Jeep Grand Cherokee Real World MPG
Please report your gas mileage for your Jeep Grand Cherokee here (include odometer reading, driving style, city/highway mix or anything else you think may help). Thanks!
Steve, Host
Steve, Host
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Thanks
I've brought it to the dealership 4 times now and everytime they say "computer says system working to specification." I also had to have major work done on the transmission. Its been very dissapointing.
I don't know how much luck I'll have, but I might try to pursue a lemon law. The truck is rated for 17 by the EPA (which I know uses unrealistic and outdated testing), but 7-9 is unacceptable for a V6.
I've been keeping track of my mileage since I bought the car and every time I fill up I record the mileage, %highway, gallons of gas, actual mileage, and computer mileage. I've found that if I do straight highway, the computer is pretty accurate (within .5 to 1 mpg). However, as soon as I start doing city, the computer mileage is usually too high by 10-30% (e.g. Actual 12, Computer 15.7)
I've always driven SUVs and expected so-so mileage, but this just doesn't seem right.
I use 5W-20 Mobil 1 fully synthetic oil. I keep 40-42 psi in tires and I don't gun it (well almost never).
I have a 2004 Mustang GT with a 4.6 v8. It easily gets 25-26 on he highway. On the other hand, if I want to make it rip and roar, I'll get about 10.
The Hemi is the same way. This engine has lots of power and it takes a lot of gas to tap it fully. Powerful v8's do not have to be pushed as hard (more gas) because of the ample torque.
I think driving easy is the key along with the right oil and tire pressure. Be sure you have at least 6,000 miles on it before you expect much.
But, no one buys a 5.7 4WD Jeep Grand Cherokee looking for gas mileage or at least I didn't. It still gets better, at its worst, than the Suburb. and Tahoe I had.
I think 21 is good for a 4WD jeep.
I'm using 5-20 full synthetic and changing every 3000 miles, and thus my question. Chrysler recommends every 6000 miles on synthetic for the SRT8, but I can't find a recommended oil change interval on the 5.7 GCL--anyone know?
I use Mobil One 5-20 and I have used Mobil One in my others cars for years.
Just traveled to our home in Grand Lake, CO from our home in Hattiesburg, MS pulling a fully loaded U-Haul and the Grand Cherokee crammed full. The 5.7 got nearly 19 and pulled the mountains with no effort.
I am getting about 23-24+ on Interstate.
It is a great car.
However, there are other more common factors that have to be eliminated first. So I suggest that (1) tires be aired up to max psi but allow for expansion with warm up. The best way is to air them up cold to max psi, drive to heat up the tires for about 20 minutuies and then let air out down to max psi, (2) drive conservatively-don't gun it at starts, speed up slowly and drive at the speed limit, (3) keep the oil changed @3000 miles with synthetic motor oil,(4)check to see if the air-conditioning compressor is staying on all the time, (5) buy good gas-not cheap gas, (6) replace the fuel filter.
I have always gotten better than average gas mileage from all the cars I have driven and I think these habits really help.
I am getting excellent gas mileage with my 5.7 Grand Cherokee, I have a 202 Dodge 1500 4.7 truck that continues to average between 18-19 and 22-23 on the road.
2004 Mustang GT V8 that averages 22 and gets 26+ on the road (or less than 10 if I gun it-but it is worth it)
A 2004 Ford V6 Windstar that averages 16 with 22 on the road.
Driving habits usually determine potential gas mileage. A heavy foot is most often the culprit for poor gas mileage
Thanks for saving me the time to look it up!
tidester, host
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/faq/glossary.asp
This confirms that, indeed, the British are still using Imperial gallons to compute mpg.
Of course, another factor is the price of Diesel fuel per gallon vs. the price of gasoline per gallon. In the winter, Diesel fuel is higher; in the summer, Diesel fuel is lower.
My 5.7 can loaf 95% of the time so it's not very hungry. But for those times I want to go fast or pull something very heavy, it is a hoot but hungry because of the extra work.
However, the 3.07 would increase fuel consumption around town or in climbing because the engine would have to have more fuel than with a 3.73 to have the same power at the wheel in over coming the lower ratio.
Driving applications remain important issues in determine what vehicle to own and how to drive it. If I did not need 4WD and 5.7 power for the mountains I live in, then I would not need this vehicle as equiped.
Consumers need to educate themselves in these technical details to happy with all aspects of their vehicles.
