted Valvoline. Change the oil on 7K mile intervals and we have had absolutely no issues. We actually were asked at the dealership we have had service it what we have done to keep the typical 3.6 noise down. All I can say is those who know use Valvoline.
@@rustyrussell901 I would think that the owner of an expensive Pentastar engine could afford synthetic Walmart oil and filter every 3000 miles at $19.00 for a 5 quart jug. It would be pretty cheap insurance.
@@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL Exactly, and the Walmart oil is no different and no less quality than the others. They have another brand put in Walmart bottles. The duty ratings of the oil are the same no matter who made it.
@@townhall05446True facts
Do you want to triple the life of valve springs, rocker arms, camshafts, bearings any lubricated parts Pro Blend 1600 it's amazing , you add it to your oil of choice.
Work on the Pentastar everyday. The head and rocker arm issues are 100% accurate but the vehicle's affected are pretty low. Enough so that we purchased a 3.6 in my wife's car. For the most part they run great and have great power.
@asdad asdasd the trans does the same thing in my ‘15 GC it usually happens when i first drive the car for the day, if the trans is warmed up & it still does that. You might need to get it serviced
@asdad asdasd lol yu mad they didn’t reply to you ? 😂
@asdad asdasd 🤣🤣🤣
My Jeep is in the shop for rocker arms right now
If you miss an oil change on these series of engine, they wear out. The magnetic ring on the cam shafts pack up with metal debris, and foul out the sensor. I never let my dad go passed 40%life of oil. He did it once, and it cost him $3500 in upper head and timing work, and his trans was always clunky and just got replaced. He has a 2016 Ram 3.6 with the locking 4x4.
As a Technician who repairs most brands, I have seen a few with worn rocker arms and some of the plastic cooling system components fail but they mostly all have problems with the use of plastic components.
Compared to some of the engines today I would say that the 3.6 engine is above average for reliability.
Maybe compared to a Ford 5.4 three valve but I see Chrysler engines in the shop for major repairs long before 100k miles which in this day and age is unacceptable. And I’m not even a mechanic but almost without fail these Chrysler’s just start falling apart waaayyy to early. Bad rocker arms? Bad valve lifters? C’mon, man that’s just cheap parts right there
Cheers
@@tomdavis3038 I can tell you that since I work on them all every day I stand by what I said.
@@tomdavis3038 ..Toyota makes crap engines with major flaws as does Honda,VW,Hyundai,Ford and GM...they ALL have issues!!!!!! Now electric cars even have major issues,failing batteries/no drive range etc....
Chrysler mainly uses the 3.6 and 5.7 Hemi they make over a million per year or each engine and of course with 99% of your fleet is the Pentastar and Hemi you will have people and issues..Overall they are strong,reliable engines...
Remember Toyota makes crap engines and they did since the 1970's..I know!!! Car dealer owner today,and I worked at a Toyota dealer back in the 1990's(I worked in the body shop but knew and helped out mechanics when needed/I work on cars/engines all the time)..Today Toyota has burning oil/bad piston rings that destroy the engines and Toyota cant make 50,000 miles without a rebuild!
They are pretty solid motors for the most part.
@@01trsmar You exaggerate and lie like a snake oil salesman. Oh its true, its true.
Just did a major tune up and maintenance of my 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan at 140k miles. Let me tell you, this engine has given me probably the best "cheap car" experience I've ever had. Lots of good responsive power.
Now, to be fair, the overall reliability experience with this van has been merely okay. The sliding doors and automatic windows had mechanical problems, and some flimsy plastic transmission lines cracked and leaked. It sure ain't a Honda or Toyota, you know? But certainly no major failures.
But buying it used often means a BIG discount for a great engine and family car. That's how I got it. Plus all the seats fold down flat, and you have a pseudo-cargo van. So yeah, it's the kind of engine that you can find cheap and, with a bit of research, find a deal.
Biggest majority of 3.6s I've dealt with were oil cooler issues. Our shop always replaces them with the aluminum unit since most of them seem to start leaking from the seal between the plastic housing and the aluminum cooling block. Ford had a similar issue in the v6 engines and the plastic thermostat housings that would warp and lose their seal.
I think in the past 3 years I've had 2 3.6s come in with rocker arm failures. I've yet to have one with a cylinder head failure.
I've lost count on how many oil coolers I've replaced.
My problem on 2017 Pacifica-I noticed my antifreeze coolant level was depleting everyday where I had to add some. I looked for any leakage around the van to no avail. Finally after placing the problem on TH-cam, come to find out most of the Chrysler/Dodge 3.6L Pentastar V6 engines have a failed Oil filter housing and oil cooler (Made of Plastic warped due to the heat off the engine) that is a common cause of coolant and oil leaks on Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar engines. I went ahead and broke into the engine to the valley of the engine and replaced the failed Oil filter housing and oil cooler with a Dorman Upgraded Aluminum Engine Oil Filter Housing with Oil Cooler and Filter-No leaks now. With the breakdown of the engine I replaced the spark plugs, PCV valve, Air intake filter, Mobil 1 extended mileage oil change, with new "O" rings while I was there.
@@zama7477 I have a Dorman Aluminum Oil Filter / Cooler unit sitting in my garage. It is stamped with, "MADE IN USA." Hope to never need to install it.
I had both the oil cooler leak and rocker arm failure on my 2017 wrangler at 70,000 miles. The oil cooler leak was exactly as you described. Replaced with full aluminum upgrade. My friend, a Chrysler mechanic for 20yr. sadly tells me he's had to fix 100's(yes 100's) of 3.6's with the same problem and always recommends the aluminum upgrade. Why Jeep continues to put these plastic oil cooler parts on this engine is absolutely ridiculous.
@@SurfDweller yeah I've done a bunch of them, and I don't even work at a dealership. Just a small independent all makes/models shop in a Kentucky small town.
@@johngranato2673 sadly, you will have to eventually. But that aluminum one is the way to go for sure.
My 3.6 Liter Chrysler engine has been flawless since 2015. Great engine!
A lot of people don’t realize that usually the flawed engines are outliers.
Maybe driven too hard, or not hard enough. Maybe not maintained. Maybe built on a Friday.
It’s just that they tend to have more problems than other engines.
My 2016 charger made in 2015 has been running strong too
Miss a few oil changes dude I’m a mechanic I see them fail every day hope yours keep running that’s great
how many miles are on it tho? my 07 toyota 3.5 v6 have 260k miles still runs quarter mile in 13.8 , other than maintenance parts the only thing i’ve had to do to it was replace the alternator an fuel injectors , the engine will outlive the frame
@@ripdiptatterchip3851 my 2016 charger v6 has 120k on the odometer. No repairs only maintenance.
