Don't get on him too much. Those numbers have been bouncing all over the place ever since Jeep release the 3.8L motor for the JK. Here's an example ...

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/jeep/Jeep-Wrangler-JK-Review-Offroad.htm

... where it claims 205 HP (the most common number you'll find if you search widely, BTW), and 240 lbs-ft.

 

i have seen the 4.0 with 250000 miles on it running fairly strong i doubt the new 3.8 will even get haif way.

 

Thats a pretty general statement. What would you base that on? Do you think there were zero 4.0 L that had problems? I have seen the mini-van version of this engine with 250,000 miles on the ODO so what does that say?

 

The 3.8 has been around a long time and I've seen them with 200,000+ and 2 with 300,000+. The 2 with 300,000 plus are owned by the same family and although they are in minivans, they are used in ways you wouldn't believe. One of them has all of the seats out and he hauls everything, wood included. The other is used for long trips towing his entire family, a pop up camper and all of their gear. Towing a camper and your entire family with all of the essential gear is not a light load, so you can't say, "but the Jeep carries more weight and it offroads."
He is big on maintenance and I am sure that helps, but he does work those 2 vans. So as you can tell, the old "yeah but it's in a minivan" story doesn't fly. It's the same motor, just re-tuned a little.

 

i have seen many 4.0 with over 200000 . my 3.8, headgasket have both been replaced. intake manifold gasket replaced. knocks very loud at startup but not all the time. the owner of the dealership i bought it from warned me that the 3.8 is a piece of crap. i thinking he was right.

 

Well I know the 4.0 is historically a pretty bulletproof engine but not all of them. The 4.0 in my 2004 TJ bit the dust at 75,000 miles after having the lifters & cam replaced at 50,000 miles. That's why I own a JK now. Maybe it will hold up better...maybe not. At least I have the lifetime powertrain warranty this time around.

 

Well look at the post by cbeas directly above. I guess that means all 4.0l are crap. The 3.8l is a proven engine, you can try to argue that it isn't but it doesn't change the facts.
The owner is incorrect. Why would he tell you that when he's trying to sell you a Jeep with that engine?, doesn't make any sense to me.

 

I'm assuming he's irritating you, otherwise you wouldn't bother asking for advice on how to get him back. Sounds as though you're too mature for his behavior. Get a new friend or avoid him or something. There's nothing you can do to get him to stop. The more you respond to him by trying to prove your point, the more he'll think he's winning at irritating you. He needs to grow up.

 

I guess that would make his friend a "real life" TROLL. Good advice, he needs to stop feeding the troll.

 

lifelong friend . I am sure there are good 3.8 out there and some bad 4.0 around never said there wasnt.