What Gas should I use for my XJ?
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
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From: Milton, VT
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 6
I have a 2000 XJ with a 3" lift. My father says to only put Shell or Sunoco gas for it.
One trip to my fiance's parent's place, we burnt through the entire tank of gas getting there using Shell. This was on the highway route.
This weekend, we left our doorstep and the gas light came on. Without any option, we put in $20 in Mobile gas and amazingly, even on the rocky/hill road through the mountains, it made it all the way.
This makes no sense to me.
So what gas do you guys use and why?
One trip to my fiance's parent's place, we burnt through the entire tank of gas getting there using Shell. This was on the highway route.
This weekend, we left our doorstep and the gas light came on. Without any option, we put in $20 in Mobile gas and amazingly, even on the rocky/hill road through the mountains, it made it all the way.
This makes no sense to me.
So what gas do you guys use and why?
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Schaumburg IL
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Ethanol kills mpg,so you guys should try to get non ethanol gas as much as possible.
I don't have any non ethanol stations near me so bp 91 or 93 shell v power
Premium fuels are generally higher quality,and totally worth the extra couple bucks per fillup.
It might be a placebo effect but I think the jeep runs smoother and burns less gas with the slower burning higher octane gas.
I don't have any non ethanol stations near me so bp 91 or 93 shell v power
Premium fuels are generally higher quality,and totally worth the extra couple bucks per fillup.
It might be a placebo effect but I think the jeep runs smoother and burns less gas with the slower burning higher octane gas.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 538
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From: McDonough, GA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I use 90 ethanol-free gas from the local Valero. It's the only gas station around here that has it. It made a pretty noticeable difference in my Jeep and in my brothers ram 4.7. He went from about 16 mpg to 20ish.
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Newbie
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
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From: Santa Barbara
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
The owner's manual says to use regular, not high octane. The engine is designed and tuned for regular. 89 octane is what the I6 engine wants.
My 1999 2WD Cherokee Sport gets 19 mpg in mixed around-town driving, but gets just over 25 on long freeway drives - at 75 mph average open road speeds (CA 394) with periodic 25 mph crawls through the small towns. I have well-worn all-terrain tires all around and no aerodynamics (A/C doesn't work, so the windows are always open). I do avoid fast accelerations and hard braking, and use the cruise control.
Don't "top off" the tank - your Cherokee has a vapor re-circulator like most modern cars and you can ruin it and cost yourself $$ replacing.
My 1999 2WD Cherokee Sport gets 19 mpg in mixed around-town driving, but gets just over 25 on long freeway drives - at 75 mph average open road speeds (CA 394) with periodic 25 mph crawls through the small towns. I have well-worn all-terrain tires all around and no aerodynamics (A/C doesn't work, so the windows are always open). I do avoid fast accelerations and hard braking, and use the cruise control.
Don't "top off" the tank - your Cherokee has a vapor re-circulator like most modern cars and you can ruin it and cost yourself $$ replacing.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Russellville, Arkansas
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I-6
So far, I have just used whatever is cheapest (usually from Wally-World (they are Murphy)). I have run their premium (93 octane) and their regular (89 octane) and can't really tell the difference with the E10 that they sell. There are two places here in town that sell ethanol free and I am going to run some of it on my next fill-up. With everything that I hear, THAT should help my mileage and be better for my XJ.
The ethanol free has some merit. I forgot to reset my clock when I filled up BUT after two 35 mile round trips pulling a 5x8 trailer of sod and a week of city driving I'm currently just under a half tank..
Other wise the cheapest 89 you can find.
Other wise the cheapest 89 you can find.
Ethanol will wreak havoc over time on older motors that were never designed with it in mind. You won't notice any big performance gains but your motor will thank you for not using it in the long run.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,592
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From: oregon
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho 99 intake ps pump 1" tb spacer 62mm bored tb eletric fans and more
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 1
From: Nashville, TN
Year: 1997, 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
There are a limited number of refiners in the US. Gas from the refineries are pretty much equal. The issue comes at the station level where contaminants and water can come into it. I get gas from any major station and tend to avoid mom and pop type places (yeah I know it's not a good idea to support corporations over small businesses).
Herp Derp Jerp

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
There are a limited number of refiners in the US. Gas from the refineries are pretty much equal. The issue comes at the station level where contaminants and water can come into it. I get gas from any major station and tend to avoid mom and pop type places (yeah I know it's not a good idea to support corporations over small businesses).
My owners manual states quite clearly that use of up to 10% is acceptable and will not void the warranty. It does say that any use of METHANOL is verboten. This is commonly found in gas line antifreeze.
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