ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair => Topic started by: tundrawolf on October 17, 2009, 01:56:04 PM
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Hello,
I love offroading and have a 4x4 Chevy LUV (1979) truck which goes anywhere, but gets bad gas mileage because of super low gearing.
Other than that I only have a motorcycle to get around.
I live in the rural hills of the high desert of California, so all around me is 4x4 country.
I want something that will break 35MPG but stil be a reasonably competent offroad vehicle.
The Suzuki Samurai caught my eye and may be my next vehicle.
I was wondering: What sort of Miles per Gallon are you guys getting out of your vehicles?
I am not really sure if I want to go with the huge wheel option as I know it will affect my MPG.
Any replies are appreciated, thank you.
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I've been running zukes for 10 years and they've never given me over 30mpg. My 413K running 30" tires and 512 gears gets about 20 to 25 mpg. The gearing is low so it doens't help.
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I have a 2000 Tracker 4 door. 2.0 5 speed, bone stock with 215/75 tires, I've gotten 28 a few times years ago, now about 26 in the warmer weather, it's down to 24 since the weather has gotten cooler. I don't think you're going to find anything that gets 35.
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What about a Sidekick? I hear they get 35 MPG.
What a bummer, I really love the look of the Samurai.
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Best I ever got when my sidekick was bone stock was 27mpg. It did have a high idle at the time but that probably only would of cost me like 1mpg. Once you put on bigger tires, the milage will just go down. Especially with the sidekick platform because there are almost no gearing options to compensate for those bigger tires. If you like samurai's I say buy one, get it running perfect, give it a tune up, slap some 29" mud tires on it and go. It will get you about as close to what you are looking for as your going to get without driving an atv of some sort.
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Sorry but you heard wrong.
I think the common misconception is due to the "Geo" name. People automatically associate Geo with fuel sipper which is true if your have a Geo Metro, but for the most part all other Geo products run about the same as any other mid 90's econobox. Trackers/Sidekicks actually get the worst mpg's in the entire Geo/Suzuki line-up. They are after all trucks, a segment not known for the best mpg's. You will get far better mpg's in a zuk, than say an S-10. But not 35mpg's...barely even break the high 20's range.
Add bigger tires and people, and equipment and it's even less. Suzuki/Geo trucks actually only really shine on the trail and in local city traffic. that's where you'll get awesome mpg's. But the little engine works hard on highways...even more so in areas with hills and mountains so the highway mpg's on these is not so great. factor in that it has like a 9 gallon tank and you don't really get much range either.
Over all you'll get better mpg's than you will in ANY other 4x4 ever made, but realistically you'll never see 35mpg from a Suzuki or Geo truck. and if you change it from stock it's pretty much a safe bet you'll barely see anything over 24mpg's
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i suppose if you did a VW diesel swap into the samurai you'd get around 35 MPG, and its a pretty common swap.
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The only thing I know of that gets that good of mileage and is four wheel drive is a Toyota Trecel or Corolla All-Trac. Both have real transfer cases (not AWD), but only the Trecel's is two speed. Both get about the mileage you're hoping for.
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I think that Jookycola's answer is about spot on. I have a low miles 94 Tracker with some minor air and exhaust work done (geared twords MPG not power) and a 1.5" lift with AT 30's and I get 27MPG.
One thing to keep in mind though is rolling resistance. If you have a garage you could run street tires of a smaller size and then AT's when you went wheeling. I would bet that if I went down to 28x8's with street tread I could hit 30MPG. But I live in an apartment so no second set for me any time soon.
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I run a 1" or so lift with 235/75R15 Toyo All Terrains at 23lb, 2" cat back, 1" wheel spacers with the 16v and get close to 27mpg pretty much all the time, doesn't really matter what I am doing. When I first bought the Tracker it sat stock with some really thing road 235/75R15 tires that where aired up to 30lbs and I could manage 29 or so, but that was the best I was able to squeeze out of the tank.
