Switch to Diesel

[Nigelcorn]

you can't have 450lbs turbo torque, 37" tires, and 24 combined mpg...

I have to respectfully disagree with the guys who say they are getting 24 combined with 37s. I live in the flatlands of Florida, drive a little gentler than average, do a lot of highway driving at 65, it's not very windy here, and am probably in the very low 20s, and am not the only one surprised that I don't get 24 combined.




That rattle on startup puts a smile on my face everytime...

I don't know what to say, I've always gotten either at or above the started had mileage with my vehicles, regardless of the vehicle.

Even if my diesel gladiator got the 18mpg of the anemic Tacoma it replaced, I'd be thrilled with it. I love the sound, the grunt, and the effortless low rpm offroading. That I'm getting such good mpg is a bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Here is the running total since purchase with a calibrated speedometer. Make of it what you will.

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[IOS-XR]

Love our diesel. It’s freaking awesome! Really makes the Gladiator what it should be IMHO.

just do it!

 

[alpineovernappa]

I’ll also chime in. Bought my 21 sport s diesel new in June, have about 11k on it now. Stock suspension, but added airlift helper bags for my alucab cap and hardshell RTT. I’ve been extremely happy with it. Only issue has been a rear axle shaft seal leak, but that’s not exclusive to the diesel. I love the 3.6, but it’s simply underpowered for the gladiator. I rarely shift out of 8th, even pulling a grade. It stays built out for camping @ around 500lbs of added weight and I get 30-31mpg around 65 and 24-25 mpg around 80. It’s been to Maine and Florida and everywhere in between. I consume about 2.5 gallons of def (1 jug) every 2500 miles or so. You’re more likely to have more generic gladiator related issues than diesel specific ones. Even if my ecodiesel grenaded tomorrow, I’d replace it with another diesel one. You simply can’t beat the low end torque and range (about 515 miles til empty for me, stock tank)

 

[ilovebikes99]

The Sport S models get the best MPG for sure! Nice update and good mileage on there. 11K in such a short time.

 

[andrew8404]

I’ll also chime in. Bought my 21 sport s diesel new in June, have about 11k on it now. Stock suspension, but added airlift helper bags for my alucab cap and hardshell RTT. I’ve been extremely happy with it. Only issue has been a rear axle shaft seal leak, but that’s not exclusive to the diesel. I love the 3.6, but it’s simply underpowered for the gladiator. I rarely shift out of 8th, even pulling a grade. It stays built out for camping @ around 500lbs of added weight and I get 30-31mpg around 65 and 24-25 mpg around 80. It’s been to Maine and Florida and everywhere in between. I consume about 2.5 gallons of def (1 jug) every 2500 miles or so. You’re more likely to have more generic gladiator related issues than diesel specific ones. Even if my ecodiesel grenaded tomorrow, I’d replace it with another diesel one. You simply can’t beat the low end torque and range (about 515 miles til empty for me, stock tank)

that’s great info thanks! We do overlanding trips too so this is exactly the set we would be doing.I found a dealer in near St Louis that’s doing 2000 off the exact one I want only bummer is I won’t get trade in credit since I would be selling to my local dealer. There’s not many sarge green diesels in the entire nation in my price point.

 

[Koolcarguy]

So I have another opportunity to upgrade my gladiator. I have a 21 Rubicon with 37s, Mopar lift, and bumper with 14000 miles. Dealer wants to buy it for 53500 so I can upgrade to a diesel. I will lose the lift, tires, and bumpers but can swap over my winch and bed rack. It’s approx 15 dollars more a month and will have a new diesel. Yes I will have to do a lift again but will probably do 35s because moving out of town I need the mpg back a little and the range. So the is diesel worth it?? The range,power, and slightly better mpg sound great but the diesel maitance and prices are all over the place. I’m leaning towards doing it what do you guys think? Happy with your diesel??

So I have another opportunity to upgrade my gladiator. I have a 21 Rubicon with 37s, Mopar lift, and bumper with 14000 miles. Dealer wants to buy it for 53500 so I can upgrade to a diesel. I will lose the lift, tires, and bumpers but can swap over my winch and bed rack. It’s approx 15 dollars more a month and will have a new diesel. Yes I will have to do a lift again but will probably do 35s because moving out of town I need the mpg back a little and the range. So the is diesel worth it?? The range,power, and slightly better mpg sound great but the diesel maitance and prices are all over the place. I’m leaning towards doing it what do you guys think? Happy with your diesel??

I absolutely love me diesel!! So much that i now own 3 two Gladiator's and a Jl Rubi for my wife. They get better with miles my 21 Sports S has almost 20k on it with 37's and im getting mid to upper 20's on the highway! The power is unbelievable I've owned Cj,or Wrangler my hole life have 5 now and never been so impressed absolutely love it no complaints at all and not 1 problem !! Do the switch you won't be sorry! P.s. off there a beast more torque they you'll need

 

[Koolcarguy]

My biggest hesitation on a diesel would be if I lived in a very cold climate and had to park the vehicle outside overnight. IDK if the DEF freezing in the lines has been corrected yet.

