Gas mileage is concerning..

[ttn333]

I'm new to this forum. I just purchased a new 2023 Gladiator Rubicon with the 6cyl engine and am averaging 14.5 (!?!) so far with 1100 miles on the odometer. 90% of my mileage is highway at 65-70 mph. This is our 4th new jeep since 2015 (all 4 door Wranglers 6 cyl. gas) and I must say I am very disappointed in the mileage of this Gladiator. The 2015 Wrangler got about 15mpg(which I expected) and the last one before this one was a 2019 Wrangler Moab which got 19-21 mpg on highway trips (with mud tires...). Should I take this thing back to the dealer for a check up? Any suggestions, comments, similar stories, or solutions would be welcome.

There's probably nothing wrong with it. You're definitely not going to get the same mpg as a lighter weight wrangler. I've gone well past "concerning", especially when gas was approaching $6 last year around here and my mpg is 12.5-13 after my regear.

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm new to this forum. I just purchased a new 2023 Gladiator Rubicon with the 6cyl engine and am averaging 14.5 (!?!) so far with 1100 miles on the odometer. 90% of my mileage is highway at 65-70 mph. This is our 4th new jeep since 2015 (all 4 door Wranglers 6 cyl. gas) and I must say I am very disappointed in the mileage of this Gladiator. The 2015 Wrangler got about 15mpg(which I expected) and the last one before this one was a 2019 Wrangler Moab which got 19-21 mpg on highway trips (with mud tires...). Should I take this thing back to the dealer for a check up? Any suggestions, comments, similar stories, or solutions would be welcome.

MPG will get better as the thing learns and parts wear-in. Mine - on both I've had - got better after about 7,000 miles or so. (a gain of a couple mpg)

Not sure how GA handles "winter gas" - but generally speaking colder temperatures drop mpg, and - winter gas is a big part of that. Mine drops a couple of mpg, varies, in the winter once winter gas is in the pumps.

So you have a new vehicle, not worn in, not fully learned, and you have winter gas and colder temperatures.

Make sure your tire inflation is right - there is a sticker on the door jamb that shows inflation for the stock tires.
In the winter around here I have to add quite a bit of air to compensate for the cold temps and get the tire inflation (psi) back up to where it should be. Otherwise, I'm on underinflated tires (you can actually see it) which causes rolling resistance.
Mine dropped down to 28 last week - from 36. I aired them back up to 36 and as it warms up again, once the temperatures settle down a bit, I'll adjust again. Too low and I start to see unusual tire wear and lower mpg.

I've found my non-highway mileage is better. Get over about 60 mph with these and mpg drops like a rock. If I have a mix of winding rural roads where my average speeds are maybe 50-60 I see a big increase in mpg. Then once I hit the interstate and have to speed up, the mpg drops.
It's a brick in the air. As aerodynamic as a freight car on a train.
All cars suffer mpg loss at speeds above about 60 or so - these suffer more of a loss than a low riding vehicle. Tall vehicles, flat vehicles, aggressive tires - all lead to wind resistance, drag.
You should be getting more than 14.5 - and I bet you will outside of winter, back on summer gas, and if you drive in rural areas with lower speeds.

Even our JLU Rubicon got about 16 mpg facing a head-wind coming back home from FL last March. Normally it's more like 20 with more moderate speeds and less wind.

 

[cranbiz]

You still are breaking in the engine.

65-70 should do you fine. Do you monitor the fuel economy screen? Just making very slight changes to your driving will boost that mileage up to 17-19 MPG. On winter fuel, in the cold, I'm now averaging 17-18 MPG. What hurts my mileage now is the runs to the fire station on an alarm as I'm not driving in the most economical style.

 

[Wildtoad]

My '21 Gladiator Willys 3.6 is getting roughly the same as the '15 2DR Sahara 3.6 I sold. MPG ranges between 18-22. I would think a Rubican would get a little worse as it's a heavier vehicle, probably bigger tires, etc.