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The Tracker/Sidekick/Samurai is classified as a "light truck". All of mine have been registered and insured as such in both California and Michigan, I'm assuming those are not the only states and that it's a federal classification of some sort. Yes an F-150 is a serious truck, but that's a different class of truck. But a 1-ton & F-150 and Tracker/Sidekick/Samurai are all built the same way. Body over solid frame so structurally they are the same, size wise....that's a different story.
The Geo tracker is the truck of the Geo line-up.
Mine has 235/75/r15 BFG A/T KO's at 40psi, no lift at all. I have a 16v motor, with the 1990 5-speed (with a lower 5th gear than later models) hooked to that motor is a K&N drop-in filter with a fully open air box mod, and the Calmini muffler on an otherwise bone stock exhaust system. I average around 25mpg hwy, 27 on a good cool day on completely flat surfaces. doing the speed limit (around 65 to 70 mph)
When i lived in Los Angeles where the freeways go up and down plenty of steep hills, and the average summer temp is 87 to 100 degrees outside I averaged only 23 to 25mpg's I could go up a hill and try to keep up with traffic and literally watch the gas gauge go down.
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Mine has 235/75/r15 BFG A/T KO's at 40psi,
40psi???? I would not be able to keep my Tracker on the road, from bouncing out of the potholes at that pressure!
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when i had my 1998 sidekick sport 4door
bone stock i was getting 29-30 mpg
but that was driving economically.
now i put some mods on to it and its diving
getting about 19 mpg with
-30" tires (23 psi)
-stock gears
-stock diffs
-cone filter
Dennis.
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My 93 4 door stock exept it has 205/70/15 gets between 26 and 31 MPG it avg. in the middle.
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you will need to lighten it, and then down size it to a 1liter metro. motor.
not going to get 35mpg, unless your local gas station starts selling imperial gallons,
Queen Anne, gallons are 4.5 liters.
then you will get there.
and keep speeds up high and in 4th or 5th gear.
40mph is the lowest fuel used per mile in my 96 1.6L Tracker 5sp. (have MPG life guage)
on flat ground. steady speed, no stopping......
but that is not going to happen.
best mpg . 30 MPG USG.
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you will need to lighten it, and then down size it to a 1liter metro. motor.
not going to get 35mpg, unless your local gas station starts selling imperial gallons,
Queen Anne, gallons are 4.5 liters.
then you will get there.
and keep speeds up high and in 4th or 5th gear.
40mph is the lowest fuel used per mile in my 96 1.6L Tracker 5sp. (have MPG life guage)
on flat ground. steady speed, no stopping......
but that is not going to happen.
best mpg . 30 MPG USG.
what exactly is a MPG life gauge?
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MPG gauge. You can get OBD2 based gauges that plug into the diagnostic output or you car. For OBD1 you can get a gauge that needs to be hooked up tp a couple of the stock sensors. I am currently adding an mpg readout to my diagnostic software for OBD1 Suzukis.
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what does it cost?
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86 Samurai 31" tires 4.88 gears 1.3 motor 5 speed 23 mpg overall!
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The Tracker/Sidekick/Samurai is classified as a "light truck". .........Body over solid frame so structurally they are the same, size wise....that's a different story.
Sooo, does this mean my Chevelles are considered trucks ??? I guess if you look at it in a truck sense, technically you can take the top off of a zuk & remove the back seat for an instant bed.....
BTW, 87 Sami, 235/75 street radials, stock 1.3 with free flowing exhaust. Driving mainly around town, I went 2 weeks without filling up the tank. When I did fill up, it took $5. I averaged 20 miles everyday for those 2 weeks. Looks like I got 30-31 mpg, but don't expect the same with larger tires or highway driving.
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Yes a Chevelle is a truck...they made El Caminos out of them after all ;)
LOL
no, not really.
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my 94 5-speed with full exhaust n filter gets 23-25 on 32's ;D
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My stock Sidekick Sport with a 5 speed got a consistent 33 mpg on the highway, at 55 to 60 max speed, before I put a cartop carrier on it. That cost me 1 or 2 mpg. My tires are one size larger than stock and run at about 32 psi. I doubt that you will find an off-road capable 4 wheeled vehicle in the US that will get 35 mpg on the highway.
