New rout, 12 more stop lights and 37mpg! (in a Nissan Frontier 5-speed pickup truck)

[graydonengineering]

Yet again I am finding, the slower the rout, the better my mpg is. If I go to work on the Freeway/highway rout I can get 31 mpg at best but 28 average.

This new rout goes through town and all the stop lights but the speed limit is 40 rather than 55-75 and the stop lights give lots of chances to pulse and glide to mesh my speed with light timing. I was able to roll through almost every light without hitting red! This mornings drive in was about 60% over epa!

After all the emissions problems I have had and all the money it took to fix them, I am glad to be reaping the rewards as gas zooms past $3.50 a gallon. I also ditched my old clutch fan for an electric fan and so far after setting the on temp to about 190 degrees, I don't believe it has come on a single time. The clutch fan felt very stiff so I know it was dragging a lot.

Also aired the tires from 40 to 44 (max) and I was amazed at how much less resistance I felt when I hand pushed the truck a few feet into the garage to close the door. The ride is not as smooth but it just forces me to seek the smoothes rout possible which is a good thing anyway.

I believe I can now blast my average well past my previous record of 31 mpg! More mods to come.

[MetroMPG]

Congrats!

I remember my surprise when I first realized I could get better fuel economy in sub/urban driving than on the open highway.

Gliding - are you coasting up to stops/lights with the engine on or off?

In the right sub-urban environment, it's possible to use the technique without other drivers even being aware you're doing anything different.

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Congrats!

I remember my surprise when I first realized I could get better fuel economy in sub/urban driving than on the open highway.

Gliding - are you coasting up to stops/lights with the engine on or off?

In the right sub-urban environment, it's possible to use the technique without other drivers even being aware you're doing anything different.

I glide with engine on in N since I don't have an engine cut switch. Maybe it's about time I add that mod! If I had one, I could do much better as there were manny times I did not need the engine on durring the glide. I key off at red lights. Only problem is, my turn signals don't work with the engine off which is a BAD thing. Another reason I need a cut switch.

If I anticipate I will need to slow, I coast in gear in fule cutoff mode.

[Diesel_Dave]

Congrats! I found out thge same thing with my truck. Once you learn the lights well, you can to a great job. It does lend itself to a natural P&G. One or two will always catch you, but that's just the way it goes.

As far as the engine off operation, my truck has 3 postions: off, run, & start. When I EOC I go from run to off (which shuts off the engine) and then switch back to run. That turns the lights and all the electronics back on but doesn't start the engine. I can bump start in the run position or switch to the start position to engage the starter.

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Dave

Congrats! I found out thge same thing with my truck. Once you learn the lights well, you can to a great job. It does lend itself to a natural P&G. One or two will always catch you, but that's just the way it goes.

As far as the engine off operation, my truck has 3 postions: off, run, & start. When I EOC I go from run to off (which shuts off the engine) and then switch back to run. That turns the lights and all the electronics back on but doesn't start the engine. I can bump start in the run position or switch to the start position to engage the starter.

Do your turn signals work in ON setting with engine off? I will have to try that out!

[MetroMPG]

Yes. Yours will as well.

[sid]

Good job! Having driven in Phoenix many times in the past, I can see a lot of routes there where you could do that. I've only been to Tucson once before, but suspect it is similar to Phoenix in that regard.

I don't have as much luck doing that in my area because the lights are closer together and most are triggered by sensors in the road and are inconsistent and hard to time. But when I get lucky and get the lights right, I am able to get the same FE, so what you did is very believable. Keep it up!

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Dave

As far as the engine off operation, my truck has 3 postions: off, run, & start. When I EOC I go from run to off (which shuts off the engine) and then switch back to run. That turns the lights and all the electronics back on but doesn't start the engine.

Your right! I can now keep the turn signal on with the engine off. Thanks!

[oe812]

graydonengineering:

I have an 02 Frontier KA24DE engine and would like to know how, when, and everything you did for the conversion from mechanical clutch to electric fan. My 02 4 cylinder auto suffers in the summer time due to the lock up feature on the clutch driven fan.

Any help would be appreciated.

[oe812]

Originally Posted by graydonengineering

......After all the emissions problems I have had and all the money it took to fix them, I am glad to be reaping the rewards as gas zooms past $3.50 a gallon. I also ditched my old clutch fan for an electric fan .....

I am having the dreaded P0400 EGR code. Cleaned the manifold, changed the Backpressure valve, and egr solenoid to no avail.

Also, what electric fan and setup did you buy for the Frontier? I am looking into getting the e-fan.