Hey everyone, just got an Xterra and found this site. I gotta say you guy's really seem to know your stuff, so I'm sure I'll be on here pick'in some brains as I hope to start modding my X very soon. I guess my first Q would be how to get a little bit better gas milage out of her. I have an '02 SE, SC 5 speed. I'm not really sold on a "cold air intake", as I think a K&N filter will do just fine on that part of the intake, but what about a wider down pipe/ exhaust and flowmaster. Anyway glad to be here and I'll put up a pic of "xenia" soon so we can all watch her grow.

you have a S/C so just watch your right foot... LOL i think drake stays below 2500 and he dose pretty good...... and welcome to the club....

you have a S/C so just watch your right foot... LOL i think drake stays below 2500 and he dose pretty good...... and welcome to the club....

Exactly!!! It's all about the tacho I'm telling you. I try to keep my rpm's at or below 2500 and that includes takeoffs and passing... well ok not when I pass but every other time I really watch the tach. Once you get above 2500 rpm's, the supe really starts whistling and sucking down the gas. Driving this way, I'm able to consistently hit around 270 miles/tank and I have hit 300 miles before. It's still not good gas mileage but the X is a true SUV. If you use the search feature we have here, you will see umpteen posts about this very same question. Read through those for a few tips that will help you a little but NOTHING is going to give you big results. It's just a pill we have to swallow.

Welcome to CX! If you will utilize the search function on our website, you will find an answer to pretty much any question you could ask. And if you still can't find the answer, somebody here will know the answer so just ask us.

Can't wait to see some pics of "Xenia"! (pretty cool name)

WELCOME!!!

damn i cant get over 220 with my sc...i keep it under 2500 also

Just got back from a trip to Grand Junction (from Denver) and kept the RPM's low, I got 300 miles to the tank, and that's going over two mountain passes! Thanks for the advice, it's hard to keep the right foot light, and I love hearing the SC kick in, but when gas is $3.30 a gal. you gotta control yourself a little bit.

welcome. the best way I found to get good gas milage on the X was to buy a cheap daily driver. haha

welcome. the best way I found to get good gas milage on the X was to buy a cheap daily driver. haha
x2! I drive an MR2

Wlcome to the forums! Good to have you at CX!-James

x2! I drive an MR2

Wlcome to the forums! Good to have you at CX!-James

I have to disagree.:wink-big:

I used to have a Bronco where 16 mpg down hill with a tail wind was exceptional but usually it was a lot worse. Now if I get 16 mpg in the Xterra I'm having a really bad day. I find I get 19 or better under the same circumstances (that applies to both of the Xterras I've owned).

i get mad mpg's since i installed the auto tranny cooler
i towed my 4runner on a 1500lb trailer from 77042 to 20 miles north of huntsville texas with half a tank of gas, mapquest it
towing 4500lbs half a tank from west houston to huntsville is effin sweet

I got 16 mpg for the first time last week! I typically got 14-15. The only thing different is I added the K&N and ran a can of seafoam stuff through it. I also try and always keep it under 2500.

wow...you guys are lucky. I typically get around 9-10 mpg around town and 13 if I'm lucky on the highway.

I get 16/17 winter and 18-20 summer with a tad over 21 entirely freeway with cruise control at 55mph. I keep it under 2500RPM and cruise with the speedo about 65.

I read that the X with 33's should also add 10% to miles. So if the speedo says 200 miles it should really be 220. Is that a true statement at all? The numbers above are without any adjustment on my calculating.

I also took the daily driver route. Cheaper and more effective than buying all that "save gas" crap that doesn't work

wow...you guys are lucky. I typically get around 9-10 mpg around town and 13 if I'm lucky on the highway.
x2 part deux

My MR2 gets 30 something so I can just use my X whenever I am driving a crowd.

If you want to try to improve 1-2 mpg (Depending upon how heavy your right foot is!) for $200 you could try the Fitch Fuel Catalyst. They ran it on a dyno on HorsePower TV and got more horsepower, torque and better fuel economy. You might even be able to drop an octane level of gas and save some money that way.

http://www.gofitch.com/


zurgrow

2006 Off-Road, Airraid intake and poweraid throttle body spacer, Fitch fuel catalyst.

If you want better fuel mileage buy a Apexi AFC and lean out your A/F ratio.Of course you would have to take it to a dyno to have it tuned or you could buy a wideband o2 oxygen sensor and adjust the fuel ratio yourself. Same thing for if you want more power just richen your fuel mixture and bump up your timing but your gas mileage will suffer.Just depends on what you want out of your x.

