2012-2017 JEEP WRANGLER 3.6L THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
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Today I will be showing you how to replace the thermostat assembly on a 2012-2017 Jeep Wrangler with the 3.6L engine. Common issues are check engine light for code P0128, stuck shut thermostat causing engine to overheat, and the thermostat housing leaking coolant.
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Motorcity Mechanic
P.O. Box 240
Grovetown Ga, 30813
Motorcity Mechanic is your online source of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram repair videos. The videos are designed to help everyone from the average DIY, all the way up to the professional level tech. Make sure to subscribe so that you get notified of all the new videos that keep getting added weekly.
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I've done this job twice now and have never been able to get coolant to flow out of the drain valve (it always got stuck at 90 degrees). You're the first person to show how the valve actually works and how to get it loose with spray lube if it's stuck.
Dave, you're a legend! You've been cranking out Chrysler gold consistently for over a decade. Plus, having met you in person I can say you're a solid guy too. Thanks for all your hard work and expertise buddy!
Love your videos David, has helped me a lot. I have done my thermostat like you did and still had trouble getting air out. What I have learned is to slightly elevate the front of Jeep, fill radiator till coolant comes out where thermostat goes. I install the thermostat/housing with bleeder still open and squeeze bottom hose( while adding coolant) till it runs out without bubbles. I use the same funnel system you use but wait till thermostat opens - this will increase level it funnel, I shut off engine and let cool. Remove funnel and top off. I have done this over a dozen times helping friends change radiators and thermostats and it’s works for me. I know it may sound like a lot but I have no luck getting air out any other way.
Sometimes it takes a few different methods or repeating until all the air finally gets out
I have no 3.6 but appreciate your videos,knowledge and expertise. Great video
I try to include basic info/tools that can be used on other vehicles as well
@@MotorCityMechanic I appreciate all your videos. Been very helpful in replacing 3.6 pentestar cylinder heads before and working on my 5.7 hemi and transmission. Think I’ve learned alot from your videos throughout the years 👍
As always another great video. I have done this on the 2014 Town & Country. Yes, The plastic bleeder screw is very delicate. Replaced mine with a brass one.
Great tutorial! As someone who has done all of this, you did a great job of covering the operation. Well done.
You have excellent teaching skills, Dave♥️
Thanks!
I'm going to be doing this on my 3.6 wrangler soon, so watching this has been really helpful. I'm also planning on back flushing my heater core at the same time and would like to see a video of you doing that if you haven't already done one.
Back flushing pretty much doesn’t do a lot due to the design of the heatercore. Typically if it’s already clogged then it’s too late. No harm in trying however. Hard to describe why without showing.
This is super helpful man. Thank you for posting this. I replaced the temp coolant sensor and cleared the code (po128) but it came back. Next up - this thermostat replacement. The coolant bleed was a question for me - so covering the bleeder screw was super helpful.
I have a 3.0L and I still enjoy these videos 👍
I never really get to see any 3.0’s…..appreciate you watching
Complete and thorough. Going to tackle this tomorrow on my wife's 2016 Wrangler.
Hey Dave, great channel! I have watched a number of your videos. I am a retired Toyota Master tech. with a 2012 JKU Rubicon. Last summer I went through an ordeal with overheating after replacing the radiator and thermostat. As you correctly stated in the video, Mopar units were on "Galactic Backorder" for over a year. So, the only choice we all had was to use aftermarket ones. I went through two aftermarket units from two different parts suppliers that were giving me hot conditions when climbing hills or accelerating. I checked out your channel where you talked about the aluminum housing thermostats that were offered by Dorman. I was still doing some online research and noticed on another u-tuber channel, the aftermarket thermostat he installed had the spring installed upside-down! He didn't notice it so I let him know in his comments. I had bought a third unit from Napa that I hadn't taken out of the box yet when I found an aluminum unit by Miliparts on Amazon. Dorman didn't have one for the JKs yet. I got the Miliparts unit and noticed when I went to install it, it was noticeably better made than the other ones I had installed. The spring crossbar was wider, the struts were taller, and the spring was heavier. When I removed the unit I had installed, sure enough it had the spring installed upside-down also! I hadn't caught it either! I installed my Miliparts unit, and the problem solved! I still had the Napa unit in the box and wanted to return it. So out of curiosity, I had to look at it, and it too had the spring upside-down! When I took it back to Napa, I told them my story and showed them the unit, and they saw the problem. I said, hey if you have any in stock, you might want to take a look at one. He said that's a good idea. He had one so we took a look, and it too was upside-down! It looks like all three parts lines, Auto Zone, O'reilly, and Napa use the same vendor!
