Manual Transmission Owners, what MPG are you getting in 1st and 2nd gear?

[Afternoon Spray]

2024 JTR 6MT owner here. I've been trying to pay more attention to MPG to get a sense of whether its my driving style thats causing my MPG to be so low compared to the rest of you. I noticed that for the brief moment I'm in 1st gear my MPG is at 1-2 and in 2nd gear its usually 3-5 MPG. Even when I try to coast and stay in 2nd gear at the 10-15 MPH range it never gets above 7MPG. Is that normal for the rest of you?

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[Zachattack50]

Numbers during acceleration are really not applicable to anything. Its an educated guess by the system, looking at load, tps positions, fuel trims and what not. If I am accelerating normally, the instant milage stays about 7-9mpg until I "plane off" at cruising speed. With 5.13's and 37's i sit at an average 16mpg for around town cruising.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

Numbers during acceleration are really not applicable to anything. Its an educated guess by the system, looking at load, tps positions, fuel trims and what not. If I am accelerating normally, the instant milage stays about 7-9mpg until I "plane off" at cruising speed. With 5.13's and 37's i sit at an average 16mpg for around town cruising.

That makes sense about accelerating, thanks. My next issues it that those brief acceleration moments seem to tank my average MPG a lot more than the lengthy driving at 16-20 MPG raises it back up.

 

[Zachattack50]

Its an average, so the shorter the trips around town starting and stopping the lower the average, usually. In order to average 15-16 that means you need to be above that for more of the time, to pull the average up.

 

[Jeeper44mag]

That makes sense about accelerating, thanks. My next issues it that those brief acceleration moments seem to tank my average MPG a lot more than the lengthy driving at 16-20 MPG raises it back up.

Yep. That's the way it works. Going from zero to 50 is where you lose all your mpg's. Learn to coast out of gear to stop lights as much as possible when you have to. Also, side note... that MT isn't likely to out-mpg the 8 speed auto with it's higher overdrive ratio.

Here are some tips below:

1) Maximum tire pressure without overinflation. (~37psi for my JTR).
2) Minimize time running while parked. ie. Don't crank it up and then sit there while messing with your phone, etc. & shut it off as soon as you arrive.
3) Accelerate gently... like you have a raw egg between your foot & the accelerator pedal. I only accelerate (very gently) up to ~30 mph, and then engage the cruise control & any subsequent acceleration is done 1mph at a time via the cruise control. (May be different for a manual)
4) Minimal acceleration while going uphill. Preferably just hold the throttle steady, and let it lose a mph or 3 while climbing hills. Make the speed back up when on level ground or going downhill. The 3.6L is great for just maintaining speed on flat ground, but gets very thirsty under acceleration.
5) Keep speed <60mph. Under 55 even better. 35-53 is the magic range. Remember that you have no aerodynamics. 46-52mph is your *ideal* speed *if* it won't cause you to have to slow down soon afterwards to time the next traffic light.
6) Time your approach to traffic lights. If you have to come to a stop, you timed it wrong. Plan ahead. You want to brake as little as possible. If you have to brake, it means you should have let off the gas sooner, or lowered your speed earlier.
7) If on level ground, use your cruise control as much as possible, and only increase/decrease in 1 mph increments little by little.
8) Keep your gauge set to the dial that shows your mileage, both overall & current as a constant reminder.
9) Any steep enough hill, as you round the top of the hill let off early enough to coast down the hill without touching the brakes if possible.
10) A tonneau cover will help slightly at highway speeds.
11) Minimize weight. Don't lug around extra weight if it's not needed. ie. Throw most of your recovery gear in the shed until your next off-road expedition.
12) Stick with near stock overall gearing ratios.

When I'm in the mood to do all this to maximize mileage, then I've gotten as much as 25 mpg for a tankful, but honestly, that sort of driving isn't fun. I normally get ~21-23 mpg with 21 mpg being more common.

 

[loganjeeps]

I'm pretty much 16 mpg around town. 20-22 mpg on highway trips depending on the terrain.

 

[Zachattack50]

I should add, I'm usually 20-25psi for on road with the 37's when hitting 16mpg, I saw no improvement going to 35psi, only ride quality and contact patch suffered.

 

[Lasdar]

I get 22 mpg in the city. But I have been driving a manual for decades now, coasting as much as possible and live in a hilly city. Coast down every hill out of gear, brake lighly, don't floor it unless there's an urgent need to get out of something's path.
No soft tires, full inflation, stock tires. I have a tauno. I am barely in 1st or 2nd. Most of my drive time is 3 and 4th. Nearly all the street I drive are 40 mph speedlimit, probably the biggest difference is seldom going below 30. I also avoid rush hour as much as possible, commute earlier than the rush so less sitting at or starting from stoplights.
If I get stuck in heavy traffic my mpg never falls below 19.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

I get 22 mpg in the city. But I have been driving a manual for decades now, coasting as much as possible and live in a hilly city. Coast down every hill out of gear, brake lighly, don't floor it unless there's an urgent need to get out of something's path.
No soft tires, full inflation, stock tires. I have a tauno. I am barely in 1st or 2nd. Most of my drive time is 3 and 4th. Nearly all the street I drive are 40 mph speedlimit, probably the biggest difference is seldom going below 30. I also avoid rush hour as much as possible, commute earlier than the rush so less sitting at or starting from stoplights.
If I get stuck in heavy traffic my mpg never falls below 19.

I drive exactly as you describe and I sit between 14.5 and 15.2 mpg in my ‘24 manual rubicon. I know it’s not a huge amount but I’d be happy with 16-17 let alone the 22 you’re getting. I think I’ll just turn off the mpg tracking on the dash and forget about it for a while.

 

[Lasdar]

I just remembered I did make 2 mods, the ess is permanently hood disabled (button never activates it), and I have a K&N air filter. Maybe one of those is the difference.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I drive exactly as you describe and I sit between 14.5 and 15.2 mpg in my ‘24 manual rubicon. I know it’s not a huge amount but I’d be happy with 16-17 let alone the 22 you’re getting. I think I’ll just turn off the mpg tracking on the dash and forget about it for a while.

Remember that you have a Rubicon, so you have larger and heavier tires than Sport, Willys, and Overland models which will cost you a few mpgs. You won't see the numbers the guys with smaller tires see.

Also, anything over 65mph will drop your mpgs, even if short distances. Granted I have an auto and the diesel, but I can drive a 50/50 mix of city and highway and see 22-24ish if I keep highway under 60, but as soon as I see anything over 65 it'll drop to 19-20 in no time. I imagine the manual will drop even faster with the higher rpms.

 

[firemedic2714]

I have a '20 JTR. I've always averaged 15-18 whether I had the stock 33s or my current 35s. I can confirm that below 65 mph, I get 22. Anything above 65 mph on long trips drops the mpg to 16-17. I usually coast to stoplights until right before the engine lugs and the current mpg is always at 99.

 

[JMBIII]

Just returned from a road trip from Virginia to Western Montana and back. 4871 miles.
Average MPG 18.97. The highest tankful MPG was 21.33, and the lowest tankful was 14.89 MPG across
South Dakota with a 25-35 MPH headwind . Instrument trip info had 21.8 AVG.
I will admit to running at or above the posted limit. The Wyoming Highway Patrol will vouch for me on the last statement.

Lemhi Pass -7373 ft

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