How to get 20mpg+ on 37’s/ECU basics 5/5 up @ 60-70mph with V6 3.6L

[Jtschnel]

Back home from 3 1/2 month motorhome road trip and starting to do upgrades suggested here.

First one done this week, had JTR gears changed from 4.10 to 4.88’s. Responsiveness from stop feels much more appropriate and first small test on highway at approximately 65mph had trans using 7th & 8th where it was 6th & 7th before. Stock tires were previously replaced with 37/13.50R20 Milestar Patagonia MT Tires.

I’m hoping to get the Holley intake installed this week, and exhaust if it shows up.

Still waiting for response from Superchips to see if TD2 addresses pedal issue like the Pulsar is supposed to do. To date, have only used TD2 to adjust for tire size. Once the rest is installed I’ll try remapping, probably use 91 map.

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[krweatherl]

I was hoping to have more to report about my upgrades by now. Ordered the same intake, filter and exhaust February 15th, so far the intake and filter have been in for over a month (no real change). The AWE website still shows my exhaust “in production” and I’m getting no answer nor response to my phone calls and emails (hopefully soon). I’m waiting to order the Pulsar until I see v4 shipping. Anyway We took a 700 mile round trip excursion to eastern Oregon and back this past weekend pulling our new NoBo 10.5 trailer with a RTT on top (2200lb). Most of the trip saw 30-40mph headwinds and there are multiple passes to pull, we averaged 8.9mpg. My local driving to and from work I’m seeing 14.

I should have my AWE exhaust installed next Saturday. I should have posted an update sooner, finally spoke to someone at AWE late last week and received notice from FedEx yesterday with a scheduled delivery for next Thursday. Dave/AWE contacted me today apologizing for not seeing my comments sooner and offered check into this for me. Now that’s customer service, thank you Dave.

 

[KurtP]

Update: v4 shit the bed and went back to pulsar. Superchips has been great to work with, but that platform just cant get right. It seems really hit or miss. My v3 was fine aside from occasionally dropping ess memory. No other issues. My v4 started strong and the other beta test units are running fine. Mine just randomly started throwing a start stop battery fault when id drop the pedal to WOT after weeks of all weather use on and off road with zero problems. Like how on earth is that related?

Its just too hit or miss to recommend wholesale. You might get ine thats fine, you might not. Surprise!

I think flashing these things is the only way to go right now. Superchips has some flashing options and boxes that provide other good tools. Livernois probably has the best ecu flash from a mapping point of view and they can also tune the transmission, which is great for a gladiator.

Im wondering if one of the issues with pulsar is due to the different OS formats randomly in different ecu. Like not all trucks have the same OS, so the tunes need to be built for the correct one. Only thing i can think of is that v3 was based on my os and v4 wasnt, but i have zero insight.

Superchips was good about it, apologized for the inconvenience, and offered either a refund or a flash tool format. I dont have a bad thing to say about them, just a bummer the pulsar cant be consistent.

Interestingly i did my normal route without the pulsar yesterday and came in 2mpg short of usual.

On to bigger and better things....Magnuson.

 

[krweatherl]

Kurt your update couldn’t have been more timely if we’d planned it. With my exhaust scheduled for delivery next week I was going to ask if you had any Pulsar news.

 

[Spur]

Well that sucks. Had great hope for the pulsar. Don’t want to crack the ECU at this point and potentially void the warranty with livernois. Guess I will just stay stock for a while.

 

[KurtP]

Well that sucks. Had great hope for the pulsar. Don’t want to crack the ECU at this point and potentially void the warranty with livernois. Guess I will just stay stock for a while.

Yeah. I get it. Best bet would be a spare ecu, but if its engine performance related it would likely not be covered.

I suppose a counter argument is that cars that are tuned correctly are less likely to have detonation/running issues, but the plug and play was my reason for pulsar.

 

[cecaa850]

Yeah. I get it. Best bet would be a spare ecu, but if its engine performance related it would likely not be covered.

I suppose a counter argument is that cars that are tuned correctly are less likely to have detonation/running issues, but the plug and play was my reason for pulsar.

So I'm assuming that range is no longer a concern with you now that you're going with a blower?

 

[KurtP]

So I'm assuming that range is no longer a concern with you now that you're going with a blower?

I think my economy will be as good with the blower as it was with just a tune, and probably better when laden down/at elevation....its all in the tuning.