I get like 19 to 21 with mine. That includes a few to-the-floor freeway entrances.:)

a cold air intake is 20 times better then the k&n drop in filter. ya it helps some but for 46 bucks i think it should help more. i have had one. at first i noticed a small difference but then i got a cold sir intake and wow. trust me its amazing. well worth it man. i went up 3 mpg, now at 19.6

a cold air intake is 20 times better then the k&n drop in filter. ya it helps some but for 46 bucks i think it should help more. i have had one. at first i noticed a small difference but then i got a cold sir intake and wow. trust me its amazing. well worth it man. i went up 3 mpg, now at 19.6

So you got the Volant?

If you want better fuel mileage buy a Apexi AFC and lean out your A/F ratio.Of course you would have to take it to a dyno to have it tuned or you could buy a wideband o2 oxygen sensor and adjust the fuel ratio yourself. Same thing for if you want more power just richen your fuel mixture and bump up your timing but your gas mileage will suffer.Just depends on what you want out of your x.

I am thinking about getting one I had one in my jeep that I used to tune it.. they are not to bad pricewise either... I just have to makde sure I could get it to work in the X..

I get about 21 or 22 mpg in the city! gas is suxpensive thats why u get the I4 lol but when u wanna accelerate that X is going no where. The I4 x is a cruiser..i pay 60 to fill it up 17 gals and get about 350 to the tank....Not bad for a suv

well i have a 02 xterra and i'm getten bout 20/ 23 mpg driven back and forth to work. i also put a cold air intake 2.5" exhaust and E3 spark plugs. and yes they really work.i drive to salida and colorado springs alot in the summer to offroad.

So you got the Volant?
__________________

no i got the airaid

Hey everyone, just got an Xterra and found this site. I gotta say you guy's really seem to know your stuff, so I'm sure I'll be on here pick'in some brains as I hope to start modding my X very soon. I guess my first Q would be how to get a little bit better gas milage out of her. I have an '02 SE, SC 5 speed. I'm not really sold on a "cold air intake", as I think a K&N filter will do just fine on that part of the intake, but what about a wider down pipe/ exhaust and flowmaster. Anyway glad to be here and I'll put up a pic of "xenia" soon so we can all watch her grow.

WELCOME!! We get 24 to 27 with our X. 4cyl 5sp manny..

how do u do that lol?

how do u do that lol?

4 cyl engine (2nd one) with 19K miles on it. 5 speed manny. New toyo tires with correct air pressure.

We drive it SANE... and keep the rpms below 2500 when at all possible.
and don't burn any METH gas! Real gas! top of the grade for octane.

Over 400 miles per tank on the hwy... Its fully tuned with all new plugs/wires/rotor/cap/ k&n air filter/ k&n oil filter/ 20/40 motor oil with a good supliment in the oil.

The trik is to keep the my foot out of it and enjoy the drive....
if the assholes don't like my speed... they can always pass me...

I just wave at them as they stop at the next gas station....:wink-big:

i have not seen 15 mpg's yet and will be installing a CAI and keeping the AC to off do alot of city driving and will be checking out the mpg's on an upcoming road trip keep ya posted. Still rather be driving my X the cramping into a small fuel saver

Living on an island there`s no freeway driving.Lots of stop and go[tourists].If I`m driving 35 miles one way a few days a week I can get up to 19 MPG.And that`s with the occasional pass or two.Around town I get around 17.

Those of you who got great gas mileage with new intakes didn't mention which brand they were. Any suggestions?

look at the DIY and find a thread called stock airbox mod... that is the best thing you can do.. and its truly a CAI

02 X SE 3.3V6 5spd/manual - ~18-20mpg Hwy (i drive ~75miles roundtrip 5 days a week with this X, bwahahahah!)

Now in town is a different story, i cant keep the foot out of it.


Mods: Baffles Removed.
Conditions: ~70degrees, no stops(all highway), 55mph, 93 Octane no methanol, tires=45 PSI (thats what the tires are spec'd for), no passing, new plugs/wires/oil/filters(oil and fuel) Im sure there are a ton of other conditions but these are the ones i felt important.

max speed is normally 55mph unless im following something slow. (tends to happen in rural Oklahoma.)

welcome. the best way I found to get good gas milage on the X was to buy a cheap daily driver. haha
that is what I did...at first I had an '88 Toyota longbed (sold it to my friend after only 3 months w/ it)
then I bought a '98 Camry...get so much better MPG then my X
I have no idea what kind of gas milage I get w/ my X. i didn't buy to get good MPG. I bought to get it bigger and go through mud and rocks.