diesel XJ

[jeepxj4play]

I found this Diesel XJ on ebay. I didnt know that they came out with a diesel motor. Was it a decent motor? How rare are they and are there any benifits to owning one? I also noticed that someone had a 2.1 diesel motor for sale in the Midwest Chapter.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Part...id=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:1|39:1|240:1318

 

[winterbeater]

I've seen threads about these before on here. I recall that the parts are very difficult to get. It's a Renault motor, and I think parts were a little more available in Europe. Read more posts. There's enough aggravation to owning an old Jeep than just having a diesel.

 

[8Mud]

A lot of head gasket problems. Mostly the reason they are sold, is somebody trying to to unload it because the head gasket is leaking.

 

[dj99xj]

Heh. Imagine stomping on the gas (foot feed) and feeling the awesome power of not much at all. I had an '84 with the 2.5 gasser and the diesel is rated for MUCH less HP than the 2.5! I can't imagine an XJ with any LESS power than my 2.5 was. Plus parts are rare too. I would avoid unless its VERY cheap. My '84 was free so I got a good deal.

 

[88 Wagonman]

Heh. Imagine stomping on the gas (foot feed) and feeling the awesome power of not much at all. I had an '84 with the 2.5 gasser and the diesel is rated for MUCH less HP than the 2.5! I can't imagine an XJ with any LESS power than my 2.5 was. Plus parts are rare too. I would avoid unless its VERY cheap. My '84 was free so I got a good deal.

If you want HP go with a gasser, if you want torque go with a diesel, if you want both, with added reliability, go with a 4.0!

 

[OnlyInMyXJ22]

If you want HP go with a gasser, if you want torque go with a diesel, if you want both, with added reliability, go with a 4.0!

Pretty much!!

 

[scottmcneal]

I found this Diesel XJ on ebay. I didnt know that they came out with a diesel motor. Was it a decent motor? How rare are they and are there any benifits to owning one? I also noticed that someone had a 2.1 diesel motor for sale in the Midwest Chapter.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Part...id=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:1|39:1|240:1318

Does your state smog diesel cars? This would be great in CA, they don't smog diesel YET

 

[Rodrigo_XJ]

The 2.1 diesel Cherokee is very common here in Spain. Its a Renault engine as has been said, very reliable but very lack about power. Only 90 hp I think.

The other diesel engine mounted on the XJs was manufactured by italian VM (Detroit diesel property) and it is a very fragile engine....4 little heads instead one. It is very poor talking about reliablility.

Nothing like a 242!!

 

[xcm]

dude, your gonna need a STICK to keep them hippie chicks off your jock once they hear your xj is diesel

 

[igotanxj]

I test drove one thinking it would be really cool to have a diesel jeep. The thing is an absolute pig, and it shakes like hell and makes one hell of a racket. You have to floor it to get the boost up, but by then you have to shift. You'd be way better off with a 4.0, or if you're dead set on a diesel, you'd be way better off swapping in a better diesel such as a vw turbo 4 banger.

 

[SKJeep]

2,1 is a Renault turbo diesel engine, 66kW (90HP). Not much powerfull, quite reliable, except some problems with cyl. head gasket. Parts (except of some specs) are widely available in Europe (Renault junkyards). Was made until 1993 i think (not sure). Manual gearbox AX5 or Peugeot BA10-5, rare with 3-stage auto tranny 30-RH. Had 4.11 as a standard gear ratio. Not so much power, when lifted and tires over 30 = pain.
As a stock is quite acceptable for normal quiet comford ride, but only if you do not have ANY racing ambitions The only positve is MPG, you can get as much as 40MPG !!!

The other diesel engine in XJ is a 2,5 litre turbodiesel engine made by an italian company VM Motori (part of Detroit diesel). This engine is said to be very unreliable due to overheating problems and cylinder head starvage. That's CRAP !!!
It is as reliable as the other turbocharged diesels. Can be found in many cars (AlfaRomeo, LandRover, Toyota, Opel, London Taxi....) and the only one with thermal problems is a Jeep. But that is not the fault of the engine, it is a problem of the Jeep engineers :-(
This engine has a bit strange construction with separate cylinder head for each cylinder. It is because of the original purpose of the engine - generator and marine use. Was produced as a 3cylinder 1,8ltr, 4cylinder 2,5ltr and 5 cylinder 3,1 ltr version.

The head starvage is caused by lack of free space in the engine compartment and poorly designed cooling. And the problem comes out not while the engine running, but a while after stop. The massive cast-iron engine block accumulates lot of heat and a while after turning the engine off the heat from the block starts to dissipate and the small alluminium cyl. heads are not able to accept so much heat from the block, so the water in the heads starts boiling = cracked head.

The very simple solution is to install an aux oil cooler and a small electric water pump, triggered by a thermal switch, which runs for a while after the engine off and keeps the cooling water circulate.

it is also recommendable to install hood vents and fully electric fans = no viscous coupling.

The 2,5 ltr version (found in XJ, ZJ, GS...(aka 4headed 4banger ) ) has a stock 116PS and 260Nm torque. Can be modified up to 140PS and 300 Nm.

 

[eleduardok]

If you want a diesel, just get a 3.0 Mercedes-Benz turbo diesel, as I am going to drop one in soon. 300 ft. lbs of torque stock, and all mechanical injection, things will run forever and under water if they can breathe... They are cheap and reliable. Will post the fit/install as it goes.
oh, hippie chicks? hrmmm veggie oil may be in order for this one...

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

the diesel XJ is a great DD. My buddys dad has been Daily driving his for a few years, He's a mechanic by trade so i dont know about the average reliability but it does just fine! gets 40mpg

 

[Erik Litchy]

40 mpg in an xj sounds unreal