Areospace engineer looking for new projects
 

Hello all, I have been amazed at some of the simple things you all have done to use less gas. I have some big plans for my 98 frontier pickup. I hope to bring the mpg up to 30 (currently 23) and I think with a little help I can do it! I am excited to break some new ground on designs that will benefit me on my personal vehicle!

Current mods (mpg mods anyway)
Intake
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0015_large.jpg
Lowered 2" front and rear. Only lowered 1" in this pic:
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0017_large.jpg

Planed mods:
smooth under-body

Tapered bed cap

MPG tracking device (blackberry app. for fill ups works for now)

Welcome to the site.

What is your daily commute like?

Welcome to ecomodder. You can also work on bring the headlights to be flush with the front and do a grill block.

My commute is 30 miles a day round trip. about 50% freeway (65-75 mph) and another 30% highway (55 mph) and only about 2 stops on the way. I don't have much loss due to stop and go. I need to reduce my high speed MPG. I waste a lot of gas in the summer from running the AC. It is so hot here! I turn it off while accelerating from a stop but otherwise it says on all the time lately (85F in the morning, 105F in the daytime).

I do not have to stomp the gas like I used to in order to hit 75 after mods so far.

The truck is a 5 speed manual.

Next thing I might try is adding some extra air to the tires. They are at factory recommendation now. I don't want a rough ride however. I am already pushing that envelope after lowering it. Still tuning the bump stops.

Sounds like the aeromods will do you well.

wind drag reduction
 

I want to build a truck cap! Will be seeking suggestions. This is the pre-lim design.

I will look into the headlight mod. I think I would look better that way to boot. I am a bit concerned about the grill block since I live in AZ and drive in temps up to 115 degrees F. I'm sure I could get away with 1/4th covered though. Maybe more. Does anyone have results from the grill block mod? Any measurable gain?

most pick up trucks and vans have horible under bodies and would benifit from a smooth under body cover, more than most cars. the nice thing about starting on the under side is that it is out of sight. There are many examples on this site. with respect to grill blocking and cooling you need an opening in the grill about 1/4 the area of the radiator fin area. as you reduce the size of the grill opening it becomes more critical that all the air going in is ducted so that it goes through the radiator.

From what I've heard on this site, a grill block is most beneficial on the uppermost portion to direct the airflow up and over the truck.
Other mods of note:
Front wheel arch gap filler
Rear wheel skirts (huge on a truck!)
Moon caps for a mpg or two
Low Rolling Resistant tires
A boat tail off the back, maybe removable for use on longer drives
I've been working on my truck and put in an aerobed, partial grill block, partial belly pan, and wheel skirts, and my EPA was 25 mpg, but I'm averaging 35.5. Over 40 on the HWY. My current project is a boat tail on hinges off the aerobed, extending 5 feet beyond the bumper.
Again, this site has informed me that 10-12 degrees are the ideal angles.
I can't wait to run into somebody else with an aerobed sometime. Seems like it's picking up steam.
Picasa Web Albums - Conor - Greenhouse

Did you measure any difference with the open element air filter?

Probably one of the biggest things he could do is simply go 55 on the freeway. Don't have to buy/build/mod/invest in a dang thing. There's several lanes after all so anyone that wants to go faster is free to do so.

55?

What's the hurry?

=)

:rolleyes:

Yeah, that would work, but it takes a lot of time. With enough aero, you don't have to slow down.

I took mpg vs mph data, multiplied by $6/gal and $6/hr, and added up my cost per mile at various speeds. I find that I should drive my Insight as fast as I can get away with driving to conserve time any fuel.

Maybe if I were getting less than 60mpg at those speeds it would be a different story. But anyone who can get 45mpg at 75mph, should do so. When I see a Prius zip past me at 80mph, I nod and think, "yeah, that makes sense".

When Prii are driven like they're stolen, what mpg do they get?

Red in the desert, I'm suprised its not sunburnt.

I have almost exactly the same truck, white extracab with jump seats.

I can't do much to the back end of mine as I use it as a truck pretty regularly, and haven't found anything that wouldn't be a hassle.

The front however has lots of room for improvement. I haven't done anyting to it yet.

I am planning on starting with a scangauge, that way I can actually monitor the engine temperature. I don't get as hot as you, but I still hit tripple digits, so cooling is a worry for me too.

My other plans are upper grill block, ducting the lower grill to spread the air over the whole radiator. Electric fan. Also if you look at the engine bay you will notice that there is not much room for air to flow once its gotten through the radiator, most of the flow will be on the drivers side and out the bottom. I have been looking at the inside wheel wells for places to cut to let air out better which would improve the flow through the engine bay and should improve cooling. Between that, the improvements to the lower grill, and the electric fan cooling should actually improve.

Moving the headlights out even with the grill. Blocking off the auxiliary light holes with something, possibly aux lights, the holes point at the front tires.

http://mggm.net/prius/Prius_Speed_vs_MPG.jpg

At least on the highway, looks like 50mpg @ 70mph, 43mpg @ 80mph. You still need to DWL, coast when you can, and drive without friction brakes around town.

That's what a Cd of 0.26 and an efficient engine buy you. Now add some wheel skirts and a grille block, and you're good to cruise as fast as you can get away with.

I think the OP has a long way to go to hit 43@80 in his truck, and would probably be well advised to keep his speed in check for now.

I too live in Tucson. I've been thinking about a swamp cooler for the truck. Just take a room humidifier a small inverter and plug it into the cig lighter. Maybe we can get buy with less A/C in April/May and then Sept/Oct.
On my 94 Toyota PU I also drip water on the air filter. With a water drip on the air filter I stop the engine from Pinging when it gets above 95F. Just a small water bottle with drip irrigation hose into the top of the filter box.
One day I'll also convert to an electric fan instead of the belt driven fan.
I also have a solar power charger that sits on the dash. I have a switch that disconnects the field wires on the alternator. So when the truck sits at the airport for a couple of days I turn off the alternator for the drive to the airport since it will have time to bring the battery back to full.

I guess some people say time is money, but my time isn't worth much. If I had a Prius I'd drive it at 20 to 40 as much as possible, on second thought; I'd sell it, buy a metro, and keep the change.

That's Ed Zachary what I'd do! :thumbup: