Gas mileage on trip to CA w/ new 4.56s

[mizedog]

We just got back from our trip from Colorado to California. No mechanical problems!!!!!! I had a canvas car top carries loaded with camping gear at least 12" high. The interior was loaded to the gills too. My 4.5" lift became more like a 3" lift! The northern route between these two states has lots of mountain passes (each tank included a heavy pull). At first I kept the speed below 70mph. From Cambria to Corona I averaged 78mph at about 3000rpm. My best tank was from Montrose to Gunnision which included 11,300 foot Monarch Pass, but hwy 50 is much slower than I-70. Plus, there was a 60 mph tail wind to help. I have 32" tires, a 39 tooth speedo gear (meant for 33" tires. So, the miles driven a slightly overstated. Here's the data:
Date Pr Per Gal Amount Gallons Miles Corrected Mileage (3% factor) Total Gas Charge MPG Correct MPG From To
29-May 137 132.89 $24.73 Colorado Springs Silverthorne CO
29-May $2.70 12.2 192 186.24 $32.91 15.74 15.27 Silverthorne Grand Junction CO
30-May $2.22 6.91 125 121.25 $15.34 18.09 17.55 Grand Junction Green River UT
30-May $2.63 6.936 106 102.82 $18.23 15.28 14.82 Green River UT Richfield UT
30-May $2.44 8.824 125 121.25 $21.52 14.17 13.74 Richfield Cedar City UT
31-May $2.50 7.578 115 111.55 $18.94 15.18 14.72 Cedar City Mesquite NV
31-May $2.60 6.672 98 95.06 $17.34 14.69 14.25 Mesquite NV Primm NV
31-May $2.88 7.532 111 107.67 $21.68 14.74 14.30 Primm Barstow CA
31-May $2.84 8.619 128 124.16 $24.47 14.85 14.41 Barstow Bakersfield CA
1-Jun $2.86 11.861 145 140.65 $33.91 12.22 11.86 Bakersfield Cambria CA
2-Jun $3.40 12.601 160 155.2 $42.83 12.70 12.32 Cambria CA Carpenteria CA
2-Jun $2.80 8.61 152 147.44 $24.10 17.65 17.12 Carpenteria CA Corona, CA
4-Jun $2.84 15.593 208 201.76 $44.27 13.34 12.94 all over visiting all over visiting
10-Jun $3.00 10.577 172 166.84 $31.72 16.26 15.77 all over visiting all over visiting
11-Jun $2.86 5.531 81 78.57 $15.81 14.64 14.21 Riverside CA Barstow CA
11-Jun $2.70 10.797 166 161.02 $29.14 15.37 14.91 Barstow Las Vegas NV
11-Jun $2.79 10.489 168 162.96 $29.25 16.02 15.54 Las Vegas NV Cedar City UT
12-Jun $2.71 8.54 117 113.49 $23.13 13.70 13.29 Cedar City Richfield UT
12-Jun $2.74 8.5 127 123.19 $23.29 14.94 14.49 Richfield Green River UT
12-Jun $2.80 10.919 164 159.08 $30.56 15.02 14.57 Green River UT Montrose CO
13-Jun $2.76 7.094 142 137.74 $19.57 20.02 19.42 Montrose CO Gunnison CO
2939 $542.74


Note that mileage visiting friends while in CA was at sea leve, unloaded, with 36psi in the tires. Because this thing was a ROAD ROCKET off the line, I punched it quite a bit. It's amazing what new gears, and sea level will do to the performance!! I'll let you know what happens on my day-to-day commute here at 7000 feet elevation unloaded at speeds less that 60mph.

[BlueXJ]

That is a great chart with much information. I will have to make time to study it. Great trip mileage as well.

[Mudderoy]

Any updates?

[mizedog]

Hey all. I've been dedicating my time to finishing my basement - which includes a dedicated home theater/man cave! I love the 98" screen!!! How To Train Your Dragon rocks the house and you can see the hairs on the vikings' arms.

Back to the XJ.
I've since added 33x12.50 BFG MT KM2s with a 33x10.50 spare (weight savings), and an 8000k winch. My mileage varies from horrible to 17mpg. Last week we did Saran Wrap, a local trail above Colorado Springs. I drove less than 100 miles, and burned nearly a half a tank of gas! Of course, I was in a big hurry to get down the mountain to see my little girls cheer at the high school football game. So, I hot footed it hard all the way down, with only 12psi in the tires. Gas, brake, gas brake. I commuted to/from work on the rest of the tank. Total miles on the tank was about 210. That usually means about 16-17 gallons used (my low gas light comes on with several gallons left). I usually stay well below 65 and average probably 50 mph. I still use the overdrive which keeps the tach just above 2,000 rpm. I wonder if I'd be better off staying out of overdrive...

I know my '08 JK Unlimited did better, but this rig is paid for.