Diesel or Gasser... Which to order?

[UTRZRDOG]

Have a diesel and love it. 6k miles on it and not one problem since the end of October. As far as it costing more upfront, of course it does but it will also sell for more when it is time to move it, so not a big deal. Other than oil changes and a bit of def now and then price is typically within a few dollars on a 15 gallon fill up but if you take MPG into account gas will cost you more. If you want to enjoy the extra torque and bigger smiles go for the diesel.

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[RacerX00]

I'm looking at total cost of ownership, not just fuel cost. From what I've gather, you have a higher cost for oil change and DEF cost. But more importantly there seems to be some dependability issues with the economy diesel that will add to the cost in both dollars and time. I was really wanting the diesel engine but after a bit of research, I decided to go with the more proven engine.

But you haven't answered my question, because clearly I'm also doing the calculation on cost of ownership. For whatever reason, I don't need the new hotness and hold on to trucks and cars for a very long time so I do my math on a minimum 10-year basis. If I go to the low-end of my potential mileage usage in that time, 100,000 miles, it equals the cost of the upgraded engine.

If it costs me $100 more over a gas engine, $200 total to service the diesel, that's not really a big deal and I'll just ignore it. $1,000 over 10 years with the better engine, makes sense to me at that point.

So you seem to know, what's the cost of ownership, sans actual fuel itself, over 10 years 100,000 miles? It can't be close to 4k can it?

 

[Dmehrl]

We have 6 diesel trucks in our fleet at work, nothing but constant def issues, expensive repairs. Not impressed ?

 

[MrKnowitall]

I'm shopping a Bare bones Sport 6-speed right now, so the Diesel option is $8 grand more, between trim (minimum Willys Sport), trans and engine. Yes, I'd get about $3k of that back later on not having to re-gear or replace the clutch. Around here, diesel fuel has been around 15-20% more expensive over the last decade. Together with the increased service costs, it wipes out any operational savings. So it comes down to power and performance. Is all that down-low torque worth a particular potion of my take-home pay?

 

[RacerX00]

We have 6 diesel trucks in our fleet at work, nothing but constant def issues, expensive repairs. Not impressed ?

This isn't really anything new, the invention of widespread urea filters was the end of diesel being a known and economical commodity. Fact of the matter is diesel exhaust is toxic to human health. I have a family full of FDNY vets and some are apart of the many of that generation who are dying of cancers related to constant exposure to diesel fumes back at the station (and smoke inhalation stuff has also come a long way while also doing the job).

It's not just hypocritical liberals buying products made dirty overseas judging us, diesel is some bad shit. I used to think, fine, put all this crap on and let us modders take them off, we're a smaller drop in the bucket and it won't matter but within the past few years we've learned diesel defeats are on most vehicles in the US.

Bottom line I think diesel is going to suck for commercial fleets up until the point electric vehicles can fill the gap. If we can store enough power, you want to talk about torque and good stuff for off-roading and trucks, electric engine potential are f'n siiiiiiick and far out weigh what we're currently able to get out of gasoline/diesel.

 

[ttn333]

But you haven't answered my question, because clearly I'm also doing the calculation on cost of ownership. For whatever reason, I don't need the new hotness and hold on to trucks and cars for a very long time so I do my math on a minimum 10-year basis. If I go to the low-end of my potential mileage usage in that time, 100,000 miles, it equals the cost of the upgraded engine.

If it costs me $100 more over a gas engine, $200 total to service the diesel, that's not really a big deal and I'll just ignore it. $1,000 over 10 years with the better engine, makes sense to me at that point.

So you seem to know, what's the cost of ownership, sans actual fuel itself, over 10 years 100,000 miles? It can't be close to 4k can it?

I think you ignored my main point. I'm really not so concerned with fuel cost. If that was a concern, I would not have bought a Jeep truck. The choice between diesel vs gas for the Gladiator came down to dependability (cost of repair) vs power. I chose dependability because I didn't want to deal with any possible diesel repair costs down the line.

 

[bastage]

If I was buying today & ordering what I want.. I would go for the diesel.. A bit more torque to turn big tires would not bother me. Also I am in a state thats easy on emissions so the extra diesel repair costs would start & end with delete.

