First Mileage check on the CRD

Gerge · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 2:24 am

I have owned the Jeep for a few weeks now and did my first mileage check. Hand calculated from trip odometer I got 16.9 MPG. Fornication. This is in Central Florida, pretty hot, AC stays on, 80% city driving. I have been driving conservatively, keeping RPM below 2k, gotta say I am dissapointed. My wife drove it to the mall once, I will blame her for now, but geez - oh -pete I was hoping for closer to twenty....that's not enough mileage to offset the cost of diesel and SAMCOS and GDE goodies and fuel filters and what not. The Jeep is awesome to drive, very tractory and I really want to keep it but 16.9 mpg?!?!?!?

And when my redneck friends tell me it's a chick car, I point out it's a diesel so while it may be a chick car, she is a bull dyke at least.

:JEEPIN:

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:24 am

That's about what I average(when running),with ten thousand pounds of bumper/winch/skids/dual batterys/recovey gear added.

Is this strictly stop and go,because on the highway you should do much better.
You'll find that the mileage will gradually increase on highway(as compared to city) as tractor gets warmer.My evic will go from 16-17 to upwards of 20-23 on highway.The longer it runs and warms up,the better the fuel mileage.

Don't think the a/c compressor will cut into mileage much like in a gas engine.
Also,are there any stations that sell premium diesel?That may help a bit.

stoutdog · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:19 pm

KJ 119 wrote:

Don't think the a/c compressor will cut into mileage much like in a gas engine.

I seem to lose about 2mpg when I run the AC, so it does hurt somewhat.

Gerge · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:19 pm

So I will stop running the ac sweat mi frijoles off and get 19...that still ain't good. Or maybe still 17....who knows. I am fixing to see if tires are the same size as stock and I unplugged the MAF sensor ORM doohickey. It was free

. I will keep a steady eye on the tire pressure and drive her. I figure if it's something gone awry I will either eventually fix it or it will break and make itself obvious. Boost hoses seem OK, going to put it on a lift tomorrow and see how well the wheels spin.

Probably a combination of heat and short trips and i will flounder along for a while.

If I lived in Denver I think owning this vehice might qualify me for medicianal marajuana, maybe I should move there. And I would finally know how much the AC effected mileage. Now drink your beer and wath the bananana dance

fastRob · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:22 pm

Gerge wrote:

The Jeep is awesome to drive, very tractory and I really want to keep it but 16.9 mpg?!?!?!?..................
And when my redneck friends tell me it's a chick car, I point out it's a diesel so while it may be a chick car, she is a bull dyke at least. :JEEPIN:

Wow, much worse than my worst (19mpg), thanks you make me feel good. And you could have had a Honda!

I just went on a trip to Massamachusetts and NH. Drove like a fool. Full pedal acceleration leaving the toll booths, spurts of 85 mph and in general driving as fast with full pedal, got 23.5mpg, still not so good but not bad. A/C all the way.

Have you cleaned your MAP yet, be careful, they are tetchy, gave me the best mpg improvement and it was FREE.

Gerge · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:16 am

HA! I have a Honda Accord as well....see Craigsist ad....

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1875478336.html

Perhaps I should put them both up for sale and let the free market determine my fate....anyone want an 06 CRD for 12,500? I will include the Rotella and Mobil 1 filter I got for my oil change this week.

I have heard opinions both way on the MAP sensor, but yes it is on my list of free things to do.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:18 am

Quote:

Also,are there any stations that sell premium diesel?

Exactly what is premium diesel and where do you get it?

Here in Florida, the only diesel fuel I have seen is diesel. :?:

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:47 am

80% city, A/C blasting... I'd say you should be getting close to 18 or 19. 17 is a bit low. I'm stuck on 24MPG right now, but I only do 50% city. If I spend a lot of time in city, idling, stop/go, etc...the mileage drops off fast. Afterall, it IS built like a truck and not a car.

ChesterCRD · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:31 am

Maybe check your e-brake shoes. I've seen a few mileage related posts from people saying theirs were too tightly engaged and dragging as they drove along.

I'm over in Brevard county running my AC all the time. I am averaging 24-26 driving normally. The slower speeds on 95 due to the construction helps that some I imagine.

Gerge · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:07 am

I am trying to get with a friend of mine that has a lift so I can get her off the ground and spin the tires tonite. Will post up what i find. I have never seen premium diesel, but I am keeping my eyes open for it now. My brother drives an f250 powerstroke, and I heve been getting fuel from the same place he has, and he's never had a"bad tank" from there. ORM seems to make it run a little better, but that may also be my overly hopeful imagination.

:dizzy:

UFO · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:28 am

Just got back from a weekend trip from Denver to Steamboat Springs. Only used 5 gallons of biodiesel as my fuel station pump was on the fritz. But even though I flogged it getting up there, I still got 29 mpg for the 280 mile round trip.

Gerge · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 1:54 pm

Thank you to all who are pointing out how much better their mileage is than mine. Is it possible to have mileage envy? I think so

Thank you for the suggestions as well.

