Eco diesel or 3.6 gas??

[IOS-XR]

We've been driving ours for just over a year now. High Altitude Diesel, only options it doesn't have is adaptive cruise and the aux switches. We did have the DEF sensor issue and a software upgrade at the dealer fixed that issue. Otherwise we've just driven it for just under 14k miles.

I drove a 3.6 then the diesel we ended up buying. I wanted a diesel anyway but in the Gladiator the engine is just so much better. Endless torque and no highway power problems at all. Heck, I even like the sound! With the top open and windows down it sounds like a baby Hummer motoring around town.

I've also ridden in a couple 392 Wranglers. One factory and one a "Scat Pack" swap. They were both fast as hell. The 505hp one scary fast. It had 35" KO2's and it would lift the left front tire off the line.

I've currently got JLU Rubicon wheels and 33" KO2's on our HA and with traction control off it will break them loose in 1st without much effort. I would absolutely buy another diesel Gladiator. It's a no-brainer for me.

ETA - we got 27-ish MPG with the factory minivan tires and 20" wheels. With the 33" KO2's and 17" wheels we're at around 25 MPG. I'll be putting the "summer shoes" back on next week.

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[CivilJeep]

I have had both the gas Gladiator, and now the diesel version of the exact same truck. Both had the Mopar lift, same tires, etc. In the gas I was getting 16mpg, and the diesel I average a little over 23, so almost a 50% increase.

That said, it's not the best reason to get the diesel. In my opinion, the drivability is worlds better with the diesel. $4000 is not chump change though, but you do get some other things;

* The heavy duty transmission
* 100k mile powertrain warranty (gas is 60k)
*Limited slip differential

Also, going to 35's and even 37's from my understanding can be done without a regear, and you'll still have loads of torque.

If you add those things up, and are able to skip a regear, the diesel really pays for itself.

 

[NachoRuby]

I'd love to have a diesel, but I wanted a manual. But I don't think it'll ever pay for itself, at least not for the price of diesel, even though mpgs are better. Diesel fuel is taxed so high around here that it's $5.99 per gallon. Gas is $4.50 for the e15 I use, or 4.75 for e10. At the ~18 miles per gallon I get on 35s, I spend $5000 per year on e15, which is and always has been available year round where I live. Assuming 24 mpg on the diesel, I'd spend $4991.67 per year on diesel.

So I'd save $9 per year. That'll take a long time to break even. I do like diesels though, but on this platform, mainly for the torque. It would never be cheaper for me, at least not in the reasonable lifetime of the vehicle.

But 450 ft lbs of torque would be sweet. My 2¢, if you're thinking about the diesel, get the diesel, though. Or you'll always regret "settling". Just don't go in thinking you'll save any money.

 

[JET_83]

Gas for sure, diesel isn’t worth it for the cost of maintenance and repairs, also diesel cost more per gallon.

 

[JET_83]

I have had both the gas Gladiator, and now the diesel version of the exact same truck. Both had the Mopar lift, same tires, etc. In the gas I was getting 16mpg, and the diesel I average a little over 23, so almost a 50% increase.

That said, it's not the best reason to get the diesel. In my opinion, the drivability is worlds better with the diesel. $4000 is not chump change though, but you do get some other things;

* The heavy duty transmission
* 100k mile powertrain warranty (gas is 60k)
*Limited slip differential

Also, going to 35's and even 37's from my understanding can be done without a regear, and you'll still have loads of torque.

If you add those things up, and are able to skip a regear, the diesel really pays for itself.

Transmissions are different? I thought they were the same one just has etorque capabilities the other doesn’t

 

[AXISJT]

I'd love to have a diesel, but I wanted a manual. But I don't think it'll ever pay for itself, at least not for the price of diesel, even though mpgs are better. Diesel fuel is taxed so high around here that it's $5.99 per gallon. Gas is $4.50 for the e15 I use, or 4.75 for e10. At the ~18 miles per gallon I get on 35s, I spend $5000 per year on e15, which is and always has been available year round where I live. Assuming 24 mpg on the diesel, I'd spend $4991.67 per year on diesel.

So I'd save $9 per year. That'll take a long time to break even. I do like diesels though, but on this platform, mainly for the torque. It would never be cheaper for me, at least not in the reasonable lifetime of the vehicle.

But 450 ft lbs of torque would be sweet. My 2¢, if you're thinking about the diesel, get the diesel, though. Or you'll always regret "settling". Just don't go in thinking you'll save any money.

Im not sure how you got that number I'm not a math guy but looking at this it seems you didn't account for the tank difference. To fill the gas tank at your cost of 4.75 it would be 104.5, to fill the diesel at your cost it would be 107.82. With the mileage, you said, the gas gets 396 miles a tank and the diesel 432 miles a tank. if you are spending 5k a year that's right around 47 tanks for the gas and 46 for the diesel. essentially for every 10 tanks of gas, you get a free tank of diesel. for the cost, you said on the gas, you would be able to drive 14,256 miles for the same cost with the diesel 19,872 miles. Idk about you but 4k miles for the same cost is pretty significant. I could totally be messing the math up.

