As automobile brands and engine developers continue to invest and develop renewable solutions such as hydrogen and electric engine technology, others continue to advance their internal combustion engine technology. Dutch automobile company Stellantis is one such company who continues to look at finding innovative ways to advance their internal combustion engines. However, their Hurricane engine has recently come under fire by owners of models with the engine, with multiple problems being cited.
Why do companies still pursue the internal combustion engine?
Infrastructure constraints, technical readiness, market demands, and environmental factors are just some of the many reasons why automobile companies continue to develop the internal combustion engine instead of sticking to alternative engine solutions investment. While cleaner energy and long-term sustainability are promised by solutions such as electric and hydrogen technologies, they still face several obstacles such as high research costs, a lack of infrastructure for charging and refueling, and concerns about where to source raw materials for batteries.
In addition, manufactures have noted that they can lower emissions and satisfy changing regulatory requirements without completely switching to new platforms thanks to developments in hybrid systems, synthetic fuels, and increased fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines. While renewable engine technologies are the way of the future for transportation, continuous advancements in internal combustion engine technology continues to be a practical and profitable way to close the gap between present capabilities and long-term sustainability objectives.
Owners of the Hurricane speak out
The Hurricane engine is a relatively new engine, first released in late 2022. American company Jeep also made use of the engine in their 2023 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. Since then, Stellantis has used the engine has a replacement for their V8 engines, like the the 5.7- and 6.4-liter Hemi engines. These engines have been responsible for powering Ram, Challenger and Charger models up until now.
With the engine now being in action on the road now for nearly three years, owners whose vehicles include this engine have had time to drive their vehicles for an extended period of time to notice some issues with the engine. This information is critical for manufactures who rely on customer feedback who drive the engines in action. The following problems have been identified as the most common issues the engine has presented to vehicle owners:
Thermostat problems
Some owners have reported problems with the thermostat. Symptoms of this include the engine overheating, fluctuating temperature readings, or visible coolant leaks. Temperatures of the Hurricane are also very high while the car is switched on because of this problem.
Oil leak problems
Another commonly reported issue among Hurricane engine owners is oil leakages. This could be due to a worn-out seals or gaskets, high engine pressure, or wrong installation of components related to the oil. Oil leakage from an engine is a significant problem which must be addressed as soon as possible. If the leakage persists, it can damage the engine due to the lack of lubrication between the moving parts of the engine.
Problems with the turbocharger
There have also been reports of the turbocharger, a key component designed to boost engine power by forcing extra air into the combustion chamber, have also been identified. Drivers with this problem may be experiencing turbo lag, reduced engine power, or unusual noises coming from the turbo unit.
Despite these problems, the engine at does have an overall promising output. With 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque from the Standard Output (SO) engine or 540 horsepower and 512 lb-ft if you choose the High Output (HO) engine, the output is powerful. Additionally, the twin-turbocharged, inline-six Hurricane engine is more efficient than the V8 engines, with the added benefit that Stellantis designed the engine with electrification in mind for future models.