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My 88.5 Samurai, that I bought new, averaged 33 to 34 mpg on the hwy at 55 when I first got it. Two years ago it still got about 32. Then I did an OTA and put 295X60s on it and gave it to my 17 year old and now he said he gets around 29 on the hwy and 24 in town. It is the carb model and still only has about 65,000 miles on it. every thing is stock except the lift and tires. It don't have AC and it is a tin top which helps the mileage.
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My 88.5 Samurai, that I bought new, averaged 33 to 34 mpg on the hwy at 55 when I first got it. Two years ago it still got about 32. Then I did an OTA and put 295X60s on it and gave it to my 17 year old and now he said he gets around 29 on the hwy and 24 in town. It is the carb model and still only has about 65,000 miles on it. every thing is stock except the lift and tires. It don't have AC and it is a tin top which helps the mileage.
What makes you so different? 34MPG is what I want..
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I'm getting just under 20mpg with my Sami, has a fresh 1.6 8v with cam, an MS2, header and 2" exhaust. Has 5.12 R&P's and 4.16 TC gears with the 32" swampers at 15psi. No where near 35mpg but for what it is it's OK. And the 95 sidekick I have only gets 22/24mpg and it's stock.
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24-27 out of your Dodge 1 ton?lol! That is 8-10 better than everybody I know that has one! Is it chipped? If so don't go by the trip computer, it throws it off! My brothers 03 said he was getting 25 he was getting 20
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My 1990 134,000km stock sidekick JX gets 25.4 miles to the Gallon.
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The best ive done in my 4 door 2wd auto is 28 mpg
when i dont care about mpg and just gas it, it drops to 22 mpg
i wish it got 30+
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Average in my 96 Tracker 2 door auto was 23mpg. I had 2 CELs for nearly 2 years and I got them to stay off for a ~70 mile trip and averaged around 26 that time then they came back on the way home. Hoping for 25-30 range after I get the head back and reasemble everything with new seals and sensors.
I was burning ~1.5-2 quarts of oil between oil changes every ~4k miles, valve seals were crap.
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93 Geo Tracker. 5 spd. 33's under a Calmini 3" & 3" BL. Snorkle, header w/2" pipe. Lotsa armor & winch = 22mpg |removethispart|@ 55mph,
19mpg |removethispart|@ 70mph (wind at my back!)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm248/dustybadlands/dustybadlands%20treeslammer/Copyoflatestmodspart009.jpg)
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Did you have your fenders and the snorkel last time you posted the rig? I don't think I've seen it since the paint job.
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So far it looks like the Sidekicks are averaging a bit better mileage than the Samurai. More data is probably needed. :)
-Eric
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My 95 4-door daily driver got 31 for the first 8 to 10 years, then went down to 26-28 as the engine wore out.
My 95 2-door, lifted and regeared with 5.83's, on 33's gets around 24.
My new 97 Sidekick Sport 4-door daily driver is getting about 25.
My wife's 99 GV gets around 23.
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I did poll in, but in all fairness mine is not stock, engine wise. Even running 32x11.50 BFG At's, and the usual suspension mods, steel bumpers, winch, skidplates and rocker guards, all the other extra junk, I can only squeeze 20/22 out of her at sea level. Anybody who says turbos are " economic" probably hasn't had one.
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My 87 Sammi has a 1.3 and is bone stock. I get 27.5 avarage MPG
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Did you have your fenders and the snorkel last time you posted the rig? I don't think I've seen it since the paint job.
I don't remember, the snorkle is different now too. I went with one of those PVC things where the electrical comes into your house thingies, (brain shart) can't remember what they're called. Actually looks like a scoop tho. I gained .025 H.P. !
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Anybody who says turbos are " economic" probably hasn't had one.
Aren't they supposed to be economical compared to running a larger engine? 22 mpg out of a 4 cylinder is better than 15 out of a V8.
