Dealer recommends new engine.

[Nate_L]

Howdy friends,

I have a 2020 JLUR 2.0 with about 85k miles. On my way home from a trip a few weeks ago, the check engine light came on and my code reader showed some codes that I knew were out of my wheelhouse to fix. So I took it in to a local Jeep dealer for further diagnostics. Here's what the tech wrote:

Codes found: P0016, P06DE, and P0008 while monitoring on scan tool. Exhaust cam was reading 25 difference from Cam to Crank. May have a possible Cam phaser issue will have to tear the engine down to inspect cam phaser and oil control valve for possible debris and the phaser not locking

They tore the engine down, but noted a lot of sludge in the engine. Their 2 options for me are to put the engine back together and wish me luck OR they'll put a new engine in for $8,500.

I don't really want to drop that kind of coin on a new engine. I feel like I should be able to get more than 85k miles out of this engine. I don't know what questions to ask. I don't know if there are ways to clean the sludge out? Could the engine be pulled, torn down completely, and then cleaned of all the sludge? I'm not opposed to getting my hands dirty. If it saves me thousands of dollars, I'll do it. But what are some realistic options here?

Thanks.

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[jax501]

At what mileage intervals was the oil in that engine changed?

 

[JeepCares]

Howdy friends,

I have a 2020 JLUR 2.0 with about 85k miles. On my way home from a trip a few weeks ago, the check engine light came on and my code reader showed some codes that I knew were out of my wheelhouse to fix. So I took it in to a local Jeep dealer for further diagnostics. Here's what the tech wrote:



They tore the engine down, but noted a lot of sludge in the engine. Their 2 options for me are to put the engine back together and wish me luck OR they'll put a new engine in for $8,500.

I don't really want to drop that kind of coin on a new engine. I feel like I should be able to get more than 85k miles out of this engine. I don't know what questions to ask. I don't know if there are ways to clean the sludge out? Could the engine be pulled, torn down completely, and then cleaned of all the sludge? I'm not opposed to getting my hands dirty. If it saves me thousands of dollars, I'll do it. But what are some realistic options here?

Thanks.

Hello, Nate. We sent you a PM that you can reply to if you need additional support while your vehicle is at the dealership for repairs.

Yenori
Jeep Cares

 

[Nate_L]

At what mileage intervals was the oil in that engine changed?

I used Synthetic oil when I got the oil changed. Usually around 5k miles, but I can't speak for how the previous owner's consistency may have been. Bought it with about 50k miles on it.

 

[Guv]

Howdy friends,

I have a 2020 JLUR 2.0 with about 85k miles. On my way home from a trip a few weeks ago, the check engine light came on and my code reader showed some codes that I knew were out of my wheelhouse to fix. So I took it in to a local Jeep dealer for further diagnostics. Here's what the tech wrote:



They tore the engine down, but noted a lot of sludge in the engine. Their 2 options for me are to put the engine back together and wish me luck OR they'll put a new engine in for $8,500.

I don't really want to drop that kind of coin on a new engine. I feel like I should be able to get more than 85k miles out of this engine. I don't know what questions to ask. I don't know if there are ways to clean the sludge out? Could the engine be pulled, torn down completely, and then cleaned of all the sludge? I'm not opposed to getting my hands dirty. If it saves me thousands of dollars, I'll do it. But what are some realistic options here?

Thanks.

Ask about putting some new phasers and possibly a new chain, guide and tensioner.
If you do it yourself, special tools are needed for holding the cams in place during reassembly.

 

[Kyanche]

I used Synthetic oil when I got the oil changed. Usually around 5k miles, but I can't speak for how the previous owner's consistency may have been. Bought it with about 50k miles on it.

Let's blame the previous owner. 5k in these shouldn't cause sludge. Sorry to hear it turned out that way though.

 

[jax501]

If the problem is only sludge related, you could try Liquid Moly Sludge Remover followed by Liqui Moly Engine Flush. Plenty of Youtube videos on these 2 products and how to do it properly (or try a competing product). It's a Hail Mary play, but maybe worth the relatively low cost/effort compared to new engine parts.

 

[Heimkehr]

The prior owner's care, or not, during the first 50K miles could've started something that only/eventually/finally manifested itself during the OP's 35K mile ownership period.