I have one in a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I bought new and that now has 113,000+ miles. It's the quietest, smoothest, most trouble-free engine I've ever had. I change the oil myself, on schedule, and use quality oil and filter. (I love how easy, quick, and clean it is to change the oil and filter.) I also run a bottle of Techron concentrate through it each 3.000 miles.
@@Future-Preps35 Absolutely! Techron has polyether amine formulation, compared to polybutene amines used in all of the others. The latter clean injectors etc. but can actually contribute to deposits in combustion chambers that accumulate and cause knocks over time.
I have a 2011 grand cherokee with the 3.6 too with 165k on it right now, i change oil every 3-4k just to be safe with pennzoil high milage. runs and idles very smooth too i drive around 100 miles a day and have no problems.
Have you tried using MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil)?
@@matthewmiller2268 No. I've seen it in stores, but I have no idea what it's supposed to do.
@@MikeV8652 MMO is a fuel system and engine oil additive that cleans your fuel system, lubricates the fuel pump and upper part of the cylinder and absorbs moisture. It adds extra lubrication and cleans your engine out so it runs better.
My 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.6L Pentastar has been a great SUV so far. 141,000 miles and only needed a thermostat replacement 3 years ago. Other than that, it's reliable and continues to run great.
That's great news! What oil are you running? How often do you change the oil?
@@FredFlintstone21 The oil gets changed every 5,000 miles. I have my friend's shop do the changes and they use PennGrade 1. Now with having over 177,000 miles, still running great.
Have a 2012 chrysler 300s with the 3.6 pentastar engine. Have 229,000 km with no issues. Did get a misfire code after using 89 grade twice, switched to minimum 91 grade and issue went away. It is a tank with great power and fuel economy mix. Have driven 3 lengthy trips with no issues. Only use synthetic oil and regular changes. Love it.
Have a 2015 with the 3.6. It needed new lifter and rocker for one cylinder at 98k miles. Fortunately, I had bought the 100k extended warranty. As long as they had the engine out, I had them replace all the lifters and rockers. It was pricey, but the warranty covered much of the cost of opening the engine and it provided peace of mind.
They took the engine out ?
I have a Chrysler 300s v6 pentastar and so far i have 58.000 miles on it, and i have never gone to the mechanic for any issue with the motor, no tics noise and I think is the best car i ever had. Very powerful, smooth i love it. My was made in Canada 🇨🇦
The car was, the motor wasn't.
Car was assembled in Canada, not made
58,000 miles is still reletively new for a modern engine. Get to 250k and we'll talk about whether or not it was actually a good performer.
Source: my chrysler 3.3 now has 253k on it and while its had some tune-ups, never had to have the block ripped apart for anything.
Agreed…. There should be no issues on a vehicle with that mileage
Mines got 120k on my charger and I beat on it like crazy and it’s taken it all so far.
Look at you oil filter housing between the headz🤣🤣
Lmao only thing I’ve had to replace
@@sourpowder1030 120k is a lot ... thats equal to 600,000 Toyota miles easy
These people will never admit when they have had engine replacements. There was one guy, I replaced the timing chains and phasers on this Charger. Didnt stop the right head from dropping a seat. Just like this guy here, this guy was sooo clueless he said it never needed a thing even though I replaced the chains and phasers less than a year prior. I never buy Mopar/FCA products to flip. Headaches and tears with picky cheap customers.
My 2012 got over 230000 . The only thing I had to replace was the water pump.
Great engine lots of HP n Torque. In our 2011 Dodge Journey will over 200k miles. Never once have had an engine problem
you got a good journey then 👏 bc at our shop I swear journeys always have axel seal and engine seal issues
@@jakobanderson6213 there's a joke in northern Canada that if you drive a journey you either have no brain or no money. Either way you'll be calling a tow truck sooner than later. ( mostly new vehicles, 2015 and up.
Lol you say lots of horsepower... you ever drive anything elts or do research my 2003 has more horsepower then our 2020 dodge promaster but of course it's an infiniti Japanese v6s have lots of power with more to push dodge had awsome v8s but the rest are garbage!
We got a 2011 Journey in 2015. Carfax says the head was replaced on 2,4,6 side. But started to have cylinder 1 misfire. I replaced coil, didn't fix it. I swapped an injector with another cylinder. Cylinder 1 still misfire & other cylinder was fine. It eventually went away, now 4 years later it came back for a few days after an oil change & now fine. I replaced the thermostat today (10-23-2021) because not much heat & temp gauge was low. It actually had a P0128 code for thermostat when I checked for codes from the misfiring.
if powerpoints were this informative when i was in school, i wouldnt have been as bored in class lol
Agreed. Go Cards!!!
Lol
Yup
I had this in my 14 Promaster. The motor was terrific. The radiator did leak early on and was replaced under warranty. I kept it 7 years and just sold it this spring. Great combination of power and economy and smoothness. Call me a fan. Knowing the roller rockers could be weak, I never let it sit idling as that reduces oil flow. And I always changed the oil with good synthetic every 5k miles. No issues on mine!
I drive the promasters about 5 days a week at work.. They're so much easier to drive than the Ford full-size vans.
Но если вы используете машину зимой? Когда нужно стоять и греться?
The biggest issue I saw while working at a dodge dealer. Was the oil cooler leaking. Causing oil to fill the valley of the engine. It was always a bad O-ring on the cooler. Constant heating and cooling would cause it to break and leak oil everywhere. Most people think it's the oil pan or drain bolt because of where the oil comes down.
I guess that issue hasn't been reported enough yet, but it affects every 3.6L
Yeah that does sound like a major issue. It affected my uncle's 2015
@@louisbaiani6262 it's a huge issue. We would constantly have vehicles come back after an oil change complaining about an oil leak. So the Foreman would come out and inspect the vehicle, and would find oil in the valley. Those oil coolers are horribly designed.
I was a Chrysler tech also... I havent seen one leaking on the 2011-2013 unit they change the cooler in 2014. The cooler on my older 2012 Chrysler 200 never leaked but the one on my current 2015 200 was replace under warranty its was leaking
@@Jonathan11225 it was always the newer ones. The biggest headache ever.
And 3.2 V6 engines as well.
I'm the original owner of the 2012 T&C and I love the van. The only two things that I'm not happy with are the spare tire placement and no power sliding buttons on the back of the seats when stowing the second row seats. I have been extremely lucky to have no mechanical issues. The hood however had to be repaired due to rust under the paint. That happened about 4 1/2 years after I purchased it. The work was done under warranty and looks beautiful. I only have 54682 miles on it in 10 years.
