I broke my 2006 Jeep Commander with a Hemi 5.7l V8 in 6 days
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- Опубліковано 10 гру 2020
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#RustyAutoholicGuy - Авто та транспорт
I’ve built two commanders and loved them both. My 4.7L with QT2 was my favorite I still miss that Jeep. My 5.7L with QD2 was a beast for sure. Subbed to see what you do next. Good luck on finding a GC diesel
Hello Sal
I just bought a 2009 Commander 5.7 Hemi overland made in Austria.
Everytime I go drive it I am full of fear because of the warnings I got and keep getting from people telling me it was a bad decision and that this vehicle will drive me crazy with its problems and expenssive fixes.
I thought that if I learn how to fix it myself that would give me some confidence.
You as an experienced gentleman, do you think that I am right about thinking about learning how to fix this jeep?
What advice can you give me about that?
I also don't know how can I buy a maintenance manual since I am (Unfortunately) living in the middle east.
Do you think it's gonna be easier to just get rid of this commander and just get a Toyota ?
Thank you Sir , I appreciate your time answering me🙏🙏🙏
Kareem - Oman
That engine is crammed into that bay I have a commander with the 3.7 v6 and it has given me a great 221 thousand miles whit no major issues
Wow that’s impressive what year is your Commander?
3.7 is a easy engine to work on, but it can barely move the commander that weighs 5,200 lbs
what year is your Commander?
@@gabrielhugges6820 this be true 💯 i just bought a 06 with the 3.7 and while motor and trans feel perfect it does feel sluggish but alot of space to work with it so I like that in part currently doing all the oils slowly to make sure all is up to date
So glad that your family is okay. I would have done the same thing. Family first!
Thank you so much Dave, that was my thought at the time as well!
in looking for a vehicle I ran into those the other day .... Car Wizard says ...stay away ... now I see you with yours . They look lovely but I'm scared ....TKS !
Om642 is a great unit.
Difficult job though, and super expensive on spares.
Hope you get it done with something rather than scrap.
I just salvaged a 5.7 commander from a friend here in the uk “super rare” but I have the 3.0 v6 already with some mild upgrades.
Surprisingly they are about the same for speed, except I’m getting 29mpg in the diesel, and 11 in the hemi 😂.
I do love the concept of Hemi though.
Good luck with your build, glad you got yourselves safe before saving the motor.
Family first.
Thank you for the comment Expresslockscardiff! I actually just sent the Commander off to a look Hemi specialist to have a rebuilt Hemi installed. I really contemplated the diesel or replacing the Hemi myself however my TJ Wrangler is my main focus/project at the moment and the Commander is really suppose to be my family SUV for my wife and kids!
I might come back later a do a diesel swap into a Commander, I think it would be great, especially if I could get 29mpg, but for what I need from this Commander, it made more sense to just get a new Hemi engine with a warranty installed!
Sorry to hear this! I just watched & commented on your earlier video when you bought it. The '06 & '07's are the years to avoid unfortunately. I suspect that motor overheated before you got it and at that point became a ticking timebomb. Its unfortunately not uncommon on the Hemi on those years. By '08 they'd fixed the valve guide issue, then updated the Hemi for '09/'10. I think the final generation of the 4.7L in the 08/09 is the better engine (also has 16 spark plugs, one for the compression stroke, one for the exhaust stroke for emissions). Solidly built and no MDS systems...just all 8 cylinders firing all the time as God intended. Regardless, its worth fixing.
Thank you so much dorelse for the comment! Yeah if I had known that before hand, I would have gone for a later model Commander, but I have this one and I am going to be fixing it!
"The '06 & '07's are the years to avoid unfortunately" LOL GAWDAMMIT! That's not what I want to read being and '06 owner myself 🤣
Was so excited to pick one up today and the alternator fried 20 minutes into the test drive, was such a great Jeep but really soured my experience and confidence in its reliability.
I missed this comment for a week, sorry about that. I would make sure to get one made after 2008 so that you don't have to deal with the valve stem issues.
