Anyway to boost gas mileage?
02-09-2016, 07:40 AM
#16
Beach Bum
Optimization is the way I see it. No need to suffer poor gas mileage due to maintenance issues.
A prius would have trouble making it down the street around here. For me it's either the XJ or a bicycle.
A prius would have trouble making it down the street around here. For me it's either the XJ or a bicycle.
02-09-2016, 07:59 AM
#17
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Year: 1990
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Here is one of the best things you can do.
02-09-2016, 09:02 AM
#18
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Year: 2000
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Cruiser,
Any idea where to get one of those that might fit in a '97 up? If not do you have any recommendations and I can just mount it behind the steering wheel?
Any idea where to get one of those that might fit in a '97 up? If not do you have any recommendations and I can just mount it behind the steering wheel?
02-09-2016, 06:03 PM
#19
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Super easy to mount.
Jeg's, Summit, JC Whitney......
Jeg's, Summit, JC Whitney......
02-09-2016, 07:29 PM
#20
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Year: 1997
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For one, drop weight. Extra weight will kill your mpg. Don't be like me with tools in the back, 33s with a spare 33 on the rear heavy aftermarket bumper, skid plates over everything, rock sliders, aftermarket heavy front bumper, frame stiffeners, etc.... I average 11-12. I get about 220 miles per 18 gallons of gas usually. Sometimes 200.
Also, don't drive a brick on windy days
Also, don't drive a brick on windy days
Last edited by dcollins3208; 02-09-2016 at 07:36 PM.
02-09-2016, 09:39 PM
#21
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Year: 1997
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There is still a certain fuel efficiency they're capable of, and the only reasons not to get their best MPG are laziness, ignorance, stubborness.
Just because an XJ can't get 30 mpg doesn't mean that ANYONE should settle for 10 when they can get 15-20. It's stupid to waste all that gas/money.
Example: Compared to some dude who gets 12 mpg because he thinks it shouldn't matter what an XJ gets, my 18 average mpg saves me $767 per year (based on 12k miles per year at $2.30/gal). $300 savings per year over a guy with a 15 mpg XJ, and over $1200 less per year compared to a 10 mpg XJ.
I'm expecting to raise my mpg slightly higher yet as I haven't finished all the mods I've planned. It will still be as capable on/off road if not MORE capable than it is today.
Just because an XJ can't get 30 mpg doesn't mean that ANYONE should settle for 10 when they can get 15-20. It's stupid to waste all that gas/money.
Example: Compared to some dude who gets 12 mpg because he thinks it shouldn't matter what an XJ gets, my 18 average mpg saves me $767 per year (based on 12k miles per year at $2.30/gal). $300 savings per year over a guy with a 15 mpg XJ, and over $1200 less per year compared to a 10 mpg XJ.
I'm expecting to raise my mpg slightly higher yet as I haven't finished all the mods I've planned. It will still be as capable on/off road if not MORE capable than it is today.
I never said that we should strive for factory mpg. I didn't even say what number everyone should strive for. I wouldn't expect an XJ with armor, 4" lift, and 33's to average 18 mpg like me, but they sure shouldn't be settling for 10 mpg either.
I also showed just how much money one can save annually. When I got my XJ, it got about 15 mpg. Every mod and maintenance item that I've done for the sake of mpg has already paid for itself. Don't tell me that the money I spend outweighs the fuel savings when that's the exact opposite of what already happened.
Hell, just 1 mpg difference is worth almost $100 annually (based on 12k miles at $2.30/gal). I can maybe see making excuses if one's XJ only sees a few hundred to a couple thousand miles per year, but for anyone regularly driving their XJ and owning it long-term there's no excuse.
I also showed just how much money one can save annually. When I got my XJ, it got about 15 mpg. Every mod and maintenance item that I've done for the sake of mpg has already paid for itself. Don't tell me that the money I spend outweighs the fuel savings when that's the exact opposite of what already happened.
Hell, just 1 mpg difference is worth almost $100 annually (based on 12k miles at $2.30/gal). I can maybe see making excuses if one's XJ only sees a few hundred to a couple thousand miles per year, but for anyone regularly driving their XJ and owning it long-term there's no excuse.
