So you think fuel economy and
Jeeps are mutually exclusive do you? Well, you're
right and wrong. Increasing fuel economy in your Jeep
can come from many areas. Let's be clear, though -
your Jeep WILL NEVER get 45 MPG - not even with a
tailwind & a tow. Some helpful tips can be found
below.
Many folks who are unwilling
to get rid of their less than economical Jeep, are
simply purchasing a small, fuel efficient car to handle
daily driving duties.
True,
not everyone can afford
that luxury,
but with the fuel economy of your Jeep as it is, and fuel
prices rising, can you afford not to explore the option?
Most
of this is common sense stuff, but we never do it. Try it
for one tank full of fuel sometime and see the noticable
difference - your Jeep's fuel economy WILL increase.
1
Avoid
High Speeds
As
speed increases, aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential
fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h)
will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.
2
Drive
Smoothly
By
anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration
and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as
20%. This one tip alone is gold!
3
Keep
Tires Properly Inflated
Keep
tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle
manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI,
increases fuel consumption by 1%. Think about that next
time you leave the trail at 10 psi - roughly 22 psi
under the usual recommended inflation point - there's
11% extra, easy.
4
Easy
on the A/C
When
the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the
engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%).
The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the
air conditioner. Not such a big deal on soft-tops, so
see the next point.
5
Close
your Windows
Windows
open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and
result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%. Bottom
line, if you're going to take the doors off, take the
top off too.
6
Service
Vehicle Regularly
Proper
maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty
air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels. A
switch to synthetic oil can also help with a slight,
though noticable, bump in fuel economy.
7
Use
Cruise Control
Maintaining
a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.
Next time you're going on a run, set the cruise at the
posted speed limit - watch how much less fuel you use
that day.
8
Avoid
Heavy Loads
Remove
the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack
lightly for long trips. Seriously, there's no need ot
be hauling all the tools, spare parts, hi-lift and spare
35" tire when you're going to get groceries. Sure
it's a pain to unload, but if you make it a habit when
you get home after a run, you're ready for the rest
of your life with no worries.
9
Avoid
Idling
If
you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute,
shut off the car. Restarting the Jeep uses less fuel
than letting it idle for this time. Harder on the starter,
but overall, you'll save money - think of how long you
spend idling on trail-runs - that alone is probably
a half tank of fuel a month.
10
Buy
a Beater
Lots
of folks are choosing to simply park their Jeeps during
the week and drive a fuel efficient car to and from
work. Much easier to spring for two tanks a month in
the Jeep, plus one in the economy car. Of course, it's
just as easy to fill the jeep every 5 or 6 days and
run through $200 - $300 a month for fuel. This one is
totally up to you and your wallet.
GasBuddy.com
can help you find cheap gas prices in your city.
It is comprised of 170 gas price information web
sites that help consumers find low gasoline prices.
All web sites are operated by GasBuddy. GasBuddy
has the most comprehensive listings of gas prices
anywhere by far.
Each
of GasBuddy Organization's web sites provides
a live forum for consumers to post local recent
low and high gasoline prices. This ensures a great
way to keep up-to-date on the latest changes in
your area.
Since
gasoline prices change frequently and may vary
by as much as 20 percent within only a few blocks
it is important to be able locate the service
station with the lowest priced fuel. GasBuddy
Organization web sites allow consumers to both
share information about low priced fuel with others
as well as target the lowest priced stations to
save at the pumps!
This
space provided in support of these worthwhile organizations:
