Diesal in an XJ?

[YosemiteMatt]

:lecture: Has anyone ever heard of someone swapping a diesel into an XJ? Anyone have an opinion on the positive and negative aspects of doing this?

I would be curious to hear them. If someone was to do it, what would be the best one to put in? :lecture:

 

[Fred]

There are threads out there. I think someone did a MB diesel.

Fred

 

[YosemiteMatt]

Where and how do I search for threads like that? Are they on here?

 

[sharq]

go to google. type "site:naxja.org diesel" or go to search at the top of this page.

 

[philip_g]

there's a regular poster running a little cummins (I think..) 4 cyl diesel in his XJ.

Edit: tried to find it for you and can't, it's in his sig and I remember the long swap thread but I'll be damn if I can find it

 

[sharq]

after some searching.
http://messages.jeep2diesel.org/
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=57574&highlight=merce+jeep
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60368

 

[Buckshot62]

www.4btswaps.com. One guy on there has one in an mj.

 

[DutchVDub]

I am planning on doing a VW TDI after the 4.0 dies, and XJ's did come stock with a 2.0L Diesil back in the day.

 

[scottmcneal]

Doesn't ECOMIKE have a diesel in his? God i hate brain farts

 

[philip_g]

Doesn't ECOMIKE have a diesel in his? God i hate brain farts

I think that's the guy I was looking for.

 

[RTicUL8]

Doesn't ECOMIKE have a diesel in his? God i hate brain farts

LOL!

One of only two XJ's in the US with an obama sticker on it.
I guess he was looking for a "CHANGE."

.

 

[YosemiteMatt]

I am planning on doing a VW TDI after the 4.0 dies, and XJ's did come stock with a 2.0L Diesil back in the day.

Which VW are you looking into?

 

[PurpleCherokee]

LOL!

One of only two XJ's in the US with an obama sticker on it.
I guess he was looking for a "CHANGE."

.

Lol well I must have seen the other one in the walmart parking lot the other day. Suprised me. It was bone stock though. I woulda been super floored to see a trail rig w/an Obama sticker on it.

 

[DutchVDub]

Which VW are you looking into?

Well I would love the twin turbo out of the Toureg, but I am more looking at the 1.9L from a B5 chassis Passat. It has 134hp at 4000rpm and 247ft/lb of torque at 1900rpm. In the Passat is was rated at 27mpg city and 38mpg highway. Not bad, plus there are places that sell upgraded chips and injectors for them to get more power. Considering the Passat TDI had a curb weight of 3381lbs and the Cherokee has a curb weight of only 2995lbs I don't think it'll have much trouble moving me either.

 

[philip_g]

Well I would love the twin turbo out of the Toureg, but I am more looking at the 1.9L from a B5 chassis Passat. It has 134hp at 4000rpm and 247ft/lb of torque at 1900rpm. In the Passat is was rated at 27mpg city and 38mpg highway. Not bad, plus there are places that sell upgraded chips and injectors for them to get more power. Considering the Passat TDI had a curb weight of 3381lbs and the Cherokee has a curb weight of only 2995lbs I don't think it'll have much trouble moving me either.

I don't have the fab skills, but even if I did, how bad is the VW wiring to sort out? It's pretty undocumented isn't it? That'd be enough to scare me off.

 

[hammondrckr]

I don't have the fab skills, but even if I did, how bad is the VW wiring to sort out? It's pretty undocumented isn't it? That'd be enough to scare me off.

I don't know how difficult it is, but extreme 4x4 put one in a Suzuki, and I've heard of other people doing it.

 

[Vince]

An earlier version of the VM diesel engine that was an option in the Jeep Liberty a few years ago was commonly installed in XJs made for Europe and other export markets. The 2.5L TDi engines were manufactured in Italy and shipped to the XJ production line in Ohio. The 2.8L fitted to the Liberty had a lot more emmission control equipment but is likely to fit in an XJ using some 2.5TDi parts.

I am reasonably certain that Federal Law does permit a European diesel engine to be imported to the USA if the same engine was originally supplied in a Federal type approved vehicle. If I am right, you could import a 2.8CRD from a wrecked 2006 Jeep Cherokee(Liberty). However, I don't know how expensive the paperwork process required to do this would be or if the import would have to be done through a NHTSA registered importer.

 

[DutchVDub]

I don't have the fab skills, but even if I did, how bad is the VW wiring to sort out? It's pretty undocumented isn't it? That'd be enough to scare me off.

Well the older VW Turbo Diesil engines are pretty simple, get one from an early to mid 90's Jetta or Passat. There are quite a few places that make the kits to put them into Zuki's (I was going to do the swap myself but I sold my Zuki when I left for Iraq) and I'm sure they could talk you through the process for doing said swap into an XJ.

The TDI variant I want to use is a bit more modern and will definately require a bit more work in the wiring/electronics department, but thw wiring diagrams are really easy to get ahold of. You can buy the FSM (called a Bentley Manual) from the stealership, ebay, or several aftermarket parts online stores.

 

[troy]

They do make mechanical pumps to run on the newer TDI engines. They are expensive, but would greatly simplify the swap. The VW engines are neat, but would only be practical in close to stock cherokee. Even then it would be slow. Take a look on ebay for the what the engines are selling for. They sell for more than what most cherokees are worth.

I used the http://www.acmeadapters.com/ kit in a Zuki project. The 1.6L Turbo diesel and it is great in a lightweight rig, just not in this application.

Wasn't Jeep going to make a conversion kit for TJs with the 2.8 CRD engine? That would be the ideal place to start. There are a few outfits doing Landcruiser conversions, but they are in the 15-20K range.

If you're going to diesel for the MPGs you won't recover the cost. This is just my opinion being a VW diesel and Cherokee owner. Being Cool and different is worth something though.

 

[Vince]

Wasn't Jeep going to make a conversion kit for TJs with the 2.8 CRD engine? That would be the ideal place to start.

Like I said, if the motor is Federally approved you can probably import a used one of the same model from Europe. Almost all of the KJ Liberties(Cherokees) over here are diesel. You will need one from the same model year as the diesel KJ sold in the USA as far as I know.

All of the VM engines in the Federal KJ diesels were made in the same factory as the European KJ diesels in Italy. So Jeep had to import the engines from the VM factory in Italy to produce the Federal KJ diesel.

I found the following info here http://www.epa.gov/OMS/imports/quiktext.htm#nonusversionB. (2) Engine not in Vehicle or Chassis

EPA regulates the entire vehicle, not individual parts, for cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. If an engine is not installed, and is to be used in a car, motorcycle, or light truck, it may be imported as an automotive part. No approval or Customs bond is required by EPA. Importers should be aware, however, that replacement of an engine in a U.S. version vehicle with an engine of a different type or model year which is not currently covered by an EPA certificate or will be covered by an EPA certificate prior to introduction into commerce may violateEPA regulations.
To import an engine for use in a car, light truck or motorcycle, the importer must file with U.S. Customs, upon entry, an EPA Form 3520-1 and declare code "W" on that form.

It might take a little bit of investigation with US Customs and your State DMV, but it would be worth it if you could get one for $5K-£6K ready to install. A rebuilt British 2.5TDi engine costs about $3000(1500 GBP), I would not expect a used 2006 2.8CRD to be much more than that.

If anyone is seriously interested in going this route and is prepared to spend some time making the necessary enquiries, I can find as many complete 2.8CRD engines & transmissions as needed and ship them over. I'm used to sending Jeeps back to the USA by ship, might as well start sending parts.