First Impressions

[Mud Pie]

As I said in my intro, I'm new to Gladiator, but by no means new to Jeeps. I picked up my 2023 Freedom last Tuesday, it only came with one fob, I dropped the coin at the dealer and bought another. As crazy expensive as a Renegade fob (my trade in). In 2018 I went the Amazon route for the Renegade fob and it worked out well, I just wanted a new fob for the Gladiator NOW.

The dealer told me they performed all maintenance on it, oil, air filter and cabin filter. I do NOT trust dealers, especially the used car portion of the dealer. On Saturday, the first chance I got to fully check things out, yep, engine air filter brand spanking new. Promising. Now for the dreaded cabin air filter. I look online to see how it's done. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy. If your bored, look at the steps for a Renegade. Incredibly complex and will take about 30 minutes to complete, IF you don't loose some of the Torx screws (I think 9 or 10) or break the fragile clips. Gladiator ? No tools at ALL and takes 5 minutes if you include the time to Sharpie the install date on the filter.

The cabin air filter in the Gladiator looked to me to be from the factory when it was put in in 2023. Totally clogged with dirt and junk. Once again, the dealer lied, as they always do. In this Jeep, it's EASY to change.

I tossed the paper engine air filter and installed a new K&N as I always do on all my vehicles and motorcycles. Noted that one screw (the closest to the radiator cowling and hard to reach) was missing, I can see how that would go bye-bye. Nonetheless, I ordered a new screw.

Oil looked good, but I don't trust it. I'm getting it changed this week.

So far loving the Gladiator, it feels nice to be back "home", in a almost-traditional Jeep.

I'll be reading everyone's posts, I may have a Q or two as I adapt to this vehicle.

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[wuykats]

I kinow a lot of people like the oiled K&N filters...but...check out Project Farm on youtube. He does a pretty comprehensive test of air filtration and the K&N is not highly rated. If you do use one, check for contamination between the filter and the intake when you change it out. That will tell the tale of whether it is perfoming as it should.

 

[Stan H]

I kinow a lot of people like the oiled K&N filters...but...check out Project Farm on youtube. He does a pretty comprehensive test of air filtration and the K&N is not highly rated. If you do use one, check for contamination between the filter and the intake when you change it out. That will tell the tale of whether it is perfoming as it should.

K&N in its original oiling is not good beyond any other filter recommended change interval and the replication of the oil coverage after cleaning. Is difficult to replicate often times in my personal experience it gets over oiled or under oiled.
Edit: I prefer the replacement type.

 

[Mud Pie]

Thanks for the heads up, I've been using K&N filters for decades with no issue. Not to say I didn't learn something along the way. I've over-oiled to the point where is barely ran or if it did run, it was choking out when you hit the throttle. Yeah, that much oil.... What I've learned is; if you think you put enough oil on it; you put too much. Very light dusting. The other thing is to not rush the job. Don't "spray it and play it", meaning don't spray the filter then pop it in. After washing, let it sit in the sun (no air compressors) until COMPLETELY dry. Then dust it with oil, let it sit for a bit, like the instructions say (but who reads that ?). I typically wait one hour after oiling, do other things while I'm waiting, then wipe the filter rubber of any overspray, look for pooling, etc.. If you see too much oil, wash and start over. Then pop it in. If you're sucking oil into your intake, you put on WAY too much oil, more is not better.

One of the reasons I like them is the freer breathing (if cleaned and oiled correctly) and better gas mileage. I took the same route last Thursday and today. All toll road. Maintained the same speed for the trip; between 65-70. On Thursday I was getting 20-22 mpg. Put the K&N in this past weekend, and today I was getting 23-25. Sure, it takes a disciplined right foot to avoid punching it, etc., but I do that all the time. And of course my "road test" was by no means definitive, it was just butt-in-seat test.

 

[Stan H]

Thanks for the heads up, I've been using K&N filters for decades with no issue. Not to say I didn't learn something along the way. I've over-oiled to the point where is barely ran or if it did run, it was choking out when you hit the throttle. Yeah, that much oil.... What I've learned is; if you think you put enough oil on it; you put too much. Very light dusting. The other thing is to not rush the job. Don't "spray it and play it", meaning don't spray the filter then pop it in. After washing, let it sit in the sun (no air compressors) until COMPLETELY dry. Then dust it with oil, let it sit for a bit, like the instructions say (but who reads that ?). I typically wait one hour after oiling, do other things while I'm waiting, then wipe the filter rubber of any overspray, look for pooling, etc.. If you see too much oil, wash and start over. Then pop it in. If you're sucking oil into your intake, you put on WAY too much oil, more is not better.

One of the reasons I like them is the freer breathing (if cleaned and oiled correctly) and better gas mileage. I took the same route last Thursday and today. All toll road. Maintained the same speed for the trip; between 65-70. On Thursday I was getting 20-22 mpg. Put the K&N in this past weekend, and today I was getting 23-25. Sure, it takes a disciplined right foot to avoid punching it, etc., but I do that all the time. And of course my "road test" was by no means definitive, it was just butt-in-seat test.

Whats these ..uh Instructions you speak of . real men dont need instructions we screw it up then learn all about what we did wrong afterwards so we know better next time .

 

[kacey]

Thanks for the detailed feedback! It's great to read about your experience with the Gladiator, especially coming from someone who knows Jeeps well. It's reassuring to know that some maintenance tasks remain quick and easy, like changing the cabin air filter.

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[Stan H]

Thanks for the detailed feedback! It's great to read about your experience with the Gladiator, especially coming from someone who knows Jeeps well. It's reassuring to know that some maintenance tasks remain quick and easy, like changing the cabin air filter.

There is a filter in there 🫣
Okay Kidding ,only kidding ,,,,Hey I said I was kidding

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