I just got a stock 2018 2.0XT with 68k miles, one owner, and all the regular maintenance done at the dealership. I’ve mostly had older Wranglers and diesel Rams, so this is a new experience for me.
I do all my own work, from upgrades to welding, so I’m looking for tips on what to watch out for and any maintenance that’s not so obvious. It’ll mostly be a daily driver, but I’ll also use it for light off-roading, camping, and towing small stuff.
Besides swapping out the head unit (still looking for one I like), are there any must-have upgrades? I want to improve fuel efficiency while adding a bit of durability.
The biggest thing is to avoid overheating the CVT. A common issue is when you’re off-roading and need to reverse uphill. The reverse gear isn’t very low, so if you’re too gentle on the throttle, you’ll just build heat in the torque converter. Give it enough gas to get moving, and once you have momentum, you’ll be fine.
If you’re towing, use sport mode—it helps keep the transmission cooler. Actually, I’d use sport mode for most driving except open highway. It shifts less, which helps the transmission last longer but isn’t the best for gas mileage.
If you ever get a check engine light, the car will lock itself in sport mode.
Other than that, it’s a solid vehicle and can handle a wheel in the air just fine. And yeah, definitely use premium fuel since it’s a turbo.
RokBlokz mud flaps look great on these. Super easy to install too. If you’re doing any night activities, upgrade the trunk gate internal light—it makes a huge difference.
Hidden hitch receiver is another good one. I’m not sure which fits the XT with dual exhaust, but for my 2.5 Premium, I used a Draw-Tite 76182. Also, if you can find a bumper guard, grab one. Helps a ton when loading and unloading.
For floor mats, Tuxmat is hands down the best if you can find a set for 2018. Way better than WeatherTech.
XT and fuel efficiency? Not exactly a perfect match. Best advice—use 91 octane and keep the hard launches to a minimum. On the highway, 70-75 mph isn’t too bad. Manually calculate your mpg at the pump, and aim for 20+.
@Madden
Yeah, not the best gas mileage, but still better than my ‘99 Ram 2500! I drive pretty easy, especially since I don’t want to deal with accidents in California. So far, I get around 26 mpg when traffic is light, and about 22 when it’s bad.
Ceramic tint the front windows (and sunroof if you have one). Change the CVT fluid unless it was recently done. Don’t push the turbo hard when the engine is cold. Let the car idle for 30 seconds before shutting it off to cool the turbo down. Check oil every time you fill up. Get some mud flaps.
About sport mode—someone mentioned it helps with heat, but I’m not sure about that. Higher RPMs usually mean more heat in the CVT.
The only upgrade I’ve done is replacing the stereo. No issues with the CVT or X-mode so far. Just regular maintenance, and I do all the work myself.
I’m averaging 26-29 mpg, sometimes even hitting 30. Still absolutely love this car. Haven’t towed anything yet since we have a diesel truck for that, but I’ve done some moderate off-roading.