Were it me, I'd probably sell the vehicle, rather than know I'm likely funding the repair of something that wasn't of my making (e.g., sludge formation, and/or component failure in the form of dodgy phasers.) There's also the Hail Mary plan mentioned in the previous post to consider. Maybe that's worth a shot.

I speak from some experience on engine replacements. I had one done for my YJ. When the same issue reappeared -- meaning, my Wish Me Luck had run out -- I lost all faith in the vehicle and sold it back to Jeep. That history informs what I suggest, above.

Good luck with however you decide to proceed, Nate.

 

[Kracka]

Valvoline Restore & Protect oil with Fram XG oil filters go a long way in cleaning out an engine. Do 3k mile internals 4x and should make a huge improvement in terms of engine cleanliness.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

I can only imagine what the oil looked like when you bought it. 5k interval oil changes with full synthetic should have cleared a lot of it up.

What is more likely happening is that your oil change place of choice is charging you for full synthetic, then pumping their least expensive bulk oil in, and possibly not changing filters. But even then, at 5k intervals, it shouldn't do that as long as they used a new filter every time. The only other thing that comes to mind is that you drive many short trips a day, and never get the engine up to temp.

If you want to keep it, you can clean it up. First though, send a sample to Blackstone, or a similar lab and get a used oil analysis. That will tell you if you have something else going on other than poor maintenance.

I would start with 4 quarts of quality 0w30 synthetic with 1 qt of Marvel Mystery Oil. Drive it for a few hundred miles, making sure that you get it up to full operating temp, then drive it hard (not abusive) for about 2 minutes. Drain the oil hot, change the filter, refill with the same mix, then repeat. On the third fill, do 5 qts of a quality high mile full synthetic, then drive for 1000k miles, and change it again. Then start a 3k oil change interval for the next few cycles. When the oil starts to run out of the oil pan nice and thin, and smoothly, then get another UOA. If all is good, go back to your 5k intervals.

Always try to make an effort to avoid short trips, and when the engine is up to temp, always make a few spirited full throttle runs. Short trips, and babying kills engines.

This only works if you are able to perform the maintenance yourself. Trusting someone to do this level of attention to detail will be hard. And I would never trust the 10 minute oil change guys to do it.

And, since you are in a generally hot climate, I would use 5w40 oil in a turbo charged engine.

 

[Nate_L]

I appreciate everyone's input. I will try some of these and see how things go. Thank you!

 

[alphawolff]

Howdy friends,

I have a 2020 JLUR 2.0 with about 85k miles. On my way home from a trip a few weeks ago, the check engine light came on and my code reader showed some codes that I knew were out of my wheelhouse to fix. So I took it in to a local Jeep dealer for further diagnostics. Here's what the tech wrote:



They tore the engine down, but noted a lot of sludge in the engine. Their 2 options for me are to put the engine back together and wish me luck OR they'll put a new engine in for $8,500.

I don't really want to drop that kind of coin on a new engine. I feel like I should be able to get more than 85k miles out of this engine. I don't know what questions to ask. I don't know if there are ways to clean the sludge out? Could the engine be pulled, torn down completely, and then cleaned of all the sludge? I'm not opposed to getting my hands dirty. If it saves me thousands of dollars, I'll do it. But what are some realistic options here?

Thanks.

Is there a picture of the sludge? This indicates improper maintenance. If you bought it used the previous owner most likely never changed the oil. Once sludge begins changing the oil generally doesn't 'clean' it up. If anything, the sludge breaks down and starts clogging oil passages. I would not do anything besides replace the engine if sludge is indeed present. It also tracks with the DTCs you have.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Might as well try to correct it. If he can get the engine cleaned up, he can get some more miles out of it.

But I agree with Alpha. Pics of the dipstick, into the oil fill, and of the filter once you cut it open.

There’s, thick, dark, very dirty oil, which some will call sludge, and it is the beginning of it. Then there’s the chunky, nearly tar like substance that is severe sludge.

 

[Stetson]

If you like your Jeep. You may want to consider the engine replacement. $8,500 is a pretty good price.

Depending on where you are with what you owe etc it may be a good option.

 

[SadRobot]

If you like your Jeep. You may want to consider the engine replacement. $8,500 is a pretty good price.

Depending on where you are with what you owe etc it may be a good option.

Yeah $8500 seems low to me. I got mine done at just under 8k and that just covered engine and parts. If I had taken it somewhere I would have paid 5k on top of that in labor.

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