[jdham]

I'm working on trying to get my 98 4x2 4 cylinder Frontier as fuel efficient as possible. See my website at www.maxmpg.org. I also have a Yahoo forum of the same name. I'm obviously not into offroading and getting huge horsepower numbers, what I'm after is efficiency. I'm up to 28 mpg in the city. I generally don't speed much, I run my tires at 42 psi, and am modifying the engine for efficiency. My first big project is my radiator cooling fan. I removed the clutch driven fan and installed an electric one. It runs like a champ and boosted my mpg more than I thought it would. Previously I was getting only 23 to 27 mpg but now I'm getting consistent 27 to 28 in the city and over thirty miles per gallon on the highway. I'm currently building an aerodynamic cap that will slope from the top of the cab down to the tailgate. My next engine project will be to change from power to manual steering. Any ideas on how to accomplish this? I don't think Nissan ever made a manual sterring box for the Frontier. Does anyone know of another type that will bolt in? I also would like to put narrower, low rolling resistance tires. I like the Cooper tires mention in the previous post. I currently have 215/65 15 tires but I don't know which of the Cooper tires would be the best match for a narrower tire. I don't understand their sizing system. Any ideas? I want to keep the diameter as close as possible to what it is now so my mph and odometer readings will stay accurate. Thanks for any info.
John

 

[Jboat]

:lol:

Dude, why not get a Hybrid or a Moped!!!...I hear they get good mileage... :lol: :wink:

 

[jdham]

Dude, because nobody makes a hybrid truck and you can't carry jack in the back of a moped. Dude, why do guys who drive trucks think it's a stupid idea that a truck could possibly get higher mileage?! Dude,are you so insecure that you're afraid your buddies are going to make fun of you? Dude, does it scare you to save money at the gas station? Dude, does it offend red necks to save money on gas and maybe breathe a little bit cleaner air? Dude, why does it have to be either or? Dude, do you understand at all what's going on in the Middle East? Dude, I've been sent there 4 times in my military career and I can tell you it's all about oil. Dude, the American taxpayer is funding both sides of the War on Terror; up to 30% of every gallon of gas you burn came from the Middle East and we have a defense budget of over 400 billion dollars. Dude, do you have a clue how much money that really is? I know a guy who has modified his V-6 Toyota T-100 to get over 30 mpg on the highway. He doesn't have to slap a magnetic yellow ribbon on the back of his truck to show his patriotism, his actions show it. Dude. I knew I was asking the wrong people. And I know how you will react to this post. You'll roll your eyes, turn on Rush Limbaugh, and convince yourself that I'm wrong. You have to. Why? Because you have too much invested in trucks. You believe that you are what you drive. You've sunk thousands of dollars into your truck. You've bought the hype that a real man drives a truck, drives it fast, and doesn't care about how efficient it is. You've convinced yourself that there is no link between our soldiers dying in the Middle East and the cheap oil we are addicted to. You have too much of yourself invested in this that you can't think outside the box. You have to change too much to change what you drive and I guarantee you won't do it.

 

[Jboat]

WOWZERS!!!

That was a pretty good little political rant there. Obviously it's a touchy subject for 'ya...

How about you go hug a tree to make yourself feel better. You are completely wrong with your prapaganda laden misconceptions about me, as well as the Government (which I happen to work for by btw)...

I got the Frontier to haul my bike to the track. My Tahoe is my main transportation... :lol:

Never mind Limbaugh, it's all about Michael Savage...

Bye Bye now...

 

[m4ck]

believe it or not Chevy is making a hybrid truck now. If thats what you like.
m4ck

 

[jdham]

You get sent to the Middle East where you're away from your family and risking life and limb and you might understand. To me and thousands of people in the military, our biggest hardship in this war on terror isn't three dollar a gallon gas, which is precisely what every civilian's biggest gripe is. It's just like good old G Dub says, you're either with us or against us. I say, you're either part of the problem or part of the solution. Whether you admit it or not, deep down you know I'm right. Next time you're filling your Tahoe, think about the boys in Iraq who die on a near daily basis. Do you think we would be there if it wasn't for the oil? Are you helping them or hurting them? It's a little more vital than just the price of gasoline for us. And that Tahoe is just another reason you'll never change your mind. Typical. And that chevy hybrid only gets about ten percent better mileage. Ten percent of 17 mpg is only 1.7 mpg. I got better results than that by just removing the clutch driven cooling fan and installing an electric fan.

 

[SilverSE05]

What type of rock are you smokin man...

