51k miles - blown head gasket - looking for advice

[JeepChak12]

Hey team, I’d like to get your advice on what you would do.

my 2020 gladiator check engine light came on the other day while driving to work, and I pulled a p0305 misfire code that night. Took it to my local Jeep dealership and they said likely blown head gasket because coolant was getting into cylinder 5 and coolant was getting lower. They said the code clears once the engine warms, so they think that the gasket is only leaking on cold start. They said that until they open it up to replace the gasket, they won’t know if the head is warped, though they doubt it since I brought it right in and it did not overheat. For just the gaskets, they quoted me $5200, and they told me $1500-$2000 more if I need heads. The price seems absolutely outrageous,

After reading about this in the forms, it sounds like a fairly common issue to have a leaking head gasket between 50k-70k miles. One question is, once getting it replaced what are the odds this will fix the issue for good vs it happening again? Has anyone here had to do this twice? I’m concerned that there’s some underlying issue with these engines and I’ll end up here again in a few years.

The second aspect to this that’s equally frustrating, is that according to the dealership, I am 8 weeks out of warranty (8 weeks past 60 months, but 9000 miles under 60k miles). I don’t know what date they used, I bought the truck remote in Massachusetts, and dealership said it would take some time to get it titled and registered for me since I was out of state. It took them a while and I signed and drove it off the lot exactly 60 months and 3 weeks before the issue, so in my mind, I actually missed the warranty by 3 weeks. 3 weeks or 8 weeks out of warranty is probably just semantics, but it makes me about twice as pissed off.

Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts on it. Should I pay the dealership, take it elsewhere and try to get it done cheaper, or is there some avenue I can pursue to try to get it fixed since I’m so close to the warranty? I would like to keep the truck in the end (I love it), but not if I’m gonna have to fix the head gasket again in 2 years. I should also mention the truck stock, no real mods and original size tires, not that it’s related or anything.

Thanks!

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[ShadowsPapa]

After reading about this in the forms, it sounds like a fairly common issue to have a leaking head gasket between 50k-70k miles

No, it's not. In fact, it's fairly rare - but like anything else that's a major issue expense-wise and so on it gets magnified on the internet. It's not common at all. I'd say far from it.

One question is, once getting it replaced what are the odds this will fix the issue for good vs it happening again?

If they do a good job, there's no reason in the world for it to happen again since it's not common to begin with.

They said that until they open it up to replace the gasket, they won’t know if the head is warped, though they doubt it since I brought it right in and it did not overheat.

Totally makes sense! There's no way in the world to know anything at all until it's opened up once it's been proven that coolant is getting into a cylinder.
Can be gasket, can be head. "warped" or cracked, they won't know until it's open.

I would like to keep the truck in the end (I love it), but not if I’m gonna have to fix the head gasket again in 2 years.

I don't know where your fear comes from, but it's unfounded. These just don't do that.

You could try Jeep customer care - there are numbers online, in the owners manual, or tell the dealer you want Jeep involved.

 

[Hootbro]

What is the break down on that $5200 estimate? Gasket is like $60 and that would mean the rest being fluids, shop supplies and labor. At a average $180 man hour rate, looking at like 25 man hours give or take which this job should not take that long.

I would be looking for a dependable independent repair facility to quote this out and make a decision from there.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Why wouldn't you be under power train warranty at 52k?

 

[Hootbro]

Why wouldn't you be under power train warranty at 52k?

With a 2020, he could be past the 5 year mark unless he bought a model year leftover.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

With a 2020, he could be past the 5 year mark unless he bought a model year leftover.

Doh!

I put miles on so fast I never think about years lol.

 

[JeepChak12]

No, it's not. In fact, it's fairly rare - but like anything else that's a major issue expense-wise and so on it gets magnified on the internet. It's not common at all. I'd say far from it.



If they do a good job, there's no reason in the world for it to happen again since it's not common to begin with.


Totally makes sense! There's no way in the world to know anything at all until it's opened up once it's been proven that coolant is getting into a cylinder.
Can be gasket, can be head. "warped" or cracked, they won't know until it's open.



I don't know where your fear comes from, but it's unfounded. These just don't do that.

You could try Jeep customer care - there are numbers online, in the owners manual, or tell the dealer you want Jeep involved.

Thanks a lot shadowspapa, I appreciate your input. Sounds like you think it should be a one and done fix. I was concerned that if there’s really some other underlying issue that it might happen again, but maybe it’s more rare than I made myself believe. Thanks!

 

[JeepChak12]

With a 2020, he could be past the 5 year mark unless he bought a model year leftover.

yeah sadly they say im 8 weeks past the warranty in time, even though im under I’m mileage it’s whatever comes first.

 

[JeepChak12]

What is the break down on that $5200 estimate? Gasket is like $60 and that would mean the rest being fluids, shop supplies and labor. At a average $180 man hour rate, looking at like 25 man hours give or take which this job should not take that long.

I would be looking for a dependable independent repair facility to quote this out and make a decision from there.

yeah, they did not give me a breakdown, just quoted me in person and email, but they said that it’s mostly labor. I wasn’t sure what a good average rate would be or how many hours would really be expected.

 

[Hootbro]

yeah sadly they say im 8 weeks past the warranty in time, even though im under I’m mileage it’s whatever comes first.

I would exploring asking about having them submit it to FCA for a "Goodwill" repair. They may cover all or some of it.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

yeah sadly they say im 8 weeks past the warranty in time, even though im under I’m mileage it’s whatever comes first.

If you're out of warranty, I would not have the dealer do any repair.

Find a respected independent shop.

 

[JeepChak12]

Hello @JeepCares is there any way you could assist? The dealership told me there was no one to escalate to.

 

[JeepCares]

Hello @JeepCares is there any way you could assist? The dealership told me there was no one to escalate to.

Hi Ryan,

Thank you for the tag. We have just responded to your private message.

Blair
Jeep Cares

 

[rharr]

Why did it blow? Did you overheat the motor and not tell anyone? Thought it would be ok if you just drove to the next exit when the temps started poppin?

 

[JeepChak12]

Why did it blow? Did you overheat the motor and not tell anyone? Thought it would be ok if you just drove to the next exit when the temps started poppin?

Uhhh no.

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