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1987 Samurai = 24 MPG
2000 Ford 3/4 Diesel = 21 MPG
2006 Gold Wing = 48 MPG
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Since I bought my 92 in August the mileage has been all over the board. 25 mpg on the first tank and I was ecstatic. It hasn't done that since though. I warmer weather 23 has been common, now with colder weather it's been getting 21. Hope it doesn't get any worse as the weather gets colder. Still better than the 16-17 my Wrangler got.
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91 samurai, 150K miles, 225/75 tires, stock otherwise......27-28 MPG average. I have gotten 31-32 out of it, when I first put in my low mileage 85K motor in, but since then it runs pretty consistent at 27-28.
92 sidekick, 4 door, 175K miles, 16V, manual, 225/75 tires, K&N air filter, header....27-28 average.
95 sidekick, 4 door, 135K miles, 16V, manual 215/75 tires, stock otherwise.....28-32.....with 30-32 being pretty common when running 65-70 on the interstate.
All MPG figures are adjusted for the "non-stock" tire sizes.
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Just a reminder.. Please use the poll to share your results too. I hope to make a graph of the results once we have enough sampled data.
Thank you, Eric
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Just a reminder.. Please use the poll to share your results too. I hope to make a graph of the results once we have enough sampled data.
Thank you, Eric
I did but 21-25 is too broad of a spread since I think most will be in that range. Would be helpful to have it broken down smaller.
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My 98 4door 1.6 4spd auto Sidekick (bone stock, 90,000 miles) gets like 23 city and 27 highway. Maybe an o2 sensor might help a bit as I think mine is nearing the end of its usefulness...
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my 02 4 door 2.0 auto used to get 28-30 when it was newer I put 235's cold air and lots of miles on it now on a long trip I recentley took on a stormy winter day with 3 kids in 4wd it avaraged 18mpg yikes but it is a blast to own and drive small price to pay for fun :P
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I have 2 '98 Trackers, 4-dr, auto, air and they both average 23.5 mpg all year round, year after year. If I drive in "Power" mode (higher shift speeds on the 4-spd auto), I lose about 1 mpg.
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88 samurai 30 inch tires. 1.3 ported head and intake. 9.5-1 compression. stage 2 cam. header weber. new motor. not a bit of smog crap on it. accel coil. light springs in the distributor. 16 degrees of advance. no cam degreeing (yet) stock gears. 19-20 mpg.
on a good day. but who cares it goes for a 1.3
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90 Geo Tracker 1.6L 8V with 5spd, 30" mud terrains, barely getting a consistent 20 MPG, which, I've heard, SUCKS, so I must have a problem. I believe it's a vacuum leak somewhere since I have that super high cold idle.
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'88 Sammy with 28's and stock (for now). 22 mpg, blowing smoke, no matter what I do. Road, off road etc, hubs in or out.
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With the new engine the mileage hadn't returned to pre-swap levels. Partially because I can now run over 4K RPM's without the engine rattling away, but still not enough to explain the drop. If I was going about 40mph though it got great mileage. After noticing it was running rich when cold I went ahead and put in a new 02 sensor. Received a noticeable boost in highway power and another 2 mpg when running 70+.
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87 sammy stock 1.3, no mods at all I'm getting an AVERAGE of 25-28mpg. once I did indeed achieve 40mpg in town somehow. DONT ask how because I dont know. generally though, 25-28 is my normal mileage, especially on scrap runs.
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With a '94 Tracker 4WD, with the only mods being a calmini header and a cone filter, I'm hitting 27 mpg on the highway.
The '91 2WD I used to have (bone stock) hit 32 mpg highway.
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I just managed recently to locate and buy a one owner, stock 1988.5 Suzuki Samurai tintop in decent
condition, and am well chuffed to be getting nearly 30mpg with it . . .
However, that said, must confess to having really gentle driving style, and gearing up always as soon as
practicable without lugging the engine.
Also, quite hilly where I live, so I free wheel a lot, too . . . all of which
aids better fuel economy.
