2015 Jeep GC Turbo Diesel HELP!

[SC Maintenance]

Why do companies sell them to unsuspecting, and innocent trusting, customers?

10 years ago on all the off-road forums diesels were all the rage. Everyone said they wanted a diesel. Diesels were awesome. Just before diesel gate - remember that.

So my guess is at the time they were chasing both the customer mindset that diesels were awesome, and better mileage. Diesels were by far the preferred option in Germany for years, so why not sell them here I suppose. Jeep did it. GM did it in the Colorado. Nissan did it in the Titan. There were lots of them coming online around that time.

In fairness I think they used to be a lot more trouble free. As well - were back to a what - $16K bill, for what most likely was the fuel pump all along. So is that the diesel's fault really, or the shop's?

 

[JeffKeryk]

10 years ago on all the off-road forums diesels were all the rage. Everyone said they wanted a diesel. Diesels were awesome. Just before diesel gate - remember that.

So my guess is at the time they were chasing both the customer mindset that diesels were awesome, and better mileage. Diesels were by far the preferred option in Germany for years, so why not sell them here I suppose. Jeep did it. GM did it in the Colorado. Nissan did it in the Titan. There were lots of them coming online around that time.

In fairness I think they used to be a lot more trouble free. As well - were back to a what - $16K bill, for what most likely was the fuel pump all along. So is that the diesel's fault really, or the shop's?

Back in the late 70's and early 80's the diesel was the engine to get in all the MBZ's the rich people drove.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Back in the late 70's and early 80's the diesel was the engine to get in all the MBZ's the rich people drove.

I have heard those old Mercedes diesels run forever.

My dad had a late 80's Ford with the IH 6.9L diesel in it. I have no idea how many hours on it at this point - it was well used when he got it. Dad passed away 2 years ago, I doubt its been started since then. I am willing to bet if I dropped a battery in it probably would fire right up and work fine.

Not all diesels are created equal.

 

[Lawnman23]

Back in the late 70's and early 80's the diesel was the engine to get in all the MBZ's the rich people drove.

On the flip side, there was this:

https://carbuzz.com/oldsmobile-v8-diesel-engine-history-problems/

 

[JeffKeryk]

On the flip side, there was this:

https://carbuzz.com/oldsmobile-v8-diesel-engine-history-problems/

What a huge cluster.
Shoulda got the legendary Caddy 4-6-8....

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

On the flip side, there was this:

https://carbuzz.com/oldsmobile-v8-diesel-engine-history-problems/

My Dad had one of those. It was the third Oldsmobile in a row that caused him grief. It finally drove him away from GM forever.

 

[Opelman]

On the flip side, there was this:

https://carbuzz.com/oldsmobile-v8-diesel-engine-history-problems/

I'd gladly daily drive one of these over any of the modern electro eco dpf plugging def swilling disasters. Driven properly they were pretty decent especially after the update.

 

[SC Maintenance]

..

I'd gladly daily drive one of these over any of the modern electro eco dpf plugging def swilling disasters. Driven properly they were pretty decent especially after the update.

What was the update? I thought the issue was the block simply wasn't strong enough and it popped head bolts? Based off the olds 350 gasser.

 

[Opelman]

..

What was the update? I thought the issue was the block simply wasn't strong enough and it popped head bolts? Based off the olds 350 gasser.

These were based on the big block Olds engines not the 350 and were only punched to 350 to leave extra material for more strength. In typical GM fashion, it was released before it was ready. The updated engine went to roller lifters, additional material in the main bearing webs, and stronger head bolts. Head bolts from the onset were larger diameter than the gasser. I do believe that GM should have added more head bolts. A big problem with a lot of these were induced by poor maintenance by gas station jockeys unfamiliar with the machine. Injection timing was important, cranking the pump all the way advanced for "more power" could result in a broken crankshaft. Certainly not the best diesel on the market at the time but they usually gave good service if properly cared for and driven intelligently.

 

[andrew_j]

I am guessing the dealer diagnostic was correct just the indie is doing a few less replacements hoping okay and rates lower given starting at $6k climbing to $9k.

Give it 50/50 after they get back something else crops up.

 

[Lawnman23]

What a huge cluster.
Shoulda got the legendary Caddy 4-6-8....

