New Jeep J8 Military Vehicle

Powering the J8 is a 158hp, 295lb ft 2.8-liter four cylinder turbodiesel engine mated to a 5 speed automatic transmission.  With this powerhouse, it can tow up to 7,716 lbs.  A special air intake is also included that has an air filtration system for those dusty climates (iraq) and a snorkel that allows the J8 to wade in water up to 30 inches deep.  The J8 also comes with the added benefit of being "fully armour capable".  Even though it's not designed for the front line.  It even comes with towing eyes on the bumpers that allow for helicopter drops.

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I'm sure most readers have heard about the new Jeeps having an option for a Common Rail Diesel engine.  I've been reading about them for the past 3 months or so.  I was actually consindering buying one in a Cherokee for my next vehicle.  That is until I realized that they can't sell them in New York.  Or Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, or California for that matter.  Which is really unfortunate.  The 3-Liter Turbo-Diesel V-6 puts out 215 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque.  Pleny for towing, and better gas mileage than any other engine option offered. 

The real problem comes with emissions.  Diesel engines emit less carbon dioxide than gasoline engines, but they produce higher amounts of nitrogen oxides and soot.  The high-sulfur diesel sold in the U.S. doesn't help things either.  So, my hopes of getting one of these more fuel efficient SUV's have been dashed.

On the flip side, it is illegal to sell some cleaner cars in states other than those mentioned above.  As Lawrence Ulrich writes in his article 'Dirty Secrets: Green Cars Automakers Won't Sell You' you can get fined up to $27,500 for selling a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) any place other than Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, or California.  Leave it to the goverment to fine people for selling a car that creates fewer emissions in 2000 miles of driving than the average lawnmower makes in 1 hour of use.  So much for Uncle Sam supporting a greener future.

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Three weeks ago, Project CJ suffered yet another setback in the engine department.  Another oil leak.  Now, this is leading me to believe that there is something seriously wrong with the engine.  If you've read any of my previous posts, you would know that every gasket and seal on that engine has been replaced in the last year. 

So, here's how it happened.  I had finally gotten the rear brakes fixed (new wheel cylinder).  So, I decided to bring the Jeep up to camp for the weekend.  It's about a 45 minute drive, mostly highway to get there.  Well, somewhere around the last 2 miles, I notice a problem.  The oil pressure guage pegs high.  Now this struck me as odd.  But, since I was about 2 miles from camp at this point and it was 10 at night, I said screw it, if the engine blows, it blows.  Well, I made it into camp, shut it off, and left it for the night.  The next morning I notice oil all over the passenger side of the block.  It was originating from somewhere on the front of the engine. 

Next step was to clean the block off.  I happened to have a can of brake clean in the jeep from the brake job earlier in the week, so I completely cleaned the oil off the block, checked the oil (2 quarts low), refilled the oil, and started it up.  It ran fine.  After 20 minutes of idling, still no oil leak.  So, I took it for a trip around the lake (5 miles or so) and still no oil leak.  So, now I was baffled. 

Anyway, the end of the weekend comes, and I head home.  I knew the seal was going to need replacing, but I just wanted to make my way home and fix it there.  So, I get home, I'm 2 quarts low on oil again, and the jeep has been sitting since.  The next step is to do a pressure test on the cylinders to see if one is blowing by.  If that looks good, hopefully it's just a bad pcv valve that caused the oil pressure spike.  Unfortunately, I have the feeling it's a bad cylinder.  I'm half tempted to just scrap this engine and start looking for a cummings 4bt to drop in it.  Of course, that will cost me even more.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.  I'm interested in hearing some opinions.  Oh, and if you don't know, the engine in it now is a 305 chevy small block.

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