Wondering if anyone here has an opinion regarding the Samurai five speed transmission . . . mine synchro meshes
smoothly and shifts well, but there is gear noise and leaking at the transmission, so I'm planning to have my
mechanic rebuild it in July 2010. Recently learned that the 1988.5 Samurai was allegedly 'improved' with
a lower 5th gear ratio, to garner more 'power on the highway' ???
Not quite sure what this means . . . perhaps revs at higher RPMs in 5th gear than Samurais from previous
manufacture years?
If so, is there any way my mechanic can adjust the transmission gears to ratios that rev at lower RPMs??
Thanks for any and all help . . . !!
Cheers ~~
Jess
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The 88.5 transmission's 5th gear was redesigned so that 5th is more practically useful in real world driving, rather than pretty much just at 60+mph like my 87 feels like.
On another note, my more recent drives I've been achieving an average of roughly 19-30 mpg.
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just finished my first tank in my new to me bone stock tracker, 98 5 speed 4wd and i got 28.8 mpg. very happy so far, took it off road for the first time today, blew my mind how well it did bone stock
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My 88 Samurai with it's tired 1.3 and an EFI TB conversion gets right around 27. and that is with 235-75 15 Maxis Mudders on it.
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I constantly get 25 mpg with 30 X 9.50 tires and stock drive train.
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If im drivin "full speed" at ~45 i get about 15 with my 33x1250s. If im trail ridin its about 20. both are in 2wd so far
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Im getting 18 driving 55-60 on the highway with 235/75R15's
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Yeah at this point id say youre looking at a subaru ;D
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In my Vitara I get about 20 to 25 Mpg... And with the big tank costs about $50 or more to fill. My 1998 Chevy Tracker gets about 25 to 29 Mpg and about half what it costs to fill the Vitara. I wish my tracker was an auto with cruise control, I would drive it more, but for long trips the Vitara has it beat for comfort.
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So I did a mileage test on my 2000 Chevy Tracker (2.0 Vitara) 4 Door.... I usually drive fairly fast... accelerate hard and run 5-10mph over the speed limit every where I go. I have been getting 20-22 mpg in my Tracker... so for the test I ran through an entire tank making sure I kept my foot out of the gas when accelerating, not getting over 3K rpm and not exceeding 65 mph. After a tank I checked and got 28.8 mpg :o I was shocked... that increased my vehicles range from 300-320 miles to over 400 miles (refilled at 418 miles with the gage still out of the red)...
every since, I have been driving like that.... for every three tanks I gain the range of an extra tank of gas ($45), just by driving slower....
Zig
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Makes sense Zig, If I just drop my highway speed from 70 to 62 I get way better fuel econemy. Almost 23! :laugh:
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94 2dr Ragtop 8v with 5 speed. Was getting about 21ish in town with 24 on the highway, but after new plugs, ECT sensor, O2 sensor, thermostat, and air filter I managed to get 24 in town but haven't made the highway trip yet to find out. That is uncorrected for 235/75r15 tires. Seems to be doing alot better lately.
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1988 Sammi mix of highway and town. Uncorrected for 235 75 15's i get about 23 so i figure above 25 when you correct it for tire size. And i dont spare the horses so to speak.
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Sammi is up to 31 now
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It would be cool for someone who has a diesel swap to chime in on this since everyone seems to be running gas.
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I'm getting 26 to 28 with my stock 2002 Tracker. Auto with 215 75r 15's
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What about a Sidekick? I hear they get 35 MPG.
What a bummer, I really love the look of the Samurai.
Looks are good for just that "looks" i love my Samurai and mine gets about 24mpg on road, off road depending on driving style can be alot less than that, but i don't care what vehicle you run unless its a very efficient diesel WHEN YOU OFF ROAD YOU ALWAYS GET WORSE GAS MILEAGE. One of my hunting partners has a 2008 dodge ram 1500 Hemi, which has the dash board readout for fuel economy and on the highway driving to camp he gets around 24mpg and when he takes it off road (just regular driving) he gets around 9-11 mpg, and this is a stock vehicle and the guy is 72 years old, he drives like a granny, alot of it has to do with the terrain your vehicle goes through.
