I did at one point but then I put in some minor mods. I also started to be a bit more conciencious on how I was driving. I sometimes dip into the high teens also because of traffic. I am a 90%+ city/traffic driver. A/C plays a part in consumption as well. Maybe in your area, if it's cooler than here, you can drive around without the A/C and maybe air deflectors at night (a sense of security) to ease up on the MPG's a bit. I have also heard that the Patriot starts to pick up a bit after 3K miles. in some instances 8K has been reported. I have nitrogen in the tires and they help. What I did was have the tire inflated with nitrogen to about 37 psi.

Mods:

K&N drop in filter
E3 spark plugs
EDIT: Switched to Synthetic oil at about 1200 miles (didn't want to wait for the regular change schedule)

These helped me increase some up to the average you see in my sgnature.

 

from what i understand from reading other member's experiences with MPG's on this forum...it will take a few thousand miles for the engine to full break in before you start to see the MPG's on the window sticker. not sure why it takes so long...but many members have reported that it does.

hope that helps!

 

My 2007 Sport was the same at the beginning. Mostly city driving and rarely broke 19mpg. Now at 12K she's getting an average of 22.5 mpg. The EVIC is showing 22.2 mpg right now but that's with using the A/C on these 100 degree plus days. I seem to remember that is was right around 5K when the mpg's picked up.

 

If you're in the upper teens I'd say something is wrong. Is your daughter sellling gas out of her tank but telling you different? I ask because my '09 E model 4WD started out getting 24 city and almost 30hwy. Something isn't right in the scenario you describe.

 

I echo what others say. It will get better with a little break-in and after the first oil change. Driving the pat is a little different than some other cars. You really have to baby him and keep him under 2000 rpm's as much as possible to get the best mpg. In my experience with the CVT (now I have a CVT2L so my experience will be different than yours and others with the CVT2 or manual) mild agrgessiveness in a normal car is equal to very aggressive driving in the pat when it comes to fuel economy. The patriot is good on gas, but in my experience it is easier to destroy the fuel economy in the patriot than in any other car I have ever owned. It just isn't very forgiving in the city, at high speeds over 65 mph, or at idle (as in stop and go traffic), but it will improve over what you are currently getting.

Switching to Mobil 1 0w20 also gave me a full mpg more. I don't have the funny air in my tires, does it really improve fuel economy as much as a full mpg?

I will just say cautiously to keep an eye on it. Upper teens seems pretty low and is similar to what my FDII (CVT2L) gets in suburban driving. If it doesn't improve before the next oil change talk to the dealer and point out that you are getting 4 - 5 mpg's less than expected, and 6-8 less if the funny air is really that helpful.

Like others above, I have noticied the A/C doesn't impact the mpg's some.

 

What transmission?

You talk about not coasting which suggests the CVT rather than stick. Steady is the key with the Patriot. If it is stick check out her shift points to see if she is holding it in lower gears too long. In the CVT is she using the slap shift to act like a pretent standard and going too long in lower gears.

 

I have a 2008 Sport 4x4 and now I'm averaging a little over 22mpg in mostly city driving. I didn't start seeing those numbers until I hit around 3000mi. My initial mpg were in the 18's and it slowly rose as I approached that 3k mile mark. As far as the nitrogen fill in the tires...I don't think that will effect fuel mileage at all. Now how much tire pressure you have (whether air or Nitrogen) will. I run mine around 37psi.

 

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5734

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4771

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5722

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6123

 

The break-in period isn't just the old fashioned seating of the piston rings, valve seats, etc. The Patriot also adapts to your driving style over time and will find the most efficient response to driver inputs such as gear selection and throttle position. The tip I have found most helpful is to drive as though you had a raw egg between your foot and the gas pedal.

 

The break-in period isn't just the old fashioned seating of the piston rings, valve seats, etc. The Patriot also adapts to your driving style over time and will find the most efficient response to driver inputs such as gear selection and throttle position. The tip I have found most helpful is to drive as though you had a raw egg under the gas pedal.

That is a pretty good tip. That kind of explains the whole gentle exceleration, below 2000 rpm thing many of us try to explain in way less words.

 

As for the nitro filled tired, it helps with TPM (Tire Pressure Monitor). Supposedly, if you fill with regular air, the moisture will cause the TPM to 'act' up. Also, according to the pages that I googled, it will rust the wheel.
Regardless, I dont believe the Nitro will help with the MPG. My dealer switched it for me and I dont see any increase in MPG.
To really get good MPG on the Patriot in city driving, you really have to have a very light foot and learn how to coast to a red light.

Hope this helps

 

First, thank you all for your excellent advice and suggestions. I knew I'd get what I needed here.

Just to answer some questions: Her jeep is cvt auto, not stick. She is not selling gas yet I'm sure her driving habits are not the most efficient as she is a teenager but she's learning VERY quickly that her driving style affects her mileage and since she's paying for her gas, it's a good lesson.

