4cyl Wrangler MPG?

[wjeeper]

I dont have any experence with a TJ four popper but I have been driving 4cylinder YJ's for the last 9 years........... Around town and out on the trails i see little advantage to those extra 2 cylinders, it gets the job done just fine. On the interstate there is nothing wrong with going a bit slower and enjoying the journey.:smiley_drive:

Keep the RPM down in the 2200-2500 range (keeps you around 55-60 mph) and your mileage will be much better! Some random thoughts and comments from my time in the seat

• My 1995 has a freshly rebuilt motor: it gets 15-18 mpg in town and have seen 20-22 mpg highway on a few trips. Pulls canyons fine, it can usually keep up with the speed limit.
• My 1992 has a really tired motor with low compression: it managed 15 city and 15 highway and pulling canyons was a 35 mph third gear running at redline experience. :Wow1:
• Like others have said you kinda have to stand on the gas to get them to go anything over 60.........as a result they dont get any better mileage than one with a 4.0 (perhaps even worse in some situations)
• I have towed a few 1500 pound trailers with mine, its possible but its certainly not the best vehicle for the job.
• 4 poppers sure have a bad rap and around here they carry significantly lower price tags.
• Wranglers have the aerodynamics of a brick wall. Drafting semi-trucks can boost you 2-3 MPG, but you gotta get pretty close.

Hopefully I didnt ramble on too much...........

 

[Black Dog]

I do drive like a granny in the city, and on the highway I cruise at 100km/h (60mp/h) - any faster and she's not really happy and I know the mileage is much worse.

Same here, in my XJ I usually get around 16mpg combined city\highway. Our highway speed limits in Montana are 70, but when I go that fast my mileage will drop to around 14, but at 60 it stays up in the 17-18 mpg range. So for me its worth it to just leave a few extra minutes early and take my time getting to where ever I'm going.

 

[Topgun514]

My 88 XJ gets about 22 mpg highway, and I am averaging 19 total around town and highway last few tanks. Though my last one of city travel was about 15.

I can tow more but depending on how far and how long you tow for you may wanna look into something else.

I am thinking Toyota for you maybe, or Jeep Commander. Either of the choices, Tundra or 4 runner, landcruiser, or Commander, throw a 2 inch lift on all of them and some 32's on the Commander and have a sick rig.

 

[alosix]

Having driven both a bit.. I can agree with most of the other comments.

Now, for a good gas mileage 4x4, I was very happy with the parent's old 1987 s-15 jimmy 4x4 with the 2.8ltr in it. Even the 1997 4.3 my mom had after that did very well. MUCH better than my jeep.

I really liked the 4 banger comp TJ we were running though. They just seem so much easier on parts and lighter offroad.

Now.. if one installed a Neon SRT4 engine in there.....


Jason

 

[CA-RJ]

Remember that Jeep put a different 4 cylinder in the later TJ's. I think that was around 02. The 97-02 had a 2.5L while the later TJ's had a 2.4L with more horsepower.

I had a 99 4 cylinder 5 speed and with 33's and 4.88's it got 15 mpg. It was pretty slow on hills but overall it was bearable.

I had an 05 LJ Rubicon auto and with 33's and the stock 4.10's it got 15-17 on the highway.

Bottom line-- Don't kid yourself and think that any TJ/LJ is going to get you good mileage.

 

[BobA]

Keep the rover and buy a little 4cyl beater car.

 

[Lumberjack]

98 TJ, 4 chipmunks, stretched 15", 5 speed handshaker, 4.56 gears, 2" lift & 1" body lift, lots of armor, no engine mods...

265/75r16 Rocky Mountain Load E = 20 mpg - medium tire light wheel

P265/75r16 GY Wrangler RT/S = 21 mpg - light tire light wheel

33x12.50r16 Super Swamper SSR = 14 mpg, - heavy tire light wheel

Q78r15 Super Swamper TSL on steel beedlocks = 11 mpg - heavy heavy

City or Hwy doesn't seem to make much difference, maybe 1mpg

Loaded with camp gear "heavy" 0 to 60 clocked by sundial as long as its downhill - but it gets me where I want to go, just a little slower

Offroad the 4 chipmunks really shine, no complaints except for mud, just not enough umpf to clean the treads. Also really easy on drivetrain, the 4 chipmunks seem to run out of steam before parts break.

Towing ??? not sure I would want to but it would do it, just be prepared to go slooooow


Friend built a custom turbo for his chipmunks turning them into angry squirrels, 225+ hp at rear wheels with no lag, 33's, 4" lift, 4.11's - 21 to 28 mpg depending on the smile on your face:sombrero:, haven't been offroad with it yet to see if the turbo spools to fast (no lag) maybe causing drive-ability issues in technical 4 wheelin.

Note: All mpg using GPS.

 

[Storz]

Thanks again for all the replies and info, it really doesn't quite get the mileage I need out of my next vehicle so the 4cyl Wrangler is sort of out of the running.

 

[alosix]

Nice to see someone with angry squirrels.

I need to go call the Ref's to see if I can even think about doing that sort of swap to my TJ. The 4.0 is still running strong, but I'm always screwing with something

Jason

 

[redveloce]

Bottom line-- Don't kid yourself and think that any TJ/LJ is going to get you good mileage.

I was thinking that 14-18mpg WAS good mileage :sombrero:

My Range Rover Classic that I had between Jeeps got 10-12mpg, and cost me an average of $260/month in replacement parts over the 14 months I owned it. :Wow1:

I'm happy to be back in something 'economical' :smiley_drive:

 

[jeffy]

Nice to see someone with angry squirrels.

Jason

There are a lot of us but we congregate at www.4bangerjp.com.

I've been able to get into the 20's BUT and it's a big BUT, you can't drive over 55MPH. More then the lack of power, it's the aerodynamics of the breadbox at higher speeds is what really hurts the Jeep. On the trails, the 2.5L will get better mileage then the 4.0L by a fairly large amount though.

The 2.4L is a little better especially when they went with the NSG-370 6-speed. The wider gear choices allowed you to not have to lug it as much or rev up too high.

 

[Bald Biker]

I had a 97 TJ with 31" tires and a soft top. 19mpg hwy, 15 mpg city. Would not be suitable for towing

 

[Topgun514]

$260/month in replacement parts over the 14 months I owned it. :Wow1:

I'm happy to be back in something 'economical' :smiley_drive:

I do enjoy having cheaper parts, more availability of parts, and driving around with regular gas. Jeeps are tough!

 

[RedDog]

Apart from fuel economy (essentially the same as the inline 6 of the year), my 2005 2.4L twin cam 16v SE (147 hp) has a tow rating of only 1,000 lbs. That rating eliminates most mini tent trailers, never mind anything larger.

I love mine but don't drive much, don't go fast and don't tow. You're wise to eliminate this choice from your list.

 

[preacherman]

My 4popper TJ does great on the highway. It gets 14-15 mpg, pulls 75 no problem and has almost 300 hp. The only modification I had to make was I installed a tow bar and pull it with a truck. It's great on long trips:sombrero: