The 3.6 Pentastar Supercharger User Manual. The 3.6 Pentastar V6 engine, which has been in production since 2011, is one of the most popular engines for Chrysler (Stellantis) automobiles. It also powers the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger/Challenger SE/SXT/GT, and Ram 1500, as well as the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. It produces 292-300 horsepower in the Chargers and Challengers, but the Jeeps get a little less potent 285 horsepower variant. If you want to actually crank up the wick and get some additional performance, adding a 3.6 Pentastar supercharger to any model is a good way to go and much easier than a HEMI switch.
Overview of the 3.6 Pentastar Engine
The 3.6 Pentastar is a naturally aspirated 3.6 litre (220 cid) V6 engine from the factory. It has an aluminium cylinder block and heads and is powered by port injection. It remained basically similar from 2011 to 2015, with only modest modifications in 2013, but it received significant upgrades in 2016. The displacement and aspiration remained same, however the upgraded Pentastar received a greater compression ratio (11.3:1 versus 10.2:1).
The Pentastar’s first generation engines are flex-fuel and E85 capable, but this was deleted for the second generation engines. The intake manifold was also rebuilt, and the variable valve timing (VVT) system was updated. On both models, the 3.6 Pentastar has a dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) architecture with four camshafts and VVT.
It’s a dependable engine, with one driver getting over 626,000 miles out of his 3.6 Pentastar V6. While it won’t go that far without needing a rebuild, you should be able to get 150,000-200,000 miles out of your Pentastar without too many problems.
3.6 Pentastar Supercharging Fundamentals
Now, let’s go over the fundamentals of installing a supercharger kit on your Pentastar-powered Charger/Challenger/300/Wrangler/Gladiator. Before you go out and get a full kit, you should know what you’re getting yourself into. Most supercharger builds will require a budget of at least $10,000-$20,000. This includes not only the kit itself, but also installation, supporting mods (such as tuning), and any other optional improvements you may desire along the way. Let’s start with supported mods for your kit.
Pentastar Supports Modifications and Tuning
You may or may not wish to add extra supporting mods to your 3.6 Pentastar supercharger kit build plans. Some individuals simply install a supercharger kit and leave it at that, but the majority will add auxiliary tweaks to assist the supercharger perform more efficiently and ultimately produce more power.
Long-tube headers will be one of the most typical additions. Headers are aftermarket exhaust manifolds that can free up an additional 20 wheel horsepower on top of the blower improvements. The cat-back exhaust is connected to your headers and is a common addition. While they won’t add much power, they will offer a wonderful deep rumbling to your exhaust, which also adds loudness.
However, the most significant upgrades to consider will be those connected to suspension and handling. Adding 150+ horsepower to a stock car, truck, or crawler will undoubtedly alter its handling characteristics. If you drive a sedan, you should consider coilovers, lowering springs, and sway bars. If you have a crawler or off-road vehicle, you should look at sway bars, control arms, shocks, and springs.
Tyres and brakes
Of course, you’ll want to consider having new tyres and possibly updated brakes. Tyres are one of the most critical but underappreciated components of a car’s handling. Remember that improvements of 150+ horsepower are useless unless you can successfully transmit them from the tyres to the pavement with traction.
Finally, after installing a blower, you must ensure appropriate stopping power. If you have a sport/performance package, your factory brakes may be fine, but most stock brakes will need to be upgraded to safely manage the added power. It is not an issue of whether you will stop, but of how efficiently and for how long you will stop.
What is the significance of tuning?
The most critical mod you need to get done if you plan on a 3.6 Pentastar supercharger is tuning, which includes all of the supporting mods listed above (except possibly brakes). It is critical to have a tuner (either online or in-person) provide you with a map that will ensure your car functions safely and correctly. Without tuning, your engine will be unable to manage the extra air from the supercharger, resulting in lean air-to-fuel ratios and detonation, which will result in melted pistons/thrown rods/cracked blocks.
Tuners may optimise your fueling, ignition and cam timing, and boost pressure to guarantee that you are not only producing the greatest power possible, but that your engine is capable of handling it. Finding a trustworthy tuner who has handled your model and changes before is a terrific idea that should only be avoided at your own risk. MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN!
Power Limits for the Pentastar Block and Internals
The next logical issue is how much power the Pentastar cylinder block and internals (connecting rods, pistons, crankshaft, and so on) can withstand before failing. While there is no magic number, most people believe that above 450-500 horsepower is pushing the standard internals to their limits. At that point, you should consider forged pistons, rods, and head studs for reinforcement.
