Welp, it happened. 140k miles and just as I was turning onto my road home, I lost all power and generated a HUGE cloud of white smoke behind me. I drive a 1.4l manual. I'm guessing head gasket. Was about to change oil too. EDIT: After a little talking with my car buddies and doing a little more investigation under the hood, I didn't lose a ton of coolant. So I'm leaning more towards turbo seals, which would dump/burn oil directly onto the cats and could also make white smoke. Would also explain the "OIL PRESSURE" light that started popping up as I parked it. Would love to hear from some other folks who have turbo renes to see if 140k is just about the time they die or what. I'll be sure to add an update after I talk with the shop tomorrow. Anyone else had the motor give out? Mileage? Age? Mostly concerned about those with a 1.4L.
So it's almost 4 months later, but I wanted to give an update: Jeep runs The background: After 140,000 (almost on the dot), my Renegade's turbo self-destructed and sprinkled the cylinders with little (and big) shards of compressor. Meanwhile the turbine had a date with the catalytic converter whilst the oil followed suit. 3.5 months later, the engine was fully replaced. (And Turbo) Thank you to my warranty for covering that. However there are problems. Still. The release bearing had worn out after 30k miles (should not have happened, but the shop covered it). There is also a coolant leak. The coolant line at the top of the motor right next to the battery connects to a plastic piece (a valve maybe?). This plastic piece has a place for a strap but it wasn't secured. So as it was sitting just hanging in the engine bay, that hose developed a pin-hole whilst it was rubbing on the bottom of that bracket. Or it also self-destructed, I'm not sure. It's a small hose, but it has 2 different size ends. So of course it's a custom piece. Annnd it's on 45 days backorder -_- I was going to just refill the coolant as it leaked out, because I didn't think it would be that much. but after 2 gallons and a week or so of driving, that is not a good option. I have refilled it with some water at this point, but that shot the temps up and I do not want to get corrosion in a brand new engine. So I have options: 1 - Find a junkyard Renegade that's not completely destroyed and steal that hose (pay for it obviously). 2 - Make my own with 2 sections of the right size hose with a metallic reducer. Obviously another leak point, but if I can clamp the ends of each hose enough, it'll hold until my part comes in. Anyone have a good place to get old parts? The junkyards I looked at around here are pretty much devoid of Renes (interestingly enough). I'm glad to have my Rene back, but I just want it to run 100%.
As a follow on, I wanted to make a separate post in this thread. Has anyone analyzed their oil in a 1.4L turbo rene? Preferably during break-in, but I'll take any data anyone has. I'm at 700 miles or so on the motor, the shop changed it at 500, so I don't have that oil. I will be planning to change it myself at about 1000 (give or take) and sending that in for analysis. Then again at 2000 and from there probably just replace it on an increasing mileage cadence and sending in oil analysis every other change for probably the first 20k miles, until I get a good idea of how often it needs to be changed.
Small update: The hose magically appeared from it's 45 day backorder. Got it replaced, still having issues. I tested it a little and it appears the fan does not turn on regardless of what temperature the coolant is at. Next available service with the local dealership is August 22nd. So looks like I'm pulling it apart myself after I get over whataver this 24 hr cold or whatever was that just hit me.
