You can't change the elevation where you live, so bothering to mention it is pointless.
We all know what air density does to power but it is still irrelevant for a couple reasons. Aside from the one I just described, people in lower elevations report the same milage we do. They just don't have the power issues that we do.
You can not compare a TRD engine to a motor that has not changed its design in almost 60 years.
Not to mention if you aren't using any boost then you are practicing a modified driving habit that will recognize mpg gains with or without the blower.
I have never known a facotry blown vehicle that had good milage. Nissan, chevs, rauch mustangs, all famous for how bad their milage is.
I know how injectors work. I actually build jeeps on a regular basis.
I've done all the internal and snake oil mods over the years. I'm not argueing speculation here.
I've done multiple air intakes, throttle bodies, piggy back tuners, an aluminum cylinder head, cam swaps, rollerized, electric fans.
I know what the results have been.
What have you done?
Take your 10 thousand dollars and go engineer yourself a blown 4 litre that gets you 22mpg.
Let us know how it turns out.
I dont know why you are turning this into a pissing contest. I know you are well versed in jeep building. I have read a lot of your posts, lots of good info. I am not saying youre wrong either. Most ppl build engines with forced induction to make bigger power. That is fine.
I have seen the proof in buddies 4.0l v6 toyota tacoma. What can I saw, I saw the proof. At first, I didnt believe him, until he showed me monthly fuel receipts and the kms travelled that went with them (all as part of our reporting). He was saving money on fuel at a rate that is much faster than you would think. No it isnt the same technology, but the basic principal is the same, forced induction reduces the effect of elevation by pressurizing the manifold to create a more dense air charge. This gives your engine the opportunity to work less to complete the same task. As I said above, I was skeptical of all this, but the proof was in his numbers.
Right now my buddy has a vorteched 97 cobra, and when he is crusing down the high way he makes 0-1psi. The engine will only create boost under load conditions...thats why if you rev the snot out of a blown engine in neutral it will make little to no boost. No boost, no extra air, no extra fuel.
Factory blown shelby gt500's with a eaton blower (not very efficient) over a 5.4 dohc with that makes 550hp is rated for 32 mpg. I would not call that famously bad mileage, but that is my opinion.
Internals on an engine really only involve the crank, rods, bearings and pistons...with changing these parts alone, I dont know how anyone could expect a change in mileage, save for going to a stroker then I would say you could anticipate worse mileage. Head/Cam/Intake could have an effect, as the root of all your power and efficiently (as in where you make your power) comes from the head and the cam. Electric fan will save you 3-4 hp. K&N will get you 2-3 hp on a good day.
As far as "what I have done?" I built up a N/A 5.0l mustang a few years ago, while my roommate was building up his vorteched cobra while another buddy was building (and blowing up) a 3.8l v6 mustang turbo that made 442 rwhp on a dyno in Calgary. I have also ran a couple chevy Gen II LT1's into the ground, and thats about it.
I wont take " my 10 thousand" anywhere because I dont have a 10k go and frack around with my jeep fund. I use my jeep for work. I cant have it being unreliable.
Oh, and for anyone who is interested, I ran to Sparwood BC today to supervise some drill cuttings disposal, which meant I was on site for a bit, on a logging road that has a speed limit of 30, fumed around at the CCS landfill in Pincher creek and drove home only to put on 611 kms and burn 84.6L of fuel. That works out to 13.8l/100kms. I dont have cruise so it was all drive by pedal, and when on the highway I tried to maintain a speed of 115kph, but I fell short of that due to the hills.
This Jeep has a factory rating of 15.0l/100km in the city (19mpg) and 25mpg on the highway as per the window sticker.