Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options

Jeep Liberty Diesel

14243454748224

Comments

  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    I don't believe it was 11. I think it was 16 which seems WAY too low. I am glad to see people getting high 20's. I used to only average 22 overall with my WRX.
  • turbledieselturblediesel Member Posts: 28
    I thought about the gas four banger too but if I remember correctly selec-trac wasn't allowed on that model. I wanted the full time 4WD. ABS was unavailable too which is OK with me now that I've tried it.

    Milage isn't fabulous as hoped but it's better at its' worst than my ford straight 6 at it's best and the Jeep's a lot more fun to drive. I notice the fuel gauge moves very slowly when full but it takes a fast dive when you get below a quarter tank.

    Had a friend with an Olds diesel which he pulled out and replaced with a gas engine.

    Good luck with yours.
  • siberiasiberia Member Posts: 520
    Do I have a link? It is a Siberian link unavailable to the outside world.
  • vtdogvtdog Member Posts: 163
    I usually buy my diesel at the Hess station near me as they are just off hiway and seem to pump alot of trucks. I emailed Hess about their fuel and got the info found below. I have had no problems with the Hess fuel so far. Anyone have any comments regarding what they said? Remember, I live in NH where it does get very cold.

    The cetane is 42 and should be posted on the pumps. Amerada Hess Diesel is winterized from November through March. We meet the 10th percentile operability for all marketing regions as outlined by ASTM Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils (American Society for Testing and Materials D975). This is the same standard approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense. We achieve the operability target by blending our Diesel with Kerosene to a specific cloud point for each operating region. This is a tried and true method, lowering the cloud point of the combined product enough to operate at reduced temperatures.

    ADDITIONAL PROTECTION AGAINST ABNORMAL COLD WEATHER


    1-Check your vehicle manual for cold weather recommendations.

    2-Keep the Diesel from clouding by adding additional Kerosene. A “rule of thumb”, for every 7% Kerosene, the Diesel cloud point will drop two (2) degF
  • new2dieselnew2diesel Member Posts: 148
    So are you saying you can mix kerosene with diesel and not do any harm? If so how much kerosene do you add to a 20 gallon tank. Kerosene is much cheaper than diesel and would be a great way to lower the fuel cost.
  • barry1939barry1939 Member Posts: 6
    Steve
    Sorry about that, I was trying to "multi-task" and got distracted. That's what happens when you get old!
    I checked my mileage after the first fill up and found I was averaging just under 23 MPG. All the driving was in town (not stop & go city driving). Not a lot of hills in this part of TX, so it was pretty much flat-land driving. So far, I'm a pretty happy camper about this little rig.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    got distracted. That's what happens when you get old!

    No problem Harry.

    er, Barry. :shades:

    Not too shabby for the first tank. Now go cruise over to Lost Maples for the fall colors and try it in the hills.

    Steve, Host
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    Consumer Reports stated they obtained 11 mpg with Jeep Liberty CRD.
    No one has been able to reproduce CR's mpg with the Liberty.

    Would you believe me if I told you I obtained 49 mpg in Liberty CRD? I would not believe it either, and I don't believe that CR actually obtained 11 mpg, they either made an error, had a mechanical problem, or someone is lying.
  • sgaglionsgaglion Member Posts: 4
    page 280 of the 2005 CRD owner's manual reads:

    "If the vehicle is exposed to extreme cold........use climatized No. 2 diesel fuel or delute the No.2 diesel fuel with 50% No. 1 diesel fuel. This will provide better protection from fuel gelling or wax-plugging of fuel filters."

    What is No. 1 diesel fuel?.......Is it Karosene?
  • trumpet_washertrumpet_washer Member Posts: 48
    No. 1 diesel is thinner than No.2 diesel, but still adds lubricity. Kerosene has no lubricants and is a dry fuel. The best thing to do is to add the recommended amount of Stanadyne Performance Formula or Powerservice additve to your fuel. About a cup should do it. Either one will lower the pour point to -40F. If you are colder than that, you've got more to worry about than gelled fuel. Kerosene is for space heaters. Besides, doesn't your ride have a block heater?
  • martyzmartyz Member Posts: 21
    > I don't believe that CR actually obtained 11 mpg, they either made an
    > error, had a mechanical problem, or someone is lying.