The block is likely good for a few hundred more horsepower before being seriously jeopardised. Most persons that exceed 500-600 horsepower are either race teams with custom engines or use the larger HEMI V8 power plants. So you’re venturing into unfamiliar territory with the stock Pentastar. You’ll also need a custom blower system, as the ones on the market only produce around 450 horsepower.
What much of boost can my 3.6 Pentastar handle?
Most tuners limit boost on a stock 3.6 Pentastar at 12-13 PSI. Above 14 PSI, cylinder pressure becomes a concern, resulting in banging and explosion. It is possible to exceed 14 PSI on a standard engine, but it is uncommon.
Various Types of 3.6 Pentastar Superchargers
Let’s take a look at the three different types of 3.6 Pentastar superchargers: centrifugal, roots, and twin-screw.
Roots and the Twin Screw
Roots and twin-screw superchargers are both belt-driven and have some significant distinctions. Both are typically mounted on top of an engine and draw air in through an air intake and throttle body before being pushed into the supercharger itself. It travels through the intercooler and intake manifold before entering the engine through a series of rotors or lobes.
The rotors are what distinguishes roots from twin-screws. The rotors on a roots blower rotate in opposite directions, pushing more air into the manifold than it can accept, resulting in positive pressure. The air is then compressed inside the intake manifold before being pushed into the engine.
The rotors on a twin-screw blower spin in opposite directions, but mesh and compress the air between them, which is subsequently delivered into the intercooler/engine. So, on roots blowers, the air compresses in the manifold, whereas on twin-screws, the supercharger rotors compress the air. Needless to add, twin-screws are far more efficient and can generate significantly more ultimate power than roots.
Centrifugal
A belt-driven centrifugal-style supercharger is another possibility. Centrifugal superchargers resemble turbochargers in appearance and are installed alongside or in front of the engine rather than on top of it. They employ an impeller to draw air into a small compressor housing called a volute, where it is compressed and pushed into a diffuser by centrifugal force.
The diffuser converts low-speed, low-pressure compressed air to high-speed, low-pressure compressed air. It is then routed through the intercooler, throttle body, and intake manifold before entering the engine.
Centrifugal blowers have the most power potential, but struggle to produce low-end torque like roots or twin-screw blowers. Centrifugals are also the easiest to install on an engine because they are smaller and fit better under the hood.
Best Pentastar 3.6 Supercharger Kits
Now for the fun part: our picks for the top five 3.6 Pentastar Supercharger Kits on the market today. We have a variety of centrifugal, roots, and twin-screw blowers for you to choose from. We also provide CARB legal solutions as well as off-road only kits for whichever use you require.
1) Ripp Supercharger for Pentastar 3.6
Centrifugal superchargers
Models eligible: Chrysler 300; Dodge
Jeep Charger/Challenger/Durango/Ram 1500
Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee
Price: $5,375.00 – $7,009.00
Is it carb-friendly? It all depends on the kit.
The different 3.6 Pentastar supercharger alternatives from Ripp Superchargers are first on our list. Ripp provides by far the most wide selection and support for Pentastar supercharging, and they are highly recognised in the Pentastar and MOPAR circles. Blower kits are also available for the larger 5.7, 6.1, and 6.1 HEMI engines. Some of their kits comply with CARB regulations, while others do not.
Ripp uses centrifugal-style superchargers using a Vortech V3 Si Trim blower in the majority of their kits. All supporting mods required to run the kit, such as injectors, sensors, vacuum lines, and so on, are all included in the kits. Ripp offers a tune, but they prefer getting a custom one done for safety and maximum power. All of their kits contain intercoolers, the majority of which are front-mounted.
Ripp kits are available for almost every 3.6 Pentastar that you want to boost. It is compatible with the Chrysler 300, Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram 1500, as well as the Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee. The Ripp units will provide 350-450 wheel horsepower and comparable lb-ft of torque depending on the blower, kit, and vehicle model.
2) Jeep Wrangler JK/JL/JT Edelbrock Supercharger
Roots Supercharger Type
Models eligible: Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator (2012-2020).
Price: $6,261.87 – $7,717.87
Is it carb-friendly? Yes
Edelbrock’s Jeep Wrangler JK, JL, and JT supercharger kits are next on our list. Edelbrock is a well-known and long-standing name in the automotive performance sector. They’ve been creating hot rod performance parts since the 1950s, and their blower kits are regarded for being dependable and powerful.
