I have not seen one of these threads for a few years, and I think its good info to have around.
Please participate in the poll than comment below. Please includeyear, engine, oil used,any major failure and at what mi. it happened and classify your maintenance habits based on the scale below.
Also include any information relevant to your mileage that is not mentioned above.
I cant tell anybody what to do BUT I can ask; it would be great if we can keep comments (other than your response to the to the original thread) to a minimum in an effort to keep the thread easy to look through for info purposes and reference purposes.
Maintenance scale 1)I just change my oil and fix things when they break. 2)I follow the owners manual "scheduled maintenance". 3) I am obsessive compulsive about maintenance and loose sleep when I don't understand the chemical compounds of a fluid I am using in my JEEP.
2003, 4.0
145K
42RE
242 TC
D35
I have put 3/4 of those miles on it
No major failures, JEEP still runs and drives like new !
I ran valv. ML in the begining but now its Rotella T5 with a mix of Pennzoil HM in the winter and P1, MOPAR or WIX filters. AMSOIL A/F
AMSOIL in drive-train components at proper intervals
I am a 3 with maintenance
Prior to my ownership it was dealer maintained
02 I6, used Valvoline Conventional 10w-30 oil until about 80k with no issues, then switched to Mobil 1 10w-30 full synthetic. Engine lifter tap and lower crank knock developed around 110k. Replaced engine w/ reman at 132k due to it being very loud and needing to be replaced.. I was told that the piston skirt was damaged and needed work done to fix damaged valves.
I was told that many are failing due to the lack of Zinc in oil today that is needed by these long blocks. Most synthetics do not contain any Zinc at all. Mobil 1 is one of the worst with this.
The new engine will get nothing but Rotella T5 which I am told has good levels.
I am probably a 2 with maintenance. I do it at the recommended intervals but can do things early if I think it is needed. I do change oil every 3k or less (never over that).
- 4.0 lost its skirt on #4 around 244,000, inframed the engine, been running like a champ ever since. Runs T5 @ 5,000 mile intervals.
- Front axle is original, but going to be replaced with a D30 Vari-lok.
- 42RE Original, fluid changed every two years.
-242 Original, Fluid changed every two years, same time as transmission since they take the same fluid.
-D44A, not original. D30 had leaky axle seals. Wanted to upgrade anyway.
2004 Laredo - 4.0
Currently running Rotella T5 10W-30 at 5k OCI
Maintenance habits are probably a 3.
I bought the WJ with about 83,000 miles on the clock. At 87,000, I had to replace a lifter and camshaft. This project means it has new lifters, camshaft, head gasket, timing set, and new water pump, among other oddities.
I later found out the previous owner had a lifter and head gasket changed at 67,000 miles and the transfer case replaced at 80,000 miles.
207+ 10k on the engine rebuild. at 197 a skirt fell off. 4 more were craked all the way to the oil control ring. Rebuilt completely, new cam, new pistons, new lifters....
Oh, and I'm a 3.
Running Rotella T5 (I actually don't know what I'm running right now. I think it's Rotella...)
2002
Grand Cherokee Laredo
4.0
98,xxx
Just switched to high mileage oil at last change.
Purchased with 83,xxx for 3500
Blend doors at 84,xxx
Brakes and rotors at 94,xxx
Tires at 95,xxx
Trans, transfer case service in the works.
2000
WJ Limited
4.7
128,000
Will be switching to Mobil 1 HM 5w-30 at next change (vehicle new to me)
Purchased with 127,000 miles on it
I am a number 3 on maintenance
My goal is 200,000+ miles!
1999
Grand Cherokee Limited
4.7L
263,000 miles
I generally run valvoline max life high mileage 5w-30, depending on current autozone sales lol.
Second motor, first motor spun a bearing near 200,000 when my company hired a mechanics helper to do oil changes.. Long story short, forgot to put oil back in and drove it about a mile before I heard carnage. Company paid for it all so no worries.
2004 Laredo
4.0L
133K miles (bought with 48k)
Valvoline 10W-30 every 3,000 miles (recently changed to Valvoline Max Life)
Rear main seal/front brake rotors @ 112k
Radiator fan @ 116k
Water pump/thermostat/rad hoses/valve cover gasket @ 123k
Power steering hose @ 124k
Started out as a 0 on maintenance but I'm all over WJJeeps.com reading up and am probably a 2 now. I have a spread sheet with all the maintenance intervals and I do as much of the work myself that I can. (belt, fluids, spark plugs, filters, tire rotation)
2004 Ltd
2.7 CRD
107,000 (bought with 83,000m)
Both rear axle seals at 95,000 (pinion deals front and rear still required).
Both fuel pumps at 100,000 (my fault so does not really count!)
Blend doors at about 90,000.
Window ref failed today ..been repaired twice already but broke in a different way today...guide wheel broke up so it's a new one this time!
Engine, tranny, t case all original and never rebuilt.
Exhaust all original and solid!
All work done by me except tyre fitting. Too tight to pay anyone else and dont trust anyone to do it properly...also Im ex motor trade so know what im doing!.....usually!
Which ever diesel 10w-30 fully synth is on offer at the time! Its only changed at 12,000m intervals as per factory requirements.
2004 Laredo with the 4.0 I-6 at 111k, bought it at 80k. I'm about a 2.75 on the maintenance scale, but unfortunately the PO's were not. Jeep runs great anyway.
No major failures. Did do the power steering hose this year, water pump last year and I get an intermittent cat code which I ignore.
Currently running Pennzoil 10w40 with a quart of 5w20 to thin it down a bit. I do mostly 3,500 OCI's, was doing longer but a UOA indicated that was too much with my short tripping. Next fill will be German Castrol 0w30, which will be my first OCI with a synthetic. In the past I've mostly run Rotella, various HM oils and Pennzoil.
2004 Wj
Laredo Limited Edition
4.0l i6
Bought had 70,xxx miles
Now has 80,5xx on it.
fluids are whatever I think is best at the time.
Nothing wrong yet "knock on wood"
Number 3 on maintenance.
2004 Laredo, I6, 42RE, 242. 317,XXX miles when I parked it to part it out in 2011. Engine rebuilt at 167,XXX for knock (probably piston skirt), trans rebuilt at 257,XXX for broke snap ring. Parting it out because it developed a major electrical issue and I was not going to put $1200-$1500 into it. Too many miles and too much rust. It also needed a head gasket or head when I parked it.
Oil changes at 3000 on first engine with dino oil, and 5000 on second eng with Royal Purple. Trans, Xfer case and diff's about every 50,000-60,000 miles.
Mobil 1 high milage 5w-30 but probably switching to royal purple because its actually cheaper at the autozone here
Only issue was a cracked valve spring at 150,000 but has been running perfectly since I replaced it, was two months of hell trying to figure out what it was and then issues with every little thing along the way
Maintenance is a 3, always replacing stuff before I need to but rather replace it now then being stranded later
5w-50 Castrol Syntec 2k to 3k miles depending on driving conditions and oil clarity. Slick 50 oil treatment around every 10 oil changes, Engine. 6oz per 1qt oil. Every couple years front and rear diff's.
Original motor as far as I can tell no internal work done yet.
Changed all the fluids, tie rod ends, cleaned up the dull head lights and replaced the cloth seats with power leather seats. Replaced the water pump, thermostat, flushed the system and put new coolant in it when I first bought it. New hood shocks, rear window and rear hatch shocks. Installed new brakes and rotors, front and rear. September last year. 4" RCX short arm kit last year. I rebuilt the 42re about 9 months ago in my garage here in Kansas City, was at 160922 miles at that time. Replaced the steering gear box in AutoZone parking lot Grand JCT, Colorado in June this year Replaced rear wheel seals and bearings in Porum, Oklahoma in July.
For maintenance I'm probably a 3.2 or slightly higher. I check all the fluids under the hood every time I fill up with gas. I worked for several repair shops over the years and even worked for Chevrolet for 7 years. I was a mechanic most of my life and even before I graduated from High School. Have had the chance to see the performance of different fluids first hand and the effects of different maintenance habits. Remember your recommended maintenance is just basic best guess that the manufacturer has provided. If I notice anything that does not look exactly as it should I will not wait till the recommended interval before changing it.
I don't look as much at the chemical properties of any of the fluids I use, but more about how well I have seen them actually perform in the real world.
04 4.0 QD
121k
Rebuilt 42re at 106k
242 swap at 115k(because I wanted to)
Mobil 1 HM 10w-30 changed every 4.5k
I'm a 4 on the maintenance. My wife says she hates my Jeep and doesn't know anyone who works on their vehicle more.
2003 Overland
4.7 HO
135k
No major failures at all
Using either Mobil 1 High Mileage or Rotella T5 10W-30, but might change depending on my next UOA.
I'm a 3+ on the maintenance scale. That said, I rarely have to do any work on my WJ, it's been very reliable and the scheduled maintenance intervals require me to do most all fluids at once every 2 years.
'99 4.0L with about 252,000 miles.
- Engine replaced with '05 TJ 4.0L with 17,000 miles after original was run with no oil and went kablewey. Engine now has about 117,000 miles on it.
- Original trans never opened, Dana 35 pinion and carrier bearings replaced.
- All tie rod ends and link/sleeve replaced, front upper and lower ball joints replaced - All Moog.
- Oil changed every 3,000 miles.
- Maintenance is a 3, I still love working on my Jeep. Especially when the funds allow it!
1999 Laredo. 179887. i bought it at 176xxx
4.0
whatever high mileage oil pep boys uses. I'm switching to Rotella in 2 days
rebuilt tranny 1000 miles ago
other than that no problems at all
i change fluids as recommended
when i got it i put on new tires springs and shocks. changed all fluids and filters, sans fuel. New plugs TPS and AIC a few months later
all electrics still work and it runs great
soon will be new brakes all around, new painted silverblades and Cooper AT3, paint the chrome grill and refinish the roof rack and paint cladding. All flat black
2000 Laredo
4.0l
187,000+ miles
Original Motor
I use 10W30 Castro GTX & Fram Xtra Guard filters
I do all the maintenance myself & service like clockwork
I've replaced: water pump, radiator, fuel pump, fuel filter, front rotors & shocks
I converted to a mechanical cooling fan after the plastic electric one disintegrated and took the radiator out
Getting ready to replace most of the suspension & steering components when I put on a 4" lift
2003 4.7 Non-HO, NV247, just turned over 128k yesterday. My wife bought it back in 2006 with just over 50k on it.
For a long time we ran Valvoline 5W-30 Synthetic and Wix oil filters. We recently switched to Shell Rotella T5 5W-40 about 10,000 miles ago, still running Wix oil filters. Due to my wife's commute, which involves stop and go traffic and not a lot of engine running time we run a 4500 mile OCI.
No internal engine failures at this time. I have replaced the water pump 3 times, PS pump 2 times, thermostat, thermostat housing, valve cover gaskets, serpentine belt, TPS, and IAC. I do need to replace the timing cover seal and oil pan gasket, possibly the RMS as well, but I'm hoping its just the pan.
Spark plugs, PS fluid, differentials, coolant are all changed at the recommended intervals. I change the t-case fluid every other year, which might be overkill, but so far the NV427 is still happy.
I'd rate myself a 2.5.
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