Wanna sell?
The open deck design is used on all modern engines . It doesn't sacrifice cylinder strength , it keeps the tops of the bores round over time due to the fact that they are separated from the head bolts . On the old closed deck engines the pressure from the head bolts would pull the tops of the cylinders inward , making them out of round over time . The pentastar has an extremely robust bottom end that can handle a lot of boost .
Open deck design also cools the top of the cylinders better and lowers the tendency to knock. Manufacturer can run the engine with slight more efficient ignition advance.
The 3.6 is still a very reliable engine get the newer ones with updated parts. I seen one with 620k miles before losing a timing chain tensioner and locking it up.
Cool story bro.
My jeep jt with less than 30,000 miles is in the shop getting lifters and related parts replaced.
Yeah timing chain and tensioner should be replaced between 150k and 200k
My Avenger has one and it’s been perfect so far! 130k miles ain’t don’t anything but change oil and plugs coils! She still gets up and goes with you! 282hp in a lighter avenger and 200 with the 6 speed move pretty good! Great mid range! I got 20’s on mine so it hooks hard and goes!
I still think it's an insane engine. 2011 Chrysler 200 makes over 305 HP with a stage 1 tune. Insanely fun sleeper
I own a 2016 Chrysler 300C Platinum with the 3.6L VVT and I’ve had no issues 88k miles. Change the oil every 5k miles with synthetic oil and always used the 87 recommended octane gasoline. Not even a tick out of the engine is heard. It runs perfectly healthy so far!
So you're saying I don't need to put 91 in my v6 challenger?? 😶
Same but sometime I do put 91 on it and add an additive every time I fill it up
Wait till you pass 100k miles. Your in for a rude awakening. My chrystler 200 is an engineering nightmare..
@@jonc2914 I actually just passed 112k with no issues at all. I do agree, The 200 is an engineering nightmare which is why it was cancelled because they had so many issues. I’m not saying all 300s are perfect either but if you take care of these things generally they will last longer
@@jonc2914bro, just get yourself a Toyota. Don't want a peasant car? Get a Lexus.
A few BASIC things to prevent a lot of engine troubles.
#1change your oil every 6 months or 5000kms(8000 is too much).
#2 DON'T DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT.
I can't stress that one enough
And #3 do your daily, weekly, and monthly checks. It's your vehicle, you paid a shit tonne of money for it, look after it.
What do you suggest when doing checks?
My 13" Charger SE got 197k miles with zero problems except for the oil cooler gaskets drying up and cracking causing a minor coolant leak. Fuel pump went out at 196k. Serviced religiously at oil change recommendations and tuned to match 91-93 octane gas. Real cheap prevention in total, hope this helps anyone concerned about their 3.6L.
The correct format for abbreviating a year is, '13 - 13" means 13 inches.
The cylinder head issue hit my dad on his 300. Broke his heart. He'd already traded it in (after Chrysler fixed it with a refurbished part) before Chrysler sent him a notice saying they'd replace the part with a new part about 2 months later.
What year 300 was it ??
Only 4K miles on our 20 Gladiator. I’ve been very pleased w performance and 8speed auto transmission. Feels solid all around!!
Update sept 2021*
Been using 89 but Put 87 octane gas in our 3.6L since manual says higher octane fuels don’t provide benefits but definitely can tell it losses some of its thrust when above 3k rpm on paved roads. No noticeable issues w the 8 speed’s decision making. Gladiator rubicon is still geared for low end torque which it provides in addition w 410 gears. Rock crawler that can do the job on pavement. Hopefully it’s reliable 🤞🏻 I’m hearing good things.
I got 2021 gladiator..
I can hear a slight ticking..
hope it’s not going to be a problem
Hope not
253,000 trouble free miles in my 2012 avenger r/t. I drive pretty hard too. Just keeping up on maintenance seems to keep most problems away
Love the avenger rt, is if lighter than the 200S?
@@user1fja98dnaiid I wanna say the avenger is 3300 lbs and the 200 is 3600lbs, but to be honest im not sure
Better call guinness because that's either a world record or BS
@@louiewatson9389 the pentestars are actually pretty solid engines. The rest of the car though not so much
@@louiewatson9389 I have a 2018 Pacifica and just hit 240k......business vam doing medical transport. Only thing I've done is normal maintenance, new serpentine belt etc. Still get 26mpg
I've owned three (2014 Journey, 2012 Wrangler & currently a 2014 Wrangler). No issues with any of them although it's worth noting that all were under 100k miles during my ownership. No complaints from me!
Its Been on wards top ten engine list for like 10 years.
My 2015 and 2019 Pentastar V6s have performed well, so far.
lol. good luck
@@williamfswann lol you're so funny and so creative, look around and read the room
I have a 2014 Journey with 282,000 miles on it. Other than having to replace the oil cooler and thermostat housing, it’s been flawless.
Those two issues sounds familiar. I hope to get that same mileage outta my 2014 T&C!
I had a 2013 AWD Charger with the V6. Never had a problem with the engine, although I did have issues with the alternator (covered by warranty), and some electronic quirks. The car was also equipped with e-shift, and there was a recall for that. Otherwise, the car had plenty of power, was quick to accelerate, and fun to drive. The AWD came in handy for adverse weather. I miss that car!
I bought a 2014 Dodge Charger SXT AWD with the V6 last July. Had the same issue with mine. Had the Alternator replaced just this past February. It’s a great car, luckily mine drives a lot better now, can definitely tell the difference. I’ll probably have to start putting the 89 in the tank every once in a while. Im planning to keep it stock, I put some Xenon lights in to replace those crappy Halogens and planning to recondition the wheels and the paint in the future, and put on some Michelin Tires when the Cooper Tires wear more. I’m planning to have some fun memories in mine for years to come! Hopefully you had a lot of great memories in that car, it sounds like you did!
Same bro smh
I had this engine in an older Chrysler 200. Made almost 300 horsepower back in 2012 for a sedan. Was a fun car to drive forsure
What happend to that car ?? I’m looking at a 2011 limited right now
It's still a decent engine for the base Chargers 👍
Absolutely it’s a solid engine! These episodes aren’t meant to bash on them just point out the flaws and learn more about them :)
super punchy too
I found the last generation Chrysler 200 with the V6 doing better than the Charger, Challenger, and 300 since it's lighter and more aerodynamic.
@@MarspeedCars thank you for amazing videos you do to inform us, base in my research and as a owner 3.6 pentastar engine 2016 and up are the beset overall gasoline engine Have ever made!