I plan on getting that first oil change soon and will discuss with her your advice and also talk to a friend who works at the dealership in service to see what he has to say.

Thx again.

 

If the Patriot has the EVIC, have her keep it on MPG... and show her to try tom maintain the revs around 1750-2000 more or less. Obviously, increase revs when added acceleration is required. On the highway 2000 RPM has been about 64MPH for me. Pulling away from stop lights at around this rpm range is decent as well in my experience.

 

First, your (Her) fuel economy should be better, she's shifting high RPM's or she's not used to the CVT yet.

Second, I doubt it's rated at 23/28 on a CVT equipped Patriot. My 5spd Manual 2.4L is 23/28, you can see my lifetime economy in my sig.

2.4L CVT FWD is rated at 21/25
2.0L CVT FWD is rated at 23/27

I've never had a tank below 24mpg

Also, they changed the Fuel Economy ratings a couple years ago.

Check out the following link, you can check old cars to see what the new FE would be, just click on Compare to original window sticker after you pick your vehicle.

www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

My 2002 Dodge Ram 5.9l Gasser

Old Fuel Economy 11/15

New Fuel Economy 10/14

My 1993 Mustang GT 5spd

Old Fuel Economy 17/24

New Fuel Economy 15/22

In other words it is now easier to exceed the window sticker.

 

First, your (Her) fuel economy should be better, she's shifting high RPM's or she's not used to the CVT yet.

Second, I doubt it's rated at 23/28 on a CVT equipped Patriot. My 5spd Manual 2.4L is 23/28, you can see my lifetime economy in my sig.

2.4L CVT FWD is rated at 21/25
2.0L CVT FWD is rated at 23/27

I've never had a tank below 24mpg

Also, they changed the Fuel Economy ratings a couple years ago.


My 2002 Dodge Ram 5.9l Gasser

Old Fuel Economy 11/15

New Fuel Economy 10/14

My 1993 Mustang GT 5spd

Old Fuel Economy 17/24

New Fuel Economy 15/22

In other words it is now easier to exceed the window sticker.

I'm looking at the INFO sticker that I took off the car window when I purchased it. It says city MPG, 23(expected range for most drivers 19-27)....Hwy MPG 27 I thought it was 28.(expected range for most drivers 22-32)

Has CVT II auto stick auto trans 2.0L 4 cyl DOHC 16 V Dual VVT Engine 158HP

I will give it a few more miles, tank fillups and oil changes and then see where we are.

thx

 

my 2.4L with CVT is getting like 25-26mpg when my wife drives it. she doesnt give it more gas than it needs, ever. I, on the other hand, end up at like 22mpg because i play with the autostick more and pretend to drive fast.

18mpg sounds low. she might be gunning it from time to time. are there a lot of hills around her driving area? lots of factors to consider. i cant imagine squeezing many more mpgs out of our patriot since we drive like grannies usually. maybe +1mpg on an ALL highway road trip.... who knows.

 

Averaging just over 23MPG after 3000 miles, 50/50 city highway driving, AC always on; using 17" Firestone Affinitys inflated at 32psi. 1st oil change 2 weeks ago with Mobil 1 5-20. 2.4L CVTL FDII
Mileage is improving, use to get under 21MPG, same type of driving & i do not baby it, on highway average speed is over 70mph & up to 80mph (short period). Just wish the tank was larger.

With the 2.0L & CVT, should still get the low 20s to start, that's my 2 cents

 

I just wonder if my mileage might improve a bit if I were to fill the fog lamp 'pockets' on the front bumper. I don't have the lights so those spots are essentially an air dam. Seems there must be an easy way to make a cap of sorts that just snaps into place and renders the 'pocket' flush.

Any ideas? (no, I won't use duct tape :0)

 

I doubt if you would be able to measure the difference in fuel economy.

 

the salesman said if we put the "new" type of air in the tires (is it nitrogen or something like that), we'd get another 2-3 MPG EASY. We did that too.

You got took if they charged you for the nitrogen & if a salesman said that to me I'd buffalo* him.



*Buffalo:to whack some fool hard upside his head with a loaded Colt SAA.Used to great effect by Wild Bill Hickock & Wyatt Earp

 

Nope, not necessary. I have a friend that works at the dealership and they threw that in lagniappe (pronounced lan yap, which down here in Nawlins means, "FREE"!)

I'm smart enough not to pay for crap like that until and unless it's proven. Since it's free, I really can't lose anything (other than gas mileage I guess).

She's up to 18 on the last tank so I think I'm pretty much heading in the direction you guys have shown me. After an oil change and a few thousand more miles, if I'm not at 22-23 city, I'll have a 'discussion' with the dealership.

thx again.