I won't apologize for sounding harsh. If being blunt offends someone, then they probably deserve to be offended for some reason or another. I'm not always in the mood to be diplomatic and sweet, and this is one of those times that I just feel like telling it how I see it. Too often I see people making excuses for bad mpg that don't make any sense, and I'm just plain sick of those excuses. If someone wants to "opt" for worse mpg than the XJ's potential, they're free to do that, but I WILL think they are being ignorant/lazy/stubborn/whatever especially if they do it while spouting one of the cliché excuses like "it's not a Prius, so why should I care if it gets garbage mpg?" If a particular mod isn't fiscally rational or conflicts directly with some other part of a build, I'd understand, but so many things can be done that pay for themselves so quickly and do not interfere with most builds.
PS, You (Orlo) were a participant in the thread I quoted from. It is sad that you still would rather stick your head in the sand than assimilate even a small part of what I believe to be well-reasoned arguments and, worse, continue advocating that others also ignore the possibility of improving efficiency.
Last edited by mschi772; 02-10-2016 at 04:58 PM.
02-10-2016, 06:21 AM
#22
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with regular maintenance and not flooring it all the time you should see 18-20 mixed, at the least. when mine was stock on 225 tires it got 20-21 mixed more city than highway. it managed 24 on a weekend trip. mostly interstate, 76 mph with the ac blowing carrying an additional 300 or so lbs.
02-10-2016, 06:23 AM
#23
Ugh, I'd argue with you, but I'll just quote myself from the last time I argued with someone like you. As can be seen by my participation in the JeepForum thread I linked and the above quotes, I am all about keeping my XJ as efficient as reasonably possible even though I also own a 50 MPG Chevy Metro. Just because I own a vehicle that gets better gas mileage than many/most Priuses doesn't mean I let my XJ waste gas. PS, You (Orlo) were a participant in the thread I quoted from. It is sad that you still would rather stick your head in the sand than assimilate even a small part of what I believe to be well-reasoned arguments and, worse, continue advocating that others also ignore the possibility of improving efficiency.
The poster is not getting 10mpg. He's getting what most of us get with a decently maintained XJ. You made your points about maintaining your vehicle. I made my point about not expecting it to improve by any significant means. Where's the argument?
02-10-2016, 07:06 AM
#24
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I believe the OP can do better than 15 (though there is always the question of how correctly someone is calculating there mpg) which already puts you and I in disagreement. I also feel like the tone of your posts endorses complacency with mediocre efficiency which is not my cup of tea.
02-10-2016, 08:24 AM
#25
I believe the OP can do better than 15 (though there is always the question of how correctly someone is calculating there mpg) which already puts you and I in disagreement. I also feel like the tone of your posts endorses complacency with mediocre efficiency which is not my cup of tea.
This is obviously a topic that is near and dear to you. A sort of automotive religion. Well, reverend, I don't argue with another man's faith. If you want to spread the gospel and preach to the masses, go for it. Just don't apply your prejudices of über maintenance and hypermiling to XJ owners who have an understanding of the reasonable limits of fuel consumption expectations. The OP got some reasonable advice from experienced posters in this thread. If you want to preach your gospel, Start a new thread so you can enlighten all who will read it.
02-10-2016, 09:14 AM
#26
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I've refreshed almost everything I can think of that could help my mpg and I'm getting high 16 mpg in my 200k xj that sees mostly highway miles.
02-10-2016, 12:58 PM
#27
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Unsprung weight (wheels, tires, brakes, etc.) has a huge effect on acceleration and braking. Given my personal experience with my Jeep, I know it affects gas mileage as well. Like mentioned earlier, lighter wheels and OEM size tires will help a lot. Steel wheels and mudders will kill street performance and mileage, neither of which are big priorities in the Jeep community. Use high quality fluids and keep them changed regularly. Make sure your tires are aired up properly.
There are some general aero tricks, like avoiding roof racks and excessive auxiliary lighting, extend the front airdam downward, make sure the rear sits higher than the front, skinny tires, lose weight... I don't think a Jeep forum is the best place for hypermiling info, honestly. Most generic gas saving tips will work for pretty much any vehicle. Do some Google searching.
There are some general aero tricks, like avoiding roof racks and excessive auxiliary lighting, extend the front airdam downward, make sure the rear sits higher than the front, skinny tires, lose weight... I don't think a Jeep forum is the best place for hypermiling info, honestly. Most generic gas saving tips will work for pretty much any vehicle. Do some Google searching.