Yup 3.6 paired with AWD is a beast in bad weather
Have a 2017 pentastar in my jeep jk . Been running 89 octane since I got it and will continue now after watching this video. I also change the oil more then average and use pennzoil synthetic . Hoping for many more years of happiness from the 3.6L.
My 2011 Challenger V6 ran great after owning it for 3 years before upgrading to a challenger srt8. I like to think what helped my engine from experiencing any problems were that I had replace the coolant overflow tank and added new coolant during the first few months of purchase. Driving mostly at night to work and avoid long drives during the hot summer. Also not doing alot of burnouts and high accelerations. It was a good commuter car. Got it used from 76k miles until I sold it with 108k miles. Only real I had was with the front right control arm.
Chrysler had that same problem with the LA series engines (273/318/340/360) where they weren't getting all the casting sand out of the blocks. We fixed a bunch of them back in the '80's
I thought the 360 was an iron block.
Almost never fails when a charger or whatever with the V6 pulls next to me and I hear *tick* *tick* *tick* . Even my neighbors does it lol.
Same with a Hemi.
My V6 GT started doing it at 8,500 miles
@@hardrockrelics2157 damn that's a fat L lol lemons law
@@chrishansen7004 lol yeah , it’s more noticeable towards the end of oil life and it goes away after a few minutes warm up. But it’s there . I previously had a Nissan 350z with a VQ35DE motor. It had much louder valve tick.
@@hardrockrelics2157 my 2021 challenger with 700 miles on it ticks when cold started for about 5-10 seconds. Lol but so did my 2019 ram 3.6 and my 2016 ram 5.7. I think Chrysler makes the best looking , driving and riding vehicles but I definitely wouldn’t keep one past warranty lol
Since they fixed the original head issue these are one of the best v6s ever made in my opinion, I’ve put 100s of thousands of miles on this motor and never had a problem.
Vqs are the best v6
@@inse728 nah the 3800 is the best period. The 3.6 pentastar is just next on my list for the v6s the 4.0 i6 in jeeps and the 3.8 for Buick’s and other gm cars. Those are the best for the i6 and v6. The Nissan vqs is a cool engine but I wouldn’t want to own one long term.
@@dmoney6633 No, VQs are world class and well respected amongst most engineers and enthusiasts.
@@dmoney6633 They're good long term if u keep up with the maintenance. Vqs can go well over 200k plus miles.
@@inse728 I’m not saying they’re bad at all they’re a good motor. I just like the stuff i mentioned better.
Our 2011 wk2 with the 3.6 vvt has 178k and yes, shes been a little higher in maintenance then some but she still runs good, quiet and smooth, the oil looks clean between changes as well. Impressive at nearly 200k
POOT!!!
I've had a 2012 Chrysler 200S, a 2014 Chrysler 300S, and now a 2019 Chrysler 300S, all with the 3.6L engine and no issues so far. They have been great engines.
How many miles is u got on them ese?
Lucky you! I have a town and country 2014 with 3.6 engine 117k, I have issue #1 and #2 in it which are cylinder number 2 is misfiring, and I have a broken rocker arm and lifters 😩
I took it to a michanic and he advised me to change the whole engine
I guess I’ll never buy Chrysler again
@@AmricanEagl Maintenance is the key mi amigo!
@@wildestcowboy2668 I maintain my cars regularly my friend! Matter of fact I have a Malibu 2008 4 cylinder (2.4L engine) it has 286k miles (original engine and transmission) still running very strong barely any issues with it! But that Town & Country was a cancer from the begging issues after issues after issues until the engine fail
@@AmricanEagl Any time a human is around an engine being made, installed there can be a bad one slip thru....
Had my lifters and rockers replaced under warranty 70k miles ago. Zero issues since
I had that engine in my 2013 300, great engine, traded at 130000 still running strong.
Probably because you spent the money to maintain it properly.
I have a 2015 JKU with around 80K on the clock, the Pentastar is still running great, but I will be sure to keep my eyes peeled for any of these issues! Great video, thanks!
Just out of curiosity, have you done to cam phasers yet, or replaced the chains, tensioners and guides? If not, you'd better look into it, BTW it costs several thousand dollars.
I have a 2016 JKU with 132,000. Just had the ticking noise repaired, rocker arms, lifters and cams: $2,485.17.
I'm a salesman and drive my 2018 Dodge Challenger GT, purchased in 2017, a lot of miles to put it mildly. My V6 is closing in on 200k miles. From its first oil change at 500 miles, I've used nothing but Amsoil. Other than plugs, cooling system flush and recently the tranny fluid, second time, with Amsoil. Bottom line, any grease or fluids all have been replaced with Amsoil products. Its an amazing car that gets very close to 30 mpg highway. It doesn't leak fluids or use any oil. I change my oil and filter every 6000. I know it can go much longer but I feel it's cheap insurance. Best car I ever owned.
My 2012 Chrysler 300 has the 3.6, 138k miles on it and not a single problem with the car since I’ve had it. Very solid engine in my opinion
Great engines.
I just had to change my heating and cooling system on my 2013 Grand Cherokee. Also the auto-starter for it as well. I do love the engine and glad it has been running great. I make sure to take great care of my engine to keep it running as best as it could.
This engine is a hoss in our 2013 town and country 136kand no issues. BUT I am a used car dealer and I Can honestly say almost ever used town and country I see at Auction is making a ticking sound. I hear it on the Routan as well. Funny though newer grand caravans run very well at auction I have seen very few with a nasty tick
Hmm.Yeah I've heard of these engines having some issues. I guess I got a good one. My 2015 Grand Caravan has the 3.6 and it's got 340,000 kms on it and it's never given me any trouble. Still going on the original engine and transmission. AC/Heat has never needed servicing either.
Lucky you. I've got a '16 GrandCaravan and had to change the trans twice, injectors and lifters, rockers and cams. Also cooling/ overheating issues. All before 80k miles.
The Millennium Falcon of engines. makes my dad van go so fast.i remember beating a older model wrx one time.
I had a 2015 dodge journey with the 3.6L V6 it was a amazing engine, HOWEVER. The maintenance I took care of it was over the top. I also used 10w40 which kept me from having chain stretch and pre mature timing chain adjuster failure, which was issues that I knew about. I never really knew about these other issues nor did I experience them in my 184 thousand miles I had the SUV. However it did crack the flywheel and the drive shaft to the rear wore out at around 114K and needed replaced. Which was expensive asf. I would still have it but unfortunately someone pulled out infront of me last week so it's in SUV heaven now 🤧
I thought they ran on 5w-20… explain please why you used 10w40. Thanks 😀
@@djkjthe3rd185 well usually that depends on the climate you live in colder climate's you want heavier oil I use 10w30 in every car I've had it's the best all around oil in everything from 4 cinders to V8's it does great in cold and hot climate's.
