Warn Hubs help MPG?

[Jetmugg]

Since it's about 0 degrees F here today, I noticed that my '97 Pathy doesn't roll very easily with the tranny out of gear (it's a 5-speed). The super-cold oil in the front diff must be having some effect.

 

I'm considering putting a set of Warn hubs on the front end, and wonder if anyone has been able to measure a difference in MPG after switching to the Warn hubs.

 

SteveM

[alexrex20]

whether my hubs are lucked or unlocked, have a trailer on the back, am driving like an idiot, have 4 passengers and luggage or am completely empty, my '00 Pathy with VG33 and 4.6s gets 13-15mpg. Period.

 

i didn't notice any difference in fuel economy with the hubs unlocked, so i just leave them locked. it does roll and turn easier, though.

[vengeful]

That may just be your driving style ARex...

 

Yes, the Warn Hubs SHOULD benefit fuel economy. They will definitely make the truck roll and steer much smoother as the front wheels will be disconnected from the driveline. It also reduces driveline wear.

 

That said, I saw an immediate 2.3mpg increase across the board when I installed my Warn manual hubs, and was able to attain 17.3mpg towing a 4200lb trailer through the mountains of PA.

[alexrex20]

it probably is, but even when i drive like a little old grandma, stay at or under the speed limit and actually do try to save fuel, i still only get 250mi per tank. the best i've ever gotten was 15.0mpg. then i load it up with passengers and a trailer with 2 jet skis (and drive 80mph with my 4.6s), and i still get over 13mpg. it seems nothing can phase my pathfinder - it just ALWAYS gets ****** gas mileage.

 

anyway, when i finally do lift my Pathy, i'll keep the front hubs unlocked more of the time.

 

 

 

 

...maybe i need a tune-up?

[vengeful]

That's odd man. Do you have any DTCs? Has the fuel filter ever been replaced?

[alexrex20]

That's odd man. Do you have any DTCs? Has the fuel filter ever been replaced?

 

 

ya, i've done a full tune-up (plugs, all filters, cap/rotor, etc) recently, and mpg didn't budge. i have no DTCs, and haven't in a long time. the last one was for the downstream O2S and that was replaced.

[01silvapathy]

Since I have had my hubs installed I have not noticed a change...but thats prolly cause i still have 4 32 inch BFG At's mounted laying in the back lol

[HankG]

I got a 1.5-2 mpg increase after installing mine.

[tekazgtr1984]

I'm waiting on nicer weather until I see how manual hubs improved mileage on my rig...

But, I have noticed my rig rolls and turns a lot more smoothly in 2WD with the hubs disengaged.

[laxman0324]

From D.C. to Lynchburg, VA, I averaged 20 with the stock drive flanges. With the Mille Marker hubs I got 22.6. These numbers are with my 97 auto, 4.6 gears. With the 01 I am averaging 17.x around my home, I will report highway mileage when I get a long trip...I will say that the 5 speed with 4.3's revs pretty high when you get above 60, I wish 5th was a little taller...

[tekazgtr1984]

From D.C. to Lynchburg, VA, I averaged 20 with the stock drive flanges. With the Mille Marker hubs I got 22.6. These numbers are with my 97 auto, 4.6 gears. With the 01 I am averaging 17.x around my home, I will report highway mileage when I get a long trip...I will say that the 5 speed with 4.3's revs pretty high when you get above 60, I wish 5th was a little taller...

 

You could throw 4.6's in... hmm?

[laxman0324]

You could throw 4.6's in... hmm?

And I considered it, but there is the issue of shock mounting differences and I want the best mileage possible, so gaining .1 seconds in my 1/4 mile isn't that important to me...

[alexrex20]

so why the heck do i only get 14 mpg in my 00 with 4.6s? my tires are bigger than stock but not even 32s.

[02silverpathy]

And I considered it, but there is the issue of shock mounting differences and I want the best mileage possible, so gaining .1 seconds in my 1/4 mile isn't that important to me...

Dude when you go buy bigger and heavier tires you will miss the ummph! I am not a large R50 but big enough with 32"s. The poundage for each wheel & tire is just over 74 each !! The 4.6 swap was not hard but does cost a little...well just about as much as the set of REVO's !!

 

so why the heck do i only get 14 mpg in my 00 with 4.6s? my tires are bigger than stock but not even 32s.

I am glad you bring up tires Alex, tires with their circumfrence change the "true" mpg you are getting. Got a portable GPS? You can figure about how far off the speedo is and start dividing into other figures to see that you probably get better mileage than that ODO says! I have 32's and a 4.6 upgrade and my speedo is still showing about 3% off so when my rig says 230mi it really drove 237 miles of land---that is as close as I think some factory stuff can get!

 

230mi / 17 gal to fill up = 13.53

237mi / 17 gal to fill up = 13.94

 

small yes, but it adds up

 

...by the way, I'm still jealous of that color combo you got!

Edited January 17, 2009 by 02silverpathy

[alexrex20]

I am glad you bring up tires Alex, tires with their circumfrence change the "true" mpg you are getting. Got a portable GPS? You can figure about how far off the speedo is and start dividing into other figures to see that you probably get better mileage than that ODO says! I have 32's and a 4.6 upgrade and my speedo is still showing about 3% off so when my rig says 230mi it really drove 237 miles of land---that is as close as I think some factory stuff can get!

 

230mi / 17 gal to fill up = 13.53

237mi / 17 gal to fill up = 13.94

 

small yes, but it adds up

 

...by the way, I'm still jealous of that color combo you got!

 

 

i guess i can recheck my speedo. i have a GPS watch and even with my previous tires, my speedo was almost spot-on. i don't remember how far off it is. my new michelins are technically the same size, but are much, much larger than the previous tires. thanks for the advice. i completely overlooked that aspect of larger tires.

[ronin152]

Did the hubs work with all mode?

[laxman0324]

Dude when you go buy bigger and heavier tires you will miss the ummph! I am not a large R50 but big enough with 32"s. The poundage for each wheel & tire is just over 74 each !! The 4.6 swap was not hard but does cost a little...well just about as much as the set of REVO's !!

My plan is to keep both sizes just below 31", the 265/65R17 is 30.7 and the 255/70R16 is 30.5...I would rather have slightly better mileage than slightly better off road performance...

[CALPATHY]

Before Warn hubs I was getting 18 - 19 miles/gallon highway miles on my 97' SE. After installing Warn hubs I get 19 - 20.5/gallon highway miles. Driving around town is about the same or slightly better.