    Or one of their test drivers was a moron. In the CR article (Aug 05 issue, page 56, col 2), they say, "The five-speed automatic shifts smoothly, but keeps the engine at high revs." Huh? Mine doesn't. The only thing that keeps the engine at high revs is when the idiot driving has his/her foot pushing the accelerator to the floor. That's why they got 11 mpg.

    In their defense, they did say the mileage ranged from 11 to 26, and to expect an average of 18. If they had thrown out the obviously bad 11 mpg data point, their average might have been about what the rest of us have seen - in my case, 20 (lowest) to 27 (highest).
  • smilie1smilie1 Member Posts: 21
    Hi folks,I've been too busy lately and I'm just catching up on some subjects posted in the last few days.I would like to weigh in on the towing and aux. brake issue.By now I would think most of us would have asked for professional advice or found by experience that anything over about a metric ton [2200 lbs] or so needs to have a brake system of it's own.Even twenty plus years ago the makers of pop-up travel trailers,car dollies,and horse trailers to name a few,offered electric or hydraulic brakes as an option.Without brakes on the towed assembly any long down-hill runs are likely to overwork the tow vehicle brake system as well as make trouble with pushing the tow car sideways while turning and braking at the same time.I would recommend anyone planning any towing of heavy loads over the road to consider the electric or surge brake options if available.Be safe folks.
  • alljeepalljeep Member Posts: 35
    OK. I just have to laugh at the situation here in Indianapolis. Every day gasoline drops a nickle and diesel goes up a nickle. Now the comparison as of today:

    Regular Unleaded: $2.42/gal Diesel: $3.65/gal

    I bought this CRD barely a month ago and diesel is up over $1/gallon since then and my entire life I've never seen prices this far apart from each other. This is way more than the "here comes winter heating oil demand" excuse. What is going on???
  • indianrefiningindianrefining Member Posts: 102
    Same thing down here in the Columbus area. The Speedway at Taylorsville jumped 22 cents (up to $3.649) yesterday. 87 octane dropped to $2.549 this morning. Jeez, I'm SO glad that I traded my Grand Cherokee to save money!
  • new2dieselnew2diesel Member Posts: 148
    It must be a regional thing. What I don't understand is that the deisel prices on the same road here in VA range from a low of $2.55 to a high of $3.50 ! I can't believe that is fair unless some stations are still working off old inventory which they paid more for. If the government is serious about fuel conservation and economy, then they should require lower diesel prices since they are the more efficeint engines and drop the speed limit back to 55 mph. Now that would make a difference! :P
  • vtdogvtdog Member Posts: 163
    Here in NH diesel is about the same price as middle range (89 octane) gas, or about $ 2.79-2.89 depending on station
  • sgaglionsgaglion Member Posts: 4
    VTDOG,

    I also live in NH (Salem).
    Do you use Bio-Diesel.....If so, where do you get it?

    _Sebastian
  • caribou1caribou1 Member Posts: 1,354
    You guys are catching up quite fast. Here the cost of diesel fuel is 1.15 Euros per liter. This is an equivalent of a barrel costing 300 USD.
  • indianrefiningindianrefining Member Posts: 102
    There is clearly discrimination against Hoosiers. I'm contacting my EEO representitive! :mad:
  • winter2winter2 Member Posts: 1,801
    Diesel fuel is very closely related to #2 home heating oil. The only differences are the road tax and lack of dye in diesel. Right now #2 is in big demand as people fill their tanks with #2 heating oil. Usually lasts for a couple of months and then the price should start heading down again. Had a diesel in the early 80's and had the same thing happen with the price of fuel during this time of the year.
  • winter2winter2 Member Posts: 1,801
    I am wondering if they inadvertently locked out the O/D or if the trans did not get into O/D. That might help answer why they had high fuel consumption.
  • winter2winter2 Member Posts: 1,801
    Actually the magnets do work! They take money out of your wallet and put it in someone elses.
  • mdamickmdamick Member Posts: 277
    Diesel here has jumped 36¢ in the past 2 weeks to $3.559, gas is down to $2.559.
    It usually goes up 5-10¢ when they start blending it but this is riduculous.

