Jeep Cherokee Aeromods

[FastDemise]

I know exactly what you mean. I really need to today get around to removing all the excess dead weight since I won't be doing any serious offroading anymore and could definitely lose all the excess weight removing all the steel protection. Then I want to plan lowering it again. I can do the rear very easily since it's just leaf springs and I have the shackle relocation and SYE mod done so can accommodate any lift in the rear. The front would just need me to source some ZJ front springs to 'lower' the front down to only 2" lift. Now I just need to make the wheel wells fit the 32" tires, install at least 4 out of 7 grill blocks (out of tape for now) and install the front skid. :-)

I'm also getting similar mileage but I can't complain considering how the vehicle has been modified to be better offroad than on.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Nerys

until E10 came out. now its a miracle if I get 19 usually 16-17

When did E10 become common in your area?

How much of a loss did you experience?

This thread has a bunch of different numbers in it, don't know what to think.

Ethanol Blended Gas = Lower Mileage?

[XJguy]

Personally what I have experienced from driving the same vehicle with different engines (Grand Cherokee V6 vs Hemi V8) is little to no fuel economy. The reason being that with less power comes the need to press the loud pedal longer and more often, negating any potential fuel savings. If my driving style did not adapt to the situation then perhaps real world fuel savings would be experienced.

[FastDemise]

Also the fuel is changed for the winter season and most experience more of a negative change to MPG as well. :-( Darn pump just won't let us win

[FastDemise]

Originally Posted by FastPlastic

2. Finished the other tire deflector. Decided I liked to way the first one was set up so I hacked out a second one and painted them before I left. Time well spent.

You think that I could install my mud flaps instead of behind and achieve this result??
Also it seems you Jeep suffers from some rust issues. I think that's cheating by allowing your vehicle to become lighter and lighter each year like that.

[FastPlastic]

Originally Posted by FastDemise

You think that I could install my mud flaps instead of behind and achieve this result??
Also it seems you Jeep suffers from some rust issues. I think that's cheating by allowing your vehicle to become lighter and lighter each year like that.

Hahaha. Just came across your comment today(guess I missed the email). I do my best to keep adding weight to make up for what falls off.

[woodstock74]

Originally Posted by FastPlastic

It's plexi from a broken picture frame I had laying around. Couple of min on the scroll saw a little sand paper and some foam tape and bam. You have yourself a grill block.

Hell yeah! Resourceful and looks good!

[Gealii]

took me 2 days to read all 25 pages of the thread and im really feelin buying a cherokee now

[FastPlastic]

Originally Posted by Gealii

took me 2 days to read all 25 pages of the thread and im really feelin buying a cherokee now

IMO they're one of the best small SUV's out there.

[NV6R]

My '96 Jeep XJ 4X4, with a 4.0l has cracked 30mpg; actually, a best of 30.16mpg. This mileage was GPS confirmed, so I know it to be 100% accurate. This was before I did a lift (4"), a winch, winch bumper, and added a set of 235/75R15 Hercules Terra-Trac tires. When I achieved the 30.16mpg I was running a 1.5" lift (surprisingly, didn't seem to harm the MPGs), 235/75R15s Michelin LTX MS2s, and an AX-15 manual.

Oh, I also have some other mods that you may be interested in: I am running Dodge Neon injectors (703s), a full-length header, and changed my gearing from 3.07:1 to 3.55:1. The gearing has helped the mileage, since it is now in a happier stop when cruising.

With the XJ and it's aerodynamics, any speed beyond 65mph is going to make you lose MPGs, but when in overdrive the engine is WAY out of it's TQ band at that speed, so you will lose MPGs this way, too. Now, with the full-length header and the Neon injectors, the TQ band is considerably lower than it was stock, so the engine is more efficient at a lower RPM, and this is also helpful in another way: the AX-15 is most efficient at around 2000RPMs; my TQ peak with the header is now around 2300RPMs, so they sync up pretty good.

Now, with the lift and other stuff, I am lucky to get 22mpg -- 18mpg highway most of time. The thing is, my city MPGs aren't much different, so this is telling me my aerodynamics are screwy. When I put the winch bumper on, I had to remove the stock air-dam, and I think that REALLY killed my MPGs. I am designing a front air-dam to hang below the bumper, and this should bring back some of my MPGs. I am going to design it to where I can take it off when I go off-road, and have it mount to the roof for storage. I'll post pics when I get it done.