JK Rubicon
#31
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Was:Palmdale, CA Now: Cedar City UT
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Local vs not
My .02 worth....
#33
JK Newbie
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Cupertino, CA
Posts: 18
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#34
JK Newbie
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Location: Cupertino, CA
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Well I went to the dealer this weekend and checked out JK's. The interior is sweet and the Jeep drives great. They didn't have any manual tranny Rubicons on the lot so I drove a Sahara with a 6 speed. It drove nice, low end was responsive and pick up was decent but it just felt like a V6 trying to push a 4,000 pound vehicle. Admittedly it only had 3.21's so I'm sure a Jeep with 3.73's and especially 4.10s would liven up a lot. I'm surprised how much room the JKU has. I adjusted the drivers seat how I like and then went in the back to check knee room and it was reasonable, little less then I liked but the extra foot room under the front seats made it nice. The cargo area is incredible considering its a Wrangler. It has at least as much room as my XJ. I laid the seats down and I could potentially sleep in it too...except with the seats down there is a hell of a bump and crack between the bottom of the back rest and the cargo area. In my XJ that is a perfectly flat transition. Under the hood is packed, doesn't bother me because I'm a technician but its a little freaky seeing all the extra crap to break and maintain from wheeling abuse. The oil pan on the 3.6 looks REALLY vulnerable but all in all the vehicle looks pretty well thought out. I'm going to keep doing a little research and hopefully make a final decision after Christmas.
Anything else I should consider or know about JK's? Are there any real common issues or major fixes I need to know about?
Anything else I should consider or know about JK's? Are there any real common issues or major fixes I need to know about?
#35
The power issue you mention is more due to the "breakin period" than anything. New my 12 felt like I had a stiff go pedal and I felt power was way less than my old straight 6. Hower after around 5000 miles it opened up and the pedal is now much softer. I now feel it has more get up than my TJ did. Try finding a 12 with high miles to drive (maybe someone on here or a used/demo). The difference is considerable.
#36
JK Freak
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Vancouver, BC
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That shouldn't be a problem if you put a skid on it.
Of course, lol. Just read the forums. Lots of issues with worn steering, air/water leaks, engine oil burning (at least on 3.8L engines), etc. But if you like to work on your own vehicle and love the JK in general, then that shouldn't be a huge problem.
Anything else I should consider or know about JK's? Are there any real common issues or major fixes I need to know about?
#37
JK Newbie
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Cupertino, CA
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That shouldn't be a problem if you put a skid on it.
Of course, lol. Just read the forums. Lots of issues with worn steering, air/water leaks, engine oil burning (at least on 3.8L engines), etc. But if you like to work on your own vehicle and love the JK in general, then that shouldn't be a huge problem.
Of course, lol. Just read the forums. Lots of issues with worn steering, air/water leaks, engine oil burning (at least on 3.8L engines), etc. But if you like to work on your own vehicle and love the JK in general, then that shouldn't be a huge problem.
I suppose I'm kind of deviating and probably over analyzing JK's but I guess my mind works that way. But hey, if I'm spending upwards of 37 grand you can't blame me...right? Hopefully it will be a good vehicle for at least 10 years or so.
#38
JK Super Freak
I work on Fords with VVT and the biggest problem is people using cheap oil filters that come apart and clog up the oil passages or not changing the oil causing crank bearing wear and the resulting low oil pressure at idle. So I use Ford oil filters on my JK (3.8), can't think of the filter number at the moment, and use mobil 1 oil. It isn't using any oil (57750) and doesn't make any noise at start up. Haven't checked yet to see if I can get a Ford oil filter for the new 3.6 motor. If not then I will use the factory one until I can get the Ford one.
So anyway just use a good high quality filter and after the breakin period switch to a full synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil.
So anyway just use a good high quality filter and after the breakin period switch to a full synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil.
#39
JK Newbie
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Cupertino, CA
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I work on Fords with VVT and the biggest problem is people using cheap oil filters that come apart and clog up the oil passages or not changing the oil causing crank bearing wear and the resulting low oil pressure at idle. So I use Ford oil filters on my JK (3.8), can't think of the filter number at the moment, and use mobil 1 oil. It isn't using any oil (57750) and doesn't make any noise at start up. Haven't checked yet to see if I can get a Ford oil filter for the new 3.6 motor. If not then I will use the factory one until I can get the Ford one.
So anyway just use a good high quality filter and after the breakin period switch to a full synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil.
So anyway just use a good high quality filter and after the breakin period switch to a full synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil.