Is 23mpg a pipe dream?

[dchemphill1]

Best way to increase MPG… just drive downhill only. It’s the uphills that get you every time, damnit.

.... sell your Jeep

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[Sean L]

Brand new 2024 Willys 4 door 3.6 auto soft top here. Theoretically, my vehicle is rated at 23mpg highway. I only have 400 miles on it so I realize it's a brand new engine and mileage should increase a little once it's good and broken in, but I'm guessing this thing will never see 23mpg on the highway. Not with these heavy 33" tires and a 4.10 rear end. Maybe a 2 door sport with street tires, but not this Willys. Are there any 2024 Willys 4 door, 3.6, autos getting 23mpg on the highway? My work commute is all highway, 23 miles each way. I tried to hypermile it the other day. Didn't go over 60mph. Averaged 18.7mpg.

My Sahara is on the same tires, and on the highway will do low 20s. It would do high 20s on the factory 32s. The MTs certainly aren't doing the mileage a favor but I find that 65 MPH on the highway is where you'll get the best MPG, even with those Falkens.

 

[Brsox]

fuel prices are much different here.
it's all more expensive, but Diesel is barely above the price of Premium, and occasionally even lower.

in stock trim i saw 28.5mpg in my EcoDiesel if not booting it down the highway. now, with a few inches of lift and 37s and an RTT, i still typically see 20+ (again, unless booting it; MPG falls off rapidly at speed).

but you've got a couple of commonly repeated misconceptions here.
it doesn't matter much since you can't buy a new on anymore, but the "$4000 upcharge" you refers to wasn't fair; that's the difference between a manual trans gasser and the diesel with an automatic. the Diesel adds much less if you compare it to another Automatic.
it also does not take into account the fact that the EcoD upgraded to Dana 44s front and rear (M210 & M220) and steel knuckles, stock.
DEF? cheap, easy and you don't need it as often as you need washer fluid. considering i go months between top-offs of DEF, it's a non-issue.

in the end i really got the EcoD for the range it gives me more than the fuel economy, but the abundance of torque makes it a joy to drive.

We are out in LA to visit family on a fairly regular basis. I notice that it's only an additional .10 for mid grade and another .10 for premium. That's the way it used to be here, but at some point, premium and diesel ended up being $1.00 more than regular. Of course, the price for regular was almost $6 a gallon last time we were there in October. Ouch! My step daughter has a lifted Wrangler and she likes to drive fast. She spends a lot on gas. We did some off roading in the Angeles National Forest while we were out there.

 

[Astro Jeep]

I get what you're saying about the eco diesel. However, I paid $2.72 for regular yesterday. The diesel was $3.69. That's a 35% premium. I averaged 18.7 mpg the other night. I'm hoping that gets better as it breaks in. With the eco diesel, I'd have to do better than a 35% increase in mileage to be ahead of the game. That means, I'd need to be getting 25.2mpg with the diesel to break even. Anything above 25.2 would put me ahead of the game. Of course, there was, I believe, around a $4000 up charge for the diesel engine. So I'd have to make back that cost as well. Then there's the maintenance and the def fluid I'd have to buy. You've gotta love the diesel for the engine itself. Overall, the numbers just don't add up. Overall, it's a more costly setup.

Everything you said is true for most folks because they dump their vehicles after a few years. I expect my diesel to last well over 300,000 miles before I overhaul or outright replace the engine. I have already racked up over 100,000 miles on my diesel, and it is going strong with no issues. I periodically have a mech look at it, and the last mech said it was a beast, but then I take care of my stuff, and I now do all of my own fluid changes. Will I save a significant amount of money over a gasser in the long run? I don't know, but since I make many long-haul trips in a heavy Jeep, I save on fuel even though I pay more at the pump. DEF is only $4 a gallon if you get in line with the big rigs, and those drivers love to ask about the Jeep. I can go a long way on a tank of DEF. It isn't a big deal. The most significant advantages of diesel are overlanding and doing trails. Having a fully loaded Jeep weighing 6,300lbs (modified suspension) and going up 30º inclines at Moab without breaking a sweat is nice. I get about 22mpg fully loaded with an RTT. If you are getting 18mpg with the 3.6, that is still decent, and I would be happy with that. As an FYI, my diesel, sitting on 33s, was getting a real-world 32mpg on long trips before I started modifying it.

 

[Jeep Wick]

Brand new 2024 Willys 4 door 3.6 auto soft top here. Theoretically, my vehicle is rated at 23mpg highway. I only have 400 miles on it so I realize it's a brand new engine and mileage should increase a little once it's good and broken in, but I'm guessing this thing will never see 23mpg on the highway. Not with these heavy 33" tires and a 4.10 rear end. Maybe a 2 door sport with street tires, but not this Willys. Are there any 2024 Willys 4 door, 3.6, autos getting 23mpg on the highway? My work commute is all highway, 23 miles each way. I tried to hypermile it the other day. Didn't go over 60mph. Averaged 18.7mpg.

My 2 door Rubicon with 4.10 and manual trans could get 23mpg. I think you could see 20-22 once it's broken in. I was also running premium.

