What am I doing wrong?

[Afternoon Spray]

Hi all. I recently moved up from a 2014 JKU Sahara with the 6 speed manual to a 2024 JT Rubicon with the 6 speed manual. Given that the advertised fuel efficiency is within 1-2 MPG of each other I was expecting about the same MPG. But where I was getting about 16.5-17 average (80% city driving), my Gladiator is getting me 13-13.5 doing the same driving.

Is the engine break in period affecting the MPG? Is it the mud tires? Is it how I am driving it? I would be ok with a slight drop but an almost 20% drop off in my MPG in a car that is advertised as MORE fuel efficient is a little worrying to me.

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[Gvsukids]

Is the engine break in period affecting the MPG? Is it the mud tires? Is it how I am driving it?

Yes. Maybe? Vehicle weight, different aerodynamics.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

Yes. Maybe? Vehicle weight, different aerodynamics.

I'm just a little flummoxed. I've searched the forums and see other people driving these same cars and getting 16-18 MPG in city driving. And I wouldn't even mind somewhere between 15-16 but I can't even manage 14 MPG right now.

 

[Gvsukids]

I'm just a little flummoxed. I've searched the forums and see other people driving these same cars and getting 16-18 MPG in city driving. And I wouldn't even mind somewhere between 15-16 but I can't even manage 14 MPG right now.

How many miles do you have?

 

[redfish]

City driving can be really misleading depending on where you live.
example your speed is 45 for pretty good stretches of the drive compared to hitting a stop light every 100 yards .

 

[Afternoon Spray]

How many miles do you have?

I bought it with 21 miles on it and have driven it about 250. I am almost to the 300 miles recommended for engine break in.

 

[JT1]

Hi all. I recently moved up from a 2014 JKU Sahara with the 6 speed manual to a 2024 JT Rubicon with the 6 speed manual. Given that the advertised fuel efficiency is within 1-2 MPG of each other I was expecting about the same MPG. But where I was getting about 16.5-17 average (80% city driving), my Gladiator is getting me 13-13.5 doing the same driving.

Is the engine break in period affecting the MPG? Is it the mud tires? Is it how I am driving it? I would be ok with a slight drop but an almost 20% drop off in my MPG in a car that is advertised as MORE fuel efficient is a little worrying to me.

Mine got garbage mpg until about 3500 miles, then gained about 10%. Then I regeared and lifted and went to 37s and I still get 15ish most of the time. Long 80mph turnpike runs I get high 13s or low 14s. Under 75 I get 16ish. Under 70 I get 18-19.

Rev the thing. Don't use 6th gear on the highway until you're rolling faster than 70.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

City driving can be really misleading depending on where you live.
example your speed is 45 for pretty good stretches of the drive compared to hitting a stop light every 100 yards .

I'm driving about 40-50 MPH mostly to and from work. Some days I hit more stoplights than others but not many. Rarely get on the freeway.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

Mine got garbage mpg until about 3500 miles, then gained about 10%. Then I regeared and lifted and went to 37s and I still get 15ish most of the time. Long 80mph turnpike runs I get high 13s or low 14s. Under 75 I get 16ish. Under 70 I get 18-19.

Rev the thing. Don't use 6th gear on the highway until you're rolling faster than 70.

Good to know. I might just remove the MPG tracker from my instrument cluster and drive it for a few months until I get the mileage up and re-evaluate. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Gladiatorx2]

Two of my Gladiator's that I purchased new improved by approximately 2 MPG. Mine were both auto trans though.

 

[Jaxmax]

My Mojave went from 14 mpg to 18 MPG at about 4500 miles and has stayed about the same for 32,000 total. Highway mileage is a bit better and driving in a flat state like Delaware mileage gets much better. The faster you drive after say 65-68 the mileage starts dropping ….Jack

 

[Riverdog]

your JTR will have 4.10 gearing also I believe? I think the 2014 Sahara I owned had 3.21. Also new motors get crap mileage. But between the new engine, different gear ratio and larger and more aggressive tires it seems plausible.

 

[GrubbyBaja]

2020 JTR 6MT, stock tires, OEM steel bumper w/wings removed, 43,xxx miles. 19.1 average since I started tracking September 2021 at 15,827 miles. Don't remember exactly, but my mileage did increase after 3-4k miles.

 

[Janster]

Yup..... I have a 24 Mojave - have owned it since March. I have about 3,750 miles on it currently.
The MPG's haven't been pleasing.... However.... We tow a 3,500lb boat every weekend - so that's not helping. With towing....average about 13-15 mpg per tank.

We did take a trip up to New York (not towing)...We averaged about 17mpg going anywhere from 65-80mph on 87 octane gas.

I believe it is getting better....

It gets best MPG going 40-50mph around the backroads. That was a similar situation with my previous truck. It was happiest going under 60mph.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. I will just hope that I will see some improvement after the first few thousand miles and re-evaluate after that.

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