TERRIBLE Gas mileage in my 2.5L (TJ)

[gunnersmac]

Well, bought this TJ on Friday... filled it up the same day. Today (Monday) coming home I'm on 1/4 tank, and the trip says 100.6 WTF??? Stopped at the auto parts store tonight, picked up new plugs and plug wires. I'll get a new cap and rotor soon too... I can't believe how bad it is... Ugh.

What should my next steps be after all this? I checked the air filter, fluid levels, etc. all on the first day... haven't checked tire pressure yet, but 6.3 mpg??? :eek:

[korisu56]

That doesn't sound right for a stock rig. Ask 05Warrior about what he's got going on in his 4banger. He was getting pretty good gas mileage (more than you) on 35's w/ 4.88's locked.

[miljeep]

Have you tried to fill it up again to see if 3/4 of a tank was actually used? The gauge may be busted. It could be a simple fix. I don't know what size tank you have, but to make it easy, I'll say a 16 gallon tank, 1/4 left means that you burned 12 gallons for 100 miles making it about 8 miles a gallon. Damn man, here....:beer:

[05warrior]

I get around 160 miles on 10 or 11 gallons with my 4 banger. The best thing to do is go easy on the skinny pedal

[Ghost00TJ]

2.5l engins are overworked to begin with. like he said drive moderatly and keep it tuned up will help. Any tire bigger than stock will drop the mileage quick.

And remember its a JEEP not a Prius.....not known for MPG just going anywhere you want and having fun.

Whats normal for a 4cyl? 15-16MPG
My 4.0l was getting 15.5-17mpg with 30's now I run 33x12.50 and get about 12.5mpg.

[cknx77]

Ouch! Should be doing better than that! Got a gas leak somewhere? Watch out for siphoners too in some areas...May want a locking cap! The higher gas prices go, the more desperate people there will be with a siphon hose!:mad:

[Carl]

I've got a 95 2.5 with 4:56 gears and 33" tires. I get about 190 miles per tank or about 12 miles per gallon, not the best but the fun out weights the mileage.

[gunnersmac]

Thanks for the input/info everyone... changing plugs, wires, cap, and rotor today. Hope that helps. Will probably switch to my locking gas cap too. I'm only running 31x10.50's on it, shouldn't be hurting it that much. I will have to look up what size the tank is too, not sure ATM. It seems quite slow too, whats the normal top end for my style set up? I don't expect a rocket, trust me I know what I got myself into here, but it just seems a little slow(er) than most.

[korisu56]

I dunno how viable an option this is for you, but my buddy once carried a little gas can with him and ran his gas tank from fillup to empty to check his mileage. That would let you know about your sending unit, give you a picture of accurate mileage depending on your gas tank size, and let you know how many miles till empty. That way at least you know how far you could go.

[05warrior]

also, if you haven't corrected your spedometer gear since going to a bigger tire your speed and distance will be off. That won't solve all of your problems but at least you'll know more accurately your gas mileage.

[gunnersmac]

Its not a bad idea really... I've always heard that running it until dry wasn't a good idea, but it cant really hurt too much just once IMO. Might give this a try towards the end of the next tank. Thanks for the tip.

[gunnersmac]

also, if you haven't corrected your spedometer gear since going to a bigger tire your speed and distance will be off. That won't solve all of your problems but at least you'll know more accurately your gas mileage.

According to the charts out there, the difference would be so minimal though... What I've seen states something along the lines of 1-2 mph on the speed-o and a small difference in the trip/o-dom. I'm here to learn though, so if anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.
I've got to look up those tire charts again, there's a million of them out there on Google.

[05warrior]

According to the charts out there, the difference would be so minimal though... What I've seen states something along the lines of 1-2 mph on the speed-o and a small difference in the trip/o-dom. I'm here to learn though, so if anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.
I've got to look up those tire charts again, there's a million of them out there on Google.

This is just my .02 cents, but those 1-2 miles add up. It really doesn't matter except it just makes you think you are getting worse gas mileage than you think you are. Read korius65's disclaimer before you take anything I say as gospel though.

[korisu56]

Get your own disclaimer a-hole :D

[gunnersmac]

Yeah, when I read that disclaimer the other day I LMAO... its perfect. I'd like to incorporate that into what I deal with at work everyday.

I appreciate all the input here, once again... I'm new to the whole Wrangler game, so every piece of info and insight is valuable to me.

[05warrior]

Get your own disclaimer a-hole :D

I would, but your's is already typed up. And everybody already has read it.

[gunnersmac]

Wisely read it we might add... LoL j/k

[gunnersmac]

Oh, neglected to mention this... as it might add some insight to this too. My buddy and I noticed that (what we think is) the choke spring hanging loose, broken off on one end. When I bought the Jeep the guy mentioned that you have to hit the gas 2-3 times before trying the ignition, if you do it starts right up without hesitation. I have to look this up, all I have is a Haynes Manual, to make sure that's what this is, and where it connects to exactly.

[korisu56]

Hmm...something I'd definitely look into. Don't know about those kinds of motors though.

[vajeeper]

4 banger running 31.10x50's on stock gears and I get about 190 to the tank. Don't know how big my tank is though....I will pay attention at the next fill up.

[gunnersmac]

Well, got all the work done on it this afternoon... took a little bit, but its done. You guys (especially you guys with the 4 bangers...) should of warned me about that damn front plug... what a mother f**ker that was... ugh. Any tips or tricks for next time? Thank god for the socket joints (hinged.) Other than that, and a stripped screw that was holding in my cap, it wasn't too bad.
We also checked on that spring, interestingly enough... when we affixed it using a zip tie, my accelerator felt like a new car... I guess it was very spongy before, now its crisp and has more resistance. Could this have been causing my TJ to drink more of the "go juice?" Perhaps... but we also went and filled it up again, to get more accurate mileage... it ended up getting 14+/mpg... so better than I expected. I also noticed that I was under a quarter tank, filled up and it took roughly 9 gallons... could the gauge be off too?
Interested in your thoughts, my rambling is over for now...
Thanks.

[05warrior]

When I fill up normally put in 10-11.5 gallons and i have a 97 so i would imagine your right on the money.

[korisu56]

Congrats on the fix bud. Sounds like it finally worked out.

[gunnersmac]

Sure hope so korisu... can't afford to be much more wrong. lol

Thanks 05Warrior, good info to know.

[05warrior]

don't know how much help i was, but it was good for post whoring :)

[gunnersmac]

You were all of good help to me... thanks again. I went to work with my TJ today... its about 22 miles one way. Went there and back, less than 3/4 of a tank... ugh. I was babying her today too, making sure of it with each shift, easing it up the gears, etc. Not sure what else to do. I've got to look up what size this gas tank is... can anyone tell me off hand?

[05warrior]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=452871

Just carry a little gas with you and drive till it runs out. then post up and let us know. I've never put over 11.5 gallons and my gauge was sayin empty.

[gunnersmac]

Yeah man, I'm plannin' on it for this tank when it gets below a quarter. Gonna run her dry just once. Everything I'm reading says its got a 15 gal. tank. Thanks for the link, its now bookmarked.

[05warrior]

If you want more F.A.Q. info got to the Wrangler subsection on jeepforum and there is a sticky with all kinds of info.

[gunnersmac]

Cool, thanks again. I'll be checking that out for sure.

[03Sahara]

31X10.50 Will not effect the milage or speedo dramatically it is one size over the stock tire. You may consider regearing to compensate for the 4 popper. This will affect your top end though.

[gunnersmac]

Re-gearing is WAY above my head... NTM my wallet ATM.