Just took the Jeep in for the next "oil consumption reading" and it was 2 1/2 quarts low in about 1,000 miles which was the interval they wanted. They have admitted "you have a problem" and are going to get back to me with the fix their "engine guy" suggests.

For those of you who went through this, was it always the piston rings? Anything I should watch out for as they do this?

Also getting a new gas tank while they have it to solve the spontaneously spewing gas problem.

 

Usually it's the rings (either worn or in some cases actually installed incorrectly (gaps lined up on the compression rings, oil expander rings fitted upside down) and in some cases the valve stem seals have been found to be bad.

How many miles you got on the motor?

 

40,000 on mine. The problem started (or I noticed) at about 35,000 and I've been monitoring ever since. Dealer needed to go through the oil consumption process but now is admitting it's messed up. Waiting to see what they propose.

 

It sounds like you have a classic case of an oil-burning 3.8L then. They don't call it the "40K spun bearing club" for nothing, since well maintained motors that showed no previous symptoms of high oil consumption suddenly start drinking oil around the 35K mile mark and will spin a bearing a few thousand miles later due to the sump running dry (and the owner not thinking to check the oil level every few days & top it up as he/she never had to previously as it never used much oil prior to this).

 

Dealer told me they ordered "a block" and piston rings and told me that if it needs piston rings it probably damaged the block too. I know just enough to be dangerous about changing an engine but I'm assuming that means that basically the whole thing is new? I figure they are reusing the stuff that bolts on that block. Right?

Getting the new fuel tank too.

At this point, I am happy that (1) I have the lifetime powertrain warranty and (2) that I have the lifetime bumper to bumper just in case they figure out a way out of (1).

 

Mine goes in Monday for a new short block and fuel tank. Anything to watch for after I get the new engine? The dealer claims it is "new" and not rebuilt. There was no discussion of anything other than a short block. They said that if it had bad rings then it probably damaged the block too.

Anything to watch for after I get the new engine?

 

If it's a new short block they'll still be using your old heads. They should disassemble the heads, clean all the burnt oil & carbon off them and reinstall the cleaned valvetrain making sure there's no damage to the valves, rocker arms, springs, pushrods, etc as the fine metal shavings floating around in your oil following the spun bearing may have found themselves getting past the screen on the sump pickup & into some of these cylinder head components. A resurface of the heads also wouldn't go astray to make sure they are nice 'n flat & there's no resulting gasket leaks (from warped heads) when they go back on to the new block.