@@dragoneye6642 You want lighter oil in colder climate and if the engine has cam phasers you need to use what oil they specify or you wil get a CEL.
2015 Journey with 85,000 miles... Left Head Failure.
We always had recommended maintenance performed, *independent shop Good Year affiliate, including oil changes at under 3,500 miles.
Chrysler/ Dodge WILL NOT stand behind the Journey with that faulty Pentastar engine.
Cost us $5,000.00 USD
160k miles in my WK2 and still going strong 👍
Now I know what to work on before boosting it 😈
For real though, the Pentastar is solid af. Compared to the horror stories I've heard from everyone in the other camps with their various V6s over the decades, Mopar really did an insanely good job on this thing. Decent power, uncannily smooth, and respectable potential too. Really a solid all 'rounder.
Agreed. My 2018 GC has 35k and I’m loving the power. It’s good to know it’s also durable 👍
On average, I condemn 2-4 of them a week. Dropping seats in the right head, timing chains, phasers, and the oil housing. They are not solid at all.
@@iamtheoffenderofall
lets do some quick math here:
Assume 4 per week from just you, that's 52ish per year multiplied by say 200 other locations also condemning 4 per week all year you get 10,400, divide by we will go with 15Mil since the video said they already hit 10Mil awhile back so lets make this easy and we get
total of .27% failure rate per year is not bad, nothing is perfect.
@@tartartar7198 quick math you neglect....at the height.. 500 per WEEK reported by dealers across the US. Cherry picking numbers will never help your case.
Lmao, by your numbers that would be 5mil engines condemned per year... hmm well we know that didn’t happen soooooo... someone is full of shit.
Even though I know Chrysler vehicles always have issues, I still refuse to look at other brands. I just like these cars, they arent boring.
I had a newer Toyota once and couldnt really connect with it cause there was never nothing wrong with it...
Basically every brand has its issues. Not just chrysler. It is how they are solved that makes the difference.
So Toyota was _too_ reliable?
@@robotbjorn4952 Way too reliable 😅😅😅
@@robotbjorn4952 they used to be really reliable but that really is no longer.
@@Sak-zo1ui I think you're a bit wrong, they are VERY reliable in having Quality control issues and some random problems which are just dumb. Ofc dealers see the most, but i'd like to think once they're out of warranty they'd be one of the best.
Fatal flaws of the pentastar: 3
Fatal flaws of the 62TE "Ultrastar" transmission attached to earlier 3.6 FWD automatics: infinite
I wish I could up-doot this more than once. That transmission is hot trash, failed at 89k on my Journey (3 months past 6 year powertrain warranty). Went from fine to grenade in 1 block. What the actual.. Thought my issue was a one-off until I had it rebuilt, the trans guy keeps them on the shelf because they're so common to fail. *sigh*
Was called ultradrive not ultrastar
@@kmbud I stand corrected, thank you. Although us owners might call them ultra (Something else).
@@The3chordwonder Ultra-shit?
The ultra drive transmission is a 6-speed variant (62TE), introduced in the 2007 model year and remains in production for several models as of 2019 in front wheel drive application.
WOW! I've had every issue this video explained. I have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler, I had to replace my engine at 115K ($8K) approx. 2 months ago. My heater core is busted, haven't had heat or air in 3 years. And my Jeep randomly overheats, the overheating is not serious but I have to keep an eye on the needle. I love my Jeep just wish I didn't have all of these issues.
Thanks for the research on this issue. I've been seriously considering buying a Mopar with this engine, so I now know what to look (or listen to) for to avoid an expensive issue.
just dont get one
@@TJ-wv8fs it's in its 3rd Generation and all the issues are fixed. Not only is it reliable over time with normal maintenance, it's not losing power either. Most would rather have something refined than something new.
Don't buy Chrysler Pacifica 2017.
I was amazed at the gas mileage my 3.6 got in my 2014 Grand Cherokee and that thing was a tank of an suv. 24-27mpg at 75mph depending on wind and terrain. I'm back in a HEMI Ram but considered a brand new single cab short bed Ram with the 3.6 since they were going for so cheap but knew the HEMI in a single cab short bed was what I really wanted. In a car or suv I'd own another 3.6 because of how smooth and refined the feel was.
First 400 mile drive with this engine in a 2013 Journey used 6 gallons for the first 200 miles at 80 mph and the second leg back against the wind at 80 used 6.5 gallons so 30 mpg or better both ways. Took roof cross bars off and aired tires to 44 psi using Castrol 0 to 20 synthetic oil. 87 octane fuel.
I had 3 hemis and then I bought a 1500-classic warlock with the V6. Honestly in day to day driving I don't miss the hemi, the 6 just needs more revs and it's about a second and a half slower to 60. I'm getting 20 mpg with 275/65/20 mud tires.
I recently traded in a 2013 Silverado reg cab with the 5.3 L V8 for a used 4X4 2017 reg cab long bed Ram with the 3.6 L V6. I was dubious about the smaller engine but took a test drive and was pleasantly surprised at its performance. It is no hot rod but is very adequate for normal driving. And gets amazing gas mileage for a full-sized pickup. It generally gets 20+ mpg for my routine driving, in warm weather. I have seen 27 mpg for a 170 mile trip with a light load on two-lane roads driving 60 mph. My criteria for performance is passing capability towing my 3000 lb boat. No issues here, it exceeded expectations, subjectively pretty close to the previous Chevy. Admittedly it revved up a bit more, but I that's to be expected as its 305 hp peak RPM is higher than the Chevy's 335. (And the 3.6 L's torque is a lot less.) I had one problem with the engine shortly after purchase which was fixed by the dealer under warranty - the plastic housing for the oil cooler/oil filter/etc cracked during a -25° cold spell (I live in MN) causing oil leakage. The dealer said this is pretty common and can be caused by overtightening the oil filter, due to the added stress plus the plastic getting brittle in the cold.
Same here, had the SRT and sold it to get a small performance car and a 3.6 for the dog. 3.6 is way better than the 6.4 Hemi apart from the noise. Fuel consumption is amazing and I've not lost any points, lost 6 points in 6 months owning the SRT 😂 SRT is way to easy to drive fast, even my nan could drive that.
Required a fast car with manual to help my need for satisfaction. The SRT was too boring and so many nanny aids.
I watch all these punks driving it fast, wow! Such amazing drivers - not! Personally if your GF, Mum and nan can drive it = Not a performance car. Opted for a MK2 Focus RS and a 3.6 blackhawk with the money.
