Will a Throttle Body Spacer Improve Fuel Economy on a 2008 Jeep Liberty When Towing
Question:
people say the only complaint they have with the 2008 jeep liberty is the fuel mileage,,, i agree... when i drive 65mph i get 16mpg,,, when i drive 59mph i get 20mpg, so thats a 20 increase... are there any figures to say how much fuel i can save,,what the increase in mpg can be expected... or anything that might help figure a cost benefit.... ill be towing a 1800 lb. trailer, and i want the BEST mileage i can get.. any ideas with proof of increased mileage? thanks for any help...
asked by: Bernie B
Helpful Expert Reply:
Performance part manufacturers do not actually track mileage improvements because there are many factors that can effect fuel economy such as driving habits, environmental conditions, additional performance enhancement products and the condition of the vehicle.
Fuel economy improvement from a throttle body spacer alone would be minimal, especially when towing. Perfomance enhancement products, such as a throttle body spacer, air intake and exhaust are targeted toward performance vehicle applications where increased horsepower and torque is preferred. They will improve the performance of an engine which can help and hurt fuel economy. If you are typically an aggressive driver, improved engine performance will actually hurt your fuel economy. When towing, people are frequently a little heavier on the gas pedal and brake.
The reason you see such a big jump in mpg from 65 mph to 59 mph is because, typically, fuel economy begins to drop dramatically over 60 mph. Vehicles will have different optimal fuel economy speeds, but as a general rule, 60 mph is a good starting point. Unfortunately there are no magic parts that will improve fuel economy under any condition.
The best way to improve your fuel economy is to monitor your driving habits (aggressive braking and accelerating) and stay at or under 60 mph. Proper vehicle maintenance is also crucial to fuel economy. I recommend picking up a monitor like the Edge Insight CTS2 Gauge Display, # EP84130. This monitor can display several different parameters and it has the Mileage Coach program that monitors your driving habits and performance to help you improve your fuel economy.