SPN-87 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:09 pm **Posts:** 53

Gerge wrote:

Thank you to all who are pointing out how much better their mileage is than mine. Is it possible to have mileage envy? I think so

Thank you for the suggestions as well.

Don`t worry

I had the same 16,2-16,7 mpg in city stop&go traffik

and 28,00-29,5 mpg on hwy....
After my mechanik changed transmission oil (smth about 12 l), both transmission filters and installed transmission oil cooler - figures changed to 19,5-20,5 mpg in city stop&go and 31,00-32,5 mpg on hwy ( without any tune, with OEM TC, all time A/C, full time )

When did you change oil in a transmission ? Do you have transmission cooler ?

Gerge · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:55 pm

Tranny fluid is fresh as it was replaced along with the burnt up transmission a few weeks below. I bought it deove it home and in the shop the next day so it was quite the ownership experience. A tranny cooler is among the list of mods I would like to do, butspending money on the jeep is on hold until I try all the free things I can do to improve mileage.

dgeist · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:25 pm

One of the other posts touched on it, but unless the engine is warm (i.e. showing about dead center or just below on the temp guage), then mileage is going to suffer a lot. My 3 mile commute to/from work each week gives me about 19 mpg and my weekend driving (more trips to the outlets, visits out of town, etc) and it jumps up to as high as 28-30 for a trip average.

For me, the things that seem to have affected my mileage are (in decreasing order):
- Warm engine (much more than anything else)
- Driving smartly (google hypermiling for techniques)
- Clean sensors so the computer gauges injector volume properly (look for the howto on cleaning the boost pressure sensor here)
- Clean filters (a clogged air filter will mess with engine efficiency, especially under boost)
- Cutting out the muffler and welding a straight (well, bent in a couple places) behind the cat instead.
- Accessories on the roof and larger/heavier tires.
- Fresh fluids (as crazy as it sounds freshly changed diff oil seems to make a difference
- Air in fuel (small difference)
- Accurate math :wink:

See if you figures are correct my measuring distance with a GPS and hand calculating. The EVIC can be close, but it can also be a LOT off.

Dan

UFO · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:19 pm

Gerge, as we spoke a while back, make sure all the easy stuff is taken care of, as listed in the post above mine. Also make sure the tire pressure is even and high -- I inflate mine to 45 psi, and that's low for the 215/85/16s I'm on. My odometer reads very low now - I calculated it's 4.5% low with mile markers and GPS, so I use that to correct actual miles traveled.

But when you have everything straight, you will gain a little bit more fuel mileage with the SEGR. I gained about 2 mpg highway with that mod.

Gerge · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:40 pm

I have changed air filter, tires are at 40 psi, I did ORM and am just driving around with the CEL on. I am driving this tank like an old lady in the snow (no offense to little old ladies). I think lack of patience is my biggest challenge, in conjunction with heat and short trips. I also swore off goosing it to mosquito fog bicycolists (yes I know, use spell check) that are out of the bike lane. Tomorrow I am going to mess with my GPS and see if it does mileage, i am sure it does, I just haven't used it in a while. I am swearing to myself no posts or rants for the next three days. I am trying to get her up on a lift so I can change the oil, check to see if a brake is hanging up and I might as well change fluid in both differentials while I am on it.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:42 pm

My milage was down for a little bit too, and before the GDE eco tune, I tried the ORM for a few months and that helped. My oil has been a lot cleaner too and I assume that means my intake is cleaner (read about the EGR valve to see how that relates) I just had my thermo changed and new brakes installed and I got 28MPG on my tank for the first time. I drive at 80 mph at some places and passed people like mad on the two lanes, so I'm assuming I can do better.

What I mean it, if you're getting 16, something isn't right. What's the deal with the transmission? That seems like there could be a red flag right there?

Gerge · **Posted:** Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:53 pm

Thanks to all for their time and suggestions. I have been messing with the Jeep and so far I have the MAF sensor unplugged and cleaned the MAP sensor. Changed the air filter. Tire pressures are good and there is no evidence the brakes are hanging up. Engaged and disengaged the e brake, spun tires, drank a beer.

Also big props to UFO for suggesting twice to check my odometer vs a GPS. I have about 4.7% mileage error.

I think with the above little mods, the mileage correction and proper driving style I should be able to scare 20 mpg this tank. Needle seems to be moving slower, but I read on here they are a little dodgy, so I will patiently (well maybe patiently) wait to put some fuel in. Not the greatest mileage , but I don't operate it in optimal circumstances (short trips/city).

I also changed the oil and filter, and am making a game plan to change diffeential fluids and something about the crank case ventilation.

Ima wonderin' if there is a way to shim the spring in the thermostat to get it warmed up faster.

Gotta love the dancing bananna.

:BANANA:

fastRob · **Posted:** Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:09 pm

One rather counter intuitive suggestion.
Pedal to the mat, drive it like a sports car, be smart, obey the law or don't get caught.

Imagine soot, unburned fuel, oil residue, whatever clogging the arteries. How did the MAP look?

Get the engine up to temperature and go for a long hot highway run with a load on it (Not the E-Brake).
I like additives but have no proof they work, some very interesting posts about additives here too.

First Mileage check on the CRD

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