Mine has been a amazing engine. I have a 2016 challenger. 80k miles. I also run it pretty hard for a normal car and there is no ticking yet.
86k miles with my 2016 300C. Runs great
120k miles on my 2011 Charger 3.6. 10w30 Penzoil full synthetic every 8k, zero ticking. Did have to replace my oil cooler unit this winter. Upgraded to R/T shocks and brakes, Diablo tuner 91 octane tune, cold air intake, dual exhaust and Tranzformer II.... 0-60 in 5 secs flat.
Awesome V6 when cared for.
Biggest solution for the cooling issues is to flush the cooling system early and often. Don't wait 150,000 miles to replace the coolant. Flush it in the first 50,000 miles and every 50,000 thereafter to get out any accumulated debris. Coolant is cheap, engines are expensive.
you bet maintenance is the key and keep it ahead of the manufacturer suggested intervals.
I have a 2014 Jeep Wrangler, bought new from local dealer here in Queensland, Australia. The vehicle has been serviced as per specifications up until this point. At 96K km a P0306 code (engine misfire cylinder 6) appeared and the technicians stated that even though the code was active the engine was not misfiring. I have spent a lot of money getting this looked at with coils, plugs, injectors and eventually rocker arms replaced to no avail. Further inspection revealed issues with the exhaust valves in cylinder 6 leaking. Not good and it's going to be expensive to remedy. There is no extended warranty for this (known) issue in Australia, so I'm not very happy. Thanks Jeep, I'll be steering well clear of your products in the future.
I drive Uber and Lyft. Average 200/500 miles a day. Currently have 286,000 plus. Almost zero maintenance. Just normal maintenance, air filter, new alternator, spark plugs ect. My passengers are amazed that my Pacifica has that high of miles and still runs so smoothly.
I have a 13 Charger with the 3.6 with 151k on it and still runs like new. Haven't had to do anything except regular maintenance
2012 300 8speed 158000 miles no engine problems average 28 mpg
Lol coward
@@craigklinski9075 thats highway MPG, def not city or mixed driving..
I'll have to remember to use mid grade gasoline in mine once in awhile. I usually cheap out at the pumps. My 2014 is been excellent so far never even went back to the dealership once.
Just do a seafoam treatment before every oil change
Gotta say that the Pentastar looks to be a decent engine overall. Hopefully these indicated flaws are not severely common.
It DEFINITELY is. Thats the problem with these videos is that they have to find "something" to vlog about and the headline must be negative...or else no one will watch. It obvious that with soooo many of these engines on the road, that there will be complaints; its simple math. These engines are in some vehicles that have the some of the best resale values ever...so the engine has a GREAT reputation or else values would plummet....i.e. Mazda's.
Those flaws do not occur in engines made since 2015
My 2014 Charger with the 3.6 is sitting at a cool 125k miles and the only engine related issue so far has been a leaking oil cooler assembly - but I have a hunch that the recent cold snap (-20 or so for a good week) just borked the rubber o-rings, as now that it's warmed up it doesn't seem to be leaking noticeably. Gonna replace it anyways, though.
I love the engine and the car, just keep up on basic maintenance and I think most of these issues really don't show up very often, and if they do regardless it'd be earlier on in the engine's life.
Oil filter housing over $500 to fix. Very common. Check Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge owners forums.
The only "common" issue I see is the rocker/lifter issue. And while it is a PIA, IF you catch it early, you won't have to replace the cam (and all but one on each cam you "can" sneak in without removing the cam and risking timing chain misalignment).
Keep the oil changed and stay below the redline and they're good runners.
To be honest I haven't experienced any of these problems. I bought my 2011 Caravan used with 168,000kms on it. I've put another 40,000 kms on it and no tick or coolant issues at all. Clearly idk what, if any, recalls or repairs may have been done before. I will only use full synthetic oil in this engine though because of seeing videos about the tick. Great job on the video.
May 07 jgc laredo 3.7 just surpassed 227K and she still runs amazing no issues and will be running her till the wheels falls off!
Thanks for another informative video! I learned my lesson buying first year cars- that's the main reason I got the Durango.. it's like a fine wine! ;)
Hey, as long as you maintain engines often and properly, they can be reliable.
That can be said about anything, but if you do everything right and it still breaks its just not quality
I own a 2014 Grand Caravan and it just hit 150k. I have experienced basic issues since owning. The damn oil filler, it "needed" a new water pump (dealer said it was leaking but never saw a drop) and starter. Other than that I've needed to do brakes and tires. I have been very impressed with this engine and hope to have the same luck with the one in my wifes 20 Pacifica.
I used to work at a dealer, typically during inspections they can see the start of a leak forming with pink crust forming around the waterpump. Happens to Toyotas a lot. Once that pink crust forms, it could be any day when that seal lets go completely and you're stranded on the side of the road because the coolant dumped out.
Former pentastar 3.6 owner here. My engine tore itself apart after only 100,000km and only 7 years old. All proper maintenance was done on it, and no CELs before the problem manifested. Something happened that caused metal shavings in the oil and throughout the oil system, ruining the engine. A replacement would have cost me 10,000 or more.
Three of these engines. 2014 Avenger with 130K, 2016 Caravan 190K, 2018 Pacifica 112K, no problems on any of the three engines. Very good fuel economy, smoothness. Always use basic 87 octane fuel. Change oil every 8-10K miles.
Definitely one of the most reliable engines from FCA/Stellantis. But have to say if you want the V6 get the 3rd gen with ESS which resolved the problems from the previous generations. You'll find the 3rd gen only in Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 1500, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Dodge Durango. All the other models that I didn't mention with the 3.6 V6 like the Dodge Durango, Ram 1500 Classic, and Chrysler 200 for example uses the previous generation 2nd gen Penterstar V6.
Thanks for this information. Now I know which PentaStar to be on the lookout for.
The Cherokee uses the 3.2 Pentastar
How are those new rams with the 3.6? I hear lots of good things about them.
3.6 is very reliable especially when you look at the millions produced. Still prefer the 6.2 in my Challenger.
Yea avoid any 1st and 2nd gen 3.6. I have a 2016 GrandCaravan and it had the infamous "tick". Had all cams, lifters and rockers changed due to that issue. Also bad injectors and 2 bad transmissions. I'd probably avoid most if not all Dodge/Chrysler products pre 2022, especially if you don't have a warranty worth paying for or if you're not mechanically inclined.
Had an 89 Voyager with 3L Mitsubishi V6. Valve guides twice, once under warranty. Bought a 98 Caravan with V6. Don't remember displacement. Ran that as well as the Voyager for over 150K miles.