I hate to say it but you are partially correct in your assumption of things about the reasons we are there but obviously you havent looked at the big picture. So we are there for oil. Is that such a bad thing? No. But that isnt the only reason. I am sorry if you have seen but we found warehouses full of massacred bodies if you werent paying attention. And the chevy full size pickup gets 3-5 miles better a gallon. Thanks. But it is not a true hybrid if it is a 4x4 anyways because of the 4x4. Second, why did you join the military then? It's like telling a cop you might get shot. It's part of the job of going to battle when called upon so dont give me this crap that oh I am a way from my family and I might die. Well buddy those are things you should have thought about before joining. That is part of the job isnt it? I know it sucks but that is what comes with the territory so stop whining. I would go if I could but I cant because of a disability so you need to realize also that toyota makes a suv hybrid also. And dont condemn those that want to drive what they want. That is why we are trying to defend this country and help other country have the same freedoms we do. My cousins are over there and my two uncles work at the pentagon here in the DC area so dont you dare tell me how it feels when all you do is listen to people like Michael Moore. And yes his movie was good but also misqued, cut, spliced and fixed to his interpretation. So you can take your little 4x2 or wanna be hybrid and argue to your blue in the face but you might want to get your facts straight. Oh yeah a minivan fits more and gets better MPG also. Mr.DUDE. Do you know any other word, dude! A car/truck is a reflection of oneself. 4x2=not confident enough to drive a 4x4. Little tires mean another thing.

 

[OkieScot]

4X2=not confident

SilverSE05,

Whoa there! I was with you until your next to the last sentence. I drive a 4X2 be-
cause I need it to haul my gardening equipment and my band equipment.

In my younger years when I wanted off the road had the confidence to get on one of
my dirt bikes and I had a great time. At 68 I have gotten past that part of my life although I still miss it.

Most of the 4X4's around here rarely get off the road. They do come in handy in the
snow we have here once or twice a year, but my 4X2's have always done well
enough for me.

My situation does not justify the initial cost and the eventual higher maintenance
costs of the 4X4 so please don't diss me.

OkieScot

 

[jdham]

This is my last post concerning this because it's like I said in an earlier post, you have too much invested in your lifestyle to care about changing it for anything, even Americans dying in the Middle East. Yes, it IS a bad thing for soldiers to die for oil. THINK ABOUT IT. Would you give your life for oil? Then why would you be so selfish to ask someone else to? Fighting for oil is not why I joined the military. "......against all enemies, foreign and domestic." Nothing about a bankrupt national energy policy in my oath of enlistment. Saying "What did you expect?" to a soldier is spitting in the face of his sacrifice. And don't call me buddy, *******. You're not my buddy. Someone as unpatriotic as you isn't worthy to breathe the same air I do. What sacrifices have you made? I'll get to that in a moment. And lets get some technical things straight. A 4x4 can still be a hybrid, it's just not an efficient hybrid. And very good, Toyota does make a hybrid SUV but it's not a traditional truck. And thank you for your sacrifice in sending your cousins over there. Oh wait, that wasn't your sacrifice, it was their sacrifice. And I know sarcasm might be difficult to understand at times but the whole DUDE thing was just that, sarcasm. Who said anything about Michael Moore? And you're only partially correct when you state that a vehicle is a reflection of the owner. If you're a high-schoolish, insecure consumption-monkey in dire need of the approval of others, then maybe your vehicle IS a reflection of you. To me, it's just transportation. Generally, 4x4 just means you're a sucker for the advertising hype. But don't worry, some day you'll get it. A good education is expensive.

 

[Jboat]

"No Blood For Oil"...How many times have we all heard this Liberal spew before? Try telling that to the thousands of innocent Iraqi's tortured or slain under Saddam's regime. Or better yet, how about telling that to your C/O...

I thought this was a Frontier Forum, not some Liberal, Tree Hugging, anti-war site. If I wanted to hear this kind of BULLSHIT, I'd turn on CNN...

>>I'm done<<

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

I have to agree... I've spent 25 years in the military, been there, done it, am still doing it! But, this is a community board about trucks...

Having said that, this is NOT the proper time, place or forum (pardon the pun) for a political debate about a war against something or many things most of us truely don't completely understand! Even those of us fighting it! :lol: If you haven't personally experienced it, please reserve judgements, the pictures on CNN don't tell the whole story...

Now, getting back on topic...

I'm all for anyone who can persuade the automobile industry to produce more fuel effecient trucks! I'd love nothing more than to have the opportunity to purchase a Frontier with the Turbo Diesel offered in Europe! The technology is here and available, we just need a lobby more powerful than the Oil and Automobile Lobbies to make it happen!! Thank you! (Stepping off soap box now...)

