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Aerodynamic mod to improve fuel economy

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by aemsfactory, Dec 9, 2020.

  1. Dec 10, 2020 at 9:33 AM
    #21
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Well, if you say it on the internet, it must be true!
     
  2. Dec 10, 2020 at 9:40 AM
    #22
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    Dubiousveracity and xxTacocaTxx like this.
  3. Dec 10, 2020 at 10:02 AM
    #23
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Sure, it "works"

    But like I said, for the amount of money that guy spent on making his pickup truck not a useful pickup truck, he could have just bought a 20 year old Honda Civic, and doubled his mileage, rather than only a 13% gain.
     
  4. Dec 10, 2020 at 10:09 AM
    #24
    Rock Lobster

    Rock Lobster Thread Derailer

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  5. Dec 10, 2020 at 10:28 AM
    #25
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    Maybe the OP travels in his truck in order to use his truck. Having a Civic (which I don't know why everyone on a Toyota forum says Civic when a Corolla is just as fuel efficient and won't burn oil like a 2 stroke) isn't going to help if your purpose for traveling is off-roading and exploration.

    I travel in my 4runner to get to places where I can have fun with the 4runner. So, I'll try to save fuel when possible. Sometimes that includes driving 65 MPH instead of 80.

    And, I'm not sure where you live, but I would love to know where I can get a reliable vehicle for traveling for a few hundred $$. Now you have to store, register and insure said vehicle as well. So, I highly doubt this would actually be similar in cost. And, who wants to drive a shit-box around when they have a nice truck, anyway?
     
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  6. Dec 10, 2020 at 10:39 AM
    #26
    frenchee

    frenchee Favorite Member

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    This is great haha.
    upload_2020-12-10_10-39-20.jpg
     
    Thatbassguy and CrustyTaco like this.
  7. Dec 10, 2020 at 11:15 AM
    #27
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Dec 10, 2020
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  8. Dec 10, 2020 at 11:20 AM
    #28
    frenchee

    frenchee Favorite Member

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    lol!
     
  9. Dec 10, 2020 at 11:47 AM
    #29
    treyus30

    treyus30 70% complete 70% of the time

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    I don't see the big deal in a max 30lb fiberglass shell. Remove it for the weekend if you need the extra 2 feet above the tailgate
    People on this forum do crazier, more expensive, less practical things every day.

    As I think said before, 1st gens in particular have so many little improvements that could be made and they all add up. If new trucks are squeezing out 21mpg+ and I average like 15, I see that as 6mpg that can be scavenged by traditional means, even if only 2-3 is from applying modern aero practices (the other being mechanical) and more-so from unconventional means.

    Personally I wouldn't build a shell, I'd build a front air dam and flat undercarriage that meets up with built sideskirts and level them with my point of min ground clearance.
    Mechanically, I'd get like 10.5:1 pistons and Camry camshafts.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2020
  10. Dec 10, 2020 at 11:48 AM
    #30
    koco

    koco Well-Known Member

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    Around $26,000 worth of unleaded in the fuel tank.
    Some flaps on the back might make a difference...you never know until you try, or test them in a wind tunnel. I would try some small ones.

    Smaller side mirrors can reduce drag a little bit.
    The use of all synthetic fluids does increase mpg a little. Having good working O2 sensors and a clean MAF can be helpful. Then of course, good spark plugs and tire pressure.

    Motorkote or Bestline oil additives do make a slight difference in mpg, probably enough to justify their cost.

    Get yourself some skinny pizza cutter tires to help with aerodynamics and reduce friction on the road surface too.
     
  11. Dec 10, 2020 at 11:55 AM
    #31
    otis24

    otis24 Hard Shell Taco

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    I was wondering why they did this.
    I recently added an additional trans cooler to mine.

    Case in point..my truck but the other direction...how small things can slowly erode your mpg's.