3.3??
@@curtisharrison5809 could have been
@@curtisharrison5809 That 3,3 and 3,8 was bullet proof. As long as you changed oil regularly. A mate of mine still has 2 1997 caravans as company cars, cuz he likes them so much. They are both notching up to the half-million kilometers on the first engine, but do not ask me how many trannies those cars munched, haha :-D
On my 3rd 3.6 and I love them. Never had an issue. Had a 2012 also,only put 55k on it and got a killer trade in on it
At that mileage won't have problem no one of them !!! :)))
@@juliusboy001 not worried at all. “No one of them”??? I have at least 6 Jeep buddies. Mostly rock solid trucks,experience not just talking out my ass
@@MikeSmith-ey7ku we are talking about Caravan's here ,not trucks!
@@juliusboy001 no,we were talking about Jeep’s, don’t know what you’re talking about
Have a 2012 3.6 213,000 miles never had any major issues still driving today running smoothly
I have a 2012 V W Routan w/the 3.6. At about 120,000 miles the flywheel failed, the center completely broke out of it. Engine still ran fine but w / a nocking sound from the broken flywheel. Engine now has 140.000 miles, runs great, very smooth, great power, 20 -22 m p g.
I had one in my 2012 200, loved it. No leaks, and always ran good. Then again, it had less than 50k on it. The fatal flaw was the stupid horrible performing/shifting transmission in those early 3.6's.
Yes the fwd 6 speed is not great but mine improved with a filter and ATF4 Mopar fluid change at 120,000 mile I wish I had done a fluid chain/filter change at 60k miles.
@@robc8468 2016 caravan the 6 speed has been smooth as silk.
Yeah I also had a 2011 200. The trans was horrible. Intermit hard shifts into drive or reverse and harsh down shifts at times too. But the engine was great. Tons of power. Punch it from a stop and make sure you hold on the to steering wheel mad torque steer. Traded in with 60k for a 14 charger rt 5.7. I upgraded the intake plenum with the 6.4, wired the srv with a mds switch, cai, long tube headers, high flow cats, custom Jay Greene tune, and tranzformer shift kit. That thing was a rocket, then traded in for a 16 challenger 392 scat pack 6mt. This was was a handful to drive, all that torque and lack of traction was fun. Now I drive a 19 honda accord 2.0t, that gas guzzler was killing wallet.
Appreciate the objectivity! Even the best engines aren't perfect, and I consider this definitely one of the better V6 engines.
It's cool to love MOPAR but understand there are imperfections... any time someone new hops in my '09 Town & Country, I like to point out every fit & finish issue I've found in the van (so far).
Especially door/panel gaps. My grandma's T&C's front doors aren't flush with the body. They stick out at least an 1/8 inch and the top rear edges of the doors flex under heavy wind, its so bad you can hear air rushing in and you can stick a finger between the gap between the seal on the frame and the top of the door.
I love Mopar but I buy Chrysler Corporation products-not German or Italian models. I drove a 68 Plymouth Sport Fury as a daily. Currently driving a 65 Dart 270 and am looking at a Newport or Imperial next.
Chrysler did have quality control problems even in the late 50s because of high production due to demand for the Forward Look cars. It’s not new with them. Nonetheless, I will be driving Mopars until I die.
@@josephjames259 My ultimate ride is a ‘72 Imperial Lebaron. Still looking for a good one.
@@미친님-y6j Good luck, those were rust buckets, probably NONE left.
@@dannysdailys XD yea the only old Chryslers really available near me now are the 300s and the New Yorkers
One of the best V6 engines ever made.
3.6 in my 2013 Grand Cherokee has been flawless. 93,000 miles on it now, runs perfect no ticks or coolant issues like described here. Guess I got a good one
Glad to hear that...just bought my daughter the exact same vehicle for her first car( 70k on the odometer) and it looks clean.
We have a 2012 grand caravan. Had the misfire issue with the cylinder head, but it was replaced under warranty at around 60k. Had a broken thermostat, and after replacing it the housing leaked and had to replace that too. Had a ticking rocker arm and changed that at around 120k... thankfully before it wiped out the cam. Had a misfire issue at about 140k that drove me nuts. Finally figured out it was a bad cam phaser on the rear exhaust cam. Changed all of them while i was in there. Because of the misfire, the rear catalyst went bad but isn’t plugged, just setting a code every once in a while. Its got 160k on it now. Oh, and the drain back valve broke off in the oil filter housing last oil change but i was able to get one and replace it without changing the whole filter housing. Im a mechanic, and told my wife this was all going to happen when she wanted to buy it, but she didn’t believe me...
All B/S aside,,,, the engine has some really good #'s, I'd like to have one.
Great engine, I had the 3.6 in 2 Journey's and now my 2018 Durango.
When its listed as one of the greatest engines of all time by multiple credible sources, doesn't matter what minor foibles you find in it.
I bought a 2014 Journey Crossroad about a year ago and since then, Ive had to replace the PLASTIC oil filter housing, the oil cooler, and the oil pressure sensor. Buy that extended warranty ladies and gentlemen!
On my 2013 Wrangler 3.6 I started having reduced heat on drivers side and found sand in heater core when back-flushed. This was at 6 year 90,000. several videos on sand issue if you have reduced heat. Plugs replaced at 105,000 shown normal wear. Thermostat (spring stuck open) replaced at 105,000. So I'm relatively happy with the durability of the engine.
Had coolant flush i n April this year, still minimum heat on drivers side, just replaced my oil filler cooler was leaking, still drivers side little heat. 2017 jk 143,00km
Did you replace your heater core, an do you have heat now.
428k on the old promaster and counting.... Zero issues
@Terri Tinnell That's great to hear! 💪🏼👍🏻
2018 promaster here with 36k here I use 91 every day and WOT drive it everywhere and leave it running for hours only issues coolent leak I daily check it everyday great motor!!!
These are definitely the big three issues with the engine. FYI: There is an aftermarket fuel pump made of aluminum. Also make sure you only use the specific Mopar brand antifreeze.
I’ve had my 2013 Chrysler 200 limited Pentastar 3.6 V6 since 65k and have now roughly 136k doing regular maintenance and oil changes at 7k miles. Really surprised with how reliable it has been. Car still runs fantastic with no problems in sight (just make sure to change that tranny fluid). The 3.6 V6 engine is leaps and bounds better than the world i4 imo
I purchased a 2017 RAM 1500 Express with this engine in 2019. I find it an great power plant, had as much horsepower as my 2003 RAM with the 5.7 Hemi.