 

[Brsox]

Everything you said is true for most folks because they dump their vehicles after a few years. I expect my diesel to last well over 300,000 miles before I overhaul or outright replace the engine. I have already racked up over 100,000 miles on my diesel, and it is going strong with no issues. I periodically have a mech look at it, and the last mech said it was a beast, but then I take care of my stuff, and I now do all of my own fluid changes. Will I save a significant amount of money over a gasser in the long run? I don't know, but since I make many long-haul trips in a heavy Jeep, I save on fuel even though I pay more at the pump. DEF is only $4 a gallon if you get in line with the big rigs, and those drivers love to ask about the Jeep. I can go a long way on a tank of DEF. It isn't a big deal. The most significant advantages of diesel are overlanding and doing trails. Having a fully loaded Jeep weighing 6,300lbs (modified suspension) and going up 30º inclines at Moab without breaking a sweat is nice. I get about 22mpg fully loaded with an RTT. If you are getting 18mpg with the 3.6, that is still decent, and I would be happy with that. As an FYI, my diesel, sitting on 33s, was getting a real-world 32mpg on long trips before I started modifying it.

Nice! In a case like yours, I guess it's a big advantage. Diesels just never seemed to catch on here like they did in Europe. I still see those old Mercedes Diesels chugging along after decades.

 

[autotragic]

It's also worth noting that the vast majority of other vehicles out there are far more aerodynamic than a Jeep. WInd has a much more dramatic effect on MPG with the Jeep than most other vehicles.

Wind has a definite effect on MPGs for sure.

I just find it hilarious that no matter how I drive I still can't get my Jeep to get anything close to what the window sticker says.

I contend that if I've been able to get the sticker or better with every other non Jeep vehicle I've ever owned then my driving isn't the problem.

It's not that I'm upset about the fuel economy of the Wrangler but I'd appreciate if it was a realistically rated. There's no doubt that Jeep place fast and loose with fuel economy numbers.

I once had a Yukon that was rated 12 MPG City and 14 MPG highway and it pretty much always got 14 miles to the gallon even at 200,000 miles on the odometer. That stupid thing didn't care if it was around town or 80 mph on the highway it just always got 14 MPG.

 

[YBABRAT]

I am able to get 23.5 + MPG in the south VA hilly mountains. Though it's in the summer. My recipe is 89 octane and a pedal monster. I save 2.5 gallons every fill up. Also a noticble gain from 8 to 9MPG inclines to 10 to 11 MPG. Not sure if my oil has anything to do with it, but after oil change I gained up to .5ps bumpi on oil pressure. I did not take notes on first oil change but did see some 33psi and 32psi readings time to time, more often than. 31

 

[yokramer]

This was drafting my old mans RV across Alabama into Kentucky on a recent wheeling trip. There were times I saw as much as 31mpg average. I dont think I will ever get better.

 

[Zandcwhite]

You think the stock willys is bad? My gladiator mojave on 37s averages 15mpg. The wife's JLUR on 39s...12-13mpg. I'll pay to play.

 

[Remorseless]

If anything I'm more pissed at the government for letting automakers get away with putting outright lies on window stickers.

I've had cars that easily beat the window sticker I've had cars that get exactly what the window sticker says and I've had cars that get less than what the window sticker says.

The problem with that is the only vehicles that I've had that get less than what the window sticker says happen to be Jeeps.

Every single one of my other vehicles is either got what the window sticker said or better and none of them were Jeeps.

Obviously there's a disconnect somewhere.

My 3.6 auto JT is right on the money, as is my 2.0 JL. I honestly wonder if the Willys sticker here is a holdover from when the Willys had 3.45 gears? @Sean L pretty consistently sees 20s for MPG with his 3.6 auto with 3.45s and my Rubi takeoff wheels/tires.

 

[TheRaven]

It's absolutely NOT a pipe dream. Mine (4-door) did it easily in stock form, and even with a Rubicon suspension and C-rated 33's I was able to hit 22.9mph up to about 75mph on the highway. Even now with C-rated 35's on stock gears (3.45) I can hit 21.5mpg up to about 70mph on the highway.

 

[Brsox]

It's absolutely NOT a pipe dream. Mine (4-door) did it easily in stock form, and even with a Rubicon suspension and C-rated 33's I was able to hit 22.9mph up to about 75mph on the highway. Even now with C-rated 35's on stock gears (3.45) I can hit 21.5mpg up to about 70mph on the highway.

Really? Were you able to get that right off the rip or was it after a certain number of miles on the odo?

 

[Shibadog]

I really don't understand people's obsession with gas mileage. What I understand even less is why folks who are inclined to obsess over gas mileage would buy a Wrangler. It's the equivalent of a calorie-counter adopting a McDonald's-only diet.

Kinda agree. Fuel efficiency and a gas powered wrangler ain’t happening. If fuel economy is a concern don’t buy a Jeep-you will be unhappy.

 

[Remorseless]

Really? Were you able to get that right off the rip or was it after a certain number of miles on the odo?

I think the big difference to keep in mind is the gearing. My JT with the 4.10s, 3.6, and auto only ever sees ~18-19MPG. His Jeep with the 3.45s won't be as comparable to yours due to the gearing. The 3.6 needs to sit at lower RPM at highway speed to get good mileage and with 4.10s yours just won't, even in 8th.

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