I heard about/read about that mechanical nightmare over the years (it was well before my time). I finally got to witness the cluster that it is/was via Vice Grip Garage.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I am guessing the dealer diagnostic was correct just the indie is doing a few less replacements hoping okay and rates lower given starting at $6k climbing to $9k.

Give it 50/50 after they get back something else crops up.

The dealer diagnostic was not correct. The PGM had problems that were fixed with the repair.

I agree the chances of something else cropping up are pretty likely. I have tried to gently tell Debbie this; she is under the assumption they will "get another 10 years" out of her JGC. "Don't throw good $$ after bad."

 

[andrew_j]

The dealer diagnostic was not correct. The PGM had problems that were fixed with the repair.

I agree the chances of something else cropping up are pretty likely. I have tried to gently tell Debbie this; she is under the assumption they will "get another 10 years" out of her JGC. "Don't throw good $$ after bad."

Majority of recent Diesels including this are the most fragile and expensive to repair vehicles. $9k could have bought a ton of gasoline and way fewer repairs to the 5.7 L v8.

I wish her luck.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Majority of recent Diesels including this are the most fragile and expensive to repair vehicles. $9k could have bought a ton of gasoline and way fewer repairs to the 5.7 L v8.

I wish her luck.

The 5.7 in that time period also had issues - with Camshafts I think. Do I have that wrong? The 3.6 also?

I had a 2002 GC and loved it. But I haven't been able to push myself into buying another one since. There seems to be a reason there cheap used.

 

[Lawnman23]

The 5.7 in that time period also had issues - with Camshafts I think. Do I have that wrong? The 3.6 also?

Paging @OVERKILL

 

[OVERKILL]

The 5.7 in that time period also had issues - with Camshafts I think. Do I have that wrong? The 3.6 also?

I had a 2002 GC and loved it. But I haven't been able to push myself into buying another one since. There seems to be a reason there cheap used.

It was the lifters for the HEMI, poor heat treatment of the rollers. Similar issue to GM and Ford (7.3L). Not all units were affected and it was "resolved" in 2018 with the updated lifters (from Germany with larger needles). My work owned/owns a small fleet of 1500's with 5.7's and all of the 2011 and 2012 trucks eventually succumbed to lifter failure at around the 200,000 mile mark. We also had a '14 experience the failure (it's still going, got a replacement engine), but have another '14 that's still in service with no engine issues. We now have 4x DT's in the fleet as well, so we'll see how that goes. We've had one (2019) need the manifolds done (same as my wife's), but no powertrain issues.

The 2011/2012 trucks were all incredibly cheap to own and operate right up until the lifter failure. Annual treatment with Rust Check also kept them rust-free.

 

[loneryder]

It's the 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel
I think that's the only diesel offered in the GC that year; not sure.

I agree the dealership wants to change everything, which is a key reason I strongly suggested she look elsewhere. I just don't dea with those vehicles so I don't know any good shops around here. I will make some calls tomorrow.

That's the Mercedes engine with the dreaded oil cooler seal failures.

Correction: Is that the Italian engine?

 

[OVERKILL]

That's the Mercedes engine with the dreaded oil cooler seal failures.

Correction: Is that the Italian engine?

Yes, the EcoDiesel is the VM Motori Italian diesel.

 

[SC Maintenance]

It was the lifters for the HEMI, poor heat treatment of the rollers. Similar issue to GM and Ford (7.3L). Not all units were affected and it was "resolved" in 2018 with the updated lifters (from Germany with larger needles). My work owned/owns a small fleet of 1500's with 5.7's and all of the 2011 and 2012 trucks eventually succumbed to lifter failure at around the 200,000 mile mark. We also had a '14 experience the failure (it's still going, got a replacement engine), but have another '14 that's still in service with no engine issues. We now have 4x DT's in the fleet as well, so we'll see how that goes. We've had one (2019) need the manifolds done (same as my wife's), but no powertrain issues.

The 2011/2012 trucks were all incredibly cheap to own and operate right up until the lifter failure. Annual treatment with Rust Check also kept them rust-free.

So this is different than the 3.6 rocker / cam failure?

Is a hemi lifter swap before it fails an option?

 

[loneryder]

Back in the late 70's and early 80's the diesel was the engine to get in all the MBZ's the rich people drove.

They got awesome mileage.