Feb. 08 Diesel Power

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:32 pm

The February issue of diesel power has two articles on Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD. First is Diesel Jeep buildup that includes lift tires and a few other mods. Second in three day trip from Detroit to L.A. after the lift is installed. Going to be good reading for me tonight.

Uffe · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:59 am

That is really not nice of you to wag that tail and keep it to yourself !

Darn copyright laws! I would have asked you to put it on the web

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:36 pm

Uffe wrote:

That is really not nice of you to wag that tail and keep it to yourself !

Darn copyright laws! I would have asked you to put it on the web

I would have to either scan the pages or write word for word. I'm liken to give the heads up to the articles so others can pick up a copy. I think there may be an online version but I don't know if you have to pay or not. Diesel going to have the CRD for 18 months and sure be more articles to follow.

Oh Boy! I found a link not article, but has the 2008 Grand Cherokee links

dgeist · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:26 pm

BlackLibertyCRD wrote:

Uffe wrote:

That is really not nice of you to wag that tail and keep it to yourself !

Darn copyright laws! I would have asked you to put it on the web

I would have to either scan the pages or write word for word. I'm liken to give the heads up to the articles so others can pick up a copy. I think there may be an online version but I don't know if you have to pay or not. Diesel going to have the CRD for 18 months and sure be more articles to follow.

Oh Boy! I found a link not article, but has the 2008 Grand Cherokee links

I'm willing to head to the newstand or big-box bookstore and pay for them if they talk about something other than cummins, isuzu, and International/PS engines. The Jan issue actually had a nice write-on on upcoming mid-sized diesels destined for some SUVs, light-duty trucks, and full-size cars. Rome wasn't built in a day and if it takes getting a 3.6 litre twin VGT turbodiesel in a mustang (yes, that's a potential application for the Ford/Peugeot "Lion" engine) to wake up the automotive press to the fact that we like diesels that are smaller than our washing machines, then so be it. I'll skim and buy it anytime it covers something other than 3/4-1 ton pickup modifications in the articles.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:37 pm

This is a 18 month deal to which they already did a major lift with tires and 2500 mile trip. Future articles will be trail rides and mods to the 3.0 L v-6 engine when they come available. BTW this Cherokee is red not the silver one online.

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

Try this:

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/news/0711 ... index.html

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:14 pm

vtdog wrote:

Try this:

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/news/0711 ... index.html

I'm sorry but that is not the same Cherokee, it is the same color and trim but I noticed a few things such as different stock wheels, mirrors, interior. I believe it's an 08. I don't think it would be online until at least the March issue is out.

Uffe · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:58 pm

Now this sounds interesting!

Both the block and head is made from aluminium! Only the cylinder liners are steel.

Very interesting. Does anyone know if the 2.8 CRD KJ engine has aluminium block and head? I know the head is alu, but what about the block itself?

This will make the engine more resistant to heat compared to an aluminium head and steel block from older times.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

My understanding is that the 2.8 used in the 2005/2006 CRD's in the US used a cast iron block. The new VM 2.8 "Panther" is aluminum.

The Grand Cherokee CRD's 3.0 is actually a motor that was developed jointly by Mercedes and VW, and was first brought to market in 2007... a pretty cutting-edge design that aims to meet the California emissions regs (the same engine is used in the Mercedes 320 sedan hat has been approved for sale in CA). I believe a variant of it is also used in the 2008 Sprinter diesel vans, and it is supposed to make an appearance in either the 2008 or 2009 VW Taureg II.

The "happy tractor" VM 2.8 diesel used in our Liberties is a generation or two older in terms of technology.

Uffe · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:52 pm

Just as I was about to go to bed with a wild idea full of happy thoughts you come cruising and blow my little idea to smithereens.

:roll:

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:31 pm

Uffe wrote:

Just as I was about to go to bed with a wild idea full of happy thoughts you come cruising and blow my little idea to smithereens.

:roll:

I wouldn't worry too much about the cast iron block and aluminum head combo. That combination gets much of its bad reputation from V engines. The expansion and contraction issues get more problematic to seal with the intake sitting in the center of the V. I don't think inline engines have nearly the problems from the combination.

Uffe · **Posted:** Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:54 am

Hopefully VM made their R428 engine better than Nissan did with the RD28T I had in my Patrol.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:09 am

Goglio704 wrote:

Uffe wrote:

Just as I was about to go to bed with a wild idea full of happy thoughts you come cruising and blow my little idea to smithereens.

