V6 Airbox = Better Mileage?

retmil46 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:27 am

Has anyone else that has put in the V6 airbox checked to see if it's had any effect on fuel mileage?

Since putting mine on 3 weeks ago, on my normal commute to work it looks to have made just enough difference to be noticeable, and last Sunday on a 70 mph jaunt on the interstate very noticeable (70 miles on 1/8 tank).

EGR replacement and reflash didn't have any noticeable effect, glow plug replacement didn't have any noticeable effect, but once the V6 airbox and NAPA/Wix airfilter was installed it had an almost immediate result.

It could be a convergence of all the above, including ULSD fuel making it's way into the system, with the airbox providing the final kicker for a cumulative effect. Just wondering if anyone else has seen similar results.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:41 am

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

crdmike · **Joined:** Tue May 16, 2006 7:25 pm **Posts:** 138

retmil46, did you pick that box up new?

retmil46 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:28 pm

crdmike wrote:

retmil46, did you pick that box up new?

No, picked it up used on line, from a salvage auto parts company, for $90. Got the air inlet snorkel and water baffle new from the dealer, $26 for both.

Did a Google for "Used Jeep Liberty Parts", and found 2 or 3 search websites. Put in the info on what you're looking for, and you get quotes back via e-mail from salvage/parts companies that have the part you're looking for.

In my case, quotes on the airbox ranged from $65 to $140 (dealer wanted $138 brand new). I went with the one for $90 because they stated up front that if it was the wrong part or defective, you could return it for replacement or a full refund.

cerich · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:50 pm

ULSD should actually drop milage just a smidgin.

I really should change the airbox to a 2002 one....

Endurance · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:02 pm

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

What kinda mod are you talking about? Installing a V6 air intake?

cerich · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:19 pm

yes to keep water out and other goodies, there is a very long thread with many options to do so.

crdmike · **Joined:** Tue May 16, 2006 7:25 pm **Posts:** 138

retmil46 wrote:

crdmike wrote:

retmil46, did you pick that box up new?

No, picked it up used on line, from a salvage auto parts company, for $90. Got the air inlet snorkel and water baffle new from the dealer, $26 for both.

Did a Google for "Used Jeep Liberty Parts", and found 2 or 3 search websites. Put in the info on what you're looking for, and you get quotes back via e-mail from salvage/parts companies that have the part you're looking for.

In my case, quotes on the airbox ranged from $65 to $140 (dealer wanted $138 brand new). I went with the one for $90 because they stated up front that if it was the wrong part or defective, you could return it for replacement or a full refund.

Thanks for the info, I'll go to work

Ripster · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:42 pm

Do not have enough miles on mine to know yet, that will take a bit, add
in the flashes and I may never know for sure.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Didn't notice the mileage, but I'm using the OEM air filter. I did notice that the last batch of B20 is running extremely smooth. Never been like this before - might be some ULSD in the mix.

However, driving home today in a blinding rainstorm, with torrential rains, blowing horizontal against the front of the CRD and not a drop of water in the airbox when I checked it in the driveway. Not a drop - completely dry inside the airbox, even though the water dam was soaked.
Of course, my wife is wondering what this vehicle has done to me, when she came out to see why I was taking the airbox lid off, standing there in the downpour with an umbrella over me, muttering to myself. We used to laugh at people like this when I was a kid.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:09 pm

Endurance wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

What kinda mod are you talking about? Installing a V6 air intake?

Installed a baffle to knock rainwater out of the intake airflow to keep the paper filter dry. This is how the whole change out the airbox thing got started.
Try this linkhttp://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=9907&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30. Page about half way down to a series of photos. The only difference is that I added an extra row of holes on both sides of the baffle.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:55 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

Didn't notice the mileage, but I'm using the OEM air filter. I did notice that the last batch of B20 is running extremely smooth. Never been like this before - might be some ULSD in the mix.

Noticed the same thing. Tanked up at Homer's in Statesville the last two times because I had to go up there for other business, should be same supplier as down in Charlotte (Ray Thomas in Shelby). Definite difference in how it runs and sounds.

That's why I was wondering if the increased mileage was solely due to the airbox/filter combination I'm now using, or the cumulative effect of several happy coincidences.

Now that it looks like we've licked the water and dirt ingestion problem, I'm starting to get tempted to order a AFE Proguard 7 filter and see what results it gives with this mod.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:01 am

retmil46 wrote:

Ranger1 wrote:

Didn't notice the mileage, but I'm using the OEM air filter. I did notice that the last batch of B20 is running extremely smooth. Never been like this before - might be some ULSD in the mix.

Noticed the same thing. Tanked up at Homer's in Statesville the last two times because I had to go up there for other business, should be same supplier as down in Charlotte (Ray Thomas in Shelby). Definite difference in how it runs and sounds.

That's why I was wondering if the increased mileage was solely due to the airbox/filter combination I'm now using, or the cumulative effect of several happy coincidences.

Now that it looks like we've licked the water and dirt ingestion problem, I'm starting to get tempted to order a AFE Proguard 7 filter and see what results it gives with this mod.

Too many variables too, I can't isolate why my mileage is up. Both my peak mileage tanks were B20 fill-ups, airbox is modified, and running a True-flow filter. Just have to be happy with the results even if I can't figure out the reason :wink:

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:29 am

I would think about trying a Trueflow as well, but I've had previous experience with them that was less than satisfactory. Let's just say they're the reason I take a rather jaundiced view toward cold air intake kits and aftermarket high flow filters.

kjfishman · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:32 am

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

Must be nice, mine keeps going down at 30k miles I get 20-21 no matter how you drive it or if your towing. I begining to think withe the 40 cents difference between gas and diesel I should trade for a full size wouldn't cost much more to operate.

alljeep · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:16 am

kjfishman wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

Must be nice, mine keeps going down at 30k miles I get 20-21 no matter how you drive it or if your towing. I begining to think withe the 40 cents difference between gas and diesel I should trade for a full size wouldn't cost much more to operate.