 

[ScarabMike]

I test drove the Eco diesel for the first time last week. I was impressed with it but is it worth the added price and the extra costs associated with the higher cost of diesel, def fluid, and most importantly, reliability. Reliability is the big one with me. For the folks with the newest version, how has it been holding up??

I love mine. 20mpg towing a double trailer, 2 skis, 35's, and a level kit.

 

[JET_83]

Im not sure how you got that number I'm not a math guy but looking at this it seems you didn't account for the tank difference. To fill the gas tank at your cost of 4.75 it would be 104.5, to fill the diesel at your cost it would be 107.82. With the mileage, you said, the gas gets 396 miles a tank and the diesel 432 miles a tank. if you are spending 5k a year that's right around 47 tanks for the gas and 46 for the diesel. essentially for every 10 tanks of gas, you get a free tank of diesel. for the cost, you said on the gas, you would be able to drive 14,256 miles for the same cost with the diesel 19,872 miles. Idk about you but 4k miles for the same cost is pretty significant. I could totally be messing the math up.

You don’t save with the diesel when you factor in the maintenance

 

[JET_83]

I love mine. 20mpg towing a double trailer, 2 skis, 35's, and a level kit.

The diesel still tows less than the gas though

 

[NachoRuby]

Im not sure how you got that number I'm not a math guy but looking at this it seems you didn't account for the tank difference. To fill the gas tank at your cost of 4.75 it would be 104.5 to fill the diesel at your cost it would be 107.82. With the mileage, you said the gas gets 396 miles a tank and the diesel 432 miles a tank. if you are spending 5k a year that's right around 47 tanks for the gas and 46 for the diesel. essentially for every 10 tanks of gas, you get a free tank of diesel. for the cost, you said on the gas you would be able to drive 14,256 miles for the same cost with the diesel 19,872 miles. Idk about you but 4k miles for the same cost is pretty significant. I could totally be messing the math up.

Tank size is irrelevant. You're still going to spend the same amount, no matter how big the tank is, except an extremely large tank would hurt mileage due to weight. You can go longer on a tank of diesel, which might be a factor for some, but it isn't a money saving factor.

I use e15. It's $4.50 per gallon. I drive 20,000 miles per year. I get 18 mpg in mixed driving on 35s (18.5 when I was on the stock 33s)

So 20,000 miles / 18 mpg = 1,111.11 gallons per year x $4.50 per gallon = $5000 per year

Or on regular 87 octane, $4.75 per gallon
1111.11x $4.75 per gallon= $5277.77 per year.

Diesel is $5.99 per gallon here.

20,000 miles / 24 miles per gallon= 833.33 gallons per year, x $5.99 per gallon = $4991.67 per year.

So:
E10 (normal 87 octane) = $5277 per year
E15 (88 octane) = $5000 per year
Diesel = $4991.67 per year.

Diesel is a $2000 upgrade assuming automatic, or $4000 for me, since I'm manual, so it'll not save me any money. It would take me 480 years to break even on e15, it'd take me 14.01 years to break even on 87 octane. If you're automatic, 240 years and 7.01 years to break even.

I'm not saying don't get the diesel, just that you won't save any money doing so. Do it for the torque.

 

[@californiajeeping]

You don’t save with the diesel when you factor in the maintenance

Your first 4 oil changes are covered. air filter and fuel filter are inexpensive and easy to replace.

what other maintenance? Everything is warrantied until 100k 5/year.

In california right now diesel is 6.04 and regular gas is 6.30 at the station I go to.

Just saying everyone says maintenance on the diesel is more but aside from having to change a fuel filter every couple eyars and spend 13$ on def fluid every few thousand miles its really no different.

Plus no spark plugs, or cam phasers to go bad.

 

[JET_83]

Your first 4 oil changes are covered. air filter and fuel filter are inexpensive and easy to replace.

what other maintenance? Everything is warrantied until 100k 5/year.

In california right now diesel is 6.04 and regular gas is 6.30 at the station I go to.

Just saying everyone says maintenance on the diesel is more but aside from having to change a fuel filter every couple eyars and spend 13$ on def fluid every few thousand miles its really no different.

Plus no spark plugs, or cam phasers to go bad.

Well the diesel isn’t as reliable as the gasser so there’s that too, and after your 4 oil changes are up that’s out of pocket cost too. Gas is lower than diesel here. Parts are expensive as well, not just taking into consideration powertrain waranty

 

[JET_83]

I’d imagine the diesel is way more inconvenient with having to add DEF as well

 

[@californiajeeping]

I’d imagine the diesel is way more inconvenient with having to add DEF as well

I have to pour in 2.5 gallons every 4-5k miles so far.

The box def sucks balls to pour. Its a complete and utter clusterf. The DEF fluid from the pump takes like an extra 3 seconds.

 

[NotSo Bright White]

The price of diesel keeps going up! I don’t care! I drive mine once a week to the beach and it makes me happy! This is my fourth Jeep and it is the only one that is quiet, comfortable, and fast…for a Jeep. It makes retirement perfect!

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