Cancel 3.6 Gas order for a new 3.0 Ecodiesel order?

[Aa001206]

Personally, if you already have a 3.6 on order I would just stick with that. The 3.6 is a good reliable engine that has more than proven itself. JT's with a 3.6 also have a higher GVRW. I have the 3.0 and have zero regrets about getting it. The power and torque are addictive and it does get great gas mileage. I did a 4,600-mile trip this summer and with a rooftop tent sticking above the cab, I averaged almost 21 MPG on a stock rig.

However, there are some downsides to having the 3.0. There is the added cost and hassle of dealing with DEF. I was camping in the mountains of Colorado, started the truck in the morning, and got a message stating I could only drive for 423 more miles before the truck wouldn't start due to the DEF being low. Now we were planning on going through a few towns that day and it was easy to pick up some DEF, but it was a little disconcerting. You also mentioned being in Arizona. The diesel does have a problem with overheating. When this happens Jeep has programmed the truck to reduce the power. I only ran into this once so far but it was when I was passing a semi on a two-lane road in Utah last summer. I made it about halfway past it and all of a sudden there was nothing. I did get by it but it took a lot longer than it should have and I could tell the power just wasn't there for about five miles or so until things cooled down.

FYI for anyone thinking they are going to eventually pay for the upgraded cost of a diesel with better fuel mileage. I hate to burst your bubble but it ain't gonna happen. The oil changes and DEF alone will keep that from happening.

DEF is $15.99 for a 2.5 gallon container, and my tank needs filling every 5000 miles. Oil changes in the 3.0 cost nothing more than a gasser. The driving experience in the 3.0 diesel is light years better than the 3.6 IMO. I think a lot of that has to do with the torque, and the German made 8sp transmission, which seems way smoother than the standard 8sp in the 3.6. I am in Florida and have never experienced the temp gauge going above the halfway point. Very happy with my choice of the EcoDiesel.

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[NachoRuby]

Wow, you are the first that I have heard from that has owned both and said to go gas. Most that have owned both said they will never go back to gas and said to go diesel.

I think that's true, but I think it's also because a lot of those folks really wanted diesel in the first place. In other words, I don't think most gas owners are kicking themselves for not buying a diesel.

I would have considered a diesel like the poster as well, but for me, gotta have my MT. If I were an auto guy, I'd have considered the diesel for the torque. But it sounds like you're having reservations. If you're are, you'll probably always wish you got the diesel, just like me, I'd have always wished I got the manual.

 

[Lost_In_The_Woods]

I still have zero regrets with the 3.0. I've spent a fair amount of time behind the wheel of a 3.6 and to me, the shifting of the trans is about the same. DEF in my area is about twice what you are paying and I only get around 3,500 miles out of 5 gallons. The loss of power happened in a 110° and is a well documented condition with the 3.0. The guy already has a 3.6 on order and if it was me I would keep the order. If the guy had a 3.0 on order and was wondering about the 3.6 I would still recommend keeping the order. I personally don't think you could go wrong with either one. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Lost_In_The_Woods]

DEF is $15.99 for a 2.5 gallon container, and my tank needs filling every 5000 miles. Oil changes in the 3.0 cost nothing more than a gasser. The driving experience in the 3.0 diesel is light years better than the 3.6 IMO. I think a lot of that has to do with the torque, and the German made 8sp transmission, which seems way smoother than the standard 8sp in the 3.6. I am in Florida and have never experienced the temp gauge going above the halfway point. Very happy with my choice of the EcoDiesel.

I still have zero regrets with the 3.0. I've spent a fair amount of time behind the wheel of a 3.6 and to me, the shifting of the trans is about the same. DEF in my area is about twice what you are paying and I only get around 3,500 miles out of 5 gallons. The loss of power happened in a 110° and is a well documented condition with the 3.0. The guy already has a 3.6 on order and if it was me I would keep the order. If the guy had a 3.0 on order and was wondering about the 3.6 I would still recommend keeping the order. I personally don't think you could go wrong with either one. Your mileage may vary.

 

[AkBooman]

I got my Ecodiesel last summer. In the summer the mileage numbers are incredible!! Not bad in the winter. The problem I have had with it up here in Alaska is when it get below 20 I get the check engine message pertaining to the DEF system. The other bummer is the aftermarket people have been slow at bringing things to market. The oil changes are really expensive!! And regular things like filters (air, cabin, fuel) are difficult to find up here and are expensive. With that being said…. I love my Ecodiesel!!

 

[trailless]

I'll make the choice just a bit harder. I knew that if I got a Gladiator that I would be going to 37s as soon as I could. One test drive of the diesel and I was sold. I had the 3.6 in my JK for 7 years and I just didn't like the engine. It was NOT reliable for me and I didn't enjoy revving it out to get any power out of it. The JK had 37's and 4.88s. It was also averaging 12mpg.

With the diesel stock I was averaging 18-19mpg. Now with 37's on, I'm averaging around 16-17mpg. I do drive like I stole it though... However, I can get 20mpg at 80mph on the highway. Also I feel no need to regear. If anything the 37s make 2nd gear more useable than stock.

