Switch to Diesel

[dcmdon]

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??

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[andrew8404]

Ahh, the magical payment buyer. A car salesman's best friend.

gotta love people who think when someone quotes a payment they don’t look at the whole picture. Typical online nonsense. If you cared to look at the previous posts I broke the whole thing down not just payments.

 

[PackMule]

My 10th jeep. My first Diesel. 23kmi on it in one year. I love it.

Ditto all the previous comments on mileage (my best is 28mpg on a 2kmi trip on 35's. 23/24-ish on combined driving, 13mpg ave towing #4.5k trailer at 4-7k ft altitudes up mountains).

Love it as a daily driver, very comfortable, almost as quiet as my wife's grand cherokee... with the only exception being a very quiet diesel rattle in the background, ... that most owners feel is very awesome.

Adding one pro and two cautions to the conversation:

Pro: if you decide to wheel it, as you indicate above you might, it is a most amazing feeling wheeling the diesel. When approaching an obstacle, instead of reving the engine to 4k rpm to get the power to go over the obstacle, you will effortlessly climb it with the engine coasting at about 1700 rpm. Its a totally different way of wheeling.

Cautions: There are two current issues with the diesels that you will need to watch
1) Engine De-Rating at a combination of Altitude/Ambient heat/Load(e.g. towing). A number of guys have had the engine de-rate... e.g. slow you down to 45mph, when towing up a grade at altitude in heat. I've had it happen to me only once, and it cleared in a few seconds. I see you are in an environment where that could be an issue. If you don't push it hard, or you are not intending to tow much, you might not ever see it.
2) As an earlier post indicated, the diesels (especially heavier Rubicons) seem to have an issue of bottoming out the fronts easy. Latest indication is that the bump mounts are a bit more than 1" longer (lower) on the diesel (must be protecting something different in the engine profile), which limits up-travel. Hit a speed bump at 15mph and it almost feels metal-to-metal. Its rumored to be fixed in Model Year '22, and JeepCares says Jeep is coming out with a MY '21 fix in Q1 '22. If you plan to do a lift with springs (at least Mopar 2" or better), you will likely not run into this issue. But if you plan on doing 35's with no lift, you will want to check this issue out.

There are active threads on these issues on this forum.

Bottom line, I love this rig, and I'd go diesel again in a heartbeat, even with the issues above.

 

[andrew8404]

My 10th jeep. My first Diesel. 23kmi on it in one year. I love it.

Ditto all the previous comments on mileage (my best is 28mpg on a 2kmi trip on 35's. 23/24-ish on combined driving, 13mpg ave towing #4.5k trailer at 4-7k ft altitudes up mountains).

Love it as a daily driver, very comfortable, almost as quiet as my wife's grand cherokee... with the only exception being a very quiet diesel rattle in the background, ... that most owners feel is very awesome.

Adding one pro and two cautions to the conversation:

Pro: if you decide to wheel it, as you indicate above you might, it is a most amazing feeling wheeling the diesel. When approaching an obstacle, instead of reving the engine to 4k rpm to get the power to go over the obstacle, you will effortlessly climb it with the engine coasting at about 1700 rpm. Its a totally different way of wheeling.

Cautions: There are two current issues with the diesels that you will need to watch
1) Engine De-Rating at a combination of Altitude/Ambient heat/Load(e.g. towing). A number of guys have had the engine de-rate... e.g. slow you down to 45mph, when towing up a grade at altitude in heat. I've had it happen to me only once, and it cleared in a few seconds. I see you are in an environment where that could be an issue. If you don't push it hard, or you are not intending to tow much, you might not ever see it.
2) As an earlier post indicated, the diesels (especially heavier Rubicons) seem to have an issue of bottoming out the fronts easy. Latest indication is that the bump mounts are a bit more than 1" longer (lower) on the diesel (must be protecting something different in the engine profile), which limits up-travel. Hit a speed bump at 15mph and it almost feels metal-to-metal. Its rumored to be fixed in Model Year '22, and JeepCares says Jeep is coming out with a MY '21 fix in Q1 '22. If you plan to do a lift with springs (at least Mopar 2" or better), you will likely not run into this issue. But if you plan on doing 35's with no lift, you will want to check this issue out.

There are active threads on these issues on this forum.

Bottom line, I love this rig, and I'd go diesel again in a heartbeat, even with the issues above.

