Eco Tune Gas Mileage...Wow!

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:24 pm

Wow....I know the odometer/trip meter/overhead mpg estimator is off by a little from the factory, but after the GDE Eco Tune I'm seeing a pretty significant bump in MPGs. My overhead display with estimated MPG went from around 16-18mpg city and 25-27mpg highway to about 21-22mpg city and 31-34mpg highway. It's kind of early, and I know those numbers aren't 100% accurate, but comparing apples to apples, using only the overhead display, it seems like I'm seeing a major increase in gas mileage.... I'm kind of looking forward to a long trip sometime, so I can really do the math and see what this thing is getting on the highway. I'll be stoked if I'm getting 30+ mpg at 70mph!! On a side note, the truck is a lot quieter as well.....that can only help in the wifie department, since she wasn't completely sold on me buying this diesel Jeep...despite the incredible price and condition....

airwerks · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:40 pm

That's good to hear, as I've been unhappy with my mileage after taking care of all maintenance I'm only getting 19-22 in mostly highway driving. This inspires me to keep it and get a tune now.....

thermorex · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:31 pm

Usually computers go crazy with estimations after every tune. They tend to stabilize after few good hundreds. You can though get 30 mpg if you have an open Highway and don't drive like a lunatic. I got 30mpg at max 75 on cruise with no to moderate traffic. Good decision getting the gde tune!

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:57 pm

Highways near Sarasota resemble pancakes. That area of Florida, they put elevation change signs on the speed bumps because that is the tallest hill around!

Glad you are enjoying the tune. Looking at your signature line... Have you replaced the timing belt yet? I know you are very low mileage, but that is an 8-year-old rubber belt in there. The belts I changed just recently for the members here, they ALL had small cracks and obvious dry-rot evidenced... But one of them had a deep crack right across the valley in between a couple teeth. That crack would have been the site of a failure if that belt hadn't been taken from service.

There is another member up near Tampa that I will be doing his belt and water pump in a couple weeks... Now would be a great time to think about yours if you don't know for *certain* that it has been done.

Shoot me a PM if you are interested and we can talk. --Jim

naturist · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:24 pm

I now have 175,000 miles on my 2005 (and yes, changed the TB at 100,000, and also at 150,000 when the cylinder head cracked and gasket blew). I've always averaged in the mid 20s in daily driving and right about 30 was best I got on the highway. Then I got a GDE ecotune, and now best I've seen is 34.7 and average is slightly higher at around 27.

But for me the best part was the bump towing my TT. Mileage only went up from 14 to 15-16, but the extra pull helps a lot.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:55 pm

Do not believe the EVIG mpg. Not at all. Report back with a hand calculated number after a 400 mile tank.

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:45 pm

CATCRD wrote:

Do not believe the EVIG mpg. Not at all. Report back with a hand calculated number after a 400 mile tank.

Will do....first I've gotta replace the turbo side hose, which has apparently been blowing oily mist for the last two years. I can see that the oil is running down the front of the turbo and the metal oil supply line and has been accumulating. Surprised the hose hasn't completely blown up by now! Then, I'll feel good about taking it for a long trip.

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:53 pm

geordi wrote:

Highways near Sarasota resemble pancakes. That area of Florida, they put elevation change signs on the speed bumps because that is the tallest hill around!

Glad you are enjoying the tune. Looking at your signature line... Have you replaced the timing belt yet? I know you are very low mileage, but that is an 8-year-old rubber belt in there. The belts I changed just recently for the members here, they ALL had small cracks and obvious dry-rot evidenced... But one of them had a deep crack right across the valley in between a couple teeth. That crack would have been the site of a failure if that belt hadn't been taken from service.

There is another member up near Tampa that I will be doing his belt and water pump in a couple weeks... Now would be a great time to think about yours if you don't know for *certain* that it has been done.

Shoot me a PM if you are interested and we can talk. --Jim

Thanks for the offer, Jim. I've definitely thought about replacing it. However, when I talked to Keith at GDE, he felt pretty confident that it would make it to 100,000 just fine, despite the age of the rubber. I'm not sure that I'm that confident....I was thinking of replacing around 60-75k. I wonder how much of a difference it makes that this truck has seen consistent warm temps (7 years in Florida), without the cold winters. I hate to gamble, but I don't like spending money when I don't have to either. I thought I might split the difference and replace a little later. Would love to hear your thoughts though...and, thanks again for the offer.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Fri Nov 08, 2013 10:25 am

MicroBruin wrote:

I'm not sure that I'm that confident....I was thinking of replacing around 60-75k. I wonder how much of a difference it makes that this truck has seen consistent warm temps (7 years in Florida), without the cold winters.

I wouldn't bank on your climate extending the life. It may actually make it worse because it spends a lot more time running in a hotter environment, I don't know.

I've been able to crack 30 once with daily driving (50%/40%/10% - highway/open rural/city) so have every confidence I'd be able to repeat that with 100% highway. Of course, I see a huge seasonal variation in mpg up here.

I believe you also get the bonus of having the nonlinear fuel gauge addressed on the 2005.

Congratulations on getting the tune. You've made a great choice.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 08, 2013 2:13 pm

Most EVIC's are. They must be work for the government as well... :-)r

geordi · **Posted:** Fri Nov 08, 2013 3:24 pm

Florida heat would be a detriment to the lifespan for the belt, not a help. The problem is that the rubber is only a protective layer over the Kevlar that actually makes the belt work. As the rubber degrades, the kevlar can become exposed. Kevlar doesn't stretch, it just snaps when it gives out. It is also surprisingly fragile by itself.

