Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Specs, Fuel Economy, and Tow Ratings
Everything You NEED to know about the Jeep Gladiator Diesel Truck
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, a 4-door Jeep Wrangler with a pickup truck bed, is one of the most exciting and off-road capable pickup trucks available today. Like the Jeep Wrangler, it’s available in a Rubicon configuration, making it even more capable off-road. Originally released in 2020, the Jeep Gladiator came with an available 3.6L Pentastar V-6 engine. While it’s an okay engine for a small SUV, it lacks the brute strength of engines we will like to see in trucks. In 2021, a new diesel powertrain was added to the Jeep Gladiator lineup, the 3.0L EcoDiesel. 2021 Jeep Gladiators with the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine get better fuel economy and significantly more torque than their Pentastar counterparts.
As diesel enthusiasts, obviously this powertrain option is our favorite of the bunch. There are a lot of reasons why it should be your favorite powertrain option too though. The 3.0L EcoDiesel engine offers greater performance numbers, better fuel economy, and the longevity that is common with Diesel engines. These engines even tow better than gasoline powered counterparts, and they get much better fuel economy whilst towing.
In this post, we’re going to cover all the need-to-know information about the 2021 Jeep Gladiator Diesel Truck.
We’ll reveal 2021 Jeep Gladiator Diesel specs, performance attributes, fuel economy, and tow ratings. We will even go over the different trim packages and the different options you can get when purchasing a Jeep Gladiator.
Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Engine
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine has 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. While the 3.0L EcoDiesel is new to the Gladiator, it’s not new in FCA vehicles. In fact, the EcoDiesel engine used is the third generation EcoDiesel, which is manufactured at the FCA Cento Manufacturing Planet in Ferrara, Italy. This is the same engine used in the new 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, as well as the 2020 Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel. It is significantly improved over past generations of the EcoDiesel engine, offering greater performance figures, lower NVH, and even better fuel economy.
Engine Design
The 3.0L EcoDiesel used in the Jeep Gladiator truck uses many of the most modern and advanced materials in its interior composition. It’s built for not just longevity and abuse, but also refined to be as quiet as possible. Weight reduction is another important factor, as many of the engine’s components use materials that reduce weight while simultaneously provided solid rigidity and dependability.
CGI Block
3.0L EcoDiesels use a Compacted Graphite Iron Block, or CGI Block, for a lighter, stronger foundation. This is the same material used in many of the heavy-duty diesels, even the latest 6.7L Cummins Engine uses this block material with great success. Compacted Graphite Iron is lightweight and still offers great rigidity and durability. These weight savings help the Jeep Gladiator Diesel get better fuel economy. A CGI bedplate is also used for further strengthening of the block.
V-6 DOHC
The engine configuration itself is a 60-Degree V-6 DOHC design. DOHC stands for Dual Overhead Camshafts. These Camshafts are chain-driven and have roller-finger followers. The heads are made of heat-treated Aluminum alloy which helps contribute to lower NVH and friction. Four valves are found per cylinder for a total of twenty-four valves.
Other Key Design Elements
Other engine design elements follow the same pattern of strong, but lightweight composition. A forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods provide durability and can withstand abuse. Aluminum alloy pistons are used that are oil-cooled by jets and feature thinner rings and use a custom coating.
Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Specs
| Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Years | 2021+ |
| Engine Configuration | 60-Degree Diesel V-6 |
| Block Material | Compacted Graphite Iron |
| Cylinder Head Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Displacement | 182 Cubic Inches |
| Bore | 3.27 inches or 83 cm |
| Stroke | 3.60 inches or 92 cm |
| Compression Ratio | 16.0:1 |
| Firing Order | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| Fuel Injection | Common Rail Direct Fuel Injection, 29,000 psi (2,000 bar) Solenoid Injectors |
| Turbocharger | Water-Cooled VGT Variable Geometry Turbocharger |
| Valvetrain | Chain-Driven DOHC (Dual Overhead Camshafts), 24 Valves, Hydraulic lash adjusters with roller finger followers |
| Transmission | TorqueFlite 8HP75 8-Speed Automatic /w Overdrive |
| Oil Capacity | 9.0 Quarts (8.5 Liters) |
| Coolant Capacity | 12.3 Quarts (11.8 Liters) |
| Fuel | Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 18.3 Gallons |
| DEF Tank Capacity | 5.1 Gallons |
| Horsepower | 260 horsepower @ 3,600 rpm |
| Torque | 442 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400 rpm |
| Max Engine Speed | 4,600 rpm |
| Fuel Economy (MAX) | 22 City – 28 Highway – 24 Combined |
| Emissions Systems | Dual-Loop Exhaust Gas Recirculation System, SCR /w UREA Injection, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, Diesel Particulate Filter |
For more complete information regarding off-road capabilities, cabin specs, and more, visit our Comprehensive Guide to the Jeep Gladiator Truck.
