EXACTLY RIGHT ronjenx! Have to manually turn off OD on lots of vehicles unless you want to let it shift shift shift shift. Try turning it off when running around town and you'll have plenty of power.

 

My third different type of Jeep motor and I have no complaints. I think most of the complaints will be from the automatic crowd. I have never, and would never own an automatic Jeep. But, no matter what the vehicle is, if you lift with big tires on an auto trans, unless you regear...you're gonna hate it and it will be forever up-down shifting on the highway. Then, even after the regear, your RPMs on the interstate will be up there. But how much more power do you really need on the trail? I've found it always adequate with the T-case gear reduction. I read a lot of threads out there with people breaking and bending stuff all the time where one of the leading causes is a heavy right foot. I think if you're an experienced driver (unless you have a highly built rig which most dont), the power is just fine. If you spend more time on the highway than the trail...well, I guess I would think you would have to have known what you were getting into

 

After rowing my YJ thru the 5spd for 198,000 miles and being beat to death by the short wheelbase the Unlimited with an automatic called my name. I don't have any power or downshift problems because I ANTICIPATE changing conditions and supplement the cruise with my FOOT. Very easy. I've never turned the OD button off. The JK makes the old short-wheelbase jeeps seem like primitive wagons by comparison, and I loved my YJ.

 

1900 miles to Moab? What the @$#%$%$#%!
I live about 100 miles away from Moab & don't go nearly often enough.

Anyway, just went wheeling today with my Buddy who drives a 00 TJ. He rode with me. We diconnected the front swaybar & aired down to 8 psi. After about 2 hours of all kinds of terrain & playing on large rocks & flexing her up, he said, "This thing is really amazing. Actually unbelievable. It seems to have all the torque that mine does and it certainly handles flawlessly at hiway speeds."

Personally I love the way this Jeep performs, the motor has been wonderful and frankly, I think Chrysler will need to beef up many components before they put too many extra ponies under the hood in the future.

 

Gets me from A to B as fast as I need to go. Haven't been disappointed in it offroad yet. And there's been no problems with it in almost 4 years.

I am happy with my 3.8L V6 as well

 

I like the 3.8. I'm coming from a Honda civic - so i's sometimes about perspective.

My only concerns are the reliability issues some have had. I know many have no problems, but a few on the forum have had major bearing and ring problems.

I have a 2010, so it's under warranty for 5yr/100K.

Mine runs well but appears to use some oil. About 2/3qt before the last oil change, and now 1/2qt in first 1000mi since the last oil change. I know that's within Chrysler's normal range, but if it continues to increase, I'd like it fixed while under warranty. I'd hate for it to stay in the "normal" range, and then blow up after it's out of warranty.

Any suggestions?

 

No complaints here either. Ive had zero issues with my Jeep. Sure, being a red blooded American male, I could always use more HP, but the 3.8 gets the job done. I have the lifetime powertrain warranty too!

Flash

 

It does it job, have seen many impressive crawls with the 3.8......but someone always wants more power and bitches. If jeep really thought that a hemi was necessary it would have made it an option. It's not hauling super heavey loads like a RAM pickup or running a quarter mile under 13 seconds like a Challenger. The 3.8 gives you enough power to get you across ruf terrain.

 

I hated the 3.8 until I got used to it and put in a superchips tuner I still want the 6.1 but am more than happy with the 3.8

I've got a 2010 rubicon with a six speed my dad and brother have the same but automatics we went to a 4" lift and 37" mtr kevlars kept the original 4.10 gears ours are fine on steep grades I'm down to third but stock was in fourth On the autos they are in second gear and the tires actually helped where they were 5 k rpm at 70 they are 4700 rpm at 75 and around town don't notice the power loss
Off road they still do great with the 4 to 1 x Case

 

I have owned a YJ 4 cyl, two TJs 4 & 6 cyl, (all 3 five spd manuals) and now a JK unlimited auto. I sold a Porsche Cayenne S to get the Jeep. I didn't expect the Jeep to be a Cayenne, but frankly I'm surprised at how well it pulls our tent trailer. 50k miles and it holds a constant 70 when there's little headwind and with moderate hills. I also tow with the OD locked out. Trailer wt is about 3500 lbs, gas milage is about 15 mpg which is better than the Cayenne towing the trailer.