First Diesel Wrangler JL/JLU Reviews Are Out

[furrymurray]

Diesel engine options are more expensive in almost any vehicle you buy. So I don't get the bitchin and complaining either. I could've bought a Ford F-350 gas guzzler for less than what I paid for the diesel truck I currently own. I wouldn't have got near the mileage, longevity nor the performance out of that ole gasser as I have out of my diesel. That was something I was willing to pay for knowing how much more it was over the gas engine. Who gives a shit if people want to buy the diesel and pay extra for that option? If its what they want by all means go get it and enjoy the hell out of it!

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[Fcmalie]

Diesel around me is +or- 10 cents on over $3 a gallon regular gas. Might as well get the extra torque and mileage.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

a couple people I know have driven the diesel 4 door now. One is a car person and liked it and the other is a lifelong Jeeper and can not wait to buy his own. I’m anxious to see how the first JLs on 37+ tires drive without a gearing change. I’m almost 100% team diesel either way because my model 3 has spoiled me on torque.

If the emissions system turns out to be problematic I’ll sell it before the 100k warranty expires. If not it’ll be my last ICE Jeep.

 

[Klutch]

- With a 4.10 diff a 4-Wheel-Low, the gas engine should be fine

- If I want more torque, I can spend several thousand on a Procharger instead and be REALLY happy!

 

[RH 67]

I really hope the Gladiator diesel works out to be positive. But being a long time diesel owner 40yrs.+ and going thru EGR diesel ownership the last 14yrs. for me the Gladiator diesel is at least a 50000 mile wait and see as with a diesel and EGR you have increased 5 times on what can go wrong. Diesels while everything is working properly are the best thing on earth but when something goes wrong they are a nightmare.

Until proven i would not trust the Gladiator in an overlanding situation warranty means nothing when your stuck somewhere for days and a local dealer cannot get parts for weeks i know this from personal experience.

Those who seem most excited about this diesel are those who are not experienced with a modern diesel and it`s workings or they own a diesel but have not put them through their paces. On long grades my 2019 F250 pulling my 15k toy hauler can go into regen 10 times in as little as a 10 mile stretch when this happens you lose power and mileage will decrease by at least 25%. The more you push a modern diesel the more often it needs to go into regen, used as a daily driver or casual use of course your not going to experience this but if your rock crawling or towing there is a good chance you will.

Like i said for me with this new upgraded motor it will be a wait and see but if it proves itself i could be a buyer in a couple of years just not now as i`ve been there done that.

 

[TennesseePA]

I really hope the Gladiator diesel works out to be positive. But being a long time diesel owner 40yrs.+ and going thru EGR diesel ownership the last 14yrs. for me the Gladiator diesel is at least a 50000 mile wait and see as with a diesel and EGR you have increased 5 times on what can go wrong. Diesels while everything is working properly are the best thing on earth but when something goes wrong they are a nightmare.

Until proven i would not trust the Gladiator in an overlanding situation warranty means nothing when your stuck somewhere for days and a local dealer cannot get parts for weeks i know this from personal experience.

Those who seem most excited about this diesel are those who are not experienced with a modern diesel and it`s workings or they own a diesel but have not put them through their paces. On long grades my 2019 F250 pulling my 15k toy hauler can go into regen 10 times in as little as a 10 mile stretch when this happens you lose power and mileage will decrease by at least 25%. The more you push a modern diesel the more often it needs to go into regen, used as a daily driver or casual use of course your not going to experience this but if your rock crawling or towing there is a good chance you will.

Like i said for me with this new upgraded motor it will be a wait and see but if it proves itself i could be a buyer in a couple of years just not now as i`ve been there done that.

your truck is malfunctioning if it goes into regen that often. I am quite acquainted with modern Diesel engines and I have never experienced a situation like you describe. My diesel trucks consisted of a 2007 F450 with a 6.0, no DPF or DEF but definitely had EGR on it. I put about 155k miles on that truck with no problems. I had a 2008 F350 with the 6.4 and I didn’t have any problems with it either. My trailer was a 25ft gooseneck and my machine I hauled weighed 20,500 lbs. then I added a 2011 F550 to my stable. This one had a 6.7 and I never had a minute of problems from it either. Why does an engine go into regen, I’m glad you asked. The DPF (diesel particulate filter) will accumulate the soot that used to roll from diesel exhaust. Once enough accumulates the truck will go into a filter regeneration cycle. The regen happens by adding fuel to the exhaust system just ahead of the DPF. The purpose of this is to add heat to the system to combust the soot thereby cleaning the filter. Now why does your problem tell me that your truck is malfunctioning? A regen cycle or “active regen” only happens when there is not enough heat being generated during the operation of the truck. If you are towing a 15k trailer up a 10 mile long hill you are benefiting from “passive regen,” in that your EGTs are high enough to clear the soot without the need for additional fuel. An active regen usually takes 20-30 minutes so once again only a malfunction could cause your problem.

 

[formattc]

I understand the desire for more torque. I just don't see the diesel being a smart financial decision for any buyer. FCA really should develop a small V8 for this truck like the Dakota had, or a turbo-charged I-6 gasoline engine.

...or just slap a turbocharger on the 3.6, it's my understanding that it was engineered for it.