 

[RacerX00]

I think you ignored my main point. I'm really not so concerned with fuel cost. If that was a concern, I would not have bought a Jeep truck. The choice between diesel vs gas for the Gladiator came down to dependability (cost of repair) vs power. I chose dependability because I didn't want to deal with any possible diesel repair costs down the line.

I definitely have not ignored your main point. I'm telling you "I hear what you're saying, I do the math on the fuel, it's fine you don't" but you're still saying maintence is a lot of money and still haven't given me even a ballpark dollar amount of yearly costs sans repair.

I think you're the one ignoring the very specific question I'm asking after acknowledging your main point.

 

[77Tango]

The reality of the cost of the diesel option is the $3600 invoice price of the engine option. Everybody pays the same for the transmission. I ordered my Rubicon diesel and have driven it 3600 miles so far. Lowest mpg has been 22.9 with towing a utility trailer. The highest has been 26.5 driving highway with some city. 24 average just like the EPA sticker says. Couldn’t be happier with the diesel. Gobs of low end 1500 rpm torque. Sounds great too! Also I didn’t add most of the tech options like the upgrade audio and safety options which saved more than enough to pay for the diesel option.
As for servicing the DEF is a non issue. 2.5 gallons for the first 2500 miles. The service intervals are long so I don’t see the cost of service adding much to the cost over the gasoline. To be fair I do own a gasser 2017 Wrangler and just love it. The 3.6 is a great engine and delivers 18 mpg like clockwork. Good luck with your choice and I will give you the wave on the road.

 

[spectre6000]

...I don't need the new hotness and hold on to trucks and cars for a very long time so I do my math on a minimum 10-year basis. If I go to the low-end of my potential mileage usage in that time, 100,000 miles, it equals the cost of the upgraded engine...

I'm in the same boat as you. I went with a diesel for my Bison, and I used to work in the biodiesel industry (I was head of the experimental feedstocks program at the largest refinery in the US at the time). I also intend to run this pig into the ground, rebuild it better and stronger, then run it to the ground again. Rinse repeat.

I think V6es are dumb in trucks. Duct taping two "trips" together is a losing formula just about anyway you put it. It's just hard to get the torque down low where it's needed with an engine that's too busy trying rattle itself to pieces (or requires an entire extra rotating assembly and its attendant losses to avoid doing so). There aren't a ton of good options in the mid-size market though, so that's what we got. A diesel at least gets the torque back where it's supposed to be and how it should be delivered in a truck. Fuel economy is a definite bonus, and I live in a place where diesel is often cheaper than the cheap gas. Complaints about the cost of DEF are just stupid, and only made by people who have never dealt with it. Seriously, it's dirt cheap and everywhere, and you don't use much at all. Oil change costs will go down once the aftermarket starts making filters; oil just isn't that expensive either. I like that an in tact diesel is cleaner at the tailpipe than a gasser. I live at altitude, and a turbo is all but mandatory (3% power loss per 1K' = about 21% down on power in my driveway just from the start naturally aspirated). The power delivery characteristics also strongly favor the diesel.

Conversely, the emissions equipment is better than it used to be, but still something to fail. It's definitely a good thing that it's there, and removing it is asinine. That it increases the part count is just unavoidable though. I haven't looked too deep into it, but I'm given to understand it's explicitly not covered under warranty. There's a guy on YouTube who is a mechanic at a Jeep dealership somewhere in the rust belt. He does a mechanic's view semi-deep dive into a diesel JL, and points out the various parts that will need replacing, occasionally fail, their cost etc. It's not a pretty picture. One of the major, if not primary benefits of a diesel is that they're supposed to be more reliable. There are supposed to be fewer moving parts, and they're supposed to be more heavily built. It's just not the case on a fuel economy oriented engine under the modern emissions regime. Everything is made as light as possible for fuel savings, and so they're not over built. The emissions systems eliminate the simplicity angle, and take away that advantage as well. When you consider that the diesel is less capable than the gas engine in the same platform, it's really just the nail in the coffin. A truck is a truck and needs to do truck things as well as it can. The diesel is a compromise to that mission rather than a benefit.