The reason for my comment is, I noticed the one you installed in this video was upside-down also! I had to let you know! Dave you're a great tech., and I was one for fifty-one years! Sometimes we just don't catch everything! I have seen this happen to a lot of guys on u-tube, so I have to let my tech. brothers know when I see it.
Keep up the great work!
God Bless,
Jimmy
Like to see a video on how to replace the spark plugs on the hard side of a 3.6L P motor. Have to on my 2016 JGC soon.
Thank you video my brother-in-law just bought a new Jeep Wranger with 3.6. Only problem he drives highway a lot already broke windshield from rock
They go thru some windshields! Probably because they aren’t angled much.
I had a code on my 2017 Jeep with 3.6 Pentastar . The was in referance to engine not getting to Temp. I research and found that the thermostat was more than likely the cause so I remove the thermostat as per a previous video you done. I found that in fact the thermostat was in fact open even though it was at ambient temperature. I got one from O-reilys and installed it. I check over a three day period, when the system was cold the fluid level. I found on the third day the system was full and did not require any additional fluid. within 4 weeks the Jeep began to overheat at high RPMs. I felt intuitively it was the new dorman thermostat, I removed it and since it was warm outside I didn't throw a code the Jeep did not over heat, I went to auto zone and acquired a new duralast and installed almost to the day the same thing happened. I try to check the thermostats in boiling water but neither opened. I saw your video on the metal thermostat housing and noted the quality of build. I'm hoping this is the fix otherwise I'm up a creek..
I get more and more worried and disappointed by aftermarket parts every day. 😞
Last I checked Dorman hasn’t released the aluminum housing for the Jeep yet. (The one in his video is for a charger if I remember correctly) it’s for sure clocked the opposite direction.
What thermostat did you end up using this time? I was about to try the Duralast. MotoRad, Gates, and Mishimoto have not worked long for me.
I’ve also considered just gutting this housing and not running one, but some say it allows too much flow and won’t keep cool without it.
I've replaced so many of these on other, going to be installing the Dorman Aluminum housing on my 200 Limited and have done the upgraded oil coolers to my cousin's 200 with the 3.6L, and both of my 200's. I just did the quick pull method on a cooled engine.
Thanks very much Dave. Your videos are always well orchestrated and informative.
Thanks very much
@MotorCityMechanic I had to replace the cooling thermostat on my Pentastar engine in my ‘12 Chrysler 200 Touring convertible because it was sticking open. It’s a good thing that I have a slim build because there was very little room around the thermostat on that transverse mounted engine. I had to rely on the Torx cutout in the inside of the 10mm cap screws in order to tighten after replacing the thermostat.
Your video gave me the confidence to do this myself on my 2014 JK. After buying the part and supplies, I saved about $200. One hiccup I encountered was I turned the drain valve past 90 deg CCW... and over to probably 270 or more and the plug/knob came out entirely. It drained good then ;-). I had a hard time getting it back in and closed until I found a photo of a similar Chrysler drain hole and could see that the plastic knob needs to be oriented so the handle you pinch is pointing North Northwest (or say between 10:00 and 11:00)... then you can push it back in and turn CW to horizontal. You might need to put coolant or silicone lube on the O-ring to get it to seat all the way in. The key is having it oriented correctly or it just won't go in all the way and turn to lock.
Great job! Sounds like you got that issue handled well, appreciate the added info and feedback. Make sure to subscribe
Probably the best Tutorial on how to do a thermostat change on a Jeep Wrangler on TH-cam!👌😎👍thanks for the tutorial!
You're the mechanic I want to go to when there's something wrong with my vehicle.
Many thanks!
he called a flathead screwdriver a philips :o
@@bigtravis93 sometimes I confuse my butthole from my mouth, its all good :)
Thank you for sharing your very informative video on how to replace engine coolant thermostat 🙏. Your video tutorials was very helpful and useful. I have my 2012 Jeep Wrangler 3.6 L. I’m going to replace the engine coolant thermostat. I have an idea now. Thank you again and greetings from your new subscribers 👍🙏
I appreciate you watching the video. Thanks for the feedback
I have a Chrysler 3.6 pentastar, comma and I really like your videos
👍
Yeah there’s a lot of similar repairs from vehicle to vehicle with this same engine, just some slight differences
Than you for all of your detailed repair videos. Can you do a video of timing cover seal replacement for a 2012 3.6?
