Jeffrey Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I've been lurking around your site for a little while now, and I decided to join up in order to ask a few questions and maybe share some of my own ideas. I understand that these vehicles were never really designed for mpg. , however I couldn't help but notice that it seems as though there is a ton of excess weight on these rigs, not to mention the aerodynamics of a brick. I'm wondering if anyone here has taken the time to record their mpg before and after yanking off the excess junk. Oh and can anyone answer why the hell is ther a stock spoiler on a 5000lb 150 hp suv, was Nissan thinking that with all that hp we might all be fish tailing all over the place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I think you will find the "spoiler" is for forcing air over the back window to keep it clear of dust etc when on dirt roads. Not for aerodynamics. Come on, think about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westslope Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Yanking off the excess junk? Most folks in this forum are probably adding weight with their mods lol. Have you thought of removing the roof? I watched an interview on Business News Network (BNN) channel the other day where the guest suggested people only half the gasoline tank in order to keep the weight down. Sounds like a great idea for people who like to spend lots of time pulling into fuel stations and filling up. And who have lots of time on their hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 About all you can ditch in the way of weight is an external tire carrier, the rear seats, carpet and padding. It really won't achieve much for mileage though. What would matter more is rolling resistance (wheel bearings in good shape, manual hubs, no brake drag, don't use the roof rack, light tires and rims of correct size) and driving mellow. General rule is accelerate evenly and don't exceed 3000 rpm cruising. If course, having the engine tuned perfectly matters and intake/exhaust upgrades. Most peoples WD21s are about 4000# curb weight and can allow another 1000-1500# payload although I've gone well past that!! In all reality 20+ mpg hwy is readily achievable but that's about as good as it gets. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Posted July 4, 2009 Author Share Posted July 4, 2009 About all you can ditch in the way of weight is an external tire carrier, the rear seats, carpet and padding. It really won't achieve much for mileage though. What would matter more is rolling resistance (wheel bearings in good shape, manual hubs, no brake drag, don't use the roof rack, light tires and rims of correct size) and driving mellow. General rule is accelerate evenly and don't exceed 3000 rpm cruising. If course, having the engine tuned perfectly matters and intake/exhaust upgrades. Most peoples WD21s are about 4000# curb weight and can allow another 1000-1500# payload although I've gone well past that!! In all reality 20+ mpg hwy is readily achievable but that's about as good as it gets. B I hear what you're saying. I pulled the tire carrier, roof rack, and spoiler (dirt deflector) off and am in the process of tuning this old beast up. Maybe I'll take Westslope's advice and remove the roof and while I'm at it I'll replace all the bodywork with carbon fiber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) I really do not see why people are obsessed with removing weight from pathies. They are a truck not a sports car. Hell I have put 100's of pounds of extra weight in and on mine with all the recovery gear, tools, winch, roof rack, skid plates etc etc and hardly notice a difference. Mind you mine is a TD27 so I spose the diesels have a bit more pull lower down. Sure braking takes a little longer with the weight, but it is a truck. Edited July 5, 2009 by kiwipete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94extreme Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Yanking off the excess junk? Most folks in this forum are probably adding weight with their mods lol. Have you thought of removing the roof? lol.. no kidding.. i say just lose the body.. better aerodynamics, mileage and all that fresh air.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoPathyGo Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I hear what you're saying. I pulled the tire carrier, roof rack, and spoiler (dirt deflector) off and am in the process of tuning this old beastup. Maybe I'll take Westslope's advice and remove the roof and while I'm at it I'll replace all the bodywork with carbon fiber. Try the seats. Stock seats - even fabric ones - weight a lot. Mine were over 100 lbs. Replacing em with lightweight off-road seats. Now that's expensive, but my local JY didn't have any wrecked ricer cars and I was impatient. Weight counts. The greater the weight, the faster/greater the wear on brakes, drivetrain and so on. Also, getting stuck in the mud is no fun unless you're a pig. Which is interesting given we're discussing weight. Oh, I don't have a rear seat anymore and I don't carry a spare around town. Throw the spare in the back when going wheeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpawela Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I've been rear-ended twice now that I've had my Pathy and now the spare tire carrier is off for good—I couldn't get it to shut w/o it banging into the hatch. That gone along with the spare tire and trailer hitch is about 100+ pounds. I didn't really notice a difference in performance but I got close to 1-2mpg better on the highway. Handling wise, I do feel the lightness of the rear end but it never feels scary or unstable. As a plus, it looks like I lifted the rear end a couple of inches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 make sure your tire pressures are good. You can always pump a bit more air in to them if you have some highway driving to do. You'll get better mileage. even with all the crap i have bolted to mine (winch, arb bumper, skid plates, 33" tires, i still manage to get 400-450km per 65l of fuel, mixed driving (highway and city) p1 is right too, make sure all your mechanical stuff is working perfectly and you keep up with maintenance like fresh air filters and new, properly gapped plugs. These trucks aren't that bad on fuel provided everything is working properly and you don't drive it like the dukes of hazzard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) typically, it take about 80-100lbs deadweight to notice any change in mpg. +20 lbs rotating weight (tires, and 2x on the driveline etc) is like carrying arround another passenger. so if your new tires are 5lbs heavier(ea) than the old then you may see a drop. curb weight of the base model 1990 4dr was 3800lbs, I beive my 89 was on a scale @ somewhere near 36 IIRC. headders, high flow cat, less restrictive and 2" exhaust will improve mpg if you keep your foot off the fun button keep a good tune and install an electric fan will also help mpg If your not going to offroad it a 300zx stillen or fidanza flywheel and aluminum diveshaft will also net improved mpg(big differance on the rotating weight equation) but a flywheel will also take away any torque you had from rotating mass before the tranny. Edited July 5, 2009 by MY1PATH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonnerBB Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Quit eating so much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastpath Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 wind resistance is a big factor too. I took off my roof basket/lights the other day and am seeing 18.5-19 mpg again. With it on it was 15-16. The basket itself only weighs 13lbs, with lights probably a total of 25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 (edited) Wow I came in at the wrong time...please every one put there cloths on,hell this aint poho(wheres every thing good) OK So also about every hundred pounds you lose you gain about a tenth of a second in the 1/4 mile. Also I dont think my pathy can weigh 5k since my old k20 weighed 5200 with 37s,smitty built bumpers,roll bar, and all tanks filled(3 of them about 78 gallons i think,hell it only got 4 mpg so it needed the all the gas it could carry) and thats a big truck thats lifted. I think your thinking of the gvw which is what the truck can weigh legaly loaded. Edited July 14, 2009 by nismothunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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