 

[armd.offroad]

Bump for more responses, still undecided. I am such an indecisive person with big purchases.

 

[sharpsicle]

I think you need to get out of your own head and relax just a little bit. It seems like you're looking for reasons to have buyer's remorse, even if they aren't justified. There is absolutely no reason to do that, and absolutely no reason to second-guess what was clearly an informed purchasing decision.

You'll be happy with what you ordered. No reason to cancel it and swap it out. If you do, you're likely just going to make another thread like this but with the opposite title.

 

[bgenlvtex]

I'll never buy a diesel vehicle with Tier IV emissions.

Never.

 

[Steed]

I ordered a 3.6 JTR on Feb 8th and it is due to be delivered on March 13th, but I can't help myself and and I keep reading forums and watching videos about all these people who have traded in their gasser's for the ecodiesel's for the extra power / torque. I did drive both before ordering and even though I liked the ecodiesel better, I weighed my pros and cons and decided on the 3.6. However, now after weeks of waiting, I am reconsidering and thinking of cancelling my order and placing a new order for an ecodiesel. Am I crazy? My main reasons for choosing the 3.6 are reliability, simpleness, and the ability to do a 4 link rear (3-4.5" RK X Pro) and ditch the rear track bar. I am fairly new to offroading and this will be my first Jeep build, but not my first Jeep. The purpose of the JTR will be daily driver, weekend trail runner, and camping rig for the family. I live in AZ but we plan to take the Jeep on multiple road trips to visit friends and do some offroading along the way. I was very indecisive about this decision along the way, so any friendly advice either way would be appreciated.

I chose diesel because I tow a lot of heavy stuff over long distances. And because the way it sounds speaks to me somehow in ways I can’t fully understand. I’m getting 26 mpg unloaded but my foot is a little heavy. Can baby it to 29. However, diesel is as high as $4.15/gallon in GA/FL. So if you’re not hauling and towing a lot, I wouldn’t recommend.

All that said, it’s so super smooth pulling a load that it’s a real pleasure to drive.

 

[armd.offroad]

I think you need to get out of your own head and relax just a little bit. It seems like you're looking for reasons to have buyer's remorse, even if they aren't justified. There is absolutely no reason to do that, and absolutely no reason to second-guess what was clearly an informed purchasing decision.

You'll be happy with what you ordered. No reason to cancel it and swap it out. If you do, you're likely just going to make another thread like this but with the opposite title.

A good response and probably true that I am in my head about this as I change my mind daily on which is the better option as I wait on my original order. I just don't want to regret not going diesel after putting big tires, heavy bumpers, etc. on it. I did drive both and after the test drive, I told myself I was going to buy the diesel, but then after getting home and weighing my pros and cons of both and doing more "research" on how I would use the Jeep and what my build plan was, I decided on the 3.6. I think I talked myself into the pentastar due to the issues I have seen on this forum and on youtube with the ecodiesels which I realize are a very small amount of owners. I know there are probably thousands of diesel owners out there with zero issues. I appreciate your feedback and I will try and get out of my own head.

 

[armd.offroad]

I chose diesel because I tow a lot of heavy stuff over long distances. And because the way it sounds speaks to me somehow in ways I can’t fully understand. I’m getting 26 mpg unloaded but my foot is a little heavy. Can baby it to 29. However, diesel is as high as $4.15/gallon in GA/FL. So if you’re not hauling and towing a lot, I wouldn’t recommend.

All that said, it’s so super smooth pulling a load that it’s a real pleasure to drive.

I don't have anything to tow today, but I may in the future, who knows. I do have a desire to own a boat or a small camper trailer.

 

[Steed]

I don't have anything to tow today, but I may in the future, who knows. I do have a desire to own a boat or a small camper trailer.

Piece of cake. ?

 

[Undecided]

Not that my opinion is worth much on this subject but...

I debated this for while myself and ended up in 3.6 gasser. I've never owned a diesel and while I liked the way it sounded and drove - from what I found and for my life it had too many cons

• We go camping as often as we can and there are gas stations we stop at that do not sell diesel. While it wouldn't have been "hard", I did not want to have to plan road trips around small town gas stations. However minor of an adjustment it would have been.
• Diesel in my area has always been more expensive. Doing math in a spreadsheet I would not "break even" until 8years. Past that, I was looking at maybe $600 in savings by year 10?
• More expensive maintenance was not appealing
• I saw DEF as just another thing I would have to buy and refill
• I work from home, my most frequent drives are daily 5miles to the gym and back, and 10miles to the grocery store once a week. I read these short trips were not great for the diesel and the last thing I wanted was to drive in circles for it when I wanted to get home
• I would have needed to run power out the front of my house in order to set up a plug for an engine block heater
• Not spending the upfront cost on a diesel allowed me to get other packages I wanted
• While I don't do much or hard off roading, there is extra expensive stuff underneath that could get damaged
• I really wanted the higher payload that the gas Max Tow package offered

I won't lie though, the diesel felt fun and I fully understand why some would accept all of my cons for it. Just wasn't for me.

 

[Hootbro]

This thread only serves to either validate your choice or give you a mental out if you made the wrong choice.

In my experience, your first choice is always the best one.

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