Hey all ,
Ive had my jk for 10 years , its currently at 210,000 miles from 30k when i bought it. Its my 5th wrangler and I've always maintained them very well.Its a pavement jeep no trails. The engine still purs and sounds smooth as when i bought it. Ive always changed the oil with M1 synthetic 10w30 since I've owned every 4k miles. no issues, no leaks nothing. Well my stupid OCD a$$ decided to clean the crankcase using a quart of marvel mystery out of boredom. You drive 500 miles then replace oil. Well it did its job with cleaning sludge build however how she leaks like crazy now.Pretty sure that sludge was preventing all these issues and is typically needed in higher mileage engines. So from the eye i can tell its all passenger side. The valve cover gasket, the head gasket and pretty sure the upper oil pan gasket. Tried using lucas stop leak and nothing, she leaks a few quarts every 1k miles, never did this. I personally would care much and top off however it leaks heavily on exhaust manifold and exhaust after manifold. This causes a lot of smoking at red lights and BAD nausiating cabin smell the entire ride

When it comes to the job id rather have someone do the work instead myself, not an option. If im right this labor should run $1000-1250,maybe $100 for parts. Id usually go this route on any other vehicle but being at 210k should i just rebuild the engine at a reputable shop or possibly replace . Price is important but i value input from you guys. Is it better rebuilding/ more cost effective using a quality machine shop / rebuilder with good parts OR just get a jasper ? I just don't want to spend 5500-6k though. or should i just replace gaskets

 

I would have a hard time putting $1500 into an engine with almost a quarter million miles on it. If you think it will cost that much then get a quote from a couple shops. If it were me and it was at least $1500, I’d opt for a new motor.

 

Ya I get it, I'm the same . I found a couple of local 3.8's with 50-70k miles on Facebook marketplace around $1600-1750 that are pulled but I don't like the idea of not knowing they are really 50,000 miles. I reached out and asked for proof. One included the transmission
Labor seems to be the major cost issue when swapping. What does labor on a swap typically run as far as cost?

 

I'm in a similar boat, but with more miles. I've bought a lower intake manifold gasket set $260, some radiator hoses, coolant, upper oil pan gasket, serpentine belt, valve cover gaskets w/ grommets, and a small handful of other parts. I'm well over your $100 in parts but with proper oil changes, I don't see why I can't keep this thing running. I considered the used engine route but it's more expensive at this point and as you mentioned- you don't know the history on it. I know the history on my block and can tell you that it's had regular oil changes with high quality oil- never any metal in the filter. I'll probably bite the bullet and go with another 3.8l when this one gives up the ghost, but I'm not ready to accept defeat just yet.

The other 'issue' we both have is a slew of parts on these paid off vehicles...it's financially wise to keep them going instead of take the loss on parts and labor at this point.

Edit: I really need to start a separate thread with what I've got so far and what my refresh looks like at this point. I'm waiting for the right time to do it though and I'm still reading everything on the internet so I'm prepared.

 

Damn it. I am right there with you guys on this. I have the lifetime powertrain which is epic but I need a new CAT by February. Do I spend the $$$ or not??? lol

 

Lifetime powertrain? Yeah, cats are only so expensive for the other things they're going to have to cover. I'd change my name to yours to take that kind of asset!

 

Dare I say I was thinking about buying something newer and more comfortable? I've been driving the same vehicle now for 12 years. I've been dreaming of a heated seat and steering wheel and I live in So Cal! Lol Hmmmm.....Maybe AC Seats?

 

Man, at 12 years, you've crossed the threshold of making it last as long as possible and seeing where the end really is......and at that point throwing a V8 in it is more fun and cheaper than a new vehicle! Heated seats? Get some aftermarket CobraHeat Warmseats. They've been great for me for dang 7 yrs now and install was not hard. In Texas, those suckers keep me topless for 9 months at least. 80* is the minimum "door off" temps, and I'd say 70* is comfortable top off windows down temp. Even in the 60's I usually have the heater going.

 

I recently spotted a couple of oil drips under my 2011 JKU Rubicon with 81K miles on it. First time anything has leaked. The dealer had changed the oil and the "kid" didn't tighten the oil filter so that 3 quarts leaked out in a few days while I was on the road and didn't notice it.Got that squared away, cleaned up and so forth but now, weeks later, these drips. Another shop believes it is the rear main seal. $1000 worth of rear main seal. So I have decided to cut any potential losses and trade 'er in for the 4XE. Of course they only want to give me $20K for my jeep.in trade. It gets tricky after driving a vehicle for 11-12 years, knowing it's quirks and feeling comfy with it but at some point I had to realize that, being of an increasing age, I don't have that many more vehicles in the future so I am biting the bullet and doing the trade. Anyone that would come along with the right $$ could persuade me to sell it outright btw.