My Jeep came with a lightbar and 5 large KC lights installed on top of it. I will hardly ever use them, but they sure do look nice . But.... how will they affect MPG? I remember I had a roof rack on my wifes Honda accord and that thing really did set the MPG back quite a bit. Plus, the wind noise from the lights are extremely loud running faster then 45 MPG with the freedom top removed. Has anyone ever experimented with the lights on / off to see how it affected MPG?

 

As anything that catches wind can reduce your mpg, I'm gonna say it's gonna be minute to nearly nothing in difference.

We'll see what others say though.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 while crawling over mini trucks.

 

Ya, well I was thinking since this jeep is like pushing a brick down the road anyways, it's not gonna matter much. But still, with the amount of noise these lights make and the fact they are the highest point of the jeep, they gotta have some kind of impact on the gas mileage. Just wondering if it was worth enough to take em off. I've got 3.73 gearing and 33" tires with maybe a 3" lift and am getting around 14.4 mpg, but I drive like grandpa jones, lol.

 

If nothing else since you won't use them much sell them and use the money to buy you something you will use or like for your jeep!

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 while crawling over mini trucks.

 

Ha, it's a jeep. The last thing a jeep owner should worry about is MPG. I bought all my jeeps knowing MPG sucks....

 

Hahah... ya I knew MPG would suck, but I immediately thought of my Yakima roof rack and how it killed mpg's on the accord and decided to ask on other peoples experiences here. The K.C. lights look freaking awesome though.

But... so far I have had 2 people ask me when Kentucky fried chicken started making off road accessories...

 

if you drive with those lights on it will actually improve your gas milage something about traveling at the speed of light

 

I've heard that. ><

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 while crawling over mini trucks.

 

I agree..I had a light bar like this on my old YJ and never really paid attention to it. I would keep it if you will actually use it.

 

Yes, the Jeep has poor aerodynamics, yes, 5 large KCs make it worse. I wouldn't bet on on a big difference in mpg on a Jeep, on a more aerodynamic vehicle the difference would be more meaningful.
The proof is the "wind noise from the lights are extremely loud" -- the noise is the result of disrupted airflow and turbulence.
whether you keep them for looks, or remove the whole light bar for quiet and mpg, only you can say.