My son is looking for a TJ. I know the latter ones were a V6 and I have had no experience with them. Was the V6 better and more desirable than the straight 6? Or should you stay away from the V6? Ant advise or suggestions would be appreciated.
Straight 6 or V6?
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The JKs come with V6s. The 3.8 V6 offered in the 2007-2011 JKs is NOT a better engine than the 4.0 in any way if you ask me. It’s also severely underpowered.
The 2012-2018 JKs came with the 3.6 V6 Pentastar which is a fantastic engine, worlds better than the 4.0 in terms of power.
The 2012-2018 JKs came with the 3.6 V6 Pentastar which is a fantastic engine, worlds better than the 4.0 in terms of power.
While the 3.6L V6 Pentastar creates more power and gets better MPG; the amount of electronics required to accomplish this can be much more expensive to repair than the 4.0L.
The 2012-2014 engines were prone to numerous head problems so much so that the PN last two letters went from AA to AE with in 3 years due to redesigns trying to correct the valve issues. As far as I know that problem has been resolved, but not after a lot money was invested.
I may be biased, but I prefer the durability and simplicity of the CLASSIC TJ over the JKs....
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The 4.0 is definitely a reliable engine, which is about all it has going for it. I have a love / hate relationship with the 4.0. My 3.6 Pentastar was a fantastic engine to drive on the road, but as you shed light on, it’s not the best choice if you’re a DIY mechanic as the electronics are much more abundant.
X2 Plus if you start down the rabbithole of replacing the oil pressure sensor with the same half ass factory parts over and over,
you find yourself wondering if keeping it past warranty is sustainable.
Very true indeed. The JKs have lots of little issues like this that are very well documented.
Shwiftypickle
TJ Enthusiast
I have both, for my 4.0, nothing but love, turns my 35s just fine with proper gearing. Reliable, drove every day for 11 years no issues aside from a failed pcm that I expected for the past 8 years. The 3.6 is great has it's small issues with the oil coolers both leaking and sensor failure. Both these problems are minor compared to most other manufacturers problems.
I’m absolutely biased. Even with the non-crossflow, 2 valve, OHV, heavy iron block and head, I like the 4.0 better than a V6. A straight six is smooth, sounds nice, is easy to work on and makes most of its torque over most of its RPM. Every straight six I’ve owned (Ford 4.9, Cummins 6.7, BMW 3.0 and the Jeep 4.0) had those characteristics. There are more than a few nice performing V6s out there, but they just aren’t cool. Was anybody excited about the V6 Plymouth Prowler? Happy to see Ford put a V6 in the Raptor or GT? Big power in both of those but, meh...
edit: OK the Cummins sounds like a bulldozer, if you like that but otherwise maybe not.
Worth mentioning is that the 4.0 has been around for so long that we know all the known issues, the fixes, etc.
The Pentastar on the other hand hasn't been around as long so some of that still remains to be unknown. It's nice knowing at least that with the 4.0 as long as you take care of it it should make it pretty easily to 600k miles or so without a rebuild.
The Pentastar on the other hand hasn't been around as long so some of that still remains to be unknown. It's nice knowing at least that with the 4.0 as long as you take care of it it should make it pretty easily to 600k miles or so without a rebuild.
350- 450 K Sure, but I believe at 600 K any 242 would be getting VERY long in the tooth , your cam would look like a pipe and your
timing chain would have enough slop to slap the hood.
Possibly, but that guy here on the forum had 600k on his TJ when he sold it, never rebuilt the engine either350- 450 K Sure, but I believe at 600 K any 242 would be getting VERY long in the tooth , your cam would look like a pipe and your
timing chain would have enough slop to slap the hood.
fourpointzero
TJ Addict
Both will cost money in the long term. The JKU more up front, at the moment, to take ownership from the jump. Of course there are some exceptions.
Luv the simplicity of my 4.0 but the slight MPG savings (dare I say more than slight) and torque of my 3.6 is very nice. I Enjoy them both for different reasons and still cannot choose one over the other, yet.
I suggest getting your son a TJ w a 6cyl. its a fantastic fixer and awesome to learn the "how to" and DIY.
Luv the simplicity of my 4.0 but the slight MPG savings (dare I say more than slight) and torque of my 3.6 is very nice. I Enjoy them both for different reasons and still cannot choose one over the other, yet.
I suggest getting your son a TJ w a 6cyl. its a fantastic fixer and awesome to learn the "how to" and DIY.
That is Great ! I hope I can get that out of mine too ! Most of the non roller engines can't get that kind mileage.Possibly, but that guy here on the forum had 600k on his TJ when he sold it, never rebuilt the engine either
Chris, thanks for sharing an actual account.
Jacket4256
TJ Enthusiast
nathanotis
TJ Enthusiast
I haven't seen any mentions of the torque that the TJ's Inline6 makes. Or the RPM is does it at...
The 4.0 is great. It's an almost bullet proof package that has grunt down low where we like it.
The 4.0 is great. It's an almost bullet proof package that has grunt down low where we like it.
Jeep rated the '97 4.0L at 222ft/lb (at the crank). Mine recently dynoed 169ft/lb (at the rear wheels) but the curve was almost flat with near full torque from 2100RPM to redline. I put the dyno sheet in my build thread (https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...en-tj-moderate-build.51602/page-3#post-928126)
235 ft lbs in the final version.
Its at a way low RPM compared to most other gasoline engines, but could be lower. My beloved 305 V6 was more torque at a lower RPM, BUT it was an entire litre larger - and 2X heavier!
Its at a way low RPM compared to most other gasoline engines, but could be lower. My beloved 305 V6 was more torque at a lower RPM, BUT it was an entire litre larger - and 2X heavier!