Hello there! I just wanted to pitch in with my xp and $0.02. I really don't understand why people are so put off by this engine. I think it's like the reviews on yelp or Google where if service or delivery is as expected (good) , then the customer doesn't feel the need to leave a rating/review. However, if anything is not to their liking or doesn't meet expectations then they feel the need to leave a review. So something that has a failure rate of 1/1,000 or 1/10,000 or 1/50,000 THAT'S the only review posted.
That being said, I own a '14 ecodiesel limited with the off road package (rear locker + metal skid plates) and have had zero issues. It currently has 115,898 miles on it and I drive around 600mi/week for work and pleasure. After just 8k miles I decided I needed the gde tune. Not only is it more responsive with more power, it has substantially more mpg. It's also my opinion that it will increase the longevity of the engine and components after reading up on the specific changes made with the tune.
I regularly get 31-32mpg hypermiling down the freeway at 65mph with winter rated all season tires. My previous summer eco tires gave me about 3-4 more mpg. If I drive aggressively, it's down to around 26-28mpg. Around town, I can easily burn rubber from a standstill on multiple tires.
I have no doubt that the gasoline v6 or especially the v8 would be up to the task of propelling this behemoth, but not without expending a lot of fuel. The diesel is a fantastically efficient engine and I expect many more years out of mine. It's a wonderful feeling rescuing people off road, playing up in the snowy hills, towing my racecar, towing my friends massive travel trailer, and taking it on long trips while cocooned in comfort with my wife and kids, all while getting insane mpg's.
Don't be put off from this engine. I see them everywhere here in Oregon, but mostly in the Ram Pickups. The major inconvenience is the DEF which they claim needs filled with every oil change. My experience has been it needs filled every 6k-8k miles, but that might just be the tune. The most annoying thing about this engine is the turbo lag. Yes, it's better with the GDE tune but is still a complete menace at times. I think it's mostly the trans being in the wrong gear and being an 8 speed, takes time to drop down 3-4 gears. I know it would be better with a transmission tune from GDE, but I have another kid on the way and they take precedence.
Other than my jeep acting funny and stalling randomly, there was no warning when the fuel filters needed changing. The error message on the instrument cluster read "service electronic throttle control" right as it would stall. The forums were no help at the time, so it took me months to figure out. Other than that, I have had literally zero issues. I do all maintenance at the recommended intervals. If you take care of it, it will last for decades. Just remember, it was an engine designed for fuel efficiency and quietness; it's not a cummins. It was reworked to provide enough towing capacity and in turn making it more robust for Chrysler. You don't need to baby it, but it was never meant to be worked hard 100% of the time like a cummins.
If you're on the fence about buying one, just get it. If you don't like it... sell it. Diesels hold their value better than the gas versions, and there's a reason for it. You'll recoup most of the $ you shell out during the purchase if you sell quickly, assuming diesel prices don't go through the roof.
