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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Better Gas Mileage

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Expert: - 5/14/2004


Question
What do you recommend to increase my gas mileage for my 2000 Wrangler Sahara?  I read where an individual installed a K & N filter and a "Tornado"(?).  Have heard of a "tornado"?  And what do you recommend for the best MPG?  Thanks.

Answer
Rick,

I have heard of the Tornado, and actually purchased one.  I wasn't impressed, especially the way it was made, and the price was on the high side.  If it does make a difference, it didn't seem to with my 2.5 ltr, 4 banger.  I would start with a good K&N air filter, or a "cold air intake kit", along with a good FloMaster, or Cat-Back exhaust system.  From there, you can add a throttle body spacer, which functions similar to a tornado, but is slightly cheaper, and works better.  A good addition to your exhaust system would be a good header, such as a Borla.

A good source for these items would be Quadratec (www.quadratec.com), 4-Wheel Drive Hardware (4wd.com), 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers (www.4wheelpartsadventures.com), or Performance Products (PerformanceProducts.com).  If you go to www.4wheelpartsadventures.com, you can sign up for their free magazine (Off-Road Adventures).

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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