 

[SilverSE05]

Well I apologize for what I posted...

I apologize for not just talking about trucks but did mean what I said except the 4x2 comment since I was a little heated up by ignorance.

And for the record a 4x4 is not a real hybrid because it is constantly using gas when in 4 wheel drive. You can go to the local Chevy dealer ship and ask. I have already spoken to 3 dealerships and they will say the same thing. It is not a true hybrid. But they are convient since they have outputs in the bed for power tools.

If the toyota highlander is not a tradition truck that is fine to say but it is hybrid and has almost as much room as a smaller 4x2 nissan. Unless you stack over the cab alot.

Thanks.

 

[finalfrontier]

Re: What type of rock are you smokin man...

Number one, what is wrong with wanting better mileage, and who the hell cares why?! 8O

Number two

A car/truck is a reflection of oneself. 4x2=not confident enough to drive a 4x4. Little tires mean another thing.

It's actually the other way around, bud. One gets more expensive things (4x4, lifts, etc etc.) to make up for what they lack in real life, when in fact they rarely actually use the ability. Why do you think so many people are driving SUV's as opposed to minivans these days?

I did not get a 4x4 because I knew I would rarely need it, if ever at all, so tell me oh-wise one, why should I have gotten it? I have nothing I need to compensate for

 

[Stormgray]

jd, your accomplishments and success with increasing mpg are interesting especially with the soaring price of fuel.
however, like another member voiced, this is a automotive forum...
you would get quality feedback by staying on the subject. :wink:

 

[SilverSE05]

I just apologized that is all...

I never said there was anything wrong with getting better gas mileage. And I get condemned for having any opinion when the other post was all about dying for oil. Come on. What is that crap! Its alright for one person to have an opinion but not another. Well then I guess people forget why we fight certain wars then. But I never said it was bad or wrong to get better gas mileage. I was just making a point about not being a true hybrid from what I was told from several dealers. And the 4x2 comment I apologized for and also got ripped again. And for the record, my SE that I bought with 4x4 which I use at least once a week, thanks, is only $300 and change more then the same model in a 4x2 so if that is too expensive I would have to say your crazy. It isn't. It also depends where you live and what you are using it for. Comparing a SUV to a minivan is apples and oranges also. Besides SUVs nowadays are pretty much just trucks on car suspensions unless it is the a certain manufacturer or a larger truck. Expense wise they are very much the same so being materialistic isnt even arguable. It comes down to practicality and that is why I bought my frontier. Size, power, 4x4 and best choice in its class.

So don't condemn me for things I did and didn't say I would appreciate it. I apologized and got ripped more for it when Mr. Hybrid started in with dying for oil so dont take pop shots at me for having an opinion that doesnt agree with you and others. That is why again wars are fought so people can have those opinions. So I apologize for not agreeing with your standards.

 

[OkieScot]

4X2 vs 4X4 pricing

SilverSE05,

I'm back again. I have not jumped into the oil war talks because I do not feel like this is the forum to discuss that. There is also no point for a conservative and a liberal to argue because they rarely ever change each others' minds.

But back to your latest post which is why I am posting this message. When I priced
my '05 LE KC it was $22,200 for the 4X2 and $24,900 for the 4X4. That was more like $2700 difference, not $300.

You also have to factor in the gas mileage differences between the 2 as well as the additional maintenance costs that will eventually occur.

You are probably reprimanded more than some of the others because you are not
as radical as they are and you do listen to others.

On most of your issues I am with you so take heart, you are not alone.

OkieScot

 

[SilverSE05]

I swear Okie...

I only paid $24300 for my SE 4x4 auto and all power. I just cant believe how much the price has gone up. That is unbelieveable in only 4 months.

I appreciate the support. You know what is funny is the fact that I could apologize but no one would ever respect that fact because they feel they are right all the time. Just stubborn is all.

Hope all are well and keep wheelin with your fronty.

 

[finalfrontier]

Well, it appears a couple of my points were overlooked, but that's ok, it's behind me :wink:

Back on topic!

 

[SilverSE05]

For better mileage...

Did you guys see that a few months ago in the 4wheel mag that someone tranformed his toyota pickup into using propane gas for fuel? It didnt appear to be that bad of an install either just reprecutions of safety I would think. But he stated it was cheaper and just as fuel effiecent in another article the following month.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

Hmmm, I wonder how far I could go with my Blue Rhino Propane tank exchange? Tail gate parties would be a snap as well, power you truck and your grill from the same tank! :lol: