derf wrote: ↑Sun Nov 25, 2018 7:46 pm
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As far as the Liberty 2.8, that is an entirely different engine. It was made by VM Motori in Italy. Jeep dropped it because of the new emissions laws that went into effect. They weren't selling enough to justify doing the work to make it meet the new standards. From what I understand, the work was later done and it's been updated in many ways to became the 2.8 Duramax that you can get in the Chevy Colorado. But I don't know what all was done.
The original 2.8 VM in the Liberty was an old tractor/ag motor with a new head on it and some tweaks. It was-- like all things VM-- poorly made. At the time, Penske was a joint investor trying to turn their QC around. That didn't work and Penske got out.
Anyway, VM designed a new 2.8 motor at this time to replace the old one sold in the Liberty. The new one has the same displacement as the old but is a totally different VM engine, it wasn't just tweaked for emissions. It was used for the export market JK in the early JK years. VM also had a 3.0 diesel designed originally for the Cadilac STS in the European market. That ended up being the first eco-diesel engine in the RAM. Fiat eventually made their own diesel to replace it in the RAM and to put one in the new Wrangler JL.
It isn't a shock they could not sell the older 2.8 VM engine equipped Liberty-- the engines were trash, the packaging job was very bad and they did not support them with parts or service after the sale.You were basically on your own. When they broke down, you waited 3 days at least for parts to get shipped from LA. The product wasn't even beta quality really. I still cannot figure out how they sell a a new JL of any kind to anyone, let alone a diesel one. They really expect you to buy something both Italian, and without a warranty. LOL. No way.