Grand Cherokee CRD News

There is a new article published by the National Biodiesel Board @ www.biodiesel.org that gives some new info on the soon-to-be-released Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD.

Summary:  The article brings up some announcements by DCX about the Cherokee being shipped with B5 in the tank as did the Liberty CRD and the fact that the vehicle's final assembly plant will be in Detroit's North Jefferson Assembly Plant.

The article goes on to announce that DCX is working with ASTM and biodiesel suppliers to create a biodiesel fuel standard that can be fully recognized by all OEMs for existing and upcoming diesel engines for blends up to B20.  Right now most OEMs fully approve biodiesel blends of ASTM D6751 up to B5, while some manufacuters, such as New Holland, approve blends up to B20.  The goal of some proponents is to continue to move the approval up the blend scale until biodiesel is a fully-recognized fuel alternative for diesel engines.  It seems as though the main sticking point, preventing acceptance of B20 is that there is no stability propoerty standard for B100.  The National Biodiesel Board members have voted to include such a standard in the next ASTM review.  This should help move along acceptance of American produced biodiesel as is the case with European supplies of this great, alternative, renewable fuel.  

There is a skid plate manufacuring company that makes an engine/transmission skid plate for the 2006 Liberty CRD that covers up the oil filter which is in the wide open between the factory skid plates DCX sells with the trailer/tow package. The factory tins are thin and that oil filter is in a very bad place if you look on this Liberty/KJ. Skid Row Automotive.com has you covered though and it's 3/16" and designed to change oil without dropping the skid off. It's actually engineered and is tough too...