02-10-2016, 04:44 PM
#28
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This is obviously a topic that is near and dear to you. A sort of automotive religion. Well, reverend, I don't argue with another man's faith. If you want to spread the gospel and preach to the masses, go for it. Just don't apply your prejudices of über maintenance and hypermiling to XJ owners who have an understanding of the reasonable limits of fuel consumption expectations. The OP got some reasonable advice from experienced posters in this thread. If you want to preach your gospel, Start a new thread so you can enlighten all who will read it.
What you will find is me often telling people that they don't have to settle for less efficiency and explaining why. Sometimes you will find me telling someone with a heavily modified rig that their disappointing efficiency is unfortunately the best they can do, but I also usually tell them what they could change or would have to sacrifice in order to improve it. Often the purpose/goal of their build is in direct conflict with what they would need to do unfortunately.
I don't understand why you are placing yourself in opposition to me when my message is that efficiency often can be better (gas can be saved), that it is often very easy to do both skillfully and financially, and that I can provide lots of different approaches/ideas to utilize to that end.
Just spitballing a couple ideas at you here. How exactly are you calculating your mileage? What kind/size tires? Alignment good? Is your rear sagging? What is the makeup/condition/age of your exhaust? What is your engine's compression like these days?
Last edited by mschi772; 02-10-2016 at 04:52 PM.
02-10-2016, 06:18 PM
#29
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I did something similar in an '00. Picked it up cheap and fixed most of the issues. Was getting about 13 MPG so decided to see what I could do. Replaced all 4 O2 sensors. Justified it thinking they were original, had a 150K on them, and needed to go. Did a 4 hole injector upgrade. Swapped out my front and rear diff fluids for synthetic. Valvoline VV975. Cleaned my IAC and throttle body. New Champion Copper Tops. Went with these because I did not have any misfire or heatsoak issues that people talk about so when I went to swap the plugs I told myself whatever was in there she was getting new of. New tires. 225 75 15 Cooper Discovery HT's. Probably doing 16 maybe 17 around town and 22 MPG on a longer highway run. Now this is just a DD, totally stock, and never wheeled. I am older now those days are over. Still gotta own a Jeep though.
Sounds like you truly care for your XJ and keep it right... Nice job ! Your mileage is actually in line with a well cared for XJ.... BTW, off reading once in a while is good for the Soul, pack a lunch and have some fun... (One senior to another)
02-10-2016, 07:54 PM
#30
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Uber maintenance and hypermiling??? Look through my build thread and posts in the JF thread I linked (and any other posts of mine if you want). While I do like and discuss some extreme ideas, you'll not find me expecting the masses to adopt them; hell, even *I* haven't done anything extreme yet myself. You'll find that anything I've done personally to my XJ and anything I'd readily advocate to others is relatively inexpensive AND should pay for itself in a short to reasonable amount of time. That doesn't sound like extreme zealotry to me, just good sense. You won't find me telling people to dramatically alter their driving habits.
What you will find is me often telling people that they don't have to settle for less efficiency and explaining why. Sometimes you will find me telling someone with a heavily modified rig that their disappointing efficiency is unfortunately the best they can do, but I also usually tell them what they could change or would have to sacrifice in order to improve it. Often the purpose/goal of their build is in direct conflict with what they would need to do unfortunately.
I don't understand why you are placing yourself in opposition to me when my message is that efficiency often can be better (gas can be saved), that it is often very easy to do both skillfully and financially, and that I can provide lots of different approaches/ideas to utilize to that end.
Just spitballing a couple ideas at you here. How exactly are you calculating your mileage? What kind/size tires? Alignment good? Is your rear sagging? What is the makeup/condition/age of your exhaust? What is your engine's compression like these days?
What you will find is me often telling people that they don't have to settle for less efficiency and explaining why. Sometimes you will find me telling someone with a heavily modified rig that their disappointing efficiency is unfortunately the best they can do, but I also usually tell them what they could change or would have to sacrifice in order to improve it. Often the purpose/goal of their build is in direct conflict with what they would need to do unfortunately.
I don't understand why you are placing yourself in opposition to me when my message is that efficiency often can be better (gas can be saved), that it is often very easy to do both skillfully and financially, and that I can provide lots of different approaches/ideas to utilize to that end.
Just spitballing a couple ideas at you here. How exactly are you calculating your mileage? What kind/size tires? Alignment good? Is your rear sagging? What is the makeup/condition/age of your exhaust? What is your engine's compression like these days?