All synthetic oils and other experimental improvements(?)

O.k. went to RedLine 75w140 synthetic in differential, RedLine Mt 90 synthetic in transmission, Costco 5w30 synthetic engine oil. The engine was flushed with Liqui Moly pre oil change. All fluids had 10% Lucas stabilizer added.

This XRunner has 145k on the odometer and was a tow behind a motor home vehicle a large part of its life. Its a very tight vehicle, like new in many ways. It did have the somewhat typical hard shift into 5th gear. Its a whole different shifting vehicle now!

This is a new to me truck and the one and only fill up showed 14 mpg. I know that is right on par but, I have a goal for at least a few nore MPGs. We'll see.

 

It's unfortunate you put Lucas in there.

 

How so?

 

Get lighter narrow tires and rims, inflated to 60 psi. Remove the rear seats, never fill the gas tank over 50%, it’s all dead weight. Never go faster than the posted speed limit or 55 mph, which ever is slower, coast downhill. Only make right hand turns (limits idling). Ignore the ever growing line of vehicles behind you.

 

14 mpg makes me think something is wrong with the vehicle, unless it’s being driven really hard.

 

Lucas is just raw group 2 "dino" oil base stock. The only effect it has is to dilute the synthetic oils and their additives, and to increase the viscosity.

You truck will be fine, don't worry about that. It's that Lucas doesn't add anything, it actually makes it worse

 

Yeah I could put a sail on it too and only drive on windy days
Get real, move on

That's a possibility. It runs great but spark plugs are next. My sons 08 4x4/6m runs well but similar mpgs. I want to weigh these 19" rims vrs the stock 18" XRunner rims. I'll experiment with them next. Might have a new set of 19" rims and tires on the market soon??
This isnt one of those goofy gotta get mpg post. The truck is just a secondary run around that it would be nice to extend driving range

 

Yeah, plugs and other general maintenance might be a good move. I average 20 on my 2007 6mt double cab 2wd frontier with a fairly heavy foot. I would expect something similar from an xrunner.

 

Although it could be "snake oil" I figured a 10% add wouldnt prove negative and possibly improve the 5th gear thing I mentioned. What ever happened the shifting is restored. I don't mind a few calculated trial and error scenarios. Part of the fun.

 

I would imagine the frontier is several hundred lbs lighter? I hesitate to mention this but Ive recently have been running a "VOLO" soft tune on my 06 Sienna with great results. 1000 miles of real world testing and berween 10 and 15% mpg gain, depending on type of driving. Runs cleaner no power loss, if anything it’s improved. For $100 and pllug-n-play into the OBDII port I had to try it.

 

What happened was the MT 90

 

The only way it could be heavier is if it had 4x4. It’s the 6’ bed, and it has the beefier m226 d44-ish rear axle

 

Like I said, it won't hurt anything. But you can go to Bob Is The Oil Guy and see the special analysis of new Lucas and it shows it's just dino oil base stock, or basically the petroleum product before it becomes "oil"

 

I did the spark plugs
Had .098 gap!
Watching new mpg figures now. We'll see

 

I'm running RedLine in the transmission and diff, and the same Costco oil in the engine. I drive "reasonably," and get 18 in the city, and ~23/24 on the highway. If I start putting my foot down, the mileage goes down...lol

 

I'd take that! Truck hasn't had much seat time butswapped the 255x45x19 out for the stock 18" xRunner wheels. Although narrower, not as tall they are heavier by almost 4 lbs each. The xRunner had only the 3.15:1 rear end avaliable. Should pull some decent mpg when I get things dialed in.