Are 2008 ones safe to get ? I need to know before I buy
Same thing happened to me.. I have a 2006 commander with the 5.7... had 106000 miles on it.. put maybe 20 miles a day on it, drive town miles mostly, not highway miles, no hard off roading, maintenance done regularly, oil changes etc.. went to a store, shut it off, went to turn it back on and NOTHING!!! No warning, no ruff idle, no smoking... when I say nothing warned me, I mean nothing. Took to garage, pistons came up and smacked the hell out of the plugs .. needless to say, new crate motor was dropped in. The truck is in great shape, no rust, no damage.. when I say I take care of it, I really do... and for a 2006 with no rust in PA, that’s good..ie salt brine lol . So it was either go buy another vehicle for same price or more and not know what I’m getting as far as issues or fix it. I love my commander. She’s a beast for sure. Plus got a 3 inch lift/leveling kit on her. She’s a looker. But hell on gas lol... glad I work close to home lol
Hey Kim sorry to hear that happened to your 06 Hemi as well! That's terrifying that it happened with out warning! I know what you mean about replacing the engine or getting another vehicle. I honestly contemplated getting another vehicle, Jeep of course, but I wasn't sure I was going to go with the Commander again or not.
I actually just had my Commander towed to a Hemi specialist to have a new engine installed that has the issues around the valve seals fixed. Like you I decided to go with what I have and what I know!
I really do love my Commander, and though I would have liked to do the work myself on the Commander, my TJ Wrangler diesel swap project really is still my main focus. Also I need the Commander to be my family SUV for my wife and kids as well.
I'm hoping to get my Commander back soon and to post new videos about the Commander once I get it back with the new Hemi engine in it!
@@RustyAutoholicGuy Sweet! The commander is a looker for sure. Shame they didn’t make them longer. I’m sure your wife loves hers as much as I love mine. Lifting it made such a different in looks. Good luck with your build.
I had your epiphany working on my ram. Couldn't belive a near 300$ estimate for plugs. 120 was just the plugs. Doing it myself wasn't bad until the back passenger, had to take parts off the truck even using swivels.
I honestly didn't realize they had 2 spark plugs per cylinder, kind of incredible honestly. I'll get it fixed, I'm just trying to figure out upgrades/mods so I don't have to worry about this happening again in the future!
There are so many commanders for sale on sites with blown engines : head-gaskets etc
Yeah I didn't really notice that until after this happened!
Bummer about the engine, glad you and the kids are OK. But I gotta say Diesel! Diesel! Diesel!
The more I research it, the more I realize I might not do it actually. I really love the 545rfe which is a dual overdrive transmission and apparently the diesel Grand Cherokees automatic has a single overdrive a .86 which just seems ridiculous for a diesel setup.
Love the optimism man. Rolling coal in that commander would be pretty neat.
I just bought one with a melted number 7 cylinder. I’m rebuilding it but I would love to swap it into my fox body. Would be something different. Hope you get you’re Jeep going again.
A hemi in a fox body sounds wild!
@@RustyAutoholicGuy thanks man would be an awesome swap for sure.
"SIXTEEN SPARKPLUGS" Yah, it made me giggle just a little bit. I had the same response on my 05 2500 first time I changed plugs. Doing a plug wire change is even more "enlightening".
It sounds like you actually may have hydrolocked the plug out of the head, hence the oil in the plug cavity, or, there may be a gasket leak there also. Is it seized??
Thanks you so much Ted, yeah I need to tear into the motor further but I think at this point I'll just build a 5.7l to rebuild the one in the Commander. Still doing research but I think that is what is going to happen.
Are you replacing the engine with a diesel?
If so, will you post videos on diesel transformation?
I don't know what I'm doing yet, plus I'm still trying to get a title back from DMV, current global events have made everything take longer than they use too. Plus I'm trying to get my TJ done first as well before I decide on how I'm going to get the Commander running again.
