Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here! ZJ (93-98), WJ (99-04), WK (05+)
All ZJ/WJ/WK specific tech questions asked here!

Optima Red Battery

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 11, 2015 | 04:05 PM
  #1  
Blue04's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 V6
Default Optima Red Battery

Ok I bought a new federated gold 675CCA June this year. Wasn't happen with and wanted to try a Optima because of the 800CCA/1000. Ya it's double the price of the federated one. Fit fine all good.

Changed all 6 spark plugs to NGK's about 2 weeks ago and noticed the mpg readout went from 15.2 to 15.3 in like a day. 33K from last plug change. 3 of the 6 Champion plugs were junk.

I made a 2 trips yesterday about 8 mi and noticed the mpg went to 15.6??

Then drove 15 mi around 70 mph and watched the mpg go from 15.6 ending at 18.9?? That is highest mpg I have ever seen. Bought it new, now with 93K. Original Starter & Alternator

Did it need to go on the hwy that bad or did the battery cause something weird?

Thanks

Last edited by Blue04; Sep 11, 2015 at 04:15 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2015 | 04:10 PM
  #2  
alpine.adrenaline's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 12
From: 9000 ft, CO
Year: 1999 XJ
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Default

Optima FTW- you're probably getting better spark now with the extra juice and those Champions. More complete burning of fuel. Nice.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2015 | 04:26 PM
  #3  
Blue04's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 V6
Default

Well, that's great if all it took was to swap out a Battery. I have a habit of buying parts from a little local auto shop in town. They carry 1 simple line of batteries and always say oh thats plenty of power to start that. Kinda wondered why places like Advance carry Optima's. Do people really buy $180-$220 batteries? I guess so
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2015 | 05:32 PM
  #4  
alpine.adrenaline's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 12
From: 9000 ft, CO
Year: 1999 XJ
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Default

Originally Posted by Blue04
Well, that's great if all it took was to swap out a Battery. I have a habit of buying parts from a little local auto shop in town. They carry 1 simple line of batteries and always say oh thats plenty of power to start that. Kinda wondered why places like Advance carry Optima's. Do people really buy $180-$220 batteries? I guess so
Heck yeah, I'm running a yellow top and red top in my XJ, still strong after 3 years.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2015 | 06:32 PM
  #5  
caged's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 100
From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

i have red tops in all my jeeps and a huge yellow top in... my minivan. yep. lol.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2015 | 12:28 AM
  #6  
dave1123's Avatar
Old fart with a wrench
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 740
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

I really hate to burst your bubble, but a battery is just an electrical storage device. I don't think it has anything to do with fuel mileage. It does help starting and electrical load carrying ability, but I doubt it does anything to make a hotter spark. It's probably the NGKs.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2015 | 10:30 AM
  #7  
Blue04's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 V6
Default

All I can say is the the NGK's netted a .1 increase in mpg last month according to the on board computer with the non optima battery. I will be doing a mileage check the next time I fill up. Also, have been running ethanol free fuel. Not anything wild like Shell 93 just 87. Will be back with an update.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2015 | 10:49 AM
  #8  
XJPat's Avatar
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Central Jersey
Year: 91
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6 H.O.
Default

Originally Posted by Blue04
All I can say is the the NGK's netted a .1 increase in mpg last month according to the on board computer with the non optima battery. I will be doing a mileage check the next time I fill up. Also, have been running ethanol free fuel. Not anything wild like Shell 93 just 87. Will be back with an update.
Those trip computers aren't that exact but it was a combination of both your highway driving and ethanol free fuel.

Last edited by XJPat; Sep 12, 2015 at 10:52 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2015 | 10:54 AM
  #9  
dave1123's Avatar
Old fart with a wrench
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 740
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

My WJ is running BFG 245/70R16 Rugged Terrain A/T's with 3.55 gearing and a new head with valves and lifters. It's got 178K miles on it and I use 87 octane E10. On a 3 hour run to Rochester and back at 70 mph with all the windows down, I got 20.5 mpg actual, not VIC recorded. That's amazing to me. AND the lock-up converter doesn't work! That's with Champion plugs and a Fram air filter. Normal driving I get around 14-16 mpg.

Of course, in the winter when doing my newspaper route, that goes down to about 12 mpg. That's with lots of idling and 375 stops, u-turns and k-turns. On Sundays I carry about 3/4 ton of paper in it.

Last edited by dave1123; Sep 12, 2015 at 10:57 AM.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Zerocyde
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
45
Jun 29, 2022 05:51 PM
Fubar92627
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
3
Sep 16, 2015 01:03 AM
AM2G
Introductions
4
Sep 10, 2015 12:34 PM
nrwphoto
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
Sep 9, 2015 10:41 PM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:18 AM.