I am unconvinced that a diesel is the way to go from past experience. I don't think the mileage will be much different in any vehicle and diesel fuel is more expensive. I have seen this before-folks wasting money going to diesel. Few of us will keep a vehicle for more than 150K (the only possible reason for one). Diesel engines do have (generally) more torque than the same size gas engine but less horse power.
I have had them-noisy-dirty and not much fun to drive unless turbo-charged which brings with it lots of mechanical problems.
Here's where I disagree: Your point of perspective is probably very different from mine. My last truck was an F-350 diesel dually. I averaged 18.25mpg running empty while all of my buddies with their gassers were running in the 12-13mpg range. My 1-ton even did better than most 1/2 tons. Now given what I have gathered from DC's attempt at putting a diesel in the Jeeps, they are not getting the mileage they should be getting. A diesel GC or Libbie should be getting over 30mpg. I think the engines are too small.
Diesels benefit greatly from the addition of a chip or tuner. Gassers usually only will gain 10 or 15 HP, while a diesel engine will gain far more. The chip I had on my F-350 gave me an extra 75HP and 150ftlbs of torque. That put me at 325HP and 650ftlbs of torque, I can tell you from experience that it was more fun to drive than any gasser at that point. Infact, you can buy chips/tuners that will give you 150HP.
Turbos don't necessarily bring a lot of mechanical problems. Granted, that is just something else to break on the engine, but few people I know of have had any problems.
Diesels aren't as noisy as they were 10 years ago. The new Cummins in the Dodge trucks is so quiet that you can pass one on the road and never hear it. The Chevy Duramax is the same way and the Ford Powerstroke is getting there. As far as being dirty, they don't smoke anymore either - unless they are chipped. Even with my chip installed, the only time mine would smoke is when I really got into the throttle.
The approximate additional cost of getting a diesel engine in a Dodge, Ford and Chevy truck is $8,000 which includes the packages required for it. Yearly insurance costs are greater proportional to the vehicle cost as is fuel cost.
Diesel is more expensive because it is now beginning to have to meet the same emissions standards as gasolene. Because of the refining process it may become even more costly than gasolene. Diesel used to cost less because trucks were given exemptions.
Average car ownership in the U.S. is about 60K miles making it impossible to come out ahead with diesel if addtionl costs are considered.
Bigger engines mean more fuel use and more cost. Chips have not shown to increase mileage but rather horsepower and torque. However, the more power used the poorer the mileage.
I have considered modifying my Dodoge truck with a chip. However, everything I have read indicates that for a gas or diesel engine the life of the engine is reduced. If you have an independent study that shows it to be different, I'd like to see it
What I have seen is that diesel engines pulling heavy loads at highway speeds are better than gas engines and I think the stats confirm that.
Jeep is trying to rush a diesel engine into its vehicles because of the hysteria over gas prices just like in the 70's with other American cars. I think Jeep has great engines right now the 5.7 is one.
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid is simply not even close to being in the same class as a Grand Cherokee-it only has a measly towing capacity of 1000#, under powered in all aspects and will be nearly useless off-road.
If gas mileage was my main issue, I'd get a motor scooter. However, I went for the 5.7 4WD Grand Cherokee because I drive in elevations exceeding 11,000 feet,in lots of snow and ice, on BLM roads that are barely improved and I tow as much as 7000# and the gas mileage is great for the application I use it for. It is a safe, powerful, great handling and rugged vehicle that does what I need it to do.
It is really important to decide what the application is before a vehicle is purchased. It produces a much higher level of satisfaction.
I have to go over Berthoud Pass (11000 feet and change)on Hy. 40 (off I-70) to get to Grand Lake and there are plenty of other such passes that starting right now can be very tough in fall,winter and spring and sometimes summer. I fish all over the place and some "roads" that are tough-through streams-rock-steep inclines & such.
I have pulled my boat and other folks over the passes several times. I use the tow-haul switch for this-works great-very stable.
I have always used premium gas in all my cars & trucks so it was not easy for me to give it up for the GC. Used mid-grade(89) at first then went to lower (87) at altitudes above 3000. Runs fine. Now I use 87 all the time and have yet to hear a ping or rattle. The 5.7 Hemi is just a wonderful engine.
On the road, on the long flat stretches of Interstate in north Texas or Oklahoma I will get 23+ if I keep it between 65-70 in that it allows the engine to shut down to 4 cyl most of the time. If I drive between 75 and 80 on same road it drops to 18+. I consider this outstanding.
In the mountains I average about 17-19 depending if I am towing. I only use gas going up-downs pretty much free.
If I behave myself arouind town, I'll get 18 and if I don't it'll fall to 14. Never got less than 14 on a tank. I am 57 but I did put one of those little sewing machine pocket rockets cars to shame yesterday at a traffic light-know better-just counld't help it.
Now I am one of those nuts (don't work for an oil copmnay or own stock in one)that does not think gas has been over priced. I saw no one driving less just bitching more on their way to buy fast food or make a trip to the store for one item. I'd like to see gas stay around $3.50 at least to promote more refinning and exploration of petroleum and other sources not to mention to saying adios to the mid-east.
The United States has enormous petroleum reserves-our plan has been to use other oil sources before using ours which is a good idea except that mid-east oil is not "sweet" and has a very high sulfur content which is why diesel has gone up with the new regs on emmissions. The U.S. is very likely to become an oil exporting nation within 20 years but those facts are hard to know without really looking at the facts independently.
Fact is, mid-east countries will either have to free their women to develop their economies or develop nuclear energy cause they got nothing else-squandered all their wealth. Tough.Doo Doo.
ButI have digressed off. Hope my figures encourage you. For what I use my GC for,I am happy as a dog chasing chickens.
By the way, we have a 2004 Ford Mustang GT convertible with the 4.6 V8. We get 26+ on the road. But I can't drive it west without a chiropractor on board.
I purchased my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee from Mac Grubbs Motors in Columbia, Mississippi. They handle Ford, GMC, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep. They service our 2004 Dodge Ram 1500, 2004 Mustang GT, 2004 Ford Windstar Van and my Jeep. My experience has been fabulous including replacement, at no charge, of an air-conditioning compressor on the van after the warranty had expired.
They have good computer equipment and well trained technicians.
I've never had few problems with dealers. I don't understand why any dealer of any brand of automobile would not want to repair their product under warranty. Dealers make little on new car sales, better on used cars but their bread and butter is service. Good service means happy customers and better income for the dealership.
Integrity and honesty, I suppose, are found less and less often these days and for sure competence runs parallel to character. I urge you to meet personally with the regional representative and/or the general manager of the dealership.
There is someone who will not be happy with the quality of service you received and having the experience of finding that person would serve you well in the future on other similar problems. Find someone who understands that honesty and integrity are about faith in God-there are lots of folks who do care.
I really am sorry that you had this experience-it just really sucked.
Tom Loy
I have a 1998 jeep Grand limited with 111,000 miles I had it for a year now..nice car..lots of features..nice handling.. BUT the gas usage on this V8 car stinks...I am filling this car up almost every other day! 30.00 to 45.00 every time ... seems like I fill it up on Wed...and its at the halfway mark by Fri.. and I just drive the car around my neighhood!
taking my kids back and forth to school...its like there is a hole in the tank where the gas just leaks out when I put gas in the SUV,,,,,is there anything that i can do to at least manage this problem..gas is too high for me to have to fill up
almost every other day...
Thanks
this is the only country that people drive two blocks to the gym
12MPG around town. Many stops, trips under 1 mile
18 to 20 on hwy 65 to 70. Does better with midgrade gas.
love the GC.
I have compared how my 4WD GC can perform, it's power potential, pulling ability and weight to other smaller and less capable 4WD's and I am convinced that it is far more fuel efficient. The "expert" comparisons are more like trying to compare a pony to a quarter horse-there can be no meaningful comparison unless capacity is considered.
I understand that Jeep is dealing with an uninformed public, but the Hemi GC is an outstanding product which the competition can't touch. Jeep needs to show a little more guts in backing up this great vehicle.
10.5 mpg in town and 16 hwy with cruise at 70 on flat grade. MDS doesn't really exist, engine surges, flat acceleration unless geared down. Junk.
I just completed a 1,450 mile trip from Mississippi to Grand Lake, Colorado with a total elevation gain of 8,200 feet, traveling on mountain roads from Raton, New Mexico to Grand Lake, Co. I cruised at 76 mph on Interstate. My verified average mpg was 18.9. On Interstate stretches it average 20.3. I wonder about why your mileage is lower.
If you are concerned about gas mileage, why would have purchased a 5.7 Hemi Grand Cherokee in the first place?
Odometer is at 26k, give or take a few miles.
NORMAL City driving.
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2005 GC Limited with Hemi...
10.5 mpg in town and 16 hwy with cruise at 70 on flat grade. MDS doesn't really exist, engine surges, flat acceleration unless geared down. Junk.
The 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi should have MDS, you can check it by VIN number, also see at what speed MDS is active for your car.