Thanks the Engine De-Rating is a little nerve racking but I don't really tow. So hopefully that won't be an issue. Though when I was in Moab temps were 110 plus while on the trails and the V6 never missed a beat. I wonder if the diesel would de rate in a similar condition or only towing? I would also be doing a lift at some point probably before the summer before we head out for more Jeep trails and overloading.

 

[PackMule]

Thanks the Engine De-Rating is a little nerve racking but I don't really tow. So hopefully that won't be an issue. Though when I was in Moab temps were 110 plus while on the trails and the V6 never missed a beat. I wonder if the diesel would de rate in a similar condition or only towing? I would also be doing a lift at some point probably before the summer before we head out for more Jeep trails and overloading.

It wouldn't happen on a trail in Moab conditions where you are crawling. It would only happen at highway speeds, when it's hot+hill+altitude+load (at least 3 out of those 4)

On the other issue,.if your lifting your good. Go forth and prosper!!!

 

[dcmdon]

gotta love people who think when someone quotes a payment they don’t look at the whole picture. Typical online nonsense. If you cared to look at the previous posts I broke the whole thing down not just payments.

Sorry I wasn't willing to slog through 7 pages of posts. If you understand all aspects then fantastic.

 

[Shawnu22]

Just ordered my 2022 Sport S Diesel today, I bought it for the low end torque for towing as I was sick of the higher revs on the gas. If you are really on the fence I don't know if it is for you. I had zero hesitation about ordering the diesel, the heart wants what the heart wants.

 

[Mac]

Just ordered my 2022 Sport S Diesel today, I bought it for the low end torque for towing as I was sick of the higher revs on the gas. If you are really on the fence I don't know if it is for you. I had zero hesitation about ordering the diesel, the heart wants what the heart wants.

Just curious, what is wrong with high revs? The motor is designed to be used at high rpm and will not harm it

 

[andrew8404]

Just ordered my 2022 Sport S Diesel today, I bought it for the low end torque for towing as I was sick of the higher revs on the gas. If you are really on the fence I don't know if it is for you. I had zero hesitation about ordering the diesel, the heart wants what the heart wants.

I think my only hesitation is it worth trading in my already built Jeep or getting something that I know I will love and will help on our overloading trips and off-roading. It's getting a new diesel but have to build up or stick with what I have. I'm leaning towards diesel the dealership gave me another week to get out there as I've had my heater go kaput so replacing that and the A/C today. Big expense after moving into our home a month ago.

 

[Shawnu22]

Just curious, what is wrong with high revs? The motor is designed to be used at high rpm and will not harm it

Just a driving preference for me. I was never worried about the engine, I am just getting older and prefer the low revs.

 

[Shawnu22]

I think my only hesitation is it worth trading in my already built Jeep or getting something that I know I will love and will help on our overloading trips and off-roading. It's getting a new diesel but have to build up or stick with what I have. I'm leaning towards diesel the dealership gave me another week to get out there as I've had my heater go kaput so replacing that and the A/C today. Big expense after moving into our home a month ago.

Ouch, those expenses always seem to come at the worst time, not that there is ever a good time. I totally get it having a rig already built, that would be a tuff choice then. We are trading in our 2017 JK so I am moving up in the world in more ways than just a diesel!

 

[ilovebikes99]

Just curious, what is wrong with high revs? The motor is designed to be used at high rpm and will not harm it

Keep it pinned for a while and find out if it doesn't do any harm.

 

[Rick_Jame55]

I love the color matched top and topper on the Gladiator. Never can afford or want to pay extra for color match ha ha. Running 35s or 37s?

Running 37’s Yokohama

 

[Glad_he_ate]

I think the gas high rev thing is more of an annoyance issue. Yea it’ll run 4k all day if it needs to but who the hell wants to hear it ? I can tow my 30 foot trailer at 2200 rpm and get 14 mpg pretty much anywhere in ny. Might have to hit 2500 in 6th up in the Adirondack mt.
it’s just more pleasant to drive. If ya want a high rever get a rice rocket.

 

[Mac]

I think the gas high rev thing is more of an annoyance issue. Yea it’ll run 4k all day if it needs to but who the hell wants to hear it ? I can tow my 30 foot trailer at 2200 rpm and get 14 mpg pretty much anywhere in ny. Might have to hit 2500 in 6th up in the Adirondack mt.
it’s just more pleasant to drive. If ya want a high rever get a rice rocket.

Lol, rice rocket… more like any modern gas engine.

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