What happened to the 3.7 Jeep Engine? Not a good option originally for the Gladiator?

[Mr Miami]

I did my requisite searches here before posting but I happened to see a couple of Libertys at the food store today and the 3.7 badge on the rear. We all know about the 3.6 bashing that goes on here but in some searches for the 3.7, I don't see any real issues with it, at least where I was looking.

My question is, was the 3.7 an inferior engine to the 3.6? If not, any ideas on why Fiat/Chrysler (or just Chrysler) chose to use the 3.6 instead of the 3.7? Was it possibly a pollution issue like the 4.0?

Just curious.

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[Hootbro]

The 3.7 was a dated engine tracing it's roots back to the LA series of V-8 it was derived from. The Magnum series was the last gasp that could be rung out from it for performance and was being eclipsed in the marketplace by better designs. Also, changing emission standard made it next to impossible to soldier on.

The 3.6L was meant to replace it, and the 4.7L V8 that has the same issues of being long in the tooth and little relevance compared to the evolving market.

 

[Master_Cylinder]

We have a 2006 Dodge Durango with the 4.7 Magnum V8. It developed a slight tap at about 190K miles. We weren’t keeping it longer so didn’t get it fixed. My son drives it now and it has 295K miles. He’s not going to keep it longer, so he’s not getting it fixed. Other than that, the truck is in great shape!

 

[Mr Miami]

We have a 2006 Dodge Durango with the 4.7 Magnum V8. It developed a slight tap at about 190K miles. We weren’t keeping it longer so didn’t get it fixed. My son drives it now and it has 295K miles. He’s not going to keep it longer, so he’s not getting it fixed. Other than that, the truck is in great shape!

Yes, I had a 2003 Durango with the 4.7 V8 and kept it for nearly 20 years but put barely 100k miles on it. But in that time I must admit I had zero, and I mean zero issues with engine and just did the 5k oil and filter changes. In fact, I don't think I ever changed the coolant that I can remember. I did lose about a gallon and refilled it when I changed a leaking hose after about 15 years but that was it.

The only issue I had repeatedly with the Durango (and the Dakota had the same issue) was the poor design at that time of the power windows with a little plastic pully thing for the wire to lower and raise the windows. Instead of plastic, a 50 cent metal piece would have saved people from having to replace the entire motor assembly. I replaced each window motor at least once and the front ones at least twice. The motor assembly was about $50 at the auto parts store and I could do it myself (after the first time) in about 30-45 minutes, saving the $400 everyone wanted to replace it.

Other than that, no problems.

 

[NC_Overland]

I loved my 4.7l WJ. They get a bad rep because of the people who own them now. They buy from buyer pay here and don’t change the oil. There were tons of them with 300k+ miles on them. Just change the oil regularly. Preferably with synthetic. Good sounding engine too.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Speaking of old Chrysler engines. I remember the 3.8 being well hated in most of the Jeep world. We have that one in our 2006 Chrysler van and its been great. Apparently they are 300K mile engines in a mini van.

I guess the vehicle is all the difference

 

[DanW]

Speaking of old Chrysler engines. I remember the 3.8 being well hated in most of the Jeep world. We have that one in our 2006 Chrysler van and its been great. Apparently they are 300K mile engines in a mini van.

I guess the vehicle is all the difference

My Jk with the 3.8 was at 196k when I sold it and ran like new. It now has something around 230k on it.

 

[Labswine]

I had the 4.7L V-8 in my '02 Grand Cherokee SE. Good engine but, the reason I had to get rid of that vehicle (traded it in on an '08 GC Overland with the Hemi in 2015) was because the fan was going bad and couldn't get parts for it...not only from a bone yard because others were scavenging them up real fast, but from Jeep itself. I had the tow package on mine where the cooling fan was powered off the power steering pump. When that fan went bad, that was it for that vehicle.

I'm satisfied with the 3.6L in my JT Overland. I do, though, miss the ease of maintenance that was the I-6 4.0L.

 

[NC_Overland]

On the subject of the 3.7l, why would anyone want it? It was a bad engine back in the day and even underpowered on lighter vehicles. I remember driving a KK from Atlanta to Asheville and it was struggling to maintain interstate speed with a headwind. The 3.7l sounded bad and idled rough and was only 210 hp.

 

[ChrisNLA]

My Jk with the 3.8 was at 196k when I sold it and ran like new. It now has something around 230k on it.

Yea i always 'heard' bad things but I know a fella that has like 250K on one with 37s. It doesnt get anywhere fast but it drove 3,300 miles with us on a trip without a hiccup

 

[DanW]

Yea i always 'heard' bad things but I know a fella that has like 250K on one with 37s. It doesnt get anywhere fast but it drove 3,300 miles with us on a trip without a hiccup

Yep, mine was boring, but reliable. The 6 speed helped it a lot.

 

[NC_Overland]

The 3.8l was a proven, long lasting engine well before it went into the JK. The problem was power to weight ratio. Even on the stock 32s, 4.10s and a 6 speed manual, my JKU Rubicon was a dog. The 2 door base model manuals with 3.73s on the stock tiny tires were actually surprisingly fun to drive.

 

[ChrisNLA]

The 3.8l was a proven, long lasting engine well before it went into the JK. The problem was power to weight ratio. Even on the stock 32s, 4.10s and a 6 speed manual, my JKU Rubicon was a dog. The 2 door base model manuals with 3.73s on the stock tiny tires were actually surprisingly fun to drive.

I know its enough to make the ole ladies van cruise happily at like 90MPH Im like girl you gotta slow it down in that jellybean.

 

[NC_Overland]

They did good in the minivans.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Mini vans will end the world. Just sayin………

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