Fuel Consumption/Capacity Dilema

jepstr67 · Jan 18, 2012

Without a doubt 55 gets way better mileage than 65. On trips where I have driven on highways rather than interstates I have been as high as 35 MPG with the 5 speed. Basically, whether in acceleration or in cruising, any time you take the RPM above 2K your mileage suffers.

dixiedawg · Jan 18, 2012

When the low gas light comes on, I figure on no more than 20 more miles left in the tank. That's in a FDII, and has worked out well for me. Might be able to go further, but I won't risk it.

TheDeadInMe · Jan 19, 2012

dixiedawg said:
When the low gas light comes on, I figure on no more than 20 more miles left in the tank. That's in a FDII, and has worked out well for me. Might be able to go further, but I won't risk it.

try it out.. just carry a 5 gallon gas can filled with you. if you use the dot ones, you wont smell the gas. i have one. trust me. but just do it when the light comes on and go out on the road to see how much more millage you can get.

Wooden Dog · Jan 19, 2012

On a drive back from N. California, I drove slightly over 30 miles after the light came on.

donner · Jan 19, 2012

I'm glad to see I'm not alone. I took the suggestion of using my tripometer and figuring when to stop for gas by the mileage used on the tank. For the time being this works fine. However, I've discussed it with my hubby and we've decided to sell the Patriot, if possible. What a great truck that was marred by these experiences.

Thanks everyone for your input!

widewheel · Jan 23, 2012

TheDeadInMe said:
wow its still so hard to believe that our jeeps drop in mpg from going 55 vs 65. it stinks but what can you do. also you say you use 100% gas. are you talking about the unleaded gas or the more expensive gas?

I am filling up at Phillips 66 with the 87 octaine. Here in Oklahoma we can still get the unblended (although there are plenty of the 10% stations around). The pumps are required to have signage stating if they have the 10% blended fuel.

donner · Mar 9, 2012

Just wanted to give an update to what I've been alerted to concerning my original problem. The reason for my fuel problem is that I don't have a 13.5 gallon tank. How I found out was because I was having a problem with my remote start and took it to the dealer, that installed it, to have it checked out. It was in the shop for 5 minutes and the mechanic came out and asked me when the jeep had been in an accident. I, of course, was shocked because the car fax was clear and the dealer I bought it from did their 129 point check, found nothing wrong and I was not in any accident. The reason he knew is because the driver fender, hood and front bumper was replaced. The wiring was not resecured properly and rubbed til it shorted out. Anyway, I had them print me a build sheet. After perusing it, I noticed an item that said "extra 6.2 gallons of gas". When I inquired about this, they said it means you should have an 18.9 gallon tank. I asked them to check. The mechanic said there is no way I had an 18+ gallon tank. Actually he said he wasn't sure, without dropping the tank, that I even had a 13.5 gallon tank. He guessed the rear had been hit too and the tank was replaced also. So, I no longer have this vehicle. I got rid of it as soon as I could.

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate all you suggestions and help.

GatorGirl · Mar 9, 2012

TheDeadInMe said:
But here in Oregon (like there in NJ) we cant pump our own gas and they never fill it up to the tippy top.

Seriously??? You don't pump your own gas??? I've never seen that... I mean sure there were the full service gas stations when I was real little, but that was a "luxury" my parents couldn't really afford, so self serve it was. But wow... to not be "allowed" to pump your own gas... crazy. Then again, it might be smart, because then you wouldn't have all the idgits we have down here smoking and talking on their cell phones while pumping and blowing themselves up. Granted I know that technically there's no proof of a cell phone causing an "explosion" however it IS detracting your attention from something that could be potentially dangerous. People have gotten so blase about filling up their tanks, they don't realize they are dealing with an extremely flammable liquid.

GatorGirl · Mar 9, 2012

donner said:
Just wanted to give an update to what I've been alerted to concerning my original problem. The reason for my fuel problem is that I don't have a 13.5 gallon tank. How I found out was because I was having a problem with my remote start and took it to the dealer, that installed it, to have it checked out. It was in the shop for 5 minutes and the mechanic came out and asked me when the jeep had been in an accident. I, of course, was shocked because the car fax was clear and the dealer I bought it from did their 129 point check, found nothing wrong and I was not in any accident. The reason he knew is because the driver fender, hood and front bumper was replaced. The wiring was not resecured properly and rubbed til it shorted out. Anyway, I had them print me a build sheet. After perusing it, I noticed an item that said "extra 6.2 gallons of gas". When I inquired about this, they said it means you should have an 18.9 gallon tank. I asked them to check. The mechanic said there is no way I had an 18+ gallon tank. Actually he said he wasn't sure, without dropping the tank, that I even had a 13.5 gallon tank. He guessed the rear had been hit too and the tank was replaced also. So, I no longer have this vehicle. I got rid of it as soon as I could.

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate all you suggestions and help.

Can't say as I blame ya for getting rid of it. That's why carfax isn't always right. It could have been in an accident but never reported to the police, therefore... no carfax.

2 months ago I got into an accident in my Honda Fit, somebody hit me from behind. Very minimal damage, but because the way the car was built I had to replace the whole bumper. I wanted a SUV anyway, so I got the bumper fixed and before anything could be put on carfax, I traded that sucker in LOL! Now it's the dealers prob, but they were just gonna send it to auction anyway

I feel bad for whoever gets that car, because the new bumper was the best thing on it

Hated that car!

NHPATRIOT · Mar 9, 2012

donner said:
Just wanted to give an update to what I've been alerted to concerning my original problem. The reason for my fuel problem is that I don't have a 13.5 gallon tank. How I found out was because I was having a problem with my remote start and took it to the dealer, that installed it, to have it checked out. It was in the shop for 5 minutes and the mechanic came out and asked me when the jeep had been in an accident. I, of course, was shocked because the car fax was clear and the dealer I bought it from did their 129 point check, found nothing wrong and I was not in any accident. The reason he knew is because the driver fender, hood and front bumper was replaced. The wiring was not resecured properly and rubbed til it shorted out. Anyway, I had them print me a build sheet. After perusing it, I noticed an item that said "extra 6.2 gallons of gas". When I inquired about this, they said it means you should have an 18.9 gallon tank. I asked them to check. The mechanic said there is no way I had an 18+ gallon tank. Actually he said he wasn't sure, without dropping the tank, that I even had a 13.5 gallon tank. He guessed the rear had been hit too and the tank was replaced also. So, I no longer have this vehicle. I got rid of it as soon as I could.

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate all you suggestions and help.

I would have ditched it as well. That sounds like a bad situation.

On a side note. Commenting on the 18.9 gallon tank. I don't doubt what you saw on that build sheet but I question how a tank that is 1/3+ again as big as the stock 13.5-13.6 gallon tank would fit on a Patriot? There doesn't appear to be enough room for a tank that much bigegr to fit.

Wooden Dog · Mar 10, 2012

There's not. Not even.

Ignatz · Mar 10, 2012

Donner, GatorGirl and NHPatriot: I can't believe you folks so eager to dump a car if its been in an accident. So what if a car's been in an accident? Did you and your brother-in-law fix it yourselves or did you find a competent shop to do a professional repair?

My '77 Volare got rear-ended in its first year. If it wasn't so new it would have been totalled. I had it repaired and it was a very serviceable vehicle for a number of years. At 100,000 miles all I'd done to it was a couple alternators (clearly a weak point). The front fenders were replaced due to potential rusting under a recall. I never had a tire problem or accident related issues -- nothing related to the collision. The guy I sold it to ran it out of oil and siezed the engine: that was his stupidity, neither a defect nor in any way related to the accident.

My 2001 Grand Prix, only a few months old, got broadsided. Again, so new it was worth the repair. Took that one to 250,000 miles on nothing other than tie-rod ends and front axle bearings, brakes & rotors all around, and if I recall correctly I think I replaced 4 sets of tires (and one set was dumped prematurely because of the belts, not because the tread was gone); I drove that car hard, all over New England in all sorts of weather: bitter cold in Maine, heavy snow in VT, sunbaked parking lots in Mass, and of course heavy doses of road salt in every state for 6 months of the year. If anything it was better than average on tire wear. At 235,000 the battery went and the AAA guy was amazed that it was the original one. Just before I sold it I did notice some rust starting on the replacement fender, but at 9 years and a quarter million miles what could I expect?

So what if a car's been in an accident? If its fixed right, you're good to go . . . and go . . . and go.

Afmcronnie · Mar 10, 2012

That 6 gallons of gas is what is in the tank when they sold it to you. You got charged for it. There IS NO 18 gallon tank for a Patriot.

Fuel Consumption/Capacity Dilema

jepstr67

dixiedawg

TheDeadInMe

Wooden Dog

donner

widewheel

donner

GatorGirl

GatorGirl

NHPATRIOT

Wooden Dog

Ignatz

Afmcronnie

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