    As to the 55 speed limit, it may work on the east coast where distances are short, here I can drive 300+ miles between major cities and it takes forever at those speeds. The mileage is better, but you fall asleep getting there.

    Montana was great with the "reasonable and prudent" rule they had for a while. You could drive 80-85 and nobody would look at you twice.
  • vtdogvtdog Member Posts: 163
    The only place I have found for BioD in NH is in West Chesterfield which is outside of Keene. You should check for places in MA as you are on the border.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Another factor is that some of the storm damaged refineries can accept gasoline at their docks to replace lost supply but they aren't able to accept crude for refining. (Energy Information Administration)

    I don't why the refineries aren't accepting diesel or home heating oil.

    Steve, Host
  • indianrefiningindianrefining Member Posts: 102
    It supposedly has a lot to do with the greater demand for #2 in Europe, owing to the greater popularity, there, of diesel cars and light trucks. According to the "party line", European refineries are sending sizable quantities of finished gasoline (but not middle distillates) to the States. (Meanwhile, the price of diesel in Indiana continues to rise and my CVX and MRO continue to plunge. Doh!)
  • julie10julie10 Member Posts: 6
    I bought my CRD on 8/6/5 and diesel fuel was $2.54. Now it is up to $3.74 in some places, while regular unleaded is $2.33. I live in the Kansas City area and just get sick to my stomach thinking of the $60 - $80 fill -ups at the pump. I don't get it at all. It's so frustrating and there is nothing I can do about it. Everybody at work looks at me with pity because my fuel keeps going up while theirs keep going down. AAARRRGGGHH!!!!
  • boilermaker2boilermaker2 Member Posts: 131
    They may have spiked the prices by now but I filled up at the Energy 24 in Greenfield,IN this afternoon for $3.259 and was pretty :mad: until I went past the Gas America on the South side of town and it was already $.40 higher (or something that high, it was basically over a buck more than gas).
    FWIW, they're also a Biodiesel station. The pumps say B2 but the attendant last weekend told me they're currently blending at B10.">
  • willysjeepwillysjeep Member Posts: 107
    I bought my CRD on 8/6/5 and diesel fuel was $2.54. Now it is up to $3.74 in some places, while regular unleaded is $2.33. I live in the Kansas City area and just get sick to my stomach thinking of the $60 - $80 fill -ups at the pump. I don't get it at all. It's so frustrating and there is nothing I can do about it. Everybody at work looks at me with pity because my fuel keeps going up while theirs keep going down. AAARRRGGGHH!!!!

    I like my Jeep, but if a vote ever comes along for mass transit, i.e. trains and buses, it will get my ballot. I'm getting sick of being robbed by oil companies. I guess it's unAmerican to feel that way, but I wouldn't mind a bit being able to snooze off on the way to work.
  • bullheadbullhead Member Posts: 125
    If you think diesel is expensive for no good reason, try this: STOP USING SO DAMN MUCH ! If the price stays where it's at, then we can accept the theory of conspiracy. If the price falls, everything is as it should be (except that far too little new refining capacity has been added- which is another story). Suck it up. Drill ANWR. Build a new refinery at every military base. God Bless America !
  • siberiasiberia Member Posts: 520
    The demand is exceptionally high for diesel right now for a number of reasons:

    There is a huge grain harvest in the Midwest requiring additional diesel for grain trucks and locomotives to haul the grain to market.

    There is the heating oil problem that has already been mentioned. That alone would have temporarily only added 20 to 30 cents to the price of diesel.

    Trucks are running around the clock to the hurricane damaged areas hauling construction supplies and equipment - a temporary situation.

    Higher gasoline prices have cut the demand for gasoline by around 10% at the same time that it is necessary to process more crude into diesel. Processing more diesel fuel produces more gasoline at the same time demand is off a little pushing the price of gasoline down. A ton of gas guzzling SUV are sitting on used car lots traded in on more fuel efficient cars and most people are driving less and slowing down. This trend will continue as gasoline prices again start to rise.

    Too much fear is factored into the markets. When fear enters the decision making process panic buying occurs and this phenomenon has already started to abate. Many diesel retailers bought when the price was very high both in current prices and futures contracts.

    Given the fuel mileage that most of us are getting with our CRDs we are not much worse off than if we were still running our gas burners. In my case I am still running cheaper at $3.25 for diesel than $2.50 for gasoline (29 mpg vs. 17mpg).

    8 of the major refineries in the gulf that were shut down are up and running. 3 are back up to full output and 5 are back to about half speed over the past week.

    Before any of this hit the fan the supply curve for world crude was almost vertical resulting in dramatic price changes pursuant to increases in demand.

    This one you are not going to like. At our current fuel demand growth which may have abated a little for the US (but not for China), we were and maybe still are headed for $3.70 to $4.00 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline by early 2007. Diesel fuel will be hovering around that number depending on relative demand for the product.

    The cure for $3.50 per gallon diesel is $3.50 per gallon diesel. The US is the Saudi Arabia of coal. We have over 30% of the world’s known coal reserves. At 3 to 4 dollars per gallon for diesel it becomes economically viable to process coal into diesel. There are a number of plants currently being built. And, the process produces low sulfur diesel.

    We should see cheaper diesel around most of the US before next spring. Gasoline prices will again start to rise as the two products prices converge. If you can, drive 65 on cruise and kick’em into neutral when you slow down for stops and idle out of gear. Better days are coming for diesel and worse days are coming for gasoline.
  • caribou1caribou1 Member Posts: 1,354
    I can add to your post that over here the prices of gas (not gasoline) , electricity and heating fuel are leveling if you consider the cost per KW/Hour. European diesel fuel is now more expensive than gasoline in some countries, and used to be 40% cheaper in the past. The CRD engine is still the cheapest way to power vehicles today. You have to consider all aspects and perhaps extend the life of consumables such as synthetic oil changes and services. Oil manufacturers claim they can produce oil that's good for 20,000 miles and diesel fuel filters for common rail diesels can last 30 to 40,000 miles. I think it's worth trying progressively.
  • caribou1caribou1 Member Posts: 1,354
    I think we have the 'RACOR' 230 diesel fuel filter on the Liberty. At least this is the one fitted under MY hood:
    http://www.turboformance.co.za/racorspin1.htm
    Could someone check this as well?
  • alljeepalljeep Member Posts: 35
    South side of Indianapolis, IN:

    Diesel $3.659/gal - holding steady.
    Gasoline $2.389/gal - dropped again overnight.

    At $1.27/gal difference I think I'm past the tipping point of the better efficiency of the diesel versus the gasoline hogs at 35% greater cost for diesel. I still love my CRD - I just wish I had waited one more month to buy it. I got employee pricing plus $1000 cash back for financing with Chrysler. Now the deals are $2000 cash back or $1500 bonus cash PLUS 0.0% financing! Ouch! My only "x-factor" was my trade-in would have depreciated more in another month so I may not have saved much at all.

    If anyone wants a nicely equipped CRD with a good selection to choose from, search the jeep website for zip code 46901 when doing a dealer search. The first dealership name that comes up still has 7 CRD models in stock for the 2005 model year. Mine was number 8 over a month ago. I think all 8 were sitting there for several months before my purchase so there are some really good deals waiting to be had.
  • spetespete Member Posts: 73
    I watch a web site called "Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Upgrade" -

    link:http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp

    It has lots of good links that explain fuel prices, etc. -

    So far the higher cost of diesel has not changed how I feel about my CRD - the torque this engine delivers is worth the extra price -
  • new2dieselnew2diesel Member Posts: 148
    Honestly - does anyone have good evidence that diesel will come in line with gas prices? I have read many of the windy explanations on this site but they don't really offer much hope. I love my CRD but feel as if the bloom has warn off due to fuel prices not to mention soon to be released gas SUV's with good mileage. :confuse:
  • winter2winter2 Member Posts: 1,801
    That is what you may have in europe. On this side of the pond it looks more like the 110 version, but 1/4 longer, has a priming pump, and a sensor which screws into the bottom of the filter. I like the look of the model 230. Had something like that on my Isuzu in the early 80's. Far superior to stock.
  • winter2winter2 Member Posts: 1,801
    I owned diesel in the past and went through something similar then except the price spike was not so extreme. This is typical for the heating season and has been worsened by the fact some of the refineries were damaged by the two hurricanes. Other refineries that were brought back on line and usually make diesel are now making gasoline. I think there are three or four that they changed over to ease the gas crunch.

    Do not be disheartened. Once all the refineries are back on line and the worst of the winter is over, prices for diesel will drop. How much I do not know.
  • pttrilliumpttrillium Member Posts: 62
    I can add one more point about prices from a great article in www.salon.com.

    You can read the whole thing here but you will either need to join or get one of their nifty "site passes" which is covered if you just look at an ad. Love those ads.

    http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/10/11/diesel/

    Here's a snippet:

    Beginning next year, American refiners must comply with the biggest change in federal motor-fuel regulations since leaded gasoline was banned three decades ago.

    .....By next June, refiners will have to reduce the amount of sulfur in their diesel from 500 ppm to 15 ppm.

    Refiners are busy trying to figure out how to comply with the rules. In May, Colonial Pipeline, a major shipper that carries refined products from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast, said that it would not accept any ULSD for shipment that contains more than 8 ppm sulfur. Colonial's mandate is the result of tests showing that each time ULSD gets moved from one shipper to another, the sulfur content increases. That stands to reason: the same pipes and tanks that will carry ULSD will also carry jet fuel and heating oil, which may contain up to 3,000 ppm of sulfur.

    One refinery official who works at a big plant on the Houston Ship Channel, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the media, said that in order to deliver diesel to the pipelines at 8 ppm, the diesel leaving his refinery would have to contain -- at most -- 6 ppm of sulfur. Going from 500 ppm down to 6 ppm is a reduction of about 99 percent, and getting all that sulfur out is expensive. It requires additional hydrotreaters, which require refiners to make huge quantities of hydrogen. And making that hydrogen also requires additional equipment.

    :surprise:
  • indianrefiningindianrefining Member Posts: 102
    PT -

    Having a reliable source of light, sweet crude (or maybe some of the so-called "synthetic crude" from the Orinoco basin) to start with would be a plus too, no?
  • pttrilliumpttrillium Member Posts: 62
    Anything sounds good if it runs in my Liberty CRD and doesn't cost me $3.40 a gallon. :)
  • willysjeepwillysjeep Member Posts: 107
    The cure for $3.50 per gallon diesel is $3.50 per gallon diesel. The US is the Saudi Arabia of coal. We have over 30% of the world’s known coal reserves. At 3 to 4 dollars per gallon for diesel it becomes economically viable to process coal into diesel. There are a number of plants currently being built. And, the process produces low sulfur diesel.

    Man, I'd like to see some of this come to fruition. A modified Fischer-Tropsch process to turn dirt into clean fuel for my vehicle. The money stays here and does not pay for Al Quieda. It provides jobs here for miners and workers in the new plants. It provides spinoffs that create even more jobs. It boosts the US economy to the levels of the pre Bush years. It would be energy without a war in the Middle East.

    And I could still take my Jeep out in the woods.
  • ryoungetryounget Member Posts: 9
    FYI diesel has gone from 3.26 to 2.94 in the last 2 weeks here.
  • sailormonsailormon Member Posts: 48
    Like all of you, I look for solutions. I wandered the net and found a British co. which is in the process of a full scale test of their fuel additive. The interesting part is that it is for diesels. I understand it is an offshoot of nano technology using cerium oxide which is the same catalyst used in cat converters and does work. They are hoping for about a 12% increase in economy. The down side is it will take some time for a full scale test in the buses in Briton and will not be available right away. The second problem is that fuel additiives have a bad name and there will be a reluctance to even try something like this when and if it becomes available. If interested look up oxonica fuel additive also under the name of envirox. Now before anyone slams me for mentioning this, I really don't have any interest in this product other than curiosity, but I am really interested in the outcome of their tests. Go figure, if we can get an average of 26 mph and then get 12% more this comes out to over 29 mpg and so on. Cheers. BR
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    This is the Jeep Liberty, not political liberty topic! Keep your political views to yourself. No matter what your political viepoint is, it is absolutely wrong to someone else.

    27.9 mpg on my latest trip according to the EVIC, 25.6 mpg according to miles traveled vs. gallons pumped. Tank is full of B20 right now.
    Using PowerService diesel additive 8 ozs per tank. Paying $8.88 per 96 oz container. White bottle in winter and the silver bottle diesel kleen in warmer months. Rotella T 5W40 Synthetic oil for $14 gallon from Walmart. PureOne by Purolator oil filter $8.36 from Advance.

    Planning to add the factory skid plates and tow hooks very soon.
  • bullheadbullhead Member Posts: 125
    This is the Jeep Liberty, not political liberty topic! Keep your political views to yourself. No matter what your political viepoint is, it is absolutely wrong to someone else.

    Agreed ! That was really part of the point in reply. Don't plant thistle seeds unless you want to grow thistles.
  • bullheadbullhead Member Posts: 125
    Moparbad-

    Let us know how the PowerService additive works. I just picked up 240 gallons worth of Stanadyne All Season Diesel Fuel Conditioner for $18.64 after sales tax. It's so concentrate I wonder how much it can benefit lubricity, though.

    Any thoughts?
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    I don't know too much about Stanadyne. I know that VW recommends Stanadyne and the VW TDI community seems to be satisfied with it.

    As far as PowerService, my CRD runs smoother, quieter and there is less smoke. MPG? I don't know as the CRD is still in break-in and I plan to use PS all the time. On my VW TDI I tested the PS and the immediate benifit was smoother engine, less noise, less smoke, and the mpg increased by 1 mpg in city and 2 mpg on highway when I took the time to test it.

    Reason I use PowerService is that it is readily available, economical, and it has been proven to offer improvements in cetane, lubricity, and smoke reduction. Both also have anti-microbial properties so no need to add a separate biocide if you are storing fuel for any length of time. The white bottle has anti-gel for the winter.
    Added mpg is a side effect that I'm not going to complain about.

    I first heard about it in the 80's with the early 6.2L GM and the Ford and Cummins diesels. Farmers were able to obtain an extra 50-75K miles out of injector pumps when using PowerService. Being from the midwest one of things I learned is that if a product did not work, farmers were not going to pay for it.

    Diesels have evolved, addtitives have evolved, and diesel fuel has not. I'm using an additve for different reasons in the current engines.
    With the common rail engines and unit injector engines a higher cetane and higher lubricity fuel is required for optimum performance and longevity, so I spend a small amount on an additive.

    I use no additives at all in gasoline engines I own except for fuel stabilizer if the gas will be stored.

    I get a laugh or two when I hear people say "if the additive were needed the manufacturer of the vehicle would put the requirement in the owners manual or it would already be in the diesel fuel from the refinery".
  • bullheadbullhead Member Posts: 125
    Does anyone have insight on the standard front suspension of the CRD in relation to the gas Liberty? Is it the optional heavier duty suspension built into the gas Liberty Renegade?
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    Thought you might enjoy this. I'm not using one and no plans to add one.

    50 HP
Sign In or Register to comment.