Areospace engineer looking for new projects

[bike4miles]

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!

[bike4miles]

Current mods (mpg mods anyway)
Intake

Lowered 2" front and rear. Only lowered 1" in this pic:


Planed mods:
smooth under-body

Tapered bed cap

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

[Daox]

Welcome to the site.

What is your daily commute like?

[Phantom]

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

[bike4miles]

Originally Posted by Daox

Welcome to the site.

What is your daily commute like?

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.

[Daox]

Sounds like the aeromods will do you well.

[bike4miles]

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

[bike4miles]

Originally Posted by Phantom

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

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?

[redyaris]

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.

[cons]

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.
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