If you're going strictly for the environmental angle, don't need the truck to do truck things as much as it can truck, and are OK with the likely maintenance costs, the diesel is a solid choice (but then, why are you looking at a JT?). Similarly, if you value driving feel and power delivery characteristics over all else, with the same maintenance cost caveats, then diesel. For just about everything else, the gas engine is the better option. I hate to admit it, and I really want the diesel to be the engine to have, but I'm not fully in either of those camps. So it's just not. Gas.

 

[WXman]

So if you were going to order today, would you go Diesel or Gasser? I am on the fence about trading my Gasser for the Diesel. I feel the torque and extra mpg would be a benefit. I know the extra mpg is not reason enough to trade for the diesel, and I am fully aware of the premium you pay for the diesel option.

Here is my daily usage: average 50 miles to/from work and probably another 50 or so in end around errand driving. Don't really tow much so the loss in tow capacity isn't a factor. Do get offroad, so the extra low end torque would be beneficial.

I have heard of a lot of problems with the diesel Gladiator, mostly DEF tank/pump related, but then again the ones you mostly hear from are the ones with problems, so I take that as a grain of salt.

Real world Gladiator diesel experience would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for your thoughts/comments. If you traded from gasser to diesel or the other way around, please comment as well.

Since you don't tow, I'd go gas. The P-star is an excellent engine and it's stone age simple compared to other gas engines on the market. You can keep it running for a LONG time and maintenance is dirt cheap.

I mean, how bad is it? Is this it bad enough to offset:

Average cost of diesel: $3.16
Average cost of regular: $3.03

100,000 miles / ~17 estimated mpg per tank on gas = 5,882.3 gallons x $3.03 = $17,646.90
100,000 miles / ~24 estimated mpg per tank on diesel = 4,166 gallons x $3.16 = $13,164.56

= $4,182?

I'm seriously ignorant, how much could additional fuel filters and checks possibly cost?

Yeah so there are hardware parts in the exhaust that cost more than $4,182. And some of them are only warrantied for 24,000 miles. Nobody ever EVER buys a diesel to save money.


While I found that my P-star actually towed my trailers pretty well, with my new order I went diesel this time. Since I haul and tow regularly, it is a no-brainer to go diesel. 70% more torque, 30% more MPG. For work, which is what I use my trucks for, diesel is the cat's meow.

If I didn't tow, I would go gas to save all that money upfront and during ownership.

 

[Chopperace]

I went and test drove a few Gladiators today. I wasn’t planning on driving an Ecodiesel but after doing so it just feels like the correct engine for the Gladiator. I’m seriously considering it now. It’s an expensive option but may well be worth it!

 

[Smess]

LET ME SEE, THE HOT BRUNETTE WITH THE CURVY BODY OR THE FAT UGLY BLONDE WITH THE HAIR EXTENSIONS AND THE NOSE JOB?

depends how drunk I am

 

[Slojo]

I went around and around on this D v G analysis. Was going to order one exactly how I wanted it. I loved the test drive in the diesel because the low end torque hooks you. But I drove several gas versions of the Rubicon/Mojave V6 I thought they were great... Probably not going to buy any of those. I have modified all the Jeeps I have owned, not going to change my expensive habit, so I am going cheaper up front and put the money in the mods.
PS, the 4.10 axle in the max tow sports feel really good

 

[Chefpeople]

I went from a 2018 F150 Lariet to a Gladiator Diesel. . I think the tranny was bad on the F150 since day one and with resale values at record highs this was my chance to dump this rig on a local dealer for a big check.

Finding a diesel Gladiator was no easy task and finding one for $7,000 off MSRP in June was even more difficult, costing me a 350 mile drive to get it. The drive back was amazing, going 75mph I got 30 MPG.

I don't understand why Jeep does not incorporate the Hemi 5.7, the gas milage would not change and the truck would truly be a truck. So diesel option was a no brainer, I load the Gladiator up and the engine acts as if nothing was there. I do like the V6 engine, it is just not a truck engine.

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