    Stock on stock size tires it got 20mpg...fast forward 8 years and I've added 33" mud terrains, skids, sliders, bumper, winch, 2nd gas tank a camper that's around 1,000 pounds (minus the bed, that's gone) and a supercharger and I've slowly worked my way down to 13mpg.

    As I've added or modded each thing I've seen a slow steady decline in fuel efficiency.

    However, to me it doesn't really matter. I daily drive my car that get's 34.5mpg or my motorcycle that get's 47mpg....which is, in my opinion, the best mod you can do for your truck whether you're doing it for mpgs or otherwise.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2020
  12. Dec 10, 2020 at 5:50 PM
    #32
    latchlock8111

    latchlock8111 Well-Known Member

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    Mount multiple leaf blowers in pick-up bed or on roof. Point thrust towards opposite travel direction. Added MPG my not cover additional leaf blower fuel. It may be a wash. But what fun ...
     
  13. Dec 10, 2020 at 6:51 PM
    #33
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    You can get a cheap, reliable 2 or 4 door Japanese sedan for like a grand. They're cheap to insure and I can fit like 4 of them in my garage, lol

    Obviously a 2nd car isn't for everyone, but my only point in bringing that up is that when you try and do all this hypermile stuff to a pickup truck, you take away most of the pickup-truckiness. You end up with all the disadvantages, and none on the advantages.
     
  14. Dec 10, 2020 at 6:59 PM
    #34
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    I believe those aerocaps are designed to be pretty versatile. If there was something economical and removable for the 4runner I'd be interested. I've thought about a removable air dam for cross country driving. I just don't know if it would be effective enough to justify the effort.

    In the case of someone looking to save money on their work commute, I would agree that a Corolla or something similar would be more effective, given the person has space and money for an additional vehicle.
     
    crazytacoman and jbrandt[QUOTED] like this.
  15. Dec 10, 2020 at 7:24 PM
    #35
    otis24

    otis24 Hard Shell Taco

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    Its kinda like a hybrid bicycle.

    It’s intention is riding on roads as well as off road.

    In reality it sucks on the road and it sucks off road.
     
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  16. Dec 12, 2020 at 3:54 PM
    #36
    earlyberd

    earlyberd Active Member

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    This thread is still going? :boink:

    Why not just start with a 2WD truck and lower it or add a body kit? You can see a lot of MPG gains just from not having to fight the drag and inertia of the 4WD wheels, suspension, transfer case, etc.

    How much off road capability do you really need?
     
  17. Dec 12, 2020 at 4:30 PM
    #37
    crazytacoman

    crazytacoman Well-Known Member

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    What little improvements do you know about? I'm hoping to learn about some that I don't know
     
  18. Dec 12, 2020 at 4:41 PM
    #38
    crazytacoman

    crazytacoman Well-Known Member

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    A step in the right direction is adding a lip kit, and a tonneau cover for your bed. After that, it may be a good idea to look into slightly narrower tires, as well as some sort of spoiler above the cabin.

    Another thing, that probably helps, are the manual side mirror that some 1st gens have. Compared to the electric powered ones, that 1st gens have, the manual ones are sleeker and less boxier, which should have an effect on aerodynamics. Like this:

    upload_2020-12-12_18-40-42.jpg

    This is all based on info from here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-nNeCnfYY

    https://allfitautomotive.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-aerodynamics-allfit-automotive/
     
  19. Dec 12, 2020 at 6:43 PM
    #39
    earlyberd

    earlyberd Active Member

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    But all you're looking at is how to make the vehicle more sleek and teardrop shaped. That's aerodynamics only, which is just one small part of the equation for fuel consumption. You can also be more efficient by carrying less weight, being lower to the ground, and using smaller wheels.

    Aerodynamic mods also bring a lot of questions about safety and practicality, which is why teardrops fell out of style after WWII.
     
    crazytacoman[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Dec 12, 2020 at 7:30 PM
    #40
    crazytacoman

    crazytacoman Well-Known Member

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    agree. Just trying to answer OP’s question on this. Pretty interesting topic though
     
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