FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine Problems (Dodge, Jeep & Chrysler)

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Finding the right kind of engine that suits your car completely can be quite a challenge. The problem is more seen when the car is from a company not very well known globally.

Although the company is not known well enough, the products produced are still some of the most iconic ones.

But even with everything good, there has to be something bad to consider too.

Here are some of the most common 3.6 Pentastar problems you need to be aware of.

  1. Your Cylinder Heads Might Go Through A Sudden Failure
  2. The Rocker Arm Creates More Problems Than You Would Think
  3. Problems In Your Cooling System Could Be Dangerous For Your Car
  4. Having Oil Pump Failures Might Lead To Bigger Consequences Than You Would Think
  5. Premature Wear Of The Engine Causes Excessive Worry In Buyers

You might be wondering how all of these are linked. Read on to find out what you do not know about the 3.6L engine!

Table of Contents

The 5 Most Common Dodge, Jeep & Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar Engine Problems

Your 3.6 Liter Pentastar engine will act up if you drive a car for a long time. Let's find out what things can cause the issues

1. Your Cylinder Heads Might Go Through A Sudden Failure

Cylinder heads really can do that. I know, I was pretty shocked too, but the condition is more serious than you would think.

What Is A Cylinder Head?

You first need to know what a cylinder head is. By definition, a cylinder head is the end cover of a cylinder in an internal combustion engine.

Essentially, the cylinder head is meant to close the engine’s combustion chamber from the very top.

The failure’s main cause may just be overheating the valve seats on cylinder number 2.

Cylinder heads are known to:

  • Provide mounting structure for many components.
  • Control the heat given off by the engine.
  • Take the compression from combustion pressure.

How Can I Tell What happened

It might seem confusing, but some simple ways can be used to know what happened.

The common indicators of a problem include your check 3.6 Pentastar engine light constantly being on, random misfires within your engine, a constant ticking sound coming from your engine and even a sudden power loss observed.

All of these problems probably show you a lot more than you realize, although you may not realize it at the moment itself.

Ways To Fix The Issue

Sadly, the only way to fix the problem is to replace the cylinder heads.

The process may be expensive, yet if you want your problem to be solved in the long term, this might be the only way.

2. The Rocker Arm Creates More Problems Than You Would Think

You might be thinking of what your rocker arm has to do with anything. What you don’t know is the impact it holds.

Understanding The Part

The rocker arm is probably the most important part of the 3.6 Pentastar engine. However, you might confuse the problem with one of the cylinder heads.

The rocker head is meant to help the transmission of the movement of the camshaft involved towards the intake and exhaust valves of the engine.

The use of the part is more important in the opening and closing of the valves, which makes their impact stronger on the engine’s workings.

What Problems Are Created?

Your engine might start ticking constantly. Having such a thing happen is dangerous, especially if you do not know why the action is happening.

The diagnostic trouble code showing up is a huge indicator of something being wrong with your engine.

If there is something wrong with the rocker arm, the code is bound to show up. Misfires are also pretty common.

The rocker arm causes your engine to:

  • Stop performing in the best kind of way.
  • Begin to display problems within.
  • Become very difficult to deal with normally.

Ways To Improve The Condition Of Your Engine

Replacing the broken part is the only way to deal with the problem. Since the part can only be replaced, the part is also heavily expensive.

3. Problems In Your Cooling System Could Be Dangerous For Your Car

Overheating is such a common thing between the engine and how we understand it.

But what causes overheating, and how can such a problem be contained?

Emphasis On Cooling Systems

Cooling systems are what they sound like; they are meant to keep your 3.6 Pentastar engine cool in case of overheating.

The cooling system within your car is basically what helps keep it extremely well kept and at a normal temperature.

Cooling systems include the water pump and the radiator, which are prone to instant damage if not taken care of.

Some other areas that may fail include the heater core and oil cooler, but these are generally not the biggest reason for the problem.

Understanding The Problem

You should be concerned with the problem because it can cause overheating.

Overheating the engine is pretty common compared to other problems, yet the existence of such a thing has a big impact.

