Ecodiesel Eco-nomics & Issues

[BroncoHound]

Alright, what do I do for a lift if I go with the diesel?

Lots of others are trying to talk me into the XR package, which isn't a diesel option. My other contender is the AEV 2.5" lift. ....seemingly sends you down a black hole of thousands of dollars of other upgrades.

Wish they would do a XR package for the diesel and set it up with the right size gears - maybe it wouldn't overheat.

If you're sticking to in-state trail driving and such, you can run 35's on a Rubicon bone stock and 37's with nothing more than a small spacer lift. If you're planning to go down to Moab and flex the suspension out often, you'll need a lift.

I've been all over Montana in my JKR with a 2.5" lift and 35's (which is the same overall height as a stock JLR on 35's) and my JLUR with stock suspension and 35's and have yet to feel the need for more suspension.

Remember, you're buying a $60k purpose built off-roader. It doesn't need to be fully kitted from the aftermarket to be competent. And if it came between a lift kit and LED lighting, I'd personally choose LED lighting 10000x over.

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[guarnibl]

Alright, what do I do for a lift if I go with the diesel?

Lots of others are trying to talk me into the XR package, which isn't a diesel option. My other contender is the AEV 2.5" lift. ....seemingly sends you down a black hole of thousands of dollars of other upgrades.

Wish they would do a XR package for the diesel and set it up with the right size gears - maybe it wouldn't overheat.

Are you going to need to drastically improve the breakover angle? If not, I'd stay 2-3" and run 37's. The AEV lift will give you pretty close to stock ride quality with some extra weight in it. Not sure what you're referring to with thousands of dollars in upgrades.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Stock works also. Nothing wrong with running stock Wrangler, throw some tires on a Sport S base and still very capable. I don't care for large tires and lift myself, just personal opinion. But then I am not a huge off road enthusiast or mechanic!

Getting to fishing holes and trail running.

 

[GearWhore]

37s on Nomads fit under my 2021 diesel with no lift & worked on the road, but would rub the rear fenders when flexed. I went with the 2.5" MetalCloak Game Changer & have been quite happy with it. On road & especially off.

I had JKURs with both the 3.8 & 3.6, though all manuals. I have also had the 3.6 in a Grand, & most recently the 3.0 diesel in a 2018 Grand Cherokee Trail hawk. Only to say I have experience with many of the engines & drivetrains.

This JLUR w diesel is by far my favorite, even if it doesn't have a manual. I was pretty sold on it, but took my wife to drive the 2.0, 3.6, & 3.0 in early 2020. Easy decision for both of us after driving each. Even handling felt better. Perhaps as mentioned having to do with the added weight or something.

I'm on mobile, so can't tell if your chart shows, but remember premium fuel is recommended in the 2.0 & 4xe, so the fuel price difference is much less.

Mine consumes DEF at about 3% fuel, which seems pretty standard in most modern diesels (by my internet-reading expertise). I get it from the pump at truck stops for ~$2.50-$3 per gallon. I need to fill every 3-4k miles. My WK2 was only every 10k.

With the 3 included Jeep Wave oil changes my maintenance until 40k is limited to air filters every 10k & fuel filters every 20k.

The diesel does have it's issues, or at least can, but so do the others. I'd have no hesitation getting a diesel in Montana. Plenty of diesel experience in most shops.

 

[AZ-Chris]

the overheating thing is wildly overblown.

Boy is that an ignorant statement . . . sounds like you don't get up into the mountains when you trailer . . .

The overheating problem has been well documented and is pretty well understood to happen when certain conditions are met. Be thankful you haven't found yourself in those circumstances . . . but many people have experienced those conditions.

 

[treillw]

Are you going to need to drastically improve the breakover angle? If not, I'd stay 2-3" and run 37's. The AEV lift will give you pretty close to stock ride quality with some extra weight in it. Not sure what you're referring to with thousands of dollars in upgrades.