Thank you Dave…great video….👏👏👏👏👏
how many gallons of coolant do you think i will need to fill up after drainage
Good job, on explaining & showing. It’s just like changing the oil on the wrangler. Great great videos. Keep it up.👍🏽
Hey it worked! No more check engine light! Time to go wheelin
Great video, would you recommend changing the temperature sensor at same time since your in the area? Thx
Great video.
Very well explained. Thank you for the information. Which thermostat do you recommend that is not mopar?
If my coolant was changed recently, could I just disconnect the coolant hose from the thermostat housing and try and not spill it all out then change the thermostat and connect it, burp the system and it will be good? I don't want to drain my coolant if I just changed it a few months ago, would be a waste.
You jinxed me! 😂 Well this one lasted 9 months, better than the previous ones I’ve tried. Year 4 of owning this Jeep, and I’m on my 4th thermostat. Why is it taking so long for Mopar to get these back in stock? And what is it about this design that makes it so hard for the aftermarket to make one that will last?
I don’t know why the jeep is the issue, minivan thermostats are in stock. Someone somewhere knows. I have been curious if I can get a minivan version to work. Might be at a light downward angle but might work……I have no faith in the aftermarket any more. I think I have 4-5 motorad versions that I replaced this last month. I wish someone would come up with an old school version. Maybe multiple layers with an old style sandwiched in the center. Wish I had someone that could make these crazy ideas for me.
@@MotorCityMechanic I’ve tried Mishimoto, Gates and MotoRad (paid Mopar price for the MotoRad because it came from the dealer in a Mopar bag). None have lasted more than a year.
@@MotorCityMechanic I wonder if the guts from the MOPAR 5184570AJ (grand caravan) would fit in the Jeep housing… I might have to give that a try. Or even change the coolant crossover pipe (I’m looking to see if it appears to swap over) if it would reorient the minivan T-Stat correctly.
Thankyou for all your pentastar videos.They are really in depth and informative.My 2014 Grand cherokee has 110k miles ,do you recomend any preventative maintenance on oil filter housing,timing chains or cam followers and rocker arms.Thankyou David
What is the purpose for that beauty cover ?
Some sound deadening and some eye candy in my opinion
I think it helps insulate the intake manifold from underhood heat. There is foam under the upper manifold as well.
Many of the later model JLs and JTs do not have the cover. Some say it was for cost savings and some say due to supply chain issues.
Talk about harmonic balancer issue and replacement with 3.6 next.
Will make a note of that. Appreciate the input
How about the Dorman metal body thermostat? Is it worth a try?
They don’t make one for the wrangler. Only the plastic one. They do for other vehicles with the 3.6 but for some reason not the wrangler. I see cheap aftermarket versions on Amazon and online made by companies I have never heard of but I still can’t fully trust them. For now we have no choice until Mopar finally gets some in the system
Yeah there's a metal replacement for my 2013 town and country. I'm a give it a try.
Hi, I am going to do this replacement this weekend after getting the P0128 code. Thanks for the video! - Just a couple questions about refilling the coolant. The capacity is 10.5 quarts. Do I need to buy that much for this job? It couldn't tell from the video if draining via the drain plug removes all the coolant, including what is in the reservoir. Or will there still be a decent amount left in the reservoir / heater core / other locations? Just trying to figure out how much coolant to have on hand when I won't have a vehicle to drive to the store to get more while doing this job. Any advice around coolant volume is appreciated. Thanks!
David,
Where do you get the abrasive wheels you use to clean the aluminum gasket surfaces? Can you provide a link. Thanks
Here is a link to the discs and the holder:
amzn.to/49wxw8D
Hey buddy. When are u gonna start on the new pentastar engines?
A little "tool tip"
I notched the webbing on one side of the T-handle of the funnel plugging tool so it will hang on the inside of the funnel while in use.
I hope this is helpful to someone else🙂
Cool tip. I prefer the cone shaped funnels….this clear one, the t handle doesn’t slide into place you have to put it exactly where it goes and that means missing 3 out of 5 times and making a mess
@@MotorCityMechanic You're correct sir. But I hate buying basically the same tools multiple times. 😔 but sometimes, you just have to.
That's one more reason I just bought myself an older car 😉
1970 Dart 318 all original 😁
Any tips for that old girl?
The thought did cross my mind of dropping a pentastar drivetrain in it🤔😎
Great work sir! Your videos definitely help.
What interval do you recommend thermostat replacement?
Not needed until it either sets a code, leaks, or sticks shut causing overheating
2016 wrangler.3.6
Is 219 to 228 at idle normal coolant.. temperature.
