Originally Posted by dwcopple
Originally Posted by racin4ds
Pentastar 3.6 was garbage
not even remotely true. It's a monster engine that makes 280+ hp and is really really reliable. Heck, they've used it for a decade now and still put it in RAMs and other vehicles. It's a winner.
Agreed; outside of oil cooler issues due to the plastic cracking where the oil filter housing attaches to the aluminum body of the cooler and some issues with early model heads (which have been mitigated and warranties extended to cover it), it is one of FCA's best engines. OP - I would not hesitate to buy a vehicle with the 3.6L engine.
https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id=167
The left side cylinder head problem had been found in about
0.5% percent of 2011-13 vehicles with 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engines. Engines with cylinder head failure can be easily recognized by a ticking sound from the left side. Sometimes of them had other symptoms, including a check engine light illuminated. The failure was caused by excessive wear. In August 2012, Chrysler made the design upgrade and the problem is rarely reported now. All vehicles with 2011-13 model year 3.6L Pentastar engines have extended engine warranty on the left side cylinder head to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
Some owners complain of problems with clogged up radiators and frequent replacement of water pumps, thermostats, and oil pumps. The problem may lie in the production and preparation of an individual engine before assembly. The heads are sand-cast and undergo serious inspections for cleanliness before reaching assembly plants. But any residual sand that remains from the casting process inside the engine can also circulate through the vehicle's cooling systems, causing clogs in radiator and oil cooling system.
In general, the engine has been around for a long time and used in a lot of vehicles, so it has been well tested. Despite that they had some issues early on, the 3.6L V6 Pentastar is a great engine, one of the most reliable engines available on the market right now.