 

[Casique]

Gas mileage depends on a lot of things. Driving habits, idle time, and foot led content.

I run about 16mpg.

 

[Rocksalt]

So I have a new JT overland and the gas mileage is not impressive. I've mainly drove in the city but really short commutes. Farthest I've taken it on the highway is maybe about 15 miles. Right now it's showing me my average is 14.3 mpg. Is this standard? Everything I've read has said it should be about 17 city, 23 highway. This is my first Jeep, so maybe this is just expected lol. But curious to see what other's have experienced!

A prius will be much more efficient

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What hurts my mileage now is the runs to the fire station on an alarm as I'm not driving in the most economical style.

Yeah, but at least those in need can count on your getting there.

A prius will be much more efficient

Yeah, but bad in winter without winter tires and the 5" clearance would be problematic here.... Their tires are highway tires made for mpg, not poor weather.

 

[Rocksalt]

Yeah, but at least those in need can count on your getting there.



Yeah, but bad in winter without winter tires and the 5" clearance would be problematic here.... Their tires are highway tires made for mpg, not poor weather.

was being facetious ... but still more efficient mpg all things considered

 

[Rocksalt]

So I have a new JT overland and the gas mileage is not impressive. I've mainly drove in the city but really short commutes. Farthest I've taken it on the highway is maybe about 15 miles. Right now it's showing me my average is 14.3 mpg. Is this standard? Everything I've read has said it should be about 17 city, 23 highway. This is my first Jeep, so maybe this is just expected lol. But curious to see what other's have experienced!

OP was talking bout HWY mileage... my Prius reply stands

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OP was talking bout HWY mileage... my Prius reply stands

Totally.
It's a truck.
It's a Jeep.

 

[BlackRuby23]

Yeah, but at least those in need can count on your getting there.



Yeah, but bad in winter without winter tires and the 5" clearance would be problematic here.... Their tires are highway tires made for mpg, not poor weather.

Beautiful pic.

 

[Rocksalt]

when folks ask me what miles per gallon... I always reply: "it is a jeep... it is about smiles per gallon"

 

[OHJeeper]

I'm new to this forum. I just purchased a new 2023 Gladiator Rubicon with the 6cyl engine and am averaging 14.5 (!?!) so far with 1100 miles on the odometer. 90% of my mileage is highway at 65-70 mph. This is our 4th new jeep since 2015 (all 4 door Wranglers 6 cyl. gas) and I must say I am very disappointed in the mileage of this Gladiator. The 2015 Wrangler got about 15mpg(which I expected) and the last one before this one was a 2019 Wrangler Moab which got 19-21 mpg on highway trips (with mud tires...). Should I take this thing back to the dealer for a check up? Any suggestions, comments, similar stories, or solutions would be welcome.

Winter gas sucks the life out of MPG on these motors... I'm averaging about the same right now. In the summer I average closer to 16 combined hwy/city and on the hwy I get about 18 and I'm running 37's.

Wait till the formulation goes back to summer blend

I use an app to track every fill up - the MPG indicator on the dash is sort of accurate, but my app consistently shows 0.5ish less MPG than the dash does.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Beautiful pic.

That's after a big snow and blow, and the tracks are my JT going up the drive to the road.
I love the look of a snow like this.
Jeeps walk right through it.
That's another thing that kills mpg - the resistance of the snow to your rolling tires.
Oh, well.

 

[aevgladitorrubi]

So I have a new JT overland and the gas mileage is not impressive. I've mainly drove in the city but really short commutes. Farthest I've taken it on the highway is maybe about 15 miles. Right now it's showing me my average is 14.3 mpg. Is this standard? Everything I've read has said it should be about 17 city, 23 highway. This is my first Jeep, so maybe this is just expected lol. But curious to see what other's have experienced!

Winter gas, gas engine-- yes, its normal. Never should have bought a Jeep if you were concerned with mpg... should have bought a diesel, I get 25 mpg on the highway with 37s and a 3" lift!

Sponsored