"IT JUST LOST POWER" Jeep Wrangler JK 3.8L V6 GRENADED With LOW MILES!?! Full Engine Teardown
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Published 2024-05-04
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@JnP-Restorations
Today we're tearing down the OTHER 3800! Just kidding, but the Dodge/Jeep 3.8L V6 that you'd find in both minivans AND Wranglers is a pretty reliable little unit. Somehow though, this one blew up at just 74k miles, an incredibly premature failure! But why? How? This video shows how even low mileage well taken care of engines can blow up, but not without reason!
Why am I doing this? I own and run a full service auto salvage business called Importapart. Part of our model includes buying blown up engines and dismantling them, salvaging the good parts to resell and recycling the rest. We do not rebuild engines, merely supply parts to those who do!
I really hope you enjoyed this teardown. As always I love all of the comments, feedback and even the criticism!
Catch you on the next one!
-Eric
All Comments (21)
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Owner states: "I didn't hear anything unusual, it just lost power." Mechanic turns key on and is immediately deafened by the 150db of noise coming from the quartet of 15 in subwoofers in the back seat.
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The rod damaging the starter reminds me of a Ferrari press release many years ago. Ferrari, being ever anxious to downplay engine issues, stated that their car had retired because of alternator failure. That was strictly true but more than a tad misleading - the alternator "failed" when a rod came through the block and smashed the alternator.
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After 50+ years as a mechanic I have only seen 2 or 3 of the 3.3/3.8 blown up. Those engines all burned a bit of oil because of low tension rings. I have seen one with over 900.000 on it as a cab. I could barely hear it run. I drive a Caravan every day with over 300.000 on it and it still runs well. I take care of it and that helps a lot. The engine will outlast the body.
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The word you are looking for is "the bearing sea" 🙂
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As someone recovering from a saw related hand injury, please be safe man. I know you're being goofy for the sake of us viewers, but it's not worth the risk. Stay safe.
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I actually love these motors, they're slow, noisey, they leak from every possible orifice but, they just keep going. Also so goddamn simple
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Uncle Rodney said " screw this, im going home ! " ( in cartman's voice )
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I like the utter contempt in Eric's voice when he says "...now they have THIS..."
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I am totally surprised that you did not do battle with your nemesis, the oil dip stick tube. How could you ignore it. OK I know it was out of the way but that battle is one of your mainstays of the videos!
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I have a 3.8 jku with 207,800 on it! Still running like a champ, the key with every engine is maintenance and for the love of jesus oil change every 3,500 not at 7k when the dip stick only have oil on the tip cough my cousin cough 😅
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An engine built so well that my 30 years being a mechanic, the only repairs I've done are as follows. Spark plugs, wires and coils, oil pan rotted out, low coolant pipe rotted, starter, alternator, belt, tensioner and last but not least, valve cover gaskets. Now they're all gone as the vehicles they came in are miled out or rotted away where i live
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This is a really nicely designed engine, shaft mounted rocker arms nice intake and exhaust port location and design. Cross bolted center mains. Nice crank shaft design. These engines in minivans lasted forever, even when neglected. 300k plus all day long
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seeing that saw compliation, you're insanely lucky to still have 10 fingers. jesus. Please be careful so you can keep sending us videos!
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Do we need to send blue on vacation anytime soon? He’s working awful hard here lately.
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It's nice to see a "regular" looking engine. Reminds me of the GM 4.3. Old school U.S. engine.
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The smaller 3.3l was also a great engine, probably the closest Dodge got to a Buick 3800 in reliability. If you see a rusted out bubble Caravan still going, I almost guarantee it has a 3.3.
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#5 piston needs to be placed in the witness protection program.
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The oil is bass boat paint... gotta love it
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My sister had a dodge dart that had a slant 6 engine. That engine will run and run forever.
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I was on a pit crew for a small circle track racer and we put a piece of sheet metal over a hole that big and went racing! Obviously, fixed the internals but the block was good. Lasted the rest of the season that way.
