very bad gas mileage
#31
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Minnesota
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I don't think the fuel filter is your problem. Its actually the fuel pressure regulator/fuel filter. You have to drop the fuel tank to change it but that is the hardest part. I've done it twice in the last couple months. As for o2 sensors- you can get a jeep universal one that you have to wire in for 20 bucks. I bought one but have not installed it in the jeep yet. To damn cold up here in Minnesota lately. I think the rest of the guys are right.. probably your map sensor..
#33
I have a 2000 6 cyl cherokee. Since november I have been tracking my milage. Here are the results:
miles gal mpg
1/27/09 106.0 15.830 $1.58 6.7
1/06/09 134.0 15.340 $1.54 8.7
12/12/08 121.5 13.520 $1.48 9.0
11/24/08 151.6 11.118 $1.79 13.6
11/03/08 214.3 13.050 $2.30 16.4
I had a complete tune up after the 1/06 fill up. I guess I should ask my mechanic about the MAP and O2 sensors. Could it be some thing else?
miles gal mpg
1/27/09 106.0 15.830 $1.58 6.7
1/06/09 134.0 15.340 $1.54 8.7
12/12/08 121.5 13.520 $1.48 9.0
11/24/08 151.6 11.118 $1.79 13.6
11/03/08 214.3 13.050 $2.30 16.4
I had a complete tune up after the 1/06 fill up. I guess I should ask my mechanic about the MAP and O2 sensors. Could it be some thing else?
Last edited by brucinus; 01-27-2009 at 06:46 PM.
#34
CF Veteran
jeeps use more fuel during winter months. due to both the winter gas mix and jeep mechanical issues. if you live in snow country, of course...
during a cold start, the jeep will use more fuel until it warms up to operating temps.
also, if you have your heat on defrost, that will use the AC compressor thus using more fuel too. the same as if you have it on max air.
add that to idling your jeep to warm it up before you go out...
this is why i'm only getting about 250 - 300km to a tank in my tj. 4L 5spd on 33's with 3.73 gears.
during a cold start, the jeep will use more fuel until it warms up to operating temps.
also, if you have your heat on defrost, that will use the AC compressor thus using more fuel too. the same as if you have it on max air.
add that to idling your jeep to warm it up before you go out...
this is why i'm only getting about 250 - 300km to a tank in my tj. 4L 5spd on 33's with 3.73 gears.
#36
jeeps use more fuel during winter months. due to both the winter gas mix and jeep mechanical issues. if you live in snow country, of course...
during a cold start, the jeep will use more fuel until it warms up to operating temps.
also, if you have your heat on defrost, that will use the AC compressor thus using more fuel too. the same as if you have it on max air.
add that to idling your jeep to warm it up before you go out...
this is why i'm only getting about 250 - 300km to a tank in my tj. 4L 5spd on 33's with 3.73 gears.
during a cold start, the jeep will use more fuel until it warms up to operating temps.
also, if you have your heat on defrost, that will use the AC compressor thus using more fuel too. the same as if you have it on max air.
add that to idling your jeep to warm it up before you go out...
this is why i'm only getting about 250 - 300km to a tank in my tj. 4L 5spd on 33's with 3.73 gears.
I was wondering if the odometer was hosed.
I had a "74" Chrysler New Yorker that got better milage.
#39
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I'm back with an update as promised. Replaced the "upstream" O2 sensor a week ago. Averaged 13.75 MPG on the last full tank of gas since the install. I didn't use 4wd, and I did my best to conserve gas. I also checked my odometer against highway mile markers to make sure that my slightly oversized tires weren't screwing w/ the numbers. Odometer registers 3% low, or 97 mi for every 100 traveled, so this isn't much of a factor.
I could only find one O2 sensor on my '98 4.0L, the one right on the manifold, and there's only one mentioned in the Hanes repair manual too. I don't have my original owners manual.
So in summary, I started out w/ about 12 MPG and by doing: complete tune up, new O2 sensor, and ran a bottle of SeaFoam through w/ gas it improved to 13.75 MPG.
