Hey all, another Jeeper checking in
 

Hello all

My name is Yahya I've been a member of Gassavers.org for about two years now, where I first learned about hypermiling as well as being introduced to various ideas of more efficient drive trains and fuel saving concepts along with energy conservation techniques (home and auto). My current DD is a 2001 TJ Wrangler Sport (Heep) which has been returning me around 18 MPG. For a Wrangler not too bad. Nothing great either. But beats the 14-16 I used to get with it. Most of the improvements I've seen have come from driving technique rather than mods (Max PSI, DWL, DWB, Coasting, 55-65MPH speeds :turtle:). I'm hoping this summer I'll have some time to clean up its aero. My ideal goal would be to get 30 MPG highway with it.

So far the best "mod" I have done to my TJ is the "Insight Mod" :D In Jan of 08 I was lucky enough to stumble across a more or less intact 2000 Honda Insight (Rommie) in a junk yard in San Jose. 2k later and it currently living in my driveway. So far the car seems to have all the issues common to the Insight along with a broken window and needing some basic maintenance. A sweet find IMO. I'll post up a copy of my build there over here shortly. The Insight will be replacing my TJ as a DD.

So I'm hoping in a month or so I can switch from an 18 MPG rather polluting Jeep into a 70MPG "flowers out the tail pipe" hybrid. Having a tank of gas last me a month will be uber sweet.

See you all around in the right lane :thumbup:

Vehicle Specs
2001 TJ Wrangler Sport
4.0L M5 D44 3.73
30" BFG ATs aired up to 45PSI
Partial belly pan (Engine-Tranny Skid + T-Case Skid)
Plus some diff armor, rear tire carrier, rear bumper, CB junk, air compressor, and various random stuff I have installed over the years.
Redline Light weight ShockProof Diff Oil
Redline MTL Tranny fluid
Valvoline ATF+4 T-case
Penzoil Platinum 10w-30 Engine Oil
56k going strong

2000 Honda Insight
1.0L M5 - 3 screaming gerbils
Mismatched tires (front 175s Hankook something or anothers, rear bald 165 RE92s)
Mobile 1 0W-20 engine oil
Redline MTL tranny
230k on the ticker

You work in marketing, don't you?

Happy to have another Jeeper on board. Nothing like another member to ratchet up the Jeep group's determination.

Welcome to the site! Great insight you got there, :)

Welcome to the community!

yay for jeeps, welcome to the board, seems like we are starting to grow in numbers so at least us "gas guzlers" have some representation

Nah:p, I'm a software engineer to be. The flowers bit is what a few friends of mine have been kidding me about.

Would be great to see some concentrated efforts on improving our "Brick on 4 wheels" aerodynamics

The Wrangler mod might end up taking away its Jeepness, wouldn't it?

I mean, because its shape is so aerodynamically dirty, you'd essentially have to change the whole front end before you could start to reap any gains at the rear. Like building a shell for it, as the NASA folks did with their van:

http://media.nasaexplores.com/02-009/test_truck.jpg

There's a Wrangler in there somewhere!

Inherently, but I figure there has to be some middle ground between improved aero and Jeepiness. BUT if I could get something like 40MPG on the highway driving a weird looking bus, that won't be so bad. :D

what i am thinking about for both of my wranglers is to make a brush guard that would have a plexi cover on it to guide the air flow, then i am also planing on (at least for my 002 wrangler) making a hardtop with an angle to it in the rear so that it would be closer to a fastback, i would also like to add a belly pan comprised of steel (for areas needing skid plates) and plastic (for non critical areas) i doubt that these mods would even bring it close to 30 mpg but it would at least be a start. i cant wait until spring, aero mods here i come :)

The trouble as I see it is there may not be any attached flow on the top of the roof because of the flat, vertical windshield blasting the air into turbulence upwards & to the sides. If that's the case, then a rear taper may not help much.

I'm not certain, though. I bet Phil could chime in with some sage advice. I'd say it's worth starting a new thread in the aero forum (plus that's the only forum Phil reads). I'm betting you guys won't be the last Jeepers to mull over this idea.

Gotta find the picture but someone did a kind of prototype of that kind of bumper on JF some time ago. I think they used one of those Smittybuilt Rockcrawler tube bumpers, the one that has a kind of basket for the front fogs. Anyway the whomever did it outlined filling the space between the tubes with lexan or something clear than taking a piece and angling it back over the front of the the grille guard ending up at the bottom of the hood.

Similar to Vikings fast back top? Or do you plan on rebuilding the rear roll bar?

I've been debating doing 33 Engineerings Aluminum Belly Pan and ditching the stocker. Save most 40lbs or so on that skid alone. Would be cool if there can be someone or some company to put out more Aluminum skids for Wranglers. The KJs are the only Jeeps I know of with that kind of aftermarket.

There isn't. It does look cool in the rain though. The windshield really needs to be bypassed

OK, see post #7 :D

yes, welcome welcome.

I don't know, but I heard from a veteran engine guy that has taken apart many engines run on penzoil motor oil, and he says that these motors tend to be the most sludged up gunky motors he's ever seen in his life. He said that valvoline is much better. Thats just what I observed from his shop.

http://auto-trim.com/images/silveradomoonvisorb.jpg

I've always wondered about these, and weather or not they help the air flow by hitting it on top and making it go with the roof air. *I think* It would also help at highway speeds because it would lessen the down force that trucks seem to have by creating a slight upforce, lessening the load on the engine and tires. equaling lower wind, rolling, and engine resistance.

Generally I stay away from Penz products but I got a case of the stuff free so I figured WTH why not? Won't kill it and can't say no to free. :)

Do those Lund visors have pass through vents? Most of the ones I have seen are solid.

my brothers blazer had pass through vents, as for the top i would redo the roll bar, i dont have the rear seat in anyways so its something ive been pondering for a while. i am not familiar with vikings fastback top, do you have a link or pics? also the aluminum belly pan/ skid plate sounds great, i'll have to check into that.

http://vikingoffroad.com/viking_fastback.html
For the top, want one of those once Thor fixes his adhesive problem.

Yeah, its not so popular since most Jeepers fear Al for some reason. Can be stronger than steel and weigh less, cost is the only downside. That and knowing how to TIG weld

that top looks nice, im thinking something slightly more agresive but im not sure because of the airflow.. after i have my measurements and drawings ill post on the aero forum and see if anyone has ideas

Huh, all of the ones I've seen let the air go through the other side. I always thought they were moon/sun visors
I might make one myself to try out when I get instrumentation.

They fear aluminum stuff because it gets gouged out and stuff too easily. All the hardcore jeepers like steel stuff for the "authentic" part anyway, especially the pre-CJ owners. Steel ammo cans and containers are one thing that is bought for them. they're good for looks, and a seat too. :thumbup:

Saw one once on some old Chevy. Looked solid. :dunno:

Al is the way to go. But then again I don't do rocks.....

Yea.. I think that's probably why they prefer steel over AL, lots of them go rock crawling and stuff.