If the cooling systems are down, the overheating problem can get way out of hand.

Why Is A Solution Important?

The biggest solution to the problem mentioned is a general repair to whatever area has been affected. Expenses might be tough for some, but overall, repairs aren’t that bad.

The importance of the repairs lies in actually saving your engine to be able to work again.

During the repair, make sure to:

  • Avoid using your car too much.
  • Keep looking out for any extra indicators.
  • Take care not to have the same issue arise again.

4. Having Oil Pump Failures Might Lead To Bigger Consequences Than You Would Think

As you can tell, your oil is probably the most important thing in your car. Without oil, the car would not even move at all. Imagine why oil pump failures are so dangerous if that is the case.

The Problem Itself

Having your oil being unable to pump through the 3.6 Pentastar engine is a serious problem in itself.

The lack of oil flow causes the engine to burn out very easily and hence causes you and your engine too much trouble.

To explain it better, consider the topic of oil pump failure as another way of saying that the oil pressure is too low.

Having a low oil pressure is never a good sign, and if you have such an issue with your car, you should probably get the issue checked.

How To Solve The Issue

Solving such an issue lies in ensuring you have enough oil in the engine and getting your engine checked once in a while.

Both of these will make sure that your engine stops malfunctioning randomly and the oil pressure remains constant throughout your entire driving experience.

However, both can be a little hard to maintain constantly, so make sure you take care of them at least once a while.

The engine can begin to:

  • Splutter and stall for no reason at all.
  • Have a sudden loss of power in it.
  • Get the accumulation of sand particles leading to bigger problems.

Why It Is So Important

Like anything else, getting your engine checked is a common thing you should be worried about.

The maintenance and checkups are important because finding out the oil flow is low early on can help you prevent it.

5. Premature Wear Of The Engine Causes Excessive Worry In Buyers

Your engine is a delicate thing. The motor may seem tough but taking care of such a thing is so important for many reasons, including wear and tear.

Where It Can Be Noticed The Most

If you just bought your 3.6 Pentastar engine yet, you can already see some wear and tear; you might need to worry a little bit.

The premature wear of the engine can be noticed the most in actually looking at the engine to see how it seems.

You should keep a close eye on how your engine looks just to keep the engine in check anyway.

If you notice any wear and tear that is not justified, your engine might be having the issue of premature wear and tear mentioned.

How To Fix The Problem

The simplest way to fix wear and tear is to be careful while you use your engine. If you are too rough with the engine, the motor might just get destroyed way before the allotted time.

But if you take care, the motor will last you longer. Proper maintenance and less rough use will fix your problem right up without any extra measures.

Is It Something To Worry About?

Your premature wear is not something to worry about.

But the wear might lead to the engine not working properly throughout your experience, so don’t you think it is better to take care from the start?

You should take care to:

  • Keep your engine in check constantly.
  • Avoid roughly using the engine for no reason.
  • Choose your engine carefully to suit your vehicle.

What Is The FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine?

You need to always be aware of the engine that you put into your car. So it comes as no surprise that I’m here to tell you all you need to know about the FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine.

Known as one of the most reliable engines you can buy, the 3.6L engine is truly one meant to make your life easier.

The motor is not one made for a specific car which can be considered one of the many amazing things about it.

Being a series of motors meant to suit cars from Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles, the variability of the motor is extreme.

Made from aluminum, the strength of the engine is unbeatable. With so many little features to offer you as a motor, you might just be surprised at how good the motor is.

Not only that, since the motor has been around more than the normal amount, you might even consider the motor something many people reach for, so the popularity of the motor is definitely off the charts.

Is The FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine Reliable?

Being considered one of the most reliable engines isn’t as easy as it sounds, but the FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine truly is one to wonder about.

Having so much to offer, the motor seems to be one of the most loved ones in the market.

The motor is also used as a Dodge 3.6 engine, Jeep 3.6 engine, and Chrysler 3.6 engine, which shows that so many of the different kinds of cars use the machinery.

Using one kind of engine in so many different vehicles indicates how reliable and durable it is.