Jeep Gladiator Diesel Performance
As mentioned above, Jeep Gladiators with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine have 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque from the factory. The torque alone is over 150 lb-ft more than the 3.6L Pentastar V-6 engine. This is part of the reason why the EcoDiesel Gladiator is my powertrain of choice. As a Diesel engine, there are also significantly more and easier performance gains to be had. Already, there are 3.0L EcoDiesel tuning solutions that can boost horsepower and torque much higher than stock. There are also turbo upgrades and other mods that can send horsepower and torque through the roof too! Visit our 10 Best Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Performance Upgrades post for some of the best mods you can do to improve power, fuel economy, and reliability on your Diesel Jeep Gladiator.
Highly advanced water-cooled Variable Geometry Turbocharging and direct fuel injection contribute to the 3.0L Ecodiesel’s already impressive efficiency and performance. While the EcoDiesel is powerful for a relatively modest 3.0-Liter engine, it is also extremely clean. Using the latest emissions technology, the third generation EcoDiesel very low-emitting and protect the environment.
Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Fuel Economy
The 3.0L EcoDiesel engine offers significantly better fuel economy than the 3.6L Pentastar V-6 engine. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator with the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine gets 22 miles per gallon in the city, 28 miles per gallon on the highway, and a combined total of 24 miles per gallon.
| 2021 Jeep Gladiator Powertrains | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG |
| 3.6L V-6 Pentastar (Auto Transmission) | 17 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg |
| 3.6L V-6 Pentastar (Manual Transmission) | 16 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg |
| 3.0L V-6 EcoDiesel (Auto Transmission) | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | 24 mpg |
| 3.0L V-6 EcoDiesel (Rubicon Auto Transmission) | 21 mpg | 27 mpg | 24 mpg |
Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel Towing
While the 3.6L Pentastar engine offers a higher max towing capacity, the 3.0L EcoDiesel should still be considered the better engine for towing. Jeep Gladiators with the EcoDiesel engine reach peak torque at only 1,400 rpm, which is significantly faster than the Pentastar gasoline-powered engine. The EcoDiesel also offers significantly better fuel economy while towing.
Here are some towing stats based off of the 2021 model year Jeep Gladiator.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Diesel Tow Capacity & Ratings
| 2021 Jeep Gladiator | Payload | GCWR | Max Trailering Capacity |
| Gladiator Sport 3.0L EcoDiesel (Auto) 3.6L Pentastar (Man) 3.6L Pentastar (Auto) | See Below 1,325 lbs 1,700 lbs 1,535 lbs | See Below 11,800 lbs 9,100 lbs 12,800 lbs | See Below 6,500 lbs 4,000 lbs 7,650 lbs |
| Gladiator Overland 3.0L EcoDiesel 3.6L Pentastar (Man) 3.6L Pentastar (Auto) | See Below 1,275 lbs 1,140 lbs 1,120 lbs | See Below 11,800 lbs 9,100 lbs 11,100 lbs | See Below 6,500 lbs 4,000 lbs 6,000 lbs |
| Gladiator Mojave 3.6L Pentastar (Man) 3.6L Pentastar (Auto) | See Below 1,200 lbs 1,200 lbs | See Below 9,900 lbs 11,450 lbs | See Below 4,500 lbs 6,000 lbs |
| Gladiator Rubicon 3.0L EcoDiesel (Auto) 3.6L Pentastar (Man) 3.6L Pentastar (Auto) | See Below 1,075 lbs 1,200 lbs 1,160 lbs | See Below 12,100 lbs 10,000 lbs 12,450 lbs | See Below 6,000 lbs 4,500 lbs 7,000 lbs |
3.0L EcoDiesel Jeep Gladiator Model Year Changes & History
2021 Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel
3.0L EcoDiesel engine introduced on the Jeep Gladiator truck. This Diesel engine produces 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Max towing capacity is 6,500 lbs.
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ABOUT Kamil
Founder of Diesel Resource and a complete diesel head. Has a little bit of problem buying too many trucks. Learn more about him by checking out his truck.