 

[RH 67]

your truck is malfunctioning if it goes into regen that often. I am quite acquainted with modern Diesel engines and I have never experienced a situation like you describe. My diesel trucks consisted of a 2007 F450 with a 6.0, no DPF or DEF but definitely had EGR on it. I put about 155k miles on that truck with no problems. I had a 2008 F350 with the 6.4 and I didn’t have any problems with it either. My trailer was a 25ft gooseneck and my machine I hauled weighed 20,500 lbs. then I added a 2011 F550 to my stable. This one had a 6.7 and I never had a minute of problems from it either. Why does an engine go into regen, I’m glad you asked. The DPF (diesel particulate filter) will accumulate the soot that used to roll from diesel exhaust. Once enough accumulates the truck will go into a filter regeneration cycle. The regen happens by adding fuel to the exhaust system just ahead of the DPF. The purpose of this is to add heat to the system to combust the soot thereby cleaning the filter. Now why does your problem tell me that your truck is malfunctioning? A regen cycle or “active regen” only happens when there is not enough heat being generated during the operation of the truck. If you are towing a 15k trailer up a 10 mile long hill you are benefiting from “passive regen,” in that your EGTs are high enough to clear the soot without the need for additional fuel. An active regen usually takes 20-30 minutes so once again only a malfunction could cause your problem.

I said up a grade. On the 395 leaving Bishop headed towards Mammoth is a grade that you most likely have not experienced it`s the grade that all of the manufactures test their trucks pulling loads and it`s a common sight to see them testing, i have also had the benefit of talking to the techs at the grade and it`s common knowledge that the trucks of all brands will enter regen many times while under extreme load. I buy a new diesel HD truck every couple of years and they have all done it, sure flat towing it`s not going to happen.

 

[RH 67]

...or just slap a turbocharger on the 3.6, it's my understanding that it was engineered for it.

The 3.6 has a sweet power band for off roading it`s just right not sure a turbocharger would be a benefit or a hinderance. There is a thing as too much power and torque for serious off roading.

Many years ago i had a Land Rover 106 with a 4 cylinder it was so sweet then Land Rover comes out with a 6 cylinder, well i had to get that, more power and a lot more torque. That was a big mistake it was a terrible motor for off road compared to the 4 banger but you know on paper the HP and torque looked good but in the real world it was a different story.

 

[TennesseePA]

I said up a grade. On the 395 leaving Bishop headed towards Mammoth is a grade that you most likely have not experienced it`s the grade that all of the manufactures test their trucks pulling loads and it`s a common sight to see them testing, i have also had the benefit of talking to the techs at the grade and it`s common knowledge that the trucks of all brands will enter regen many times while under extreme load. I buy a new diesel HD truck every couple of years and they have all done it, sure flat towing it`s not going to happen.

https://www.abc-companies.com/console/storage/documents/147260443755952.pdf This explains the process better than I can. But if you do even a little research you’ll learn that an active regen requires 20-30 minutes. How can your truck go into regen several times in a 10 mile stretch? If you are towing 15k up this incredible grade why are your EGTs not hot enough for passive regen? I know a little about towing at altitude too. All of my big contracts were in Ruidoso and Cloudcroft NM. Cloudcroft sits at 9000 ft.

 

[TennesseePA]

Explains the regen process on Ford Powerstroke engines.

Given that the DPF regen takes a minimum of 20 minutes how slow are you going up that grade? And finally you mentioned EGR a couple times in your post. Exhaust gas recirculating has nothing to do with the regen profess. EGR is on all modern engines, both gas and diesel, to reduce emissions. DEF is used so that engines can be tuned for maximum efficiency and the DEF is introduced to catalyze the NOx

 

[RH 67]

Explains the regen process on Ford Powerstroke engines.

Given that the DPF regen takes a minimum of 20 minutes how slow are you going up that grade? And finally you mentioned EGR a couple times in your post. Exhaust gas recirculating has nothing to do with the regen profess. EGR is on all modern engines, both gas and diesel, to reduce emissions. DEF is used so that engines can be tuned for maximum efficiency and the DEF is introduced to catalyze the NOx

I understand well whats in the video, your not understanding what i posted reread. The video explains normal driving. EGR sensors on diesels function under different conditions than gas engines and there can be 3x as many combine this with the DPF sensors and and what can fail has been multiplied many times over and we are not even talking about the cooling system and tanks which also can and do fail the last Ram had such issues.

I supported a team that raced diesel trucks in Baja and i`m familiar with the Carli Dodge trucks along with Fords so i know diesels pretty well, my knowledge is from experience and not from what i have read on the net or a forum. Done.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The 450 lbs concerns me more than the price. That’s like driving with two big guys in your rig, all the time.

 

[TennesseePA]

I did read your post maybe you should proofread it and edit if you are actually saying that your truck goes into regen 10 times in 9 miles. It is impossible without a malfunctioning system. I don’t care what history you clam to have your knowledge is lacking. Everyone who has even a basic understanding of diesel power knows that towing a moderate to heavy load up a long grade will result in higher exhaust gas temps resulting in a passive regen process.

 

[biodiesel]

Overall, I'm happy with my Ram Ecodiesel. I have 76,000 miles on the odometer and have towed a 7,000 lb travel trailer through 17 states and over some of the steepest mountain passes in the Rocky Mountain region. I also use the truck to tow a dump trailer and equipment trailer. I can't wait for the Gladiator Ecodiesel.

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