Bulletproof vests make use of the fibers of kevlar to protect the wearer - by snapping on impact, each fiber strand takes some of that energy away. Since there are many many thousands of fibers, eventually the energy runs out. With the belt, there are comparatively few fibers in use. If the rubber flakes away or cracks, that exposure point may start losing fibers fast, or it might be slow. The point is that we just don't know. The results are WELL known however - $400 for the rockers, $400 for the belt kit... Maybe a lot more if the valves got damaged?

For your mileage, you probably don't need to worry about the rest of the kit, like the water pump or the pulleys and certainly not the tensioner. The belt itself can be changed for $80 plus the labor. I guarantee you won't find a cheaper labor bill at the dealership... But you also won't find anyone that knows the CRD either.

You can wait another 20k miles... But would that take another 18 months? I drive close to 40k/year, and I know I'm unusual. Most people drive about 12k a year. That would mean your belt is now approaching TEN years old. I've never known a rubber belt that would last that long.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:04 pm

My

new belt cheap vs. broken belt expensive. If you have an 05 or 06 that's not going to reach 100,000 soon, like in six months or so, replacing the belt now is a prudent move. Did stoutdog's 06 (4 years of Arizona heat in addition to time in Florida) at about 51K just a few months ago. His belt was not cracked but was noticeably stiff compared to the new belt. Will be doing my 05, hopefully with geordi's help, shortly and I'm at only about 49K. Now that I'm retired I'm only driving 5K max per year on the CRD and I'm not about to trust a rubber belt to last the 10+ more years it would take to get too 100K.

pwrwagn · **Joined:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 2:40 am **Posts:** 192

I'd sure like to know how this continues to work out, and what the calculated comes out to be after a few tanks.

kjdieselfever · **Joined:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:49 pm **Posts:** 24

Installed the FT Eco tune on my CRD Saturday morning before taking a trip to see my folks. I calculated my mileage using my Garmin GPS trip odometer and achieved 32.5 MPG with the cruise set on 65 MPH, again using the GPS for speed. To say the least, I am very impressed with the FT Eco tune. I like the MPG and my trans never dropped out of 5th lockup no matter how steep the hill. Getting over 600 miles on a tank of fuel is phenomenal!

I also installed the Trans Tune. I like it very much also. Don't think I will be returning either of the tunes for a refund. Thanks Keith, for a great product that brings out the true potential of our CRDs!

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:13 am

Yeah...I'm not a mechanic...or an engineer. However, I feel like Florida's temps are mild compared to engine operating temperatures. I spent enough time living in northern New England to realize that cold followed by hot followed by cold, etc will do quite a number on rubber. Just a theory, but I bet my belt is doing much better than a similar aged one in a state that experiences freezing temps in winter and heat in the summer. Plus, I know this Jeep has been babied and garaged. I think I'll take my chances for a few more miles. Once I have some extra bread saved up, maybe I'll reconsider. Jim...maybe you'll feel like a Florida work-vacation in a couple years when I hit 60000? :wink:

TJ2 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 3:33 am

People who throw insults over the internet are pussies. Politics and religion have no place here.

If we had a mod, he might cut some of the crap out of this thread.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:45 am

I am getting about 25 with my FT Eco tune. My tires is what is ruining my mileage.

joelukex4 · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:54 pm **Posts:** 386

I actually lost mileage when I got the GDE ECO tune. I was getting 30mpg this summer before the tune and 28 mpg after the tune. The fuel gauge is much nicer to have linear. Do not trust the EVIC, it ranges from 30 - 37 mpg.

I will say that last week I still received 26.5 mpg against a wind, 40'F temperatures with winter diesel at 75 mph.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 10:45 am

TJ2 wrote:

People who throw insults over the internet are pussies. Politics and religion have no place here.

If we had a mod, he might cut some of the crap out of this thread.

Done

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:15 am

Okay...gotta be brief...I've got a newborn. Here is a summary based on my first "post GDE Eco Tune" trip of 425.2 miles, using two GPS sources:

My speedometer is under by less than 1%....about .83% actually.
My trip odometers match exactly (both on the dash and overhead display) and are also under less than 1% (estimated .63%)
My overhead MPG estimator is full of doo doo, reporting 30.1mpg. Actual was 24.1mpg!!

The 24.1 seems bad, but I was cruising above 70 almost all of the time (72-76mph). I had several miles with a 10-20mph "almost" headwind, most miles with a 8mph crosswind, and virtually no miles with a tailwind, as estimated using weather apps and my generally good sense of direction.

Total load including myself was about 300 pounds. Driving at sea level or slightly below.

Fuel was BP diesel.

AC was on....blower on 1. Climate control was just one or two clicks in the blue. Outside temps 65-77f.

Mileage gets noticeably worse above 72mph....I could tell just from the overhead display, and I've noticed this before.

All in all, I can see this truck getting 28-30mpg under optimal conditions. Realistically, I feel okay about 24-25 with my driving style. Hell, my 4-banger Accord sedan only gets a little better than that when I drive 75-80mph mixed with a little city driving.

Relatively pleased. Will calculate some more trips in the near future....

Eco Tune Gas Mileage...Wow!

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