Water pump coolant temp and tstat rad cap was changed.....
Drops down 208 to 2015 at highway speeds .. just wondering if this is normal behavior.. or possible head issue thanks
I was doing some digging, Mahle bought out BEHR in 2013, and then in 8/23 MAHLE sold the thermostat business to ADMETOS. I’d be willing to bet that’s why we can’t get Mopar units. I’ve seen some pictures of factory units marked BEHR.
Great video, thank you Sir 👍😁
What’s your opinion on adjusting the steering box on an 18 ram 2500 I’ve got slop in the steering. I’ve got 140,000 miles on it. Is that something you would do? Or have any tips or tricks on doing it?
Great video, much appreciated
I appreciate it!
Worked on any grand wagoneer yet?
I personally haven’t so far at my personal shop
Any recommendations where I can order an actual OEM thermostat for a Jeep Wrangler JK so I know I'm getting Genuine part?
I'm guilty of forgetting the beauty cover, close the hood turn around and then there is it on all its glory 😂
Usually most notice when cleaning up later…..then it’s too late 😂
I work on a fleet, and those "beauty covers" are usually one of the first things to get tossed.
I can probably find one laying around if somebody needs one🤣😏
Keep them coming 👍🏻👊🏻
Sure will
Don't see your link to Amazon
More videos on the 5.7 hemis pla brother
I will keep that in mind! Appreciate the feedback
Thank you👍
Thank you too!
Did these years ha e issues
Awesome david.
Appreciate it bud!
nice work
Thanks very much!
1st time I have seen anyone open the bleeder valve 1st before refilling.
I vacuum filled and never opened the bleeder valve. Been 16 months and Jeep runs around 204. Never see temps higher than 226.
If vacuum filling then I open the bleeder when done just to make sure no trapped air for what ever reason.
What thermostat brand are you using? I’d like to find one that will last that long.
@@AnglinTexas OEM..Originial OEM last until 48k.
What temp whats that thermostat
what is your opinion of the engine cover me personally waste of money and holds heat in the engine and isnt needed for any reason
I really see no need for it. I rather see the engine then the pretty cover hiding everything
Probably helps insulate the intake manifold from underhood heat.
You can do 9 ft/lbs if you don’t have an inch/pound torque wrench just be careful to not go past that torque. I’d go to 8 ft/lbs first and then adjust the wrench to 9 and only use finger tips to tighten it down carefully
Hello David!!
It s cool )))
🤗
Hey, thanks! Glad you like
I’ve got a 2018 Durango 3.6 with cooling issues. There’s a whitish slime on the sides of the recovery tank. I’m losing a small amount of coolant. The temp fluctuates slightly while driving. Sometimes I smell coolant under hood when it’s hot. No visible leaks on the ground. Here’s the best part my dealership says it’s normal. Any thoughts?
Great show as always!
Check your oil cooler. It sits in the valley of the engine and is prone to leaking from people over-tightening the oil filter.
@@brianw.520
Thanks i appreciate that
New Cap, Clean It Off, If It Comes Back Probably A New Tank.
And What brian w Said...😶🧂😁
@@saltyreesescup3104
The coolant tank cap?
Thank you.
Thanks for the video
Question -- HOAT vs OAT. Which one are these damned 3.6 taking nowadays? Ive already lost one heater core due to the dislike these two have for each other, starting to suspect number two is going the same way. Could you do a deep dive into the HOAT V OAT topic, mainly, which one the engine calls for, for which generations? Thanx eh!
Torque Specs????
This video was great, but at the last minute I called a local mechanic to replace for $140 including parts. Part of the reason is because I cannot do mechanic work in my parking lot
I just got to say I hate my daughters 2021 JL the air box screws take too long and eventually get stripped 😕
Yeah those you have to be careful with and do it by hand and then it’s still possible it can happen
@@MotorCityMechanic 👍🏻
Fuck amazon. 😂 Thank you for the great video!
Good video, David. Can we invite you to do a review for our product? We have emailed you to inquire about an opportunity
Did you just call a flathead moosekiller a phillips?
A Phillips screwdriver.
If someone needs a video to change a thermostat, they should have someone else do it.
folks have to start somewhere.
Most everything I do its the first time.
Never installed a lift before....did that stop me?
Nope.
Plus i wouldnt trust someone else to do it correctly.
The "ive been doing this for 30 years" assurance holds no coolant with me.
👍👍👍
Great video! Much appreciated
Amazing video. Thanks, you
Great video, thanks!