Gas mileage in 94 Cherokee

That's what the dash idiot light in the '95 YJ is for, but it doesn't say whether the gear you are in is too high or too low, or whether to shift, slow down or speed up. I have noticed that if I keep my foot on the gas pedal it eventually goes out. ;^)

Earle

I think idiot light is one of the most appropriate references ever given a dash light. Flying AF jets I became especially sensitive to lights that flicker or suddenly come on and gauges that move unexpectedly or in an inappropriate direction so this light is especially annoying. I found out that I could make it come on, apparently identifying an upshift while in

5th gear by slowly backing off the gas pedal without slowing down. Right....

The best use for that sucker is as a spare bulb for something that has a rational meaning!

It's all stock Will, what can I say. Only 21k on the speedometer too. It has the Dana 44s font and rear with 4.11s

4 Speed auto, a little of the mileage problem, but I wouldn't imagine THAT much. I'm running 33's on it. My mileage dropped from about 14-15 when I put the winch, rock sliders and did the lift. I know the added weight is also part of it but STILL.. it's gutless as hell. That doesn't make me love it any less, but I used to have a Geo Metro 3 banger that had more get up and go. HOWEVER, when I lock it up, I have to press like hell on the brake just to get it to hold still or it will crawl right out from under me... heh heh.. yea, that's a good thing.

It does seem to run a little rich at times. I have, on more than one, occasion noticed a little sputtering while at idle right after starting it. It also has the tell tale black ring around the exhaust pipe. We were just talking about a tune up this afternoon. I'll keep track and let you know if there's a difference afterwards. It may be a little while though, gotta save up to go play in the hills next weekend.

I may go out and pull some plugs just to have a look.

K

What the heck do you have for gearing in that thing? I have the old 4.0 with the Rennix computer in my 88 MJ and I don't even bother with 1st gear when I get down below about 4000' - even 5th is usable there. Now, that engine is a good 20-25 hp below what the Mopar 4.0 has and I've got 3.07 gears in the diffs so either you're running with 35's or you need a tuneup!

I spend a good bit of time in a smaller town in central Texas where even a VW bug would chirp - I have no idea what they put in the pavement but it sure boosts the ego.

The MJ has Trac-loc in the rear end (and it still works!). With that really light back end, I get slippage on hard turns all the time.

"Earle Horton" wrote That's why they invented tube sand. 3.07 is just a little bit extreme, engineered by simple-minded fools who believed that the slower your engine was turning, the less fuel it was using. If you really want economy you will get to 80% or so of the power band and stay there. When I worked in the Dodge garage in the late 70s fuel crisis times, one of the most popular upgrades was to rip out the factory gears and install something more reasonable. I don't remember anyone complaining of gas mileage getting worse.

Cheers,

Earle

The black stuff in the tail pipe is from running a tad rich to keep combustion temperatures down and NOx emissions in check. It is intentional on the part of the manufacturer. It wouldn't hurt to check though. If you open things up with a custom intake and exhaust you may get 1-2 mpg improvement and more guts too.

Earle

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The 'worst' we ever got on the highway was 24 mpg, well 23.5 once. Usually our old 88 got better than that. 18-19 mixed driving.

It did not seem to make any measurable difference what load we had in her, we did most of our mileage checks loaded for camping.

Same for our CJ7, the load doesn't seem to make any difference, they both seem to be about pushing air.

Now a roof rack or lack of sure seemed to make a difference in mileage, and that was a measurable one.

Larger tires just lower the perceived power. The really don't make a mileage difference when you adjust the speedometer, they will even 'seem' like you get less if you don't adjust. They also lower the traction if yo9u go up in width as well as height. We were 'extremely' disappointed in the loss of winter and off road traction when we went 'up' from a P225 to a P235, it was bad...

You want to be 'really' careful about those snake oil products like platinum and split fire plugs. Most 4.2's and a lot of 4.0's run like dirt after a month of those plugs, the idle messes up and the mileage goes to crap. Not all mind you but some....

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail > taller tires will get you a few more miles so if you need them get them

Check it both ways. Audi found that with some models of Quatro they got better mileage in 4wd. Something to do with tire dynamics.