3.8?

R Q

R Q

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Location
Charlotte
SO we hear from the "experts" that the 3.8 JK motor is a bad motor and I guess they have their reasons. Who here has had issues and at what mileage and what was the cause?
 
Can't be any worse than the 3.6 I had, 12000 miles and the dealership had it sitting on a stand rebuilding it, one of the main reasons I got rid of it.
 
My wife has a 2008 JKU Sahara (3.8) with approximately 80K miles. Never been wheeled, only dirt its seen is a dirt road (very infrequently). We've replaced the water pump (IIRC it was in the 50K to 60K range) been through 3 batteries, on her third set of tires including the factory skins, and obviously brakes. Last fall at around 75K we had to replace a leaking rear axle seal and the leaking master cylinder. Lack of power is annoying when merging on highways but other than that, its been a pretty reliable vehicle (knock on wood). She'd like something newer but she likes her Jeep, it's running fine, she can't see trading it in for a new Jeep and she's not interested in other vehicles as they all look the same in her opinion - and I agree.
 
Just rolled past 130K on my 08, Haven't had a single problem with the 3.8... I've trashed the front axle, and burned up a tranny, but the 3.8 hasn't had any issues...
 
Other than being underpowered for the JK I don't think they are bad motors. If I am not mistaken they are the same basic architecture as the old 3.3/3.8L V6s. I swapped a 3.8L into my short wheelbase 95 Voyager a while back, that was fun for a minivan. :lol:
 
It's not a power house but I did manage 16 1/2 mpg according to the dash driving from Cali to Greenville on 37s with factory 4.10s. And 16 mpg driving from Maryland to Greenville on 37s. Mine consumes maybe a quart every oil change, it is way under powered in this configuration but it'll keep axles alive I feel like. Mine is a 6spd, I've put 30K miles on it since I've had it, it's just over 80k now on the clock. I've put plugs in it at 65k miles and it ran on some plugs with like a .120 gap, I was surprised it ran.

Since being home and wheeling it in mud it's seen the rev limited at times and it just chugs on, stock gears and 38.5 swampers it'll bark or peel them going into 2nd. It may have spun and slightly drifted a round about in town the other night.

I've had a great experience with mine but I'll swap an LS in my jeep when it blows, if it does atleast.
 
As a former Chrysler tech, I would much rather have the 3.8 in the jk than the 3.6. Just saw too many issues with sensors or timing chains across all vehicle models to trust it. I saw less trouble out of the 3.8 jk other tan being under powered in anything but stock trim.

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