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Getting Pretty Bad MPG - JKUR 2014

5K views 57 replies 43 participants last post by  snobnk 
#1 ·
First off, I know not to expect great gas mileage out of my Jeep, I knew that going in. However, i've been getting and average of 14 MPG combined city/highway (mostly city - Los Angeles). I don't have a heavy foot, in fact, i've driven with RPMs in mind to see if I can get my mpg up to the 16-17 mpg range. It's not taking away from the fun of ownership, I'm LOVING owning the Jeep, just feel my MPGs should be a little higher.

2014 JKUR with 3,000 miles
- Stock tires aired down to 32 psi (cold)
- 1.5" wheel spacers
- no lift
- new front mid width bumper, front skid plate, winch, no other added weight
- mostly city driving

Shouldn't I be getting a little higher than 14 MPG???
 
#4 ·
My 2014 JKU Sahara w/3.73 gearing is stock and I'm getting 18-19 MPG in the city with stock tires, 37PSI and no mods yet. I would expect a slight drop if I aired down the tires and added weight. 14 seems like a bigger drop than I would expect.... What were you getting before added the bumper, winch and aired down your tires? What Octane gas are you running? I put in the cheapest 87 Octane I can find.
 
#6 ·
Rubicon tires have pretty high rolling resistance and maybe a little heavier than Sahara tires too, that is probably part of the difference. Also he still has a pretty tight engine, the tolerances should loosen up a bit over the first 20k miles and hopefully he will see 16 or so in town.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Mine is a 2013 JKR, stock tires, aired to 39 psi cold.
I run about 50/50 in town and highway. My highway driving is in the mountains, of which I drive about 70 mph average. My fuel mileage is about 20.5 average.
On take offs, I am also easy on the throttle.

Your JKUR is about 400 lbs. heavier stock apples to apples, (plus you have added extra weight bumper, winch, skid, and 32 psi), so this is part of your issue, but I would think that you should still be into the 16-17 range. I would try airing my tires up to at least the recommended 37 psi cold!!!!!!!!

Tire gauges also vary, so make sure that yours is accurate. I have 5 gauges, and only one of them was accurate, when measured against Discount Tires Master!!!!!!
 
#12 ·
Our mileage was about the same as yours at 3000 miles. It has gotten a bit better as the engine has broken in.
 
#14 ·
Try airing up the tires a bit, a few members posted their psi, I'd try increasing the pressure. It is probably the easiest most effective way there is to increase mpg. Years ago I remember a few mechanics I knew who would increase the air pressure in tires of vehicles they tuned up. It wasn't because they were checking the air, it was them hoping their customers would notice an improvement in the way the vehicle ran.
 
#16 ·
I have never gotten noticeable better mpg from new on any vehicle and I have over 20 new vehicles (cars,trucks) and over 25 new motorcycles going back to the 70's. California gas probably sucks. Other then off roading I have never averaged less then 15mpg and I live where 75mph is the norm. I have about 16000 miles on my 14 jkur. I have 2" lift 4.10 auto and 34" tires for reference. I have no trouble getting an honest 19mpg (hand figured miles/gallons) when keeping it 65-70mph. Sounds stupid but I get better mpg with the air off and windows rolled up.
 
#17 ·
"your mileage will vary..."

My JKU is a daily driver and I commute around 75/miles per day. I have a set of "street" tires for when I commute and will change the tires back to my "offroad" tires when going on trails. I will typically get 17 around town and 20-21 plus or minus when on the freeway with no hills, no headwind and keeping the speed around 55/mph. Suspension is stock but have added a Warn PowerPlant winch on front. My JKU is a 10A (2013) with 4.10 gearing.

However, when making the same trips with my "offroad" tires my average drops 3-5 mpg pretty consistently. Tire diameter for both tires is within 1/2" of each other.

