daviditaliano41

3.6 is where it's at tho

TJJK

I'd pass on the 3.6. Too many issues, competitively speaking, for me.

BlikitSchmikit

My 07 starts every time, gets better than average MPG, and although it does burn a little oil, it's not too bad. Would I like more power? Sure! that's why I put a CAI, TBS and Cat-back on it but I can't justify $5K for a super charger (yes, it would be super cool, but the wife might beat me to death with the SC before it got installed). Swapping in another engine is not an option. I have neither the skills nor the money for such an endeavor.

However, the 07 is paid off - and with only 53K, I really can't justify trading it in for a '14. Planning on running the 07 until the wheels fall off. So far the little 3.8 has proven reliable enough and although it's no speed demon, it gets me where I want to go. If I want more speed and/or exhilaration, I fire up the Victory.

airforce26yrs

I am opposite of most folks here. I hate my 3.8. No engine should burn oil with only 50.XXX or less miles on it. Burning about 1 qt every 4000 miles now, not that bad just a pain. Also when the eng does not have enough power to maintain the cruse control at 55 with a 15 MPH head wind without kicking off the OD something is wrong. I have 4:10 gears and the automatic with 31" tires. PCV valve sucks. Although I have not done it yet I understand a couple of the plugs are a bugger to change. Hate towing with it, bought a Ram Hemi truck to tow my little 3000 lb. travel trailer because I did not want to tear up the Jeep. Would I sell my JKU, not a chance. Would the 3.6 be any better, probably a little but I don't think worth it to swap.

AirJordan613

I'm happy with my 3.8. 2008 auto 2dr with 38k miles. It burned a little oil which stopped once I switched to 5w-30 synthetic. Changing the PCV valve at the recommended interval helps too. It's been very reliable. It's a little weak in the power department but I didn't buy it for speed. I tow up to it's maximum capacity without complaints. Definitely not worth it trading for a 3.6 JK. Maybe a supercharger one day.

planman

We have 3 JKs with 3.8s.

None of them use oil.

Like Dirtman said, with a 6 speed, you can have enough power to run big tires 5.13s or 5.38s. With the automatic, you can still have good performance with 5.13s or 5.38s and 35s.

I installed RIPP Superchargers on 2 of them. My wife's automatic with 5.38s and 37s does well with the RIPP. My 6 speed with 5.38s and 40s does well with the RIPP.

Our 3rd is a 6 speed with 5.13s and 37s. We tow a 3500 lbs trailer with it. No problems running 5th gear at 70 mph with the 3500 lbs trailer all over the Rocky Mountains.

The 3.8L needs at least 2500 rpm at highway speeds to operate efficiently.

The 3.6L is nice, but for the differential in cost, you can buy an 07-11, supercharge it, regear the axles, and still have money left over for other modifications.

The bigger upgrade is to the 5 speed automatic transmission. The 42RLE automatic in the 07-11s sucks.

I'd say the secret to being pretty happy with the 3.8L is to buy a 6 speed. If you can't or won't buy a 6 speed, gear the axles as low as possible, and don't go over 35s unless you supercharge it.

PAShadowJK11

I LIKED my 2011 jku with 3.8for 60,000 miles it consumed about as much oil as a 99 civic and got 16 hwy after the lift but...
I LOVE my 2014 jk 3.6!

Sahara Lee

The 3.8L has been excellent for the first 55k miles in my 2010 JKU Sahara. Not great power or gas mileage but mine doesn't burn oil. It'll probably outlast me.

onecrazyfuq

When it comes to my 3.8 I enjoy it. It's a work horse. There are things you can do to make them more bearable if u like to break the law and speed. I've thought about getting the new motor but then I realized 2 things. 1) it's not a mustang. And 2) As years go on things become outdated and you'll always chasing the newest and coolest. In 5 years well be all hating on the 3.6 because there's a new cool motor in a jk or future wrangler

Sent from my phone that Obama doesn't pay for!

vs_jk

I have 68k on my 2008 and no complaints. It's been reliable and goes wherever I want it to.