Okay, some of you all had asked for an update: Not sure if I should eventually start a new thread, but here it goes:
Took vehicle in beginning of January:
View attachment 7901212
So, I'm really at a loss of what to do, because I can't make this be like a part time job and keep driving back down to Regal in Atlanta, not get a loaner vehicle, and have them check it and say they can't find anything wrong with. I know @samnt650 got a new engine for what seems like the same issue, and he's connected me with techs at RDS in Philly so maybe they can interact with techs at Regal. I also don't know the process to escalate to Ineos HQ other than filing complaint with NHTSB. But I don't feel like I can safely drive it on long trips or take it off roading because I don't trust whatever is going on with the engine. Only thing I can think is that if there actually isn't anything wrong with the engine and borescope doesn't show any damage, maybe there is some faulty ECU that's getting inaccurate readings, and it thinks the engine is super hot and that's why it cut's power and makes the transmission work over time. I should have checked transfer case temperature but I don't think it was running. hot.
Took vehicle in beginning of January:
I don't daily drive this vehicle. Basically sat on trickle charger after taking it back from the dealer until scheduling appointment to get windshield replaced and software update / door button recall. Upon driving it ~3 hours down to Atlanta engine starts running hot on the highway. No warning lights come on. I only notice because throttle starts losing power, e.g. it has to struggle to maintain ~80 mph going up slight hills. So they look at it again, but they have no loaner vehicle for me, and I'm only in Atlanta for 24 hours, not sure how thorough they could go over it, but they even drove it to see if they could replicate issue and it didn't happen.
So I pick up vehicle and again after 45 minutes or so on the highway it starts running hot again. I won't say overheating because the check engine light isn't coming on. But you can see from the photo it's getting very hot. Also notice how the gear is 5. It should be 7th gear but transmission is having to downshift to keep the speed that I want. Take into account this is not a crazy-steep mountain pass out west and I'm not towing anything. I'm merely trying to maintain 80 mph on a small hill on I-85 north of Atlanta. So, I obviously back off the gas and drive slower. Engine is still running hot but not 200 degrees hot. When I get on two lane roads even going up steep hills to get into North Carolina it doesn't run as hot. I get home and when the radiator is cooled check the levels and the levels are normal.
View attachment 7901212
So, I'm really at a loss of what to do, because I can't make this be like a part time job and keep driving back down to Regal in Atlanta, not get a loaner vehicle, and have them check it and say they can't find anything wrong with. I know @samnt650 got a new engine for what seems like the same issue, and he's connected me with techs at RDS in Philly so maybe they can interact with techs at Regal. I also don't know the process to escalate to Ineos HQ other than filing complaint with NHTSB. But I don't feel like I can safely drive it on long trips or take it off roading because I don't trust whatever is going on with the engine. Only thing I can think is that if there actually isn't anything wrong with the engine and borescope doesn't show any damage, maybe there is some faulty ECU that's getting inaccurate readings, and it thinks the engine is super hot and that's why it cut's power and makes the transmission work over time. I should have checked transfer case temperature but I don't think it was running. hot.
