Symptoms
Oil, and sometimes coolant, pooling in the valley under the intake and running down the back of the engine. Pickup Truck + SUV Talk lists cracked Pentastar oil-filter housings and cooler adapters as a known JL issue.
The fix, step by step
- The job follows the JK procedure.
- Remove the engine cover and intake plumbing, the upper and lower intake manifolds, and the cooler's sensors and bolts.
- Clean the valley, fit the new housing with new seals, then refill the oil and coolant and check for leaks.
- Torque the oil filter cap to 18 ft-lb; overtightening is a suspected contributor to cracking.
Tools & part numbers
- External-Torx and metric sockets
- inch-pound torque wrench
- hose pliers
- shop towels to plug the intake ports.
Where to buy the parts
Crown 68308741AF engine oil filter and cooler assembly, 2018 JL 3.6Quadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Mopar/Dorman 68755454AA aluminum oil filter housing with element, JK/JL/JT (check fitment)Quadratec ↗Amazon ↗
JL gaskets, seals and filtersExtremeTerrain ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Jeep Wrangler JL parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.