Just seems like it turns into tire carriers, different wheels because stock ones don't work, tailgate reinforcing, etc etc

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

Just seems like it turns into tire carriers, different wheels because stock ones don't work, tailgate reinforcing, etc etc

I think Jeep set up the wranglers, more specifically rubicons, to work well up to 35s. Once you go beyond that, ymmv.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Boy is that an ignorant statement . . . sounds like you don't get up into the mountains when you trailer . . .

The overheating problem has been well documented and is pretty well understood to happen when certain conditions are met. Be thankful you haven't found yourself in those circumstances . . . but many people have experienced those conditions.

Trade it in for a truck that is actually designed for dragging trailers around?

 

[AZ-Chris]

I had hopes of dragging an offroad teardrop around the mountain west behind my rig . . . my wife and I have zero interest in rooftop tents. However, based on my experience to date, and several others (particularly in the Gladiator community), my use conditions would make this proposition a fools errand.

I have some hope in that Bullet Proof Diesel will bring a solution to market . . . they already provide various solutions for earlier generations of the EcoDiesel . . . I'm just not certain how long it will take to develop a viable solution to shed heat from the EcoDiesel.

 

[treillw]

I had hopes of dragging an offroad teardrop around the mountain west behind my rig . . . my wife and I have zero interest in rooftop tents. However, based on my experience to date, and several others (particularly in the Gladiator community), my use conditions would make this proposition a fools errand.

I have some hope in that Bullet Proof Diesel will bring a solution to market . . . they already provide various solutions for earlier generations of the EcoDiesel . . . I'm just not certain how long it will take to develop a viable solution to shed heat from the EcoDiesel.

It would be nice if Jeep would fix it. Nothing like a $60k vehicle that needs upgrades.

 

[SolarWizard]

Boy is that an ignorant statement . . . sounds like you don't get up into the mountains when you trailer . . .

The overheating problem has been well documented and is pretty well understood to happen when certain conditions are met. Be thankful you haven't found yourself in those circumstances . . . but many people have experienced those conditions.

it certainly doesn’t happen to me and I go from abq to San Diego regularly. There’s a good amount of steep grades involved And I’m pulling a heavier trailer with my JT than the JLs are rated for and Arizona is in the middle so heat is there

 

[AZ-Chris]

The conditions needed to overheat the EcoDiesel are pretty extreme . . . and generally, most people won't ever experience the problem, but a heavy rig, pulling a trailer, while holding the speed limit on a severe grade at altitudes over 1K ft could easily find the oil temperature limit.

In my case, I've only approached the limit . . . mainly because I haven't towed in the mountains. But I've seen oil temperatures at 250 degrees at 3K ft elevation. I just weighed my rig this week after installing Aluminum belly pans, and I'm at, or just slightly above GVWR with me behind the wheel with tools/recovery gear on board . . . no trailer, no passengers.

 

[AZ-Chris]

it certainly doesn’t happen to me and I go from abq to SAN regularly. There’s a good amount of grades involved And I’m pulling a heavier trailer than the JLs are rated for

Oh, so just because you haven't overheated/derated makes this problem "wildly overblown"? Monitor your gauges when you make that trip and please let us know the route you take and report back.

For me, I know the exact locations/roads and conditions where I will see oil temperatures in excess of 240 degrees . . . If I were towing and ambient temperatures were in excess of 100 degrees, it would make for a very bad day.

 

[guarnibl]

Just seems like it turns into tire carriers, different wheels because stock ones don't work, tailgate reinforcing, etc etc

Gotcha. That’s sort of any lift I guess.

 

[JLURD]

I choke off airflow to my radiator on purpose for 5 months of the year so not much to say re overheating in AK, but I can assure you the thing could care less about the cold…and I mean stupid cold. As for DEF or other diesel related gremlins stranding you, my n of 1 is at 36,000 miles through the most remote places and some of the most serious wheeling in North America without a hiccup yet so my confidence is building in the 3.0 and its various systems.

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