Never had def freeze in mine been -25 or so i few times i believe the def tank is heated like the biiger cummins trucks

 

[Suszynch]

Love the power the diesel provides, and it's certainly not a hard-working engine like the 3.6

but you really need to replace the suspension, the front end bottoms out too easily on my 21 rubicon. After Adding a bumper and a winch it's become a pressing issue with every speedbump and pot hole..

But you should do it if you want more power, economy is kinda irrelevant imo

 

[WAOverlandJT]

gas ruby to diesel ruby. Have all the same options. Black top, 7 inch radio, tow package, remote start, heated seats, accessory.

Stop typing and get it done. I would do this All day long.

 

[WXman]

I love my diesel gladiator on 37s but getting close to the factory stated mileage with them is unrealistic, but I still haven't gone back, lol.
You drive a diesel for the same reason you drive a Jeep: the fun factor.
I would not at all recommend against a diesel gladiator especially for a DD, (if I didn't have a JTD, I'd get a beater Wrangler trail runner for the weekends and a Ram 1500 DD) but know the facts going into it:

you can't have 450lbs turbo torque, 37" tires, and 24 combined mpg.
I don't know how much more mpg 35s will net you over 37s, but it probably won't be worth it.

I have to respectfully disagree with the guys who say they are getting 24 combined with 37s. I live in the flatlands of Florida, drive a little gentler than average, do a lot of highway driving at 65, it's not very windy here, and am probably in the very low 20s, and am not the only one surprised that I don't get 24 combined.
I can see getting 24 if one were to hyper-mile but that is a fetish which is unrealistic long-term.
And the screenshots of displays don't mean anything. I can make it look like my truck gets 30 with that.



That rattle on startup puts a smile on my face everytime...

True. 10,000 miles and I'm nowhere close to EPA window sticker. Out of the hundreds of thousands of combined miles of real world owner data, looks like the average nationally is also well below window sticker.

 

[Mac]

I’ll also chime in. Bought my 21 sport s diesel new in June, have about 11k on it now. Stock suspension, but added airlift helper bags for my alucab cap and hardshell RTT. I’ve been extremely happy with it. Only issue has been a rear axle shaft seal leak, but that’s not exclusive to the diesel. I love the 3.6, but it’s simply underpowered for the gladiator. I rarely shift out of 8th, even pulling a grade. It stays built out for camping @ around 500lbs of added weight and I get 30-31mpg around 65 and 24-25 mpg around 80. It’s been to Maine and Florida and everywhere in between. I consume about 2.5 gallons of def (1 jug) every 2500 miles or so. You’re more likely to have more generic gladiator related issues than diesel specific ones. Even if my ecodiesel grenaded tomorrow, I’d replace it with another diesel one. You simply can’t beat the low end torque and range (about 515 miles til empty for me, stock tank)

Lol, 31mpg that has to be a record. Seems to be a lot of variation in mpg in the diesel’s even when comparing same trims.

 

[Shabba]

So I have another opportunity to upgrade my gladiator. I have a 21 Rubicon with 37s, Mopar lift, and bumper with 14000 miles. Dealer wants to buy it for 53500 so I can upgrade to a diesel. I will lose the lift, tires, and bumpers but can swap over my winch and bed rack. It’s approx 15 dollars more a month and will have a new diesel. Yes I will have to do a lift again but will probably do 35s because moving out of town I need the mpg back a little and the range. So the is diesel worth it?? The range,power, and slightly better mpg sound great but the diesel maitance and prices are all over the place. I’m leaning towards doing it what do you guys think? Happy with your diesel??

Love my diesel. Never go back

 

[alpineovernappa]

Lol, 31mpg that has to be a record. Seems to be a lot of variation in mpg in the diesel’s even when comparing same trims.

I know- most people don’t believe it when I tell them but it’s true. I live in the mid Atlantic at sea level and we have quite a few long flat roads. I wouldn’t say to expect 30mpg, but if you have long, flat 55mph roads, it’s pretty common with a sport. That being said, I didn’t buy it for MPG. I really just wanted the torque

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I know- most people don’t believe it when I tell them but it’s true. I live in the mid Atlantic at sea level and we have quite a few long flat roads. I wouldn’t say to expect 30mpg, but if you have long, flat 55mph roads, it’s pretty common with a sport. That being said, I didn’t buy it for MPG. I really just wanted the torque

Yeah, even at sea level coasting 31 would be a stretch. That's 4 Mpgs higher than the manufacturer specs which are 21/27. Just saying something doesn't seem right about that.

 

[Elkhunter1948]

I love my diesel. I am right at 16,000 miles and not one problem. I change oil and filter every 5,000 miles and ad Blue DEF about every 6,000 miles. I'm running a factory 2" lift and 12.5X35 NITTO Trail Grapplers. I'm getting over 20 mpg slogging around on Forest Service roads, this was hard for me to believe. Depending on speed and head winds I get over 23 mpg on the highway. In October I drove from Washington State to Freedom, Wyoming and got 17 mpg at 80 mph on I-15 from Butte to Idaho Falls. I believe the Continental Divide on this stretch was right at 6,000 feet.

I hear lots of noise about the diesel suspension bottoming out on speed bumps. I have a heavy ass
Warn 12S winch hanging on the front bumper and I've never hit the bump stops. I guess my local Dodge dealer ordered the right lift kit for a diesel JT.

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