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Light bars and mpg's big difference

14K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  JKUR FTL 
#1 ·
We have a Rugged Ridge bar and KC Apollo lights. I just made a drive to Detroit from Saginaw Mi and my mpg sucked. I got 254 Mi out my 18gal tank which averaged 14mpg. Before the bar and lights I was getting 20-22. That's a big difference. Anyone else have the same issue?
 
#5 ·
If you want to verify if the lightbar is or is not the cause, remove it . Like others here, I find it unlikely that the lightbar is the cause of your drop in your mpg. I don't suppose you bolted the optional 4'x8' plywood sheet on, did you? :)
 
#6 ·
2011 2 door 3.5 RK lift and 35s

I went from 13.5 mpg to 18.5 mpg by adding a superchips trail dash, and at the same time added a 50 inch bar. Now of course the superchips affected my gas mileage, but I can't see me taking the bar off and getting above 20-22mpg with my setup. Something else is going on. If you need mileage, look into the traildash. It does a lot of cool stuff and is 420 bucks on Amazon.
 
#8 ·
I have the rugged ridge light bar and 5 7'' lights up top. I have a lift and heavy tires so I was sitting at 15.1 MPG lights dropped me down to at best all highway 11.5mpg. and yes Drag can cause that much of a drop. My best was 2400 RPM in 5th gear, once I went to 6th it would drop to 10.3mpg. This was tested on a 10hr drive I do every year 1st time lifted 2nd time light bar and 3rd time no light bar. My MPG were directly effected by the 7'' lights. I have 3.21 and 35's with proper gearing my MPG wont suck so bad.
 
#9 ·
A 33% drop in fuel economy sounds excessive but that setup is not fuel friendly above 50 MPH. You are effectively increasing the front area of your Jeep by 3 sq ft ( 6" x 6 ft) and making causing separation. At least fold the lights back when cruising.
 
#10 ·
mpg

when i make long interstate trips in my 2008 JK Rubicon auto trans, I get significantly better gas mileage when I literally draft behind other cars.
that's what you get when you drive a box on wheels :lmao:

My jeep is stock but I have a superchips trail dash, I run the 93 performance tune and driving on average I get 17mpg, I used to run the 87 performance tune and averaged 17mpg as well. When I run the MPG booster tune around town I average 19 to 20 mpg, but i hate the MPG booster tune it is unresponsive and super slow. Also I believe I get better gas mileage on long interstate trips with the 87 or 93 performance tune over the mpg booster tune.

From Charleston, SC to Clemson SC it takes me about 3.5 hours, Ive made this trip many times being a student at Clemson University and being from Charleston. It takes me on average exactly 1 full tank of gas to go one way. If I drive most of the way following another car fairly closely (Not close enough to :censored: them off) I can make it one way with about 20% gas left. If I make this trip not following any cars I have to fill up just outside of Charleston or Clemson. I usually run 70 to 80mph

So if y'all want to give it a try, ride behind someone next time you road trip in your jeep!

oh also I noticed an increase in air drag when i removed the plastic front air dam under the front bumper, this probably affected my mpg as well
 
#14 ·
40psi! On 35" tires? In MICHIGAN? You sir are bold.

When I first got my 35" tires they were aired up to 35psi. Every bump in the road was like getting punched in the kidneys, considering the roads here I was sore by the time I got home. I talked to some fellow Jeepers in my area and everybody ran between 28 & 35psi. I aired down to 30psi and now my ride feels like stock again.
 
#15 ·
My fuel economy went down by a couple of mpgs after installing my roof rack & lightbar. I bought my JKUR for it's outstanding off road capability not it's fuel economy so it doesn't bother me that much. When I am planning on going down the highway, I am easy on the throttle making the best use of the auto trans low RPM shift points & cruise control.
 
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