So what do u suggest to a new buyer of a used commander to do first to not blow the engine
Verify your cooling system is in perfect working order. I’d check your thermostat, water pump and flush the fluids.
how about your Jeep commander now? I am consider buying a 3.7 v6 2006 Jeep Commander 2006 with 140k miles. I like it outlook and drive test but still need to see more videos about it. If you have any opinions let me know. Thank you :)
I have an '03 Rubicon that I daily drive and was thinking of something more comfortable to drive daily when I saw that you purchased this Commander. That got me to thinking and I have been looking locally for one. I have a question for you though. How many miles was on your Commander when you purchased it? Most of the thing I read state not to get the V6, but that the Hemi has cooling issues. I was just wondering before I pull the trigger on buying one. Thanks, and I love your content.
It has 164K miles on it, and if I hadn't moved it, I could have easily fixed it as well. I really like the Hemi engine, and if I had to buy one again, even with what happened, I would get another Hemi and just maintenance the cooling system and maybe upgrade the head gasket and head studs before going on long trips.
@ Doug: You'll be happy with the Hemi, I wouldn't get another commander without the Hemi.
Thanks for the input. Most of the ones I have local are high mileage and that concerns me. Not too familiar with the Hemi engines. Mostly have dealt with Ford and GM products.
@@sgarn1 I appreciate the advice. Hopefully I can find an affordable one around here for sale just to have as a second daily.
Never noticed any overheating issues on my 07 commander with the hemi
That would be awesome best of luck bud
It really would but I think at this point I'm going to just replace the Hemi to get the Commander back on the road sooner.
That sucks. Good luck going forward on it. Actually you're having my luck with v8s too. Except my ZJ.
Yeah V8s just don't seem to be my thing, I need to finish my TJ first and then do some maintenance on my LJ Rubicon next but I would then come back to the Commander. Gives me time to research what I'm going to do to the Commander.
@@RustyAutoholicGuy the diesel swap would be awesome obviously but might be hard to do. If you can figure it out, then it might open up a world of possible swaps. I want to say you end up with some really difficult programming problems and hacks to get those diesels to work right.
I'm thinking it will work if I get an ECU for an exported Commander, I'm doing a factory engine swap into it, not saying it's going to be easy but easier than other swaps . . . hopefully.
I've seen a few full drive lines from exported commanders on ebay over the years, Engine, Transmission, ECU, Etc. Thought about doing it to an older cj-7 at one point. You might get lucky.
@@EddyRhuk at one point I looked into something called like vehicle halves. Basically you import half a vehicle and then swap everything into your US chassis to get around the US regs.
Subbed because I have the exact same one....question...
You said its the same body as the Cherokee...so will the skid plate/straps fit from the Cherokee...thats the problem I'm having now😕
Thank you so much for the sub! As for your question, I will have to check, I know the suspensions are the same such as lift kits. I'm not sure how the skid plate/straps. I'll do some research to figure out if they are interchangeable and update this comment.
The average cost for a reman hemi is around $3K. When you remove the motor it will be much easier to do an autopsy on how it died.
That is my plan but I'm going to get it out of the shop to wrap up some other projects first. This Commander is HUGE and takes up more shop space than you would think.
I suspect it had a bad head gasket when you bought it. Diesel swap it with an inline, at least that way you can work on it.
Yeah that is my thought process as well, I just need to figure out the ECU situation so everything else works.
Hi... new to the channel. Just curious how many miles? I thought V8 Hemi were tough, if maintained.
164K on it, again I pushed it past its limits though.
@@RustyAutoholicGuy Do you think driving the extra 1.8 miles blew it though, if it was already smoking it was probably only a matter of time before it blew right?
@@MuddyBootsOutdoors I think if I didn't drive it, I could have towed it home, pulled the heads, replaced the head gasket and gotten the valve seats checked out. So there was a possibility for this issues to be fixed.
I keep hearing all the XH commanders where diesels. Mine is also an XH but is the 5.7 not swapped.
We didn't get the diesels here in the United States, if we did that would have been the one I would have bought, these Commanders did come with the 5.7l Hemi from the factory.
Where Off I-85 are you? Used to live in Kenbridge...
I was traveling back from just outside of Durham
Make sure you only use the orange coolant.
Will do, it's what I've been using in my other Jeeps as well!
Wt about 5.7. V8 hemi commander engine?
