Jwlochal:
One of the fundamental flaws of the CRD, other than the gawd-awful pollution control system, is the simple fact that the O.E. engine thermostat assembly allows the V.M. Motori R428 engine that powers the CRD to run at too low an operating temperature. This makes all of the engine problems the CRD has even worse.
The O.E. thermostat is a proprietary part, meaning it was designed as an assembly that you had to purchase at a Chrysler dealer or a European diesel engine parts importer. This is because until recently, no aftermarket parts manufacturer would copy the design because it is too expensive to do so for the relatively few R428 engines out there. This means the O.E. thermostat is...
1) ...very expensive to purchase and install, taking way more time than a normal thermostat valve to replace. If done through a dealer, you are looking at a $400.00 repair bill each time they are replaced.
2) ... a poor quality part. They fail on a regular basis - about every 60,000 kms or so; this is a failure rate higher than average for an engine thermostat valve.
3) ... designed to open up at 176 degrees Fahrenheit. This is too low a temperature for any modern internal combustion engine, and way too low for a turbo-diesel engine. Today's engines are designed run hotter because it is desirable to do so, (better power, fuel efficiency, and to allow pollution control systems to work properly), and because modern engine oils are formulated to easily withstand hotter running temperatures. Running a cool engine, especially in winter, gums up pollution control systems and engine intakes because the engine cannot properly burn the pollutants off. As a result, you lose power, fuel economy, and reliability.
The cool running R428 engine problem is the next biggest issue, after the pollution control system itself, which Liberty CRD owners have to face. No other problems this vehicle has come even close to these two issues.
Fortunately, I have a re-designed engine thermostat with a removable cap that takes care of ALL of the problems the O.E. thermostat causes. The Hot Diesel Solutions Model 001 engine thermostat assembly gets your engine up to proper operating temperature, and is cheap and easy to service because it has a removable cap that allows the owner to simply swap out thermostat valves.
The Model 001 uses thermostat valves from the Chrysler Hemi V-8 line of gasoline engines... they are common, easy-to-find, inexpensive, and will be produced for years to come. There are three different temperatures available, all with hotter opening temps than the O.E. unit.
Check out what my other customers have had to say about the Model 001...
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=75791&start=220 The above link starts you on page 12, as this is the page where customers start to post their reactions/impressions on the Model 001 after receiving them in the mail. Feel free to read the whole thread, and you will discover why the Model 001 was designed the way it is, and why it is a great product to install on your R428 if you want to maintain your CRD for the long term. The link below is to a thread I started before the thread above, and gives to some more background information on how this project got going...
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=74131I hope to see a reply from you soon, as I know you can really use this upgrade part if you are still a CRD owner.
Best regards,