If you could do it again... Gas or Diesel?

[Rusty PW]

I love my diesel, coming from 2 previous Jeeps with the 3.6 (which I thought was a fine engine). Cost be damned, it’s way more fun to drive. Love the torque and sound. And I definitely couldn’t do burnouts with either of my previous Jeeps…

I can smoke the rear tires. LOL

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[Rusty PW]

Of course there's a huge difference and maybe I needed to clarify what I meant by "come into play" as in by necessity.
I don't see the necessity. Now given my experience with gas and diesel are largely different:
My JTRD runs Florida trails, sand hills, mud holes, etc.
And I've wheeled a JLUR out west on some rocky obstacles; nothing too extreme but in any event the gas Wrangler never felt lacking for power one bit.
So I can't imagine where the diesel would be a necessity when off-roading.
If I'm missing something, we'll I'm willing to be enlightened.

Going through a rock garden full of baby heads. I can control my forward progress with just the brake pedal, instead of using both gas and brake pedal. It will just idle over stuff.

I idled right up this little rocky uphill section.

 

[LANGeek]

Diesel if I can get a manual with it.

 

[MntWild**]

Of course there's a huge difference and maybe I needed to clarify what I meant by "come into play" as in by necessity.
I don't see the necessity. Now given my experience with gas and diesel are largely different:
My JTRD runs Florida trails, sand hills, mud holes, etc.
And I've wheeled a JLUR out west on some rocky obstacles; nothing too extreme but in any event the gas Wrangler never felt lacking for power one bit.
So I can't imagine where the diesel would be a necessity when off-roading.
If I'm missing something, we'll I'm willing to be enlightened.

Well each to their own. There has never been a time where I thought to myself " I wish I had less torque". I have four wheeled many Jeeps and Square Bodies over the years. With the diesel you get the beefed up frame like the mojave, and steel knuckles. You also get a stronger 8 speed transmission. If you at all use your Gladiator on the highway you will notice a huge difference as well.

 

[Gruffid]

It’s funny, I read these. I feel like this is a classic “grass is greener” issue for folks who wish they had gotten the diesel. My experience over the past 19 months and 41k miles has been both respectable and disappointing. The torque is awesome, the fuel economy is great, the rest of the drivetrain is nicely equipped for the power. And then comes the rest of the story…

The range… is basically the same as the gasser with a 3-gallon deficit in the tank to make room for the 5 gallon DEF tank.

We can’t get a MOPAR snorkel, CAI, long range America aux fuel tank, Grimm under hood dual ARB compressor.

We also can’t go over a speed bump without jarring our fillings out, necessitating a lift to make driving it bearable even on normal roads.

We also have a 6000lb limit on towing and for many of us, our cargo carrying capacity is sub-1000 lbs. well, with only my family of four in the truck, that leaves me with only 450-ish lbs left to play with. Put on the steel bumper with winch, RSE rock sliders and my RSI shell, I’m at GVWR with no room to spare for towing or even a RTT or fridge.

So, yeah. Then bring in the engine power de-rating both towing and not towing, $1/gallon more for fuel, $25/2.5gallons of DEF every few thousand miles, more expensive oil and oil filters…

We also have a JLUR with the 3.6L. It’s a lot more reliable, tackles speed bumps like a champ, and doesn’t seem to want for power. The biggest downside is the fuel economy - which seems to be comparable to the 392 - awfully poor considering the power deficit between the two.

Yeah, give me my truck with the 3.6L. I’ll be much happier.

 

[jtjoy]

I have had a JL with the diesel and now the JT. I would never not have the diesel except for the 392 JL I traded my diesel for. I have the JT as my truck and mileage vehicle. I hate driving the 3.6 cross country with the constant shifting etc. Love the torque of the diesel and 392.

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