:roll:

I wouldn't worry too much about the cast iron block and aluminum head combo. That combination gets much of its bad reputation from V engines. The expansion and contraction issues get more problematic to seal with the intake sitting in the center of the V. I don't think inline engines have nearly the problems from the combination.

VW and most makers solved the aluminum head/iron block problem on diesels and other high preformance engines back in the mid 80's by going to stretch to yeild head bolts :lol:

I owned 8 high mileage VW diesels from 85-91 and no head gasket problems at all. I lost tract of one when it was sold and it had 350k miles and no gasket problems :shock:

I personally put over 100k miles on two TDI's without any problems

Uffe · **Posted:** Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:54 pm

The RD28T engine from Nissan is a mid-80s design with alu head and cast iron block. It had a reputation to blow gasket or head at each 100,000km in DK among 4wd guys. I had one, and had the gasket changed on it. I would so love to avoid that again!

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:21 pm

I've heard the RD28 had problems. Didn't know it was head gaskets. Nissan never sent the RD28 to the US, so we don't have firsthand experience here. It is a shame because the Nissan LD28 is nearly bulletproof. I always hate to hear of a company going backwards, but it happens.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

I did a lot of research on the 2.8 before I bought my CRD. As I recall, our "happy tractor" is literally a tractor engine (and a mini-van engine, and an suv engine, and a boat engine, and an industrial equipment engine, etc...) Has been adapted to many, many different uses over the years in both the 2.5 and 2.8 incarnations, and has as stellar reputation for reliability. I don't think the iron and aluminum bits of the engine are much to be worried about. My only gripe about the engine is the use of a timing belt that will need replacement every 100k.

As I tell my wife, the Italian parts of our Jeep are bomb proof. It's the stuff Chrysler built that we have to pay attention to.

Uffe · **Posted:** Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:36 pm

Threeweight wrote:

I did a lot of research on the 2.8 before I bought my CRD. As I recall, our "happy tractor" is literally a tractor engine (and a mini-van engine, and an suv engine, and a boat engine, and an industrial equipment engine, etc...) Has been adapted to many, many different uses over the years in both the 2.5 and 2.8 incarnations, and has as stellar reputation for reliability. I don't think the iron and aluminum bits of the engine are much to be worried about. My only gripe about the engine is the use of a timing belt that will need replacement every 100k.

As I tell my wife, the Italian parts of our Jeep are bomb proof. It's the stuff Chrysler built that we have to pay attention to.

That warms to hear. I too did some research about the 2.8 before I went out and bought one. My choice was between a Patrol 3.0 and the Jeep.

The 3.0 Patrols have blown excessively many pistons in Australia, and I turned to the same country to find reports of failures on the KJ. I found none. I discovered the inks and kinks on the CRD (blow-by oil vapor in intake, torque converter, EGR and MAF clogging). Based on that I went ahead with my purchase, even though I loved the Patrol as well.

As I get more and more information about the KJ it seems the engine itself has no problems around here. There is a few guys who's lost an engine prematurely, because something fell off the intake and got chewed by the pistons and shat all over the engine interiors

So I too came to that conclusion that the engine itself is fine, it's all the stuff around it which needs attention, which is nice to know beforehand.

Where did you read about reliability of the 2.8 in other applications?

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:40 pm

Our CRD 2.8L diesel Engines have wet sleeves like some Industrial engines have had for a long time. When the wet sleeves wear out you pull and replace them. Sometimes the pistons can be reused with new rings after replacing the sleeves. I would not be surprised to see the 2.8L go over 600,000 miles or 1,000,000 KM.

Steve :wink:

litton · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:07 pm

Still it's Italian....can you speak Alfa's. Every one I knew that had the Alfa had an extra for spare parts. :twisted:

Kinda made me think of French cars. :twisted:

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:50 pm

VM Motori has gotten some wisdom from Detroit Diesel who has many years of experience with Wet sleeves. I have been around long enough to remember the 4020 John Deere's that had problems with wet sleeve seals that leaked antifreeze into the oil. I can remember the holes that were eaten through the cylinder walls by cavitational erosion and how that was curried with cooling system conditioner filters. Technology has solved these problems he past along with many others.

Steve

Feb. 08 Diesel Power

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