KG6SLC aka Eugene
 
#18 ·
Lot of good points in here....only thing I didn't see mentioned...and it may not apply...but from what I remember about LA from 10 years ago the time of day of your commute is HUGE!! and no where else I have been anywhere (except NY City) have I seen the slow moving "rush hour traffic" you guys have....please keep that in mind when we say we get 17-19 mpg in town!! Good Luck!!
 
#22 ·
1. Cali gas sucks. I got consistantly worse mileage with both my Liberty and my Harley. Havent had the real Jeep ( my Willys lives in Ft Worth)out there yet.
2. LA traffic sucks. period. always. everytime I drive there.

My DD is a Freightliner. Has two 100 gal tanks. Cheap diesel..$3.59 × 100 gal is half a tank. Good mileage is anything over 10 mpg.
But, its also a 12.6 liter Mercedes with over 440 hp....
and a 10 speed automatic. :0)

18 gal tank for the Willys. Somewhere around 19-20 mpg if I'm not just running stop and go errands in town. And.... the top comes off! I love my little Jeepie!
I will admit. Driving in flatland does get better mileage.
 
#32 ·
3.73 Gears
33" Duratracs
2.5" Lift

I run Premium fuel and have the AEV ProCal tool set for my tire diameter.

If I get 100% gas, no Ethanol, I get 18.5MPG and if I get Ethanol Premium I get 16.9MPG.

The AEV ProCal tool is worth it just for the sake of fixing the trans shifting in my auto. I was getting about 15.8 before the reflash.
 
#33 ·
First off, I know not to expect great gas mileage out of my Jeep, I knew that going in. However, i've been getting and average of 14 MPG combined city/highway (mostly city - Los Angeles). I don't have a heavy foot, in fact, i've driven with RPMs in mind to see if I can get my mpg up to the 16-17 mpg range. It's not taking away from the fun of ownership, I'm LOVING owning the Jeep, just feel my MPGs should be a little higher.

2014 JKUR with 3,000 miles
- Stock tires aired down to 32 psi (cold)
- 1.5" wheel spacers
- no lift
- new front mid width bumper, front skid plate, winch, no other added weight
- mostly city driving

Shouldn't I be getting a little higher than 14 MPG???

Why do you have spacers with stock tires? Unless you really need spacers they are costing you MPG.

Try your stock tires at 34 PSI (cold)

Your engine is right on the verge of better gas mileage. Not great but better. Both my JKUs improved between 4-5k.
 
#34 ·
Why do you have spacers with stock tires? Unless you really need spacers they are costing you MPG. Try your stock tires at 34 PSI (cold) Your engine is right on the verge of better gas mileage. Not great but better. Both my JKUs improved between 4-5k.
I'll try that. Running spacers because I like the look of the wider stance and eventually I'm gonna get bigger tires on my stock rims and will need spacers anyways. Until then a wider stance will hold me over even at the risk of sacrificing gas mileage. I'll report back how much 34 PSI helps.
 
#35 ·
Haven't checked the mileage on the Willys yet, not even 100 miles on it. We also have an RV with a 350hp Cummins diesel. When people ask what mileage we get on it I tell them I never figured it out 'cause we are going anyway:)

I also figure if you are worried about mileage you may have picked the wrong type of transportation. Tracking your mileage is an indicator of how your ride is running though. If it drops without making any changes to it, something is wrong. Keep the tires aired up and the engine tuned up and hope for the best.

It will be interesting to see what we get with the new toy. Neither one of us stomps on the gas. Whatever it does get the Visa always fills it back up.
 
#36 ·
Who told you 14 MPG is bad for a Jeep with your combo? .. I have a stocker JKUR10A and I don't get over 14.5 city driving. Also, why did you air down to 32 psi? Pump them back up to 40 psi and see if you squeeze another .5 MPG out of the thing.

Open freeway - I can get 19 MPG... I don't see anyone with 4.10s rolling on stock 32" tires getting more than 15 MPG around town.

.
 
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