51k miles - blown head gasket - looking for advice

[JeepChak12]

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

thanks I think that’s my next move.

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[Lost1wing]

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!

Did they remove a sparkplug to see if it was leaking coolant? Or are they guessing due to coolant loss and th p0305? Is it possible you are leaking coolant from somewhere else, like the water pump or under the overflow reservoir?

 

[JeepChak12]

Did they remove a sparkplug to see if it was leaking coolant? Or are they guessing due to coolant loss and th p0305? Is it possible you are leaking coolant from somewhere else, like the water pump or under the overflow reservoir?

Did they remove a sparkplug to see if it was leaking coolant? Or are they guessing due to coolant loss and th p0305? Is it possible you are leaking coolant from somewhere else, like the water pump or under the overflow reservoir?

It sounded like they pulled the plug and looked at it, and either saw or smelled coolant on it. They didn’t say though if they thought the coolant could be leaking elsewhere though.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/k-seal/k-seal-pour-and-go-head-gasket-repair/ksl0/st3501

Wouldn’t hurt to try first

Sorry, not a fan of such things.............. I know, millions have used it, and it's often a short-term solution, but if you've been inside after using it, meh, not me.

Also with these - you would have to open the system and get it in, or, use the "overflow" as they state - and take forever to get enough of it in to do any good.

Did you know - you can use a raw egg and accomplish a radiator leak repair? I'd not do it on these very high pressure systems (something like 20 psi or so) because these operate under really high pressures older systems never realized and it would likely blow such a repair out. But the egg will work on an older vehicle.

If it was an older vehicle, lower value, higher miles, I might be willing to try some tricks, but not on something like these. (I've seen heaters stop functioning after using "stop leak" products)
Also if it was a radiator - might try it, but not with an unknown engine issue. Is it the gasket? Maybe - could be the block, could be the head, could be the gasket, or some combination. You'd be making diagnosis down the road that much more difficult in some cases.

But - it's his. If he wants a bandaid, go for it.

 

[Hootbro]

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/k-seal/k-seal-pour-and-go-head-gasket-repair/ksl0/st3501

Wouldn’t hurt to try first

Actually it would hurt if he was to try and have it repaired regardless. That type of thing is the last swing before you are sending it to the junk yard.

 

[Vtur]

Removes spark plugs and check it yourself. A cheap bore scope would works too. Check compression too while you're at it.

 

[Lost1wing]

You could pressure test the cooling system. If it is only leaking when the engine is cold, you would definitely see coolant in the cylinder with a boroscope.

 

[TBuck]

So I am having the exact same problem on my 2020 Mojave. The engine light is on and it idles rough for about 10 seconds before burning off the leak in the cylinder.

what makes me mad is my dealer told me my spark plugs probably needed replacing. So I paid $700+ for that only to find out it didn’t fix the problem. I brought it back in and now they’re telling me it’s most likely a head gasket issue. They’re quoting me around $6k to fix.

I called up a local mechanic that I trust and they said they usually don’t do gaskets on these newer engines because it’s too costly. They said due to all the labor costs, you might be better off replacing the engine. A new engine replacement is about $10k I believe.

anyway, I’m now in the same spot as you. I am just hitting 100k miles within the next week or so. I know people are saying this is rare but I’m not so sure about that. I’ve put more miles than most and a lot of Gladiators probably haven’t hit the point where this becomes an issue.

 

[Volt0]

I’m waiting for someone to blame ESS for engine temp swings, leading to the same kinds of issues as a Gen 3 Prius, and then for @ShadowsPapa to explain why that’s not the case here.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

and a lot of Gladiators probably haven’t hit the point where this becomes an issue.

There's a number of 'em here with over 100,000 miles.

Some have said "when we see one, it's also got a radiator problem" - likely implying over-heated.
others suggest improper head bolt torquing.
If you just search and lump all 3.6 Pentastar engines together, you will get skewed results because the pre-upgrade engine did have some head issues early on. So you would have to limit it to the upgrade engine, and that didn't start in the JL until 2018.

I’m waiting for someone to blame ESS for engine temp swings, leading to the same kinds of issues as a Gen 3 Prius, and then for @ShadowsPapa to explain why that’s not the case here.

Wild temp swings? The only time I see wild temp swings is while driving - it can run up to 220 or so, then back down to the lower 190s.
Where would wild temp swings happen? I watch the gauges and so far, nothing wild.

Toyota has said the Prius thing is a head gasket issue and they have a new design head gasket. So not sure what you are talking about..

 

[JeepChak12]

As a follow up, I did reach out to Jeep cares who also told me to talk to the dealership again. The first time I went, the dealership said there was no one they could talk to, since I was out of warranty, even though it was only weeks. I went back and and insisted we get Jeep/FCA involved and they said they would talk to the warranty manager for me. They let me know the same day that they would cover half the repair, so I had them do it. Total price came to $2600. While I’m still upset about having this problem, esp. so few miles and so close to warranty, I’m glad that they covered some of it. Still the most expensive repair I’ve ever had on a vehicle, including putting a used engine in a car.

they fixed it pretty quickly and I have it back now. They said they could tell where it was leaking and that the head is fine, also sounded like the cylinder was fine too because I basically only drove at home and then the dealership once the check engine light came on.

I appreciate everybody’s input here, I didn’t really know I could press the issue on either the warranty or for Goodwill repairs so that was great information.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As a follow up, I did reach out to Jeep cares who also told me to talk to the dealership again. The first time I went, the dealership said there was no one they could talk to, since I was out of warranty, even though it was only weeks. I went back and and insisted we get Jeep/FCA involved and they said they would talk to the warranty manager for me. They let me know the same day that they would cover half the repair, so I had them do it. Total price came to $2600. While I’m still upset about having this problem, esp. so few miles and so close to warranty, I’m glad that they covered some of it. Still the most expensive repair I’ve ever had on a vehicle, including putting a used engine in a car.

they fixed it pretty quickly and I have it back now. They said they could tell where it was leaking and that the head is fine, also sounded like the cylinder was fine too because I basically only drove at home and then the dealership once the check engine light came on.

I appreciate everybody’s input here, I didn’t really know I could press the issue on either the warranty or for Goodwill repairs so that was great information.

Yeah, it's definitely worth pushing a bit - nicely - explaining the situation and getting them to communicate. Some dealers just haven't ever done that, a few dealers would rather not be bothered with it, especially warranty which pays them less, while others will do it without asking.

I was behind a couple checking out after transmission work - they had to use two credit cards to cover it. $6,000 total bill.
$2600, these days, is nothing.
And I get the idea that it was barely out of a warranty, FCA handling even half of it will go a long ways in customer relations which they have been sadly lacking in recent years.

It's a new reality. This link really hits it quite well. While there are shops that will exaggerate costs, others are telling it like it is - gone are the days that "it only takes 4 bolts" to do something that was simple 40 years ago.
This is one of the best reads I've seen in a while, and really shows that social media is part of the problem "everyone is a mechanic"

https://www.motor1.com/news/774264/volvo-alternator-bracket-replacement-cost/

 

[Jeepin19]

Kinda crazy how this sort of thing always happens right after the warranty year limit runs out.
@JeepCares im having same issue on my 2020 gladiator with only 35k miles? Can you get me in the goodwill program.

 

[JeepCares]

Kinda crazy how this sort of thing always happens right after the warranty year limit runs out.
@JeepCares im having same issue on my 2020 gladiator with only 35k miles? Can you get me in the goodwill program.

Your dealership will have to submit the cost assistance request. Please contact your service advisor to see if you qualify.

Yenori
Jeep Cares

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