Ironically I did purchase a factory extended and have that security in mind.
Believe most owners are to blame for this engine issues as most don’t follow the maintenance needs, very typical.
Really well done video! I had to replace the oil cooler on my 2014 Chrysler 200 S at about 110k miles. Opted for the Dorman aluminum replacement. And I will be upgrading to other aluminum replacement parts if/when the original plastic parts fail.or wear. Other than that, no problems whatsoever. Great engine with lots of power.
I've been subscribed for a while now and I just happen to be currently looking at buying a 2011-2014 charger with the v6 engine. So this definitely is helpful for me right now and a funny coincidence.
See if you can get one with AWD, and then add a Ripp supercharger. Then you'll have a "SRT6" with AWD. ;^)
Honestly I have a sxt challenger and Ik videos and numbers say 0-60 in about 6.2 but mine is stock besides a cai and has a nail in a tire causing it to stay stupid low on air and I still hit 5.7 every time and sometimes run a 5.6
Before you buy used car designed 20 years ago and made by the worst and car manufacturing entity in NA and Europe ( Fiat-Chrysler and now Peugeot, financial pyramid is complete ) ask yourself what are your priorities, if its high quality reliable car with excellent handling and good power well FCA never made a car like that , its either one of those qualities or none of them ( its never quality/reliability) never a full package, if you want to become a stereotype like minded will be impressed and welcoming though
@@MegaNinjaMonkeyZord My family has been almost exclusively Mopar since the 1960s. Out of the four newer vehicles that we have had, two being from 2011 and 2012 respectively, we have experienced zero major issues. I get behind the wheel of my Challenger, and it’s a joy to drive. Handles well if you know what you’re doing, and has plenty of power. Pretty damn good quality on the interior, paint, etc. I always hear people complain about Chrysler products, but, based upon my experience, which is pretty significant, it’s mostly horse shit. What’s your experience with FCA or, hell, even Daimler for that matter?
Love my 2014 Charger SXT AWD Sport. 56K miles no problems. Quaker State Ultimate Durability Full Synthetic self-changed and BP or Shell premium.
Almost 100k on ours with no issues whatsoever.
They made really difficult and time consuming to replace the oil pressure switch which fails a lot. Have to remove the entire intake manifold to get to a $20 part. Was never an issue doing it in under a min on the old 4.0
I agree with that, my oil pressure sensor has been reading high for a year. No engine light yet but the replacement is far from easy
@@JJ4848 I just replaced the sensor myself, after my mechanic did the oil filter housing replacement the sensor he put in was junk, and the code returned. I bought an oem sensor from amazon and 6 hours later, I did a lot of cussing without taking the intakes off. Had to buy a special socket but saved me 350 $ from taking it to my mechanic. If you have basic tools you can do it hardest part was trying to thread the sensor while laying on top of the engine lol
I drove a 2019 Dodge Charger with the 3.6 v6 Pentastar engine from College station Texas to Portland Oregon and averaged 36mpg. It was a rental. I will definitely buy one.
Doesn't sound like this is a big deal for 99% of us who own these engines. The 3.6L is a wonderful engine, as mentioned, that has great fuel economy, performance and drivability. Th latter makes driving very enjoyable. When I replaced my 2013 Grand Cherokee I wanted a Hemi as I have had before in my Grand Cherokees but they were hard to get in 2017 due to EPA restrictions. The dealer let me drive his personal vehicle and I was very pleased with it. Much better drivability than my previous Hemis.
Keeping up on TSB's and maintaince is key. This is quite exciting.
Have replaced 2 of these for cylinder 1 compression loss..its an ok engine,like you said CHANGE YOUR OIL
There’s no TSB for the oil cooler which I’ve found to be the number one problem for this engine
@@Haltech92 Any oil cooler fails if the oil is contaminated due to neglect, coolant entering oil or major engine failure (metal particles in oil galleries/passages etc.) Never clean or reuse an oil cooler/elements. Get a new one.
@@dontgetwellboi1240 I’m not disagreeing but for me to do for of them in a few months span with all of em under 50k miles is not a coincidence
@@Haltech92 That is strange. Not flushing out the entire engine oil passages/galleries improperly or not fully is one thing that comes to mind. This is a tough one. Haven't ran into that one.....
I like how detailed this vid was. Could you please do the 4.7L next?
I was about to comment this.
Oh man I had that engine in my 09 Ram and HATED it, lol. With 3.55's and 5 speed auto that truck couldn't get out of its own way. Drank the hell out of gas too for amount (or lack of) power it put out.
@@billyhill2488 is it reliable tho
@@austinreed347 LOL no clue I haven't owned that truck since 2011. Once you go HEMI you can't go back even though I did have a 2 year fling with my loaded Grand Cherokee with the Pentastar. Wasn't the same after it got rear ended pretty bad so went back to a HEMI Ram and glad I got the loaded SUV thing out of my system. Gotta have an open bed behind me to be happy.
@@billyhill2488 I really respect Mopar guys just because of how loyal they are. Almost all Mopar owners have problems with their vehicle but still stick with them. Even the Pentastar V6 is an average engine and yet from Mopar guys, you would think it’s the greatest engine ever.
wow this is pretty interesting for these motors I think it is pretty cool how they were going to name them phoenix. So far with my own v6 challenger I have had no issues thus far and am looking into tuning. I have seen that certain companies that offer tunning for these engines say that with a certain tune, things like knocking can be prevented as well as fuel economy seem to go up more. I am interested in learning more about these engines so I will keep looking.
The reason they didn't name it the Phoenix is there is a movie called Flight of the Phoenix. The Phoenix crashed. With whats happening with these engines you can see the irony.
Thank you. Your video was very thorough. I'm having a lot of problems with my 2011 Town and Country. I'm just searching for answers to help my mechanics help me.
A couple weeks ago I noticed my 2012 Jeep wrangler was starting to over heat and the heat would blow cold. Brought it into the shop and they replaced the temp gauge and everything ran great for the next couple days. I went away for a week and when I came back all the issues came back as well. I just got back from the mechanic for a second time and now they said there’s a warped cylinder head causing exhaust to flow into the cooling system. They quoted $5k to fix the issue including the rocker arms which they said could fail anytime in the near future. This is shocking to me since the car only has 97k miles on it and the temp gauge never read H only 3 quarters at most when it was overheating and the check engine light never came on once.
I like the pentastar engine and Dodge and Jeep products but this is uncalled for. Even if the pentastar engine is overall reliable, a simple thing such as a thermostat failure should not cause catastrophic engine damage after only driving a few miles with it running a little hot.