A friend of mine in NC says she gets 16-17 city and 22 hwy consistantly, averaging 300-350 mi/tank. This leads me to believe that there's still something wrong w/ mine... unless she's got a 4-banger and just doesn't know it. Anyway, I'll gladly listen to any other suggestions you guys might have. Thanks
I could only find one O2 sensor on my '98 4.0L, the one right on the manifold, and there's only one mentioned in the Hanes repair manual too. I don't have my original owners manual.
So in summary, I started out w/ about 12 MPG and by doing: complete tune up, new O2 sensor, and ran a bottle of SeaFoam through w/ gas it improved to 13.75 MPG.
A friend of mine in NC says she gets 16-17 city and 22 hwy consistantly, averaging 300-350 mi/tank. This leads me to believe that there's still something wrong w/ mine... unless she's got a 4-banger and just doesn't know it. Anyway, I'll gladly listen to any other suggestions you guys might have. Thanks
#41
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Location: Hollidaysburg, PA
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 lt. 242 cu.in.
Cracked exhaust manifold would throw the o2 sensor wayy off. for instance your jeep could be running fine but the o2 sensor would get a bad reading cause the amount gases going into it are false, causing the pcm to put more fuel into the mix.
#42
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Location: Finley,TN
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I'm back with an update as promised. Replaced the "upstream" O2 sensor a week ago. Averaged 13.75 MPG on the last full tank of gas since the install. I didn't use 4wd, and I did my best to conserve gas. I also checked my odometer against highway mile markers to make sure that my slightly oversized tires weren't screwing w/ the numbers. Odometer registers 3% low, or 97 mi for every 100 traveled, so this isn't much of a factor.
I could only find one O2 sensor on my '98 4.0L, the one right on the manifold, and there's only one mentioned in the Hanes repair manual too. I don't have my original owners manual.
So in summary, I started out w/ about 12 MPG and by doing: complete tune up, new O2 sensor, and ran a bottle of SeaFoam through w/ gas it improved to 13.75 MPG.
A friend of mine in NC says she gets 16-17 city and 22 hwy consistantly, averaging 300-350 mi/tank. This leads me to believe that there's still something wrong w/ mine... unless she's got a 4-banger and just doesn't know it. Anyway, I'll gladly listen to any other suggestions you guys might have. Thanks
I could only find one O2 sensor on my '98 4.0L, the one right on the manifold, and there's only one mentioned in the Hanes repair manual too. I don't have my original owners manual.
So in summary, I started out w/ about 12 MPG and by doing: complete tune up, new O2 sensor, and ran a bottle of SeaFoam through w/ gas it improved to 13.75 MPG.
A friend of mine in NC says she gets 16-17 city and 22 hwy consistantly, averaging 300-350 mi/tank. This leads me to believe that there's still something wrong w/ mine... unless she's got a 4-banger and just doesn't know it. Anyway, I'll gladly listen to any other suggestions you guys might have. Thanks
#43
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Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
On the other hand I've never replaced one on any of the vehicles (quite a few) I've owned.
Last edited by danimal; 12-27-2009 at 09:26 AM.
#44
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Location: Florida
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Here is a link to a fuel economy site, that shows your ACTUAL mileage per gallon, not the EPA mileage, which is higher.
Example, My '97 with 4.0 auto and 4WD shows 13 city, 18 hiway, with a combined average of 15mpg, (hiway/city).....ouch.
Click on this link: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
on upper left, find a car, follow the links, if you click on your model, you will get your combined and other info. This was the site that the dealers used for cash for clunkers.
Example, My '97 with 4.0 auto and 4WD shows 13 city, 18 hiway, with a combined average of 15mpg, (hiway/city).....ouch.
Click on this link: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
on upper left, find a car, follow the links, if you click on your model, you will get your combined and other info. This was the site that the dealers used for cash for clunkers.
Last edited by anomoli; 12-27-2009 at 10:43 AM.
#45
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Location: Somerville, MA-miss the south :(
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Hi I see that this topic hasnt been touched in years but I was wondering if folks ever got the mpg issue fixed and if so what was it? I recently got a jeep(1998xj 4.0) and I'm avg 200mpgs per tank last things I need to check are: o2sensor(pre-cat), map, and maybe replace CAT...
Last edited by Obsidian8; 01-30-2013 at 08:52 PM.