Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

Is the Diesel worth it?

6K views 22 replies 16 participants last post by  weck 
#1 ·
4500 premium

The loom in the back of your head that the DPF and intake manifold/EGR will have to be replaced one day due to soot buildup... Both costing thousands on thousands of $$$ if out of warranty...which they will be since it happens after a good 6 years for them to clog.

Horrible gas mileage during regen cycles...like worse than the SRT.


Im a bit jaded. I used to live in europe when I went to medical school and had 2 cars have these problems...One needed a new DPF and the other needed a new Intake manifold and EGR valve. Both around 100K KM so about 60K miles.

I don't know...
 
#4 · (Edited)
While I do have concerns I have determined it is worth it or at least have decided to order the diesel and find out if it's worth it. Performance wise it seems to be a nice compromise between the V-6 and V-8 ... Add in the great fuel economy and my decision is made. I also appreciate the lower overall emissions and the fact I'll be able to run B20 biodiesel if I choose in the warmer months.

Cost isn't really my concern right now ... I am choosing it mostly just because I want it. Diesel is 28 cents more expensive than the gas i generally purchase, but i do also believe gas is overall on an upward trend and generally the spread is even less in the summer. Do i have concerns? Yes - mostly the DPF and cold weather performance, but I have decided to purchase the diesel anyhow. If I'm honest with myself i generally dont keep cars longer than 3 years anyhow. My dad always used to say of diesel "Everyone has to have one once I suppose (meaning before they learn their lesson)" so i guess I'll see if he was right :)
 
#5 ·
From what I have read, you will need to change the UREA fluid every 10,000 miles but they want you to change the engine oil not at the same time. Urea is around $100. I believe this was on ALLPAR.COM
 
#6 ·
About the urea -- there is nothing to 'change,' you just have to top off the tank periodically. The tank is sized to need a refill around 10k miles. You can buy the stuff at truck stops and other places for just a few dollars.

As far as things clogging and parts replacements I think it's just too early to tell. Yeah it's been out since 2011 but there don't seem to be a lot of high mileage examples yet. The Pentastar engine is new too but Chryco has built tons of them, used them everywhere -- pretty much bet the farm on it.
 
#9 ·
The owner's group for my little RV has been going since the '80s and some have in excess of 300,000 miles (RVs are different). The only real complaint was that it was designed for a 3 liter diesel and when the change went to a 2.4 TD (BMW and same as the '84 Lincoln) it really needed a lower first gear.

The key to longetivity is to never let it overheat or lug. And despite being two generations back & only 115 hp I do not hold up traffic & cruises at 70. Truck stop scale says 6300 lbs.

Of course it came out just as Caddys were littering the Interstates so company did not make it out of the '80s despite converting to a gas 3800.

I agree that diesels make more sense from an engineering standpoint despite both the fed's regs and US public opinion and for most of the same reasons as used in boats and trucks. Before now the holdbacks were mainly scale and tradition. The first is solved.

That said I think i"ll keep my '12 at least until a diesel Laredo is available.
 
#10 ·
I'm in the same boat here in trying to decide between V6 and CRD.... I think the CRD overall on paper is the more sensible engine for the application but there is so much going against:

1) Initial cost
2) Increased complexity overall vs. gas (turbo, filtration, urea, exhaust, etc -- only plus being no ignition system)
3) Increased repair costs - Diesel repairs, when needed seem to cost a lot more
4) Real-world longterm durability? I've met several people who have had Duramax and 6.0 Powerstroke problems so not all diesels are reliable just because they're diesel. I'm glad the engine isn't new for 2013 but there aren't many high mileage examples yet.
5) I expect handling to be worse due to 500 lb weight gain over the V6 in the front end.

On someone else's dime (or a lease!) the CRD is probably a no brainer but the Pentastar seems to be holding up well and the longevity of that engine must be a corporate priority given its usage across the entire corporation.
 
#11 ·
I think it is worth it if you are thinking of ordering the V8 anyway. The price differentiation versus the V6 may make it a greater challenge.

Lets remember that this engine has already been used in countries outside the U.S. So far, I have read great reviews from those owners.

Also, it depends on the price differentiation of gasoline vs diesel in the area where you live. Here in California, mid grade for the V8 is reaching $4.10 a gallon. Diesel is $4.40. The added cost is not as great, compared with the mpg. I can see in other parts of the country where the difference is a lot greater.
 
#12 ·
I usually don't keep a vehicle longer than it's bumper to bumper warranty. In the past if I had a car I really liked ('76 Monte w/400 4bbl was 1) I knew I could do whatever was necessary to keep it running.

Today, diesel or not, I wouldn't keep a car for any length of time without an extended warranty.

I'm just thinking, IMHO, that cost of future repairs shouldn't be a factor, because either way you should have a warranty.

Now, the initial cost and possible higher price of a warranty is another story.



.
 
#13 ·
Motor Trend just came out with their first drive on the diesel.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel First Drive - Motor Trend

Given the premium for the engine and the higher cost for diesel, it is not really a big cost savings. I figured (based on my local gas prices $3.65 reg & $4.03 diesel), I would save $0.02 per mile. Driving range would be 600 miles for the diesel vs. 480 for the V6. I used average of EPA MPG, 25 for the diesel engine and 20 for the V6. So for the extra 2 cents per mile, you need 115,000 miles to payback the $2300 engine premium.

If you tow, drive mostly highway and consider the hemi, then this may be a better choice. If you are mixed driving and soccer mom, I don't think the numbers work.
 
#17 ·
How does the US not have sufficient diesel infrastructure when all our intercontinental shipping (the most in the entire world) is done with diesel trucks...lol.

Our diesel infrastructure is fine, its the fact that we don't embrace diesel as a consumer thats the problem.
 
#18 ·
How does the US not have sufficient diesel infrastructure when all our intercontinental shipping (the most in the entire world) is done with diesel trucks...lol.

Our diesel infrastructure is fine, its the fact that we don't embrace diesel as a consumer thats the problem.
Diesel is a lower grade of fuel than gasoline, yet costs more. That is how we don't have sufficient infrastructure.
 
#19 · (Edited)
A big reason Diesel costs more than Gasoline is pretty simple... taxes. It's taxed at a much higher rate.

That being said, the diesel is completely worth it, if it does what you want it to do in a way that you want it to.

Kinda like saying, "Is the SRT worth it?"

For me, hell no, for Scott... well... he'll just punch you in the head of you disagree with him there.

In all honesty, if you are looking for cost savings over a long term (10 years) then yes, the diesel will, more or less, pay for itself versus the V6, and will bury the V8.

If you tow stuff a fair amount, the diesel will pay for itself very rapidly versus the V8 and pay for itself in a decent amount of time versus the V6.

If you want to get a nice Jeep that's peppy, and don't plan on towing much of anything or go rock scrambling... go V6.

If you want something that makes a good noise, can tow stuff, and is zippy (and don't care about the cost of fuel doing any of this), go V8.

Really, it's going to come down to personal preference though.
 
#20 ·
Just my perspective here... I honestly tried to justify the added cost of the Diesel (by my numbers, it'll never pay itself off based on initial cost vs. fuel cost/mpg) based on that huge grunt of torque :)cool:) but...

However - In my real life, I (A) never go *seriously* off-road, (B) almost never tow anything, and (C) if I want to race someone, I'm not in a 5000lb truck.

So... for me... no. It's V6 all the way. :cool:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top