Your getting the same average as me, 20-21mpg - rarely 22mpg - once 25mpg. BUT, I have fat tires on this thing that I put on at only 588 miles on the ODO. I noticed you have tires other than stock in your signature, are they wider as well? My 255 series tires are 12% wider than the stock 225 series, so 12% more tread on each tire hits the pavement. A lot of folks upgrade to 245 series width, still about 8% wider per tire.

I'm sure the increase in rolling resistance/friction has kept me from getting better mileage.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:59 am

kjfishman wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

Must be nice, mine keeps going down at 30k miles I get 20-21 no matter how you drive it or if your towing. I begining to think withe the 40 cents difference between gas and diesel I should trade for a full size wouldn't cost much more to operate.

I can tell you that mine hasn't been burning much fuel at all lately because it's been parked while I drive my gassers. With the fuel price differential, this Jeep costs as much to run as my full-size Chevy pick-up (which isn't full of latent design problems). If this continues into the Spring, this Jeep will be gone.

richardkf · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm **Posts:** 167

RFCRD wrote:

kjfishman wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

Must be nice, mine keeps going down at 30k miles I get 20-21 no matter how you drive it or if your towing. I begining to think withe the 40 cents difference between gas and diesel I should trade for a full size wouldn't cost much more to operate.

I can tell you that mine hasn't been burning much fuel at all lately because it's been parked while I drive my gassers. With the fuel price differential, this Jeep costs as much to run as my full-size Chevy pick-up (which isn't full of latent design problems). If this continues into the Spring, this Jeep will be gone.

The CRD was not designed to get better mileage than cars. It's purpose is to offer light utility with the same or better mileage as and great hauling/towing capacity than the average car, but still measurably better than other light/heavy utility SUV, pick ups, etc ...

With diesel prices a few cents higher than gas, the CRD still delivers more miles per tank/gallon than almost any other light duty or heavy duty SUV out there.

Want an SUV or car that gives the best mileage for the money? Go for a hybrid. But, save your pennies if you plan to keep it long-term. After the 8 year warranty on the hybrid powertrain is up, you will inevitably be replacing batteries for a huge chunk, or putting a down payment on another car.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:23 pm

richardkf wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

kjfishman wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

Must be nice, mine keeps going down at 30k miles I get 20-21 no matter how you drive it or if your towing. I begining to think withe the 40 cents difference between gas and diesel I should trade for a full size wouldn't cost much more to operate.

I can tell you that mine hasn't been burning much fuel at all lately because it's been parked while I drive my gassers. With the fuel price differential, this Jeep costs as much to run as my full-size Chevy pick-up (which isn't full of latent design problems). If this continues into the Spring, this Jeep will be gone.

The CRD was not designed to get better mileage than cars. It's purpose is to offer light utility with the same or better mileage as and great hauling/towing capacity than the average car, but still measurably better than other light/heavy utility SUV, pick ups, etc ...

With diesel prices a few cents higher than gas, the CRD still delivers more miles per tank/gallon than almost any other light duty or heavy duty SUV out there.

Want an SUV or car that gives the best mileage for the money? Go for a hybrid. But, save your pennies if you plan to keep it long-term. After the 8 year warranty on the hybrid powertrain is up, you will inevitably be replacing batteries for a huge chunk, or putting a down payment on another car.

I wish I was seeing just a few cents/gal difference, for me it's more like 60-70 cents/gal. This is hopefully a temporary economic irregularity because I do want to keep one alternate fuel vehicle and the CRD is a great fit for that duty in my case.

I do agree, Honda and Toyota dealers have to love hybrids. They sell for a premium and are @ 80K-100K miles and out, forced trade-in specials. I was intrigued by the design but couldn't make the math work for me when I bought my last commuter car. I figured on @ 150K miles to recoup the upfront cost (not counting battery replacement). The only way it may have worked was on a lease (monthly payment) but I run way too many miles to make leasing work for me.

kjfishman · **Posted:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:24 pm

alljeep wrote:

kjfishman wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Maybe a coincidence, my mileage has been clearly better since opening the air intake (and I don't have a computer to tell me). Last 2 tanks were 27.4 and 27.7, before the airbox mod I was seeing @ 25 and never got above 26.

Must be nice, mine keeps going down at 30k miles I get 20-21 no matter how you drive it or if your towing. I begining to think withe the 40 cents difference between gas and diesel I should trade for a full size wouldn't cost much more to operate.

Your getting the same average as me, 20-21mpg - rarely 22mpg - once 25mpg. BUT, I have fat tires on this thing that I put on at only 588 miles on the ODO. I noticed you have tires other than stock in your signature, are they wider as well? My 255 series tires are 12% wider than the stock 225 series, so 12% more tread on each tire hits the pavement. A lot of folks upgrade to 245 series width, still about 8% wider per tire.

I'm sure the increase in rolling resistance/friction has kept me from getting better mileage.

Not fatter same size as stock, even though it has increased unspung weight the mileage shouldn't take that big of hit. I am getting where I don't want to drive because of the decreased economy and 40 cent difference in unleaded. Keep jearing of people unloading dieses (not just KJ's) that can't be good for resell value. As one guy put we married these things and a divorice would be costly.

V6 Airbox = Better Mileage?

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