Letting it get that low causes the fuel pickup to uncover during turns which causes the engine to quit and will quickly burn up your fuel pump. If they give you readings that low everyone will push it and be very unhappy with the results. A wise jeeper will never let the gas get below 1/8 tank.

 

I agree with you about not running it down below 1/8 tank (on any vehicle, not just Jeeps), but I have little tolerance for manufacturers dumbing vehicles down so that people who don't know what they're doing don't damage them.

I want a gauge that will tell me how many miles worth of gasoline I have left, not tell me when it thinks I should buy gas. What's the world coming to when even Jeeps are dumbed down for the masses? It may not be too long before I can't buy any new vehicle at all, because they will all have features I absolutely will not tolerate on a car I own.

 

That is true and I agree that you shouldn't normally go that low or even below 1/4 tank, but an even wiser jeeper will find how accurate the guage really is so he doesn't ever get stranded. I have seen many vehicles that 1/8 tank = empty and if that is the case then you are SOL.

 

I remember my CJ when you had to remember what the mileage was when you filled it up and just kind of hoped that you filled it up again before it was empty. Gas gauge never read right.

Ron

 

Yeah, I resemble THAT remark! My 1999 Aerostar (and several others of that vintage in the CE van fleet) had the inaccurate gauge problem. Mine died on loop 610 in Bellaire TX on the way to the dealer for an unrelated electrical problem, and the gauge was just under 1/4. The dealer wouldn't fix it (the gauge problem) and learned to live with the 1/4 = empty, fill it now behaviour. OTOH my 2001 Durango is spot on. When the needle is on the line at the bottom, its really empty. I put 23-1/2 gallons in my 24 gallon tank once. I'm glad I didn't burn up the fuel pump with that little stunt.

 

I'd like to hear some technical discussion about the motor. Is it a good reliable motor? Timing belt or chain? What kind of valve train? What are the service intervals? It's rare to see a car spewing out oil smoke but when you do it's often a Chrysler minivan or Intrepid which is especially worrisome with the reduction of the warranty. Has this been fixed? I like to do my own maintenance, are they owner serviceable?

 

My brother in law is a 30+ year Chrysler Mechanic and he asured me the V6 is fine. It's a time tested mill that should serve you well.
However one thing that I noticed during my JK test drive that hasn't been mentioned, was that the shifter seamed a little "soft" It didn't have that solid feel you get when you shift a TJ or YJ.
Other than that I thought it was a GREAT! Plenty of pep and handles well
As far as the leaking Freedom Top goes. I'm also concerned, but the way I look at it, It's cool enough to take a gamble on.
Good Luck

 

Selling my 98 TJ Sport. Looking at an 05 Unlimited Rubicon w/low miles, but an 07 unlimited for about $5K more is tempting. I love the old straight six. 200K miles, no sweat, and the TJ/LJ is a fairly easy machine to wrench on. But with 2 kids, the 4-door is what I've been begging for for years. I guess the question is: Get the 4-door, but deal with the fact that I can't afford the Rubi, or get an older LJ Rubi and deal with 2 doors. Or is the package the Rubicon offers really worth the extra $?

 

Living in the dumbest state in the union, I see a lot of smoking cars on the road.
As I pass them , I notice that common denominator is that they all seem to have a loose nut behind the wheel.

Welfare recipients spending our tax dollars on cigarettes instead of oil changes does not mean your new jeep engine is suspect.

 

I just test drove 2 one's last week and I feel that they have put a very big flywheelon it, the rpm seems to drop very slowly as you grap de clutch and the compression doesn't impress me. I haven't drove the I-6 but I'm not disappoint that much to have took the auto so that little annoyance will not be an issue.