 

[cecaa850]

I think my economy will be as good with the blower as it was with just a tune, and probably better when laden down/at elevation....its all in the tuning.

Nice. Keep us posted.

 

[KurtP]

Nice. Keep us posted.

I will. Ill have a chance to do the same route i normally do.

 

[spectre6000]

Well, that's a bummer. Read through 19 pages only to find that the most critical component is a no-go...

I come from a slightly different tuning paradigm than Kurt. Has LOP tuning made it to these corners of the automotive world yet? If fuel economy is the goal, especially in a vehicle with known cooling limitations, LOP tuning seems like a home run.

Also, for others at altitude, the altitude should net you some MPG gains on its own. Air is less dense at a rate of 3%/1K' above sea level. That decreased density means less oxygen per volume of air means less fuel injected means better mpg. You also get less power, but if you can keep your foot out of it, you should have no trouble getting pretty decent fuel economy. Forced induction is not necessary unless power is your primary goal.

 

[Jtschnel]

Well, finally getting to some of the upgrades that were presented throughout this thread and for which I had high hopes. We’ll see, I guess.

AWE exhaust is on, louder than I expected but told it doesn’t drone so loud inside to be an issue. Had Holly CAI ordered but still not in. Gent doing the work for me put on AFE CAI instead, said flow was similar and that I could have the holly if I wanted it when it finally comes in. AFE CAI does look good but haven’t compared flow numbers yet. Gears changed to 4.11’s. Used TrailDash2, remapped with 91 map.

Although I haven’t been the one to do so since I don’t have it back yet, about 40 miles put on the JT by the gent doing the work per my request. Report was it drove very well, nothing negative to report. Initial report on mileage was around 17-18 (guess that could be a negative). Disappointing, but feel the sample is too small to put any faith in at this early stage. That’s what I’m saying now to feel better.

A Jeep Jamboree we’re attending later this year requires participants have a GMRS radio. Had them keep the Jeep until radio installed. Ended up with overhead Molle panel and Midland MXT275VP4. Happy with it.

All good and getting ready to pick up when I get a call saying the wipers wouldn’t turn off and the turn signals stopped working. Tech said he did some preliminary research on the net, possibly something about failing module in steering column. Its going to a dealer tomorrow to read codes, etc.

So my question is, anybody else had any similar issues with turn signals and wipers? And anybody have any experience with AFE CAI?

 

[ZeekDaFreak]

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[cecaa850]

All good and getting ready to pick up when I get a call saying the wipers wouldn’t turn off and the turn signals stopped working. Tech said he did some preliminary research on the net, possibly something about failing module in steering column. Its going to a dealer tomorrow to read codes, etc.

So my question is, anybody else had any similar issues with turn signals and wipers? And anybody have any experience with AFE CAI?

I'm a skeptic and don't believe in coincidence. They installed an aftermarket GMRS radio and now you are having a strange electrical problem. They may have tied into a bus wire or grabbed power from somewhere they shouldn't have. Maybe ran a screw through a harness, who knows? Hopefully it'll get figured out soon for you.

 

[Jtschnel]

I'm a skeptic and don't believe in coincidence. They installed an aftermarket GMRS radio and now you are having a strange electrical problem. They may have tied into a bus wire or grabbed power from somewhere they shouldn't have. Maybe ran a screw through a harness, who knows? Hopefully it'll get figured out soon for you.

Even though the gent that has been doing the upgrades for me is the consummate professional and has been very careful and attentive throughout, my initial concern was very similar to what you stated. Compared to some of the other issues I've read about, I was very lucky. From what I can gather, it ended up a fuse was blown, one driving the CAN bus or at least one of the segments. According to the dealer it was taken to, with the loss of the CAN Bus there are certain defaults that occur for safety reasons. One of those ends up with the wipers turned on (I guess in case the bus is lost during the rain you wouldn't' want them off), and another is no turn signals(again, I guess if its lost with the signals on you don't want them to stay on while you drive to a dealer to have it serviced). From one point, it sorta makes sense when compared to the "can't backup with door open" thing.

The gent doing the upgrades took responsibility, said the only thing he can figure is that he must have inadvertently shorted a wire while installing the power lead to the radio.

So ... a fuse replacement and all is running correctly. At least to this point I haven't found any other issues..

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