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93 sidekick
9k on rebuilt motor
31" tires
5.62 diff gears
24 mpg.
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93 sidekick
9k on rebuilt motor
31" tires
5.62 diff gears
24 mpg.
That's great for that gear ratio.
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87 sami jx Tin Top, 3" lift, 31inch BFG M/T's, stock 1.3, stock carb and im getting 18 average MPG
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Stock 87 soft top samurai with 259XXXmi on stock 1.3 with 5spd trans and 255/60/15 tires and I'm flirting with 30mpg. Don't ask me how because I want to know the same thing lol
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i have a sammy with a 302 you can watch the gas gauge go down!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:[]
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I have a Sami running 205/70-15s, with a Thorley header and 2" exhaust. Carb is a rebuilt stocker and the engine runs strong for a Sami 1.3 with a stock carb.
I average 22-23 mpg, running 65 mph on the freeways. I've seen 28 up in the mountains taking it easy, and 24-25 taking it easy, 55 mph and under, near sea level. Drops to 20 running 70+ with the A/C on.
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95 trackkick 4dr on 29s. 23-26mpg average.
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1987 Samurai. PROPANE powered!!! 4:56 gears, 6.5-1 t-case, 33" toyo mts. I get around 18. But at $2.09 a gallon for propane, I'm not complaining.
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I have a 2wd with the 3 speed Auto and on the road at 60mph I get 32mpg.
It has 205x70x15 tires and spins at about 3300 rpm.
I'm going a little taller and see if it will get any better.
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how about while towing?
1990 sidekick 2dr stock 8V with 2" exhaust. 235/75r15's 3inch suspension lift. did 21-23mpg WHILE towing a 4x8 trailer loaded with 1400lbs. truck was also loaded down too.
took it to the scales on the way back and subtracting the curb wieght of the truck i had 2800lbs EXTRA! had 4 people and truck was loaded down plus the trailer!
took it out to alberta the next weekend with the trailer empty and got 25-26mpg! just giving it up the hills, tops out on the flat at 120kmh... with a downhill it will run up to 130km/h and stayed running that until an uphill section, then back down to 90-100km/h till the top of the hill.
they arnt speed demons on the highway especially with a trailer, but it tows pretty good for a light duty rig. truck pulls nicely around town though.
cant complain about those mpg numbers when towing a trailer up and down the hills. also, thats a truck with 365,000km !!
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Hello try to import Suzuki Jimny 660cc turbo engine
19-27KM/L..
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Hello try to import Suzuki Jimny 660cc turbo engine
19-27KM/L..
I have seen a couple of the 660 Jimny's for sale on import sites up in Canada. I always thought that would be an interesting ride to pick up.
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90 2dr sidekick 8v jx ragtop, 235/75 Dakota mt's at 28psi 2inch suspension spacers, 3inch body lift, calmini roof rack, front bull bar, calmini 2 inch catback exhaust, 19-21city 21-23 highway cruising at 75mph, 25 with windows up and cruising 65. I gain 1mpg with the rack off
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The important thing is they get a heck lot better mpg then jeeps ;)
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I have an 86' Samurai, I have only taken it on one 150 mile trip. I managed to make the whole trip without using a single ounce of gas, but the Jeep that towed it was getting about 14mpg......lol.
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93 Tracker 2 door, w/2.7 V6 & 5 speed Auto, 33X12.5X15 Pro Comps, and enough lift to clear the 33's. I get 20 mpg running around county, and 70+ highway. Got 26 mpg in Yosemite, but speed limit is 45, even though went over 10.00 feet a few times.
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I'll add it here when I get the AHL TDI in my Sami.
John
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Basically finished my first tank in my new to me bone stock tracker, ninety eight five speed 4wd and that I gained 28.8 mpg. Extremely joyful up to this point, took it rough terrain for the essential time in nowadays, blew my judgment how great it boned stock