Edelbrock sells kits for the Jeep Wrangler from 2012 to 2020. They’re all roots-style superchargers, using Eaton Gen VI 1320 TVS blowers for the most part. They will produce roughly 315 wheel horsepower and 275 wheel torque, representing improvements of 46% and 27% over stock, respectively. The kit also includes exceptionally efficient air-to-water intercoolers with heat exchangers, as well as the necessary supporting changes to run the package.
Edelbrock units are exclusively available for Jeeps and are said to fit under the hood without any changes. Edelbrock offers the option of purchasing a tune with the blower kit. Their kits are CARB-approved, which means they will pass emissions tests in any state.
3) Pentastar 3.6 ProCharger
Centrifugal superchargers
Models affected include the Dodge Charger/Challenger and the Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator.
Prices begin at $6,298.00.
Is it carb-friendly? Yes, Jeep; No, Dodge
Our third option is the tried-and-true ProCharger arrangement. For many years, ProCharger has been one of the most consistent names in the forced induction market, and its centrifugal-style superchargers are regarded the industry standard.
ProCharger offers a variety of packages for both the Dodge and the Chrysler.
Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator and the Dodge Charger/Challenger. The majority of them come equipped with the P-1SC blower, however this can be upgraded to larger, more powerful blowers. The P-1SC can produce 40-45% more horsepower with only 7 PSI of boost. The kits include a massive air-to-air intercooler as well as all other supporting modifications.
Some ProCharger kits have CARB approval and EO numbers, but others do not. Only the Jeep kits have CARB clearance as of this writing. The ProCharger kit is very fairly priced for what it offers and comes in a variety of colours.
4) Sprintex 3.6 Pentastar Supercharger
Twin-screw superchargers
Models affected include the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger/Challenger, and Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator.
Price: $6,695.00
Is it carb-friendly? Yes
The Sprintex Superchargers for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger/Charger, and Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are our final blowers. Sprintex, which is based in Australia, is a relatively recent name in the supercharger market in the United States. Despite this, they have built a solid reputation in a short period of time, mostly producing MOPAR and Toyota parts.
The Sprintex blower is an S5-335 Twin-Screw Generation II supercharger with a front entry. The kits include all necessary parts, as well as a bigger air-to-water intercooler that greatly improves cooling and employs Laminova boost tubes. It’s a robust kit with the added bonus of being CARB approved and having an EO number.
While Sprintex is a newcomer to our list, their kits have received positive feedback so far. They provide good power improvements while keeping CARB approval. And these must be taken into account if you intend to supercharge your 3.6 Pentastar.
Related : The 6.1 HEMI Supercharger User Manual
5) Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Magnuson Supercharger
Hybrid-roots supercharger
Models eligible: Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator (2018-2021).
Price: $7,195.00
Is it carb-friendly? Yes, but just for the 2018-2020 Wrangler and 2020 Gladiator.
The list concludes with the tried-and-true Magnuson superchargers for the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiators from 2018 to 2021. Magnuson, like Edelbrock and ProCharger, is a household name in the supercharging sector. Not only for Jeep and MOPAR. Their kits have been used on almost any manufacture you can think of, and are commonly referred to as “Maggies” by those who are familiar with them.
The Maggie kits use a Vortech TVS1900 hybrid-roots style blower with 440 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. That translates to around 375 wheel horsepower and 325 wheel torque, which are significant improvements above standard. Everything needed for installation is included, as well as a larger front-mounted intercooler.
The Magnuson kit is also CARB approved and has its own EO number, making it a viable alternative regardless of where you live. It’s a robust kit that offers more power than others at a reasonable price.
Summary of the 3.6 Pentastar Supercharger Guide
If you want to supercharge your 3.6 Pentastar, you have several excellent options. Starting with the Ripp Superchargers, which are available for almost every make and model and produce a lot of power. Their centrifugal-style blowers fit nicely in the engine compartment, and they provide a variety of kits that are guaranteed to fit.
ProCharger is our other centrifugal-style alternative. Their kits have also received excellent feedback from the community. Their P-1SC blower is popular on a variety of vehicles because it provides quick reaction with good top-end power. Sprintex’s one twin-screw on the list is relatively unknown. However, it has received positive feedback thus far. Power-wise, it is one of the best possibilities, and the kits appear to be well-made.
Finally, the Edelbrock and Magnuson kits are roots-style choices. They both make use of separate Vortech TVS blowers. These are some of the best roots-style kits on the market, and they give enough of power while remaining CARB legal on the majority of vehicles.
