[cjm1219]

Thinking about upgrading my 2007 4 cylinder manual to a 2006-08 6 cylinder 4wd manual. Truck I end up with will probably have around 100k miles.

Mpg seems like the biggest cost. my current truck gets only about 19. I drive in town mostly and I am fairly hard on it and Go 70+ on the freeway. V6 mpg on here seen to vary a lot. People claiming low 20 while others say 14. What should I expect?

Any other costs I should be thinking of?

Thanks

 

[Unkle Patio]

I wouldn't expect to get any kind of great gas mileage around town. I have a '17 pro4-x V6 with a manual trans and get ballpark 15 mpg in town. Hwy is much better in the lower 20's....but its a truck and, IMO, you shouldn't buy a truck for the gas mileage. I do have aftermarket wheels and tires, tire size is stock, but they are likely a bit heavier than stock.

 

[N5506J]

Another cost to think about. If you have to put a timing chain in that V6 you are talking some major bucks.

 

[20009]

I dont know about the exact numbers of cost but i will say i’ve owned both 4 & 6 cyls Frontiers and the loss of power does not match the gas saved. It was not noticeable to me at all. The 4 banger had to work harder than the 6 and therefore the fuel costs are close. As i say, i never noticed that big of a diffference.

 

[shift_RUSH]

Went from '00 XE 2.4 4-banger 5-sp to '15 SV 4.0 V6 6-sp = the increase in available torque/power far outweighs the loss in fuel economy.

4-banger: I had to WORK that lil engine from every stop...while too often needing to downshift to 4th at hwy speeds to cope w/ hills. Running the A/C seemed to suck a fair amount of power, too.

4.0 V6: ample torque available at low RPMs making about any task/desire effortless. The VQ40 is a sweet engine from idle to redline.

 

[cjm1219]

Another cost to think about. If you have to put a timing chain in that V6 you are talking some major bucks.

Is that a issue with the v6? I've been looking for issues with them and most what I can find is the radiator/transmissions thing but I'm sticking with a manual so that's no issue

 

[N5506J]

There is a TSB from Nissan for this problem and threads in this forum covering the issue. From what I've read it is a small number of engines and shows up way before 100k. Those VQ40 V6's are smooth and quiet, just listen to the engine with the hood open.

 

[tumbleweed]

From what I have found with an internet search there isn't much difference in mileage, maybe 2 or 3 mpg between 4 and 6 cyl 4WD models. That means the 6 cyl will cost a couple of hundred dollars more in fuel per year, in my opinion not enough to worry about. I think even with the higher purchase price of the V6 it is still well worth the extra money, plus it will have a higher resale value. The V6 would definitely be more drivable due to the extra power and a lot more fun.

 

[cjm1219]

I figured mpg would be the main cost of ownership difference. Was trying to account for any others.

Mpg is somewhat important to me as I use the truck for work and put 20k+ miles a year on it. Trying to figure out if it's going to be 1 or 2 mph difference or 5 or 6. At 20k a year that is $700-1000 a year if gas stays in the $2.5 to $3 range.

May not seem like much to someone paying $30k for a new truck but I'm looking at older ones around $10k or less.

 

[shift_RUSH]

Maintenance of front diff & transfer case fluids.

My smaller/lighter '00 XE 4-banger 21-22 mpg // high of 26 mpg
VS
'15 SV V6 6-sp at 16-18 mpg // high so far of 21.7 mpg

Are you planning to tow or haul? Towing/cargo capacity of V6 Frontiers exceeds I4 by a fair margin.

 

[cjm1219]

Maintenance of front diff & transfer case fluids.

My smaller/lighter '00 XE 4-banger 21-22 mpg // high of 26 mpg
VS
'15 SV V6 6-sp at 16-18 mpg // high so far of 21.7 mpg

Are you planning to tow or haul? Towing/cargo capacity of V6 Frontiers exceeds I4 by a fair margin.

No plans on towing but nice to know I could. I mostly want the 4wd and a little more muscle for going up hills and passing power.

I had a 01 2.4 frontier manual before this one and got 23-24mpg no matter how I drove it. Second generation is much heavier and get worse milage, although a much nicer more refined truck.

I do have larger heavier tires on my current 07 4 banger. It definitely doesn't help the mpg but is great on fire roads for weekend fun.

 

[picklez]

Any cost savings you might get from the four banger (which you'll only see if you drive exclusively flat terrain with zero extra weight) will be gone once you realize how under powered the QR is, and decide to boost it. Further to that, because you're gonna be working the motor that much harder, literally, to keep up with the Joneses you'll likely wear out components faster. The V6 isn't that great on gas, but if you like to put your foot into it, the four just isn't enough motor for a 3500lb truck.

 

[GTwannabe]

Buy the V6. The 4 only manages 1-2mpg better on the highway and you will take it in the shorts when you eventually sell it.