So, what do you think happened to the engine? My engine oil cap also has "milk shake". However, the engine still works...
From what I've been reading John it's probably gotten hot at some point and as a result you need to keep an eye out for how the oil and coolant looks. I'm still a new enough owner that I don't know all the details.
Blown head gasket. Your car should be smoking white as well. Shouldn't drive that way, will destroy either rods, bearings or crank.
Check out craigslist in Prescott, Arizona with keywords "jeep commander diesel". Man partially completed om642 swap into '06 Commander. I haven't jumped on it because I'm uncertain of my electronics skills to make it work. Maybe you can?
Valve seat dropped. I had mine bored .020 over on my 05 dodge magnum. Valve seat falls out on this hemis 03 to 08 cuz of overheating.
Gotcha good to know! Still haven't figured out what I'm doing with the Commander yet.
Yeah me too, had it done properly and a great truck now!
Do you have an update on your jeep commander?
It's getting a new Hemi engine installed in from a shop that specializes in Hemi engines. I don't think I have the equipment to deal with an engine that large or heavy.
What did you end up doing with the commander?
Still waiting for a title
just found one same as yours, like twins.... TBH i am not sure to buy it or not. I am hearing bad things about those trucks. Another question is, do they have the infamous CVT transmissions? they are such a POS, but still... I like the way they look. Anything new on your Commander yet?
I can confirm it does NOT have a CVT, it's a 454RFE 5-speed automatic transmission with two overdrives. It's actually one of my favorite automatic transmissions. Honestly I would look for a later model Commander that has the issues fixed with the Hemi or look for a 4.7L V8 instead.
As for an update it's in the queue to have a new Hemi engine installed, I've just been playing the waiting game for that to happen. I just don't have the equipment at my place to mess with a Hemi Engine.
@@RustyAutoholicGuy thanks fro the info and update, truly appreciated
my 07 commander runs smooth then cuts off out of the blue..could be during idle could be at 60 mph ....any ideas?
There was a recall on that. I forgot, I think the ignition, look it up
The 2007-2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel used the Mercedes OM642. Check the link below for a list of potential donor vehicles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_OM642_engine
Thank you so much for the info!
How would the cylinders hit the spark plugs? Unless of course, they were the wrong plugs (they looked really long), but it wouldn't have run 12 feet.
I haven't put a borescope down the head yet but it's possible a piston ring broke a piston and slammed that piece into the head.
Badly worn rods/shafts can give enough slop to tap them in low clearances. It usually means the next rotation is going through the block, but have seen one or two times that the bottom didn't give out completely but ovaled out pretty bad, wearing the shaft down also.
Dropped valve seat?
How many miles are on the commander?
164K
@@RustyAutoholicGuy damn and blew the head gasket aye😑
If I want to convert my 2008 jeep Commander to Diesel how much would it cost?
No idea, I ended up getting a rebuilt Hemi V8 for my Commander, and I got the shop to install it as well, set my back a little over 6K.
16 spark plugs ...never would have guessed that one.
Me either!
Diesel swap would be cool 👍
I think it would be too, seems like a great vehicle to do it on just need to figure out some details around the swap.
A 6.4 swap would be better more worthwhile than any diesel
Another great example of, “buyer beware”. If you had researched this engine you would not have bought it. The 4.7 V8 is the reliable engine.
If you're from Texas I am selling my commander 2007 V8 5.7 4x4 quada drive 180.000 miles and running strong
Uff dah...
Dude...how frigging tall are you? You're like a head taller than then car?! Lol
HAHAHA yeah I'm a tiny 6 foot 5 inches short!
@@RustyAutoholicGuy jeez! Haha God bless!
@@ALLAHDRINKSCUM yeah as a huge automotive enthusiast it's been a challenge especially because the majority of my height is in my torso and not my legs, so finding vehicles I fit comfortable has always been very challenging.
It's probably the reason why I'm a Jeep fan, I've never had an issues with head room in my Jeeps.
How much m8les on that bad boy
164K, I can't remember the exact mileage though off the top of my head.
@@RustyAutoholicGuy thanks if i would of went further into the comments i would of found out