The motor has also been around for a long period, indicating that everyone has so loved the particular motor mentioned that the use of the motor has never gone into decline for years on end.

The motor lasts a very long time if you take care of the motor, which is very important for any engine to work well.

The 3.6 Pentastar issues exist, but over time they have been solved, which makes the engine even more worth it.

What Cars Use FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine?

So many cars are known the use the specified engine.

Not only is the motor extremely efficient, but the popularity gained has also actually been insane as compared to the other motors you might see all around you.

  • The Dodge 3.6 engine is included in cars such as the Dodge Avenger, the Dodge Challenger, the Dodge Charger, and the Dodge Grand Caravan, etc.
  • At the same time, the Chrysler 3.6 engine is seen in cars, including the Chrysler 200, the Chrysler 300, the Chrysler Pacifica, and the Chrysler Voyager, etc.
  • In the Jeep 3.6 engine category, the cars include the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Jeep Wrangler.

All of the mentioned cars actually have a large impact on the better performance of the engine since the motor suits all of them.

So you can be sure that if you have any of the mentioned cars, your 3.6L engine will be running as smooth as ever and giving your car the experience of driving it has never had before.

FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine Specs

Manufacturer FCA US LLC
Production years 2010 – Current
Cylinder block material Aluminum
Fuel type Gasoline
Fuel system Port multi-point fuel injection
Bore 96.0 mm
Stroke 83.0 mm
Displacement 3604 cc
Type Naturally aspirated
Compression ratio 10.2: 1
Engine oil capacity 5.7 L
Oil change interval 9000 miles

The Benefit Of Choosing The FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine

With so many problems, you must not forget that the 3.6L engine actually has some major benefits as well, such as:

  • The engine is extremely efficient in its job.
  • Longevity is a large part of why the motor is so popular everywhere.
  • Having a good internal system makes the motor more reliable.
  • Made from a strong material only helps the motor become more resilient.
  • Whichever car you run will only run smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How Long Does An FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine Last?

Typically, any kind of motor is known to last around 100,000 miles because such a number is the general average.

However, the 3.6L engine is known to last up to 200,000 miles which is double the amount.

Lasting you a long time is exactly how you know the motor is probably the best purchase you will ever make.

Q2. Is The FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine Considered A Good Option?

Although some problems exist already, you might consider the motor one of the best investments you will ever make. The motor is known to be great at the job it has been given.

Providing you with the best of services, the motor gains the top number for the engines you would recommend to others too.

Not only is that, but such a motor is considered reliable as well.

Q3. How Is The FCA Pentastar 3.6 L Engine Cnsidered Better In Its Functions?

Many changes have been brought about in the FCA Pentastar 3.6 L Engine since the motor was first made.

While you may be thinking of many other engines that could be better, there has been a significant improvement in the FCA Pentastar 3.6 L engine.

The performance, as well as the general functionality, has been upgraded.

Q4. Is There Any Way To Get More Power Out Of My FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine?

Some things are meant to be kept a certain way. However, in the FCA Pentastar 3.6 L engine, you can actually get more power out of your engine by increasing the cold air intake.

The burning of oxygen produces better power from the fuel without excessive amounts being used. Other ways also include the ignition coils and custom tuning.

Q5. Can I Find A Timing Belt On My FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine?

This is probably one of the most important questions you will ever need to know.

However, you should know that your FCA Pentastar 3.6 L engine does not have a timing belt but rather works with a timing chain.

The chains do not last forever, so you will need to replace them when the time comes, but they do tend to stay a lot longer than regular timing belts, so that is a plus point.

Conclusion

That concludes all the discussion that needed to be carried out about the FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine.

With tons of exciting things to offer you, you might even consider it one of the top engines you need to get.

Although there might be some problems with the motor, such a product is still pretty reliable.

That is why 3.6 Pentastar problems exist, but they shouldn’t stop you from investing in something this good.

You know that everyone is using the motor for how good it is, so choose the engine if you feel like it is right for you and what you wish your engine was like.

Resources:
1. https://tuningpro.co/the-4-most-common-fca-pentastar-3-6l-engine-problems/
2. https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id=167