New to Diesel

[Teqsand]

I decided to replace my 2004 TJ and purchased a Willys turbo-diesel Gladiator today to take advantage of the year-end rebates since I have been wanting a pickup. I had previously test-driven a gas-powered Mojave but fell in love with the diesel torque. If I am careful with quality fuel, is water in the fuel a common occurrence and how often do you have to drain water from the filter? How often would I need to add the diesel additive? I’m a motor head but never had a diesel vehicle. Reading the User-manual I feel lost. I hope I didn’t make a big mistake with a diesel. Thanks for your advice!

Wife and I have diesels.... she has 21 JLURD and I have a 23 JTRD..... I had a 22 JTRD that blew the CP4 HPFP and jeep bought back....
She has 60k and not a lick of probs, I have 20k.... both 4" lift on 37's

WE LOVE THEM

Sponsored

 

[Camaroboi13]

2022 JTOD here, 4.5” lift and 37s. Average 22-23 mpg overall. 28k miles on it, I don’t use any additives nor do I drain the water. I fill up at the worst, cheapest places available. Also did my first fuel filter change just a couple days late of recommended (ohhh about 24,000 miles in ?) and had zero shavings in the filter. Before anyone comes in to flame me, my payments are $756 a month if you’d like to tell me how to maintain my vehicle ??


Just add diesel fuel and DEF and enjoy it.

 

[SargeDiesel]

Welcome to the forum, and to the world of oil burners. I got close to 34,000 trouble free miles on my JTRD. I use Hot Shots EDT with every tank. I always check for water when I do oil changes and fuel filter changes. Have never found water. For DEF fluid. I've used everything from $6 Rural King to $21 Blue DEF Platinum. If you are towing, expect to use more of it.

@wec032
Everything Rusty said, but I would include LX4. EDT is great all around and has a small amount of LX4 in it, but I add 2oz of EDT and 2oz of LX4 every fill-up. The LX4 focuses directly on lubrication...

 

[Lost1wing]

I have been driving a diesel since my 1982 VW Rabbit. When I change my fuel filters I always drain them into a clear glass container. In almost 40 years I have never seen a drop of water.

I've been driving diesels for a long time. Even with sitting a long time I never see water in the fuel. On my Jettas, I used to drain the filter at oil changes. But I got lazy since never finding water and stopped checking.

On my Duramax(CP4), I did get a 0% fuel filter message shortly after a fill up on a trip. It was still the original fuel filter. I ended up replacing the fuel filter at my destination. It was bad fuel. Full of brown frothy fuel. When that trip was over, I had put a few tanks of fuel and a bottle of diesel purge through it. The next 2 fuel filters were clean.

Best advice is to get your fuel from busy fuel stations. If the pump is running slow, go to another station, their filters most likely need to be replaced.

 

[Rusty PW]

One of the Peterbilt's I used to drive. The mechanic has found water in it a couple of times. So it does happen.

 

[Towzone100]

Welcome to the EcoDiesel world. They are great engines. All the advice you have seen on this forum is great advice.

• Change the fuel filter and drain the water at every oil change. Remember to prime the fuel system before trying to start the engine after changing the fuel filter. Otherwise, it will continue to crank. If you notice it is cranking and not starting, hit the start/stop button to stop the cranking process and repeat the priming process. My dealer killed my battery the first time they changed the filter. Now I change the filter myself. It saves the battery and a boatload of cash at the same time.
• Use Hot Shot EDT fuel additive with every tank. Keeps the fuel system well-lubricated.
• Use MOPAR filters, and recommended motor oil. I use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-40 Motor Oil.
• Watch the short drives. I recommend getting an OBDII scan gauge of some type. I use the ScanGauge II. One thing to note: I don’t know if anyone else sees this, but on my Gladiator, it does not always show when it is in Regen. This gauge not only tells that it is in regen but can also tell you how full the STM is. My Gladiator goes into regen at 80%.

 

[KEG2021]

Welcome to the EcoDiesel world. They are great engines. All the advice you have seen on this forum is great advice.

• Change the fuel filter and drain the water at every oil change. Remember to prime the fuel system before trying to start the engine after changing the fuel filter. Otherwise, it will continue to crank. If you notice it is cranking and not starting, hit the start/stop button to stop the cranking process and repeat the priming process. My dealer killed my battery the first time they changed the filter. Now I change the filter myself. It saves the battery and a boatload of cash at the same time.
• Use Hot Shot EDT fuel additive with every tank. Keeps the fuel system well-lubricated.
• Use MOPAR filters, and recommended motor oil. I use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-20 Motor Oil.
• Watch the short drives. I recommend getting an OBDII scan gauge of some type. I use the ScanGauge II. One thing to note: I don’t know if anyone else sees this, but on my Gladiator, it does not always show when it is in Regen. This gauge not only tells that it is in regen but can also tell you how full the STM is. My Gladiator goes into regen at 80%.

I could be wrong but 0w-20 maybe for the 3.6 not the 3.0?

 

[fourfa]

+1 - 0W-20 is for the 3.6 gas. 3.0 diesel takes 5W-40. Hopefully that was just a typo. I fear for your engine if not

 

[Towzone100]

I could be wrong but 0w-20 maybe for the 3.6 not the 3.0?

Thanks for catching that. You are correct. Sorry, I have a Grand as well. I use 5W-40

 

[Towzone100]

+1 - 0W-20 is for the 3.6 gas. 3.0 diesel takes 5W-40. Hopefully that was just a typo. I fear for your engine if not

Thanks for the catch guys. It was a typo. My wife's Grand takes the 0W-20 I use the same oil but in 5W-40

 

[wec032]

Thanks for all the great advice. I am in the Kansas City area and we are forecast to get an arctic blast late this coming week (-5 F). I’ve heard diesel fuel gels at these temps and requires a winter additive. Any recommendations on additives? Luckily this is a once or twice a year event. Thanks!

 

[Rusty PW]

Watch this.

Sponsored