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What's the best ways to improve gas mileage on the 4th gen?

Old 08-16-2012, 02:28 AM
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What's the best ways to improve gas mileage on the 4th gen?

I've been driving a lot more recently and with gas prices above $4 I'm interested to know what things work best to improve mileage on the 4th gen Maxima?

So far I've read: Use premium fuel, don't use fram air filter, don't accelerate rapidly from 0, the hotter the girl in the passenger seat the better mileage you get



What else?

Last edited by Chrono; 08-16-2012 at 02:44 AM.
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Old 08-16-2012, 03:26 AM
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What are you getting for mileage right now? That will determine if you can even do much better.
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Old 08-16-2012, 04:11 AM
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That's more a general than a specific question. Make sure your tire pressure is correct, tune up (replace your spark plugs, ignition coils rarely go out but sometimes do, air/fuel ratio sensors, replace your filters,and oil change) and you should see a difference
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Old 08-16-2012, 07:14 AM
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If you slowly gas your way to speed limit then you will waste more gas if you accelerated "normally". Coast to red lights, tire pressure, weight reduction, tune up. There are more, just search
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Old 08-16-2012, 07:16 AM
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swap in a b series motor
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Old 08-16-2012, 07:54 AM
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1) Avoid Rabbit Jumps
2) Lose Weight
3) Throw out unnecessary weight
4) Tune-up : Spark Plugs, Air Filter, Fuel Filter, PCV Valve. Clean out TB, IACV, EGR tube. Make sure you used 5w-30 for oil.
5) Proper tire pressure.
6) Coast to a red light/stop sign. Check out more hypermiling tips/forums
7) Use cruise control on the highways [Drive at the posted speed limit]
8) Buy Coilovers (Aerodynamics)
9) Avoid anchors (Wheels)
10) Make sure Knock sensor and your o2 sensor's are working properly.
I accomplish 22-25mpg with 70city/30hwy (Heavy traffic here in Los Angeles, CA) with no mods. Make a fuelly account to keep track of your mpg's.

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/97vq30de/maxima


Last edited by Shift_A32B; 08-16-2012 at 08:04 PM.
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Old 08-16-2012, 08:06 AM
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Boris, you get 22/25 consistently? I average 20 all city, 22 in mixed
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Old 08-16-2012, 08:23 AM
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27highy was mpg back when the car was new. Surely, u dont expect to get better than that??

to get good fuel economy, do a tuneup
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Old 08-16-2012, 08:59 AM
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i still got up to 30mpg in my 5th gen on occasions...depended on the trip
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Old 08-16-2012, 09:05 AM
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I'm all for squeezing every last drop of fuel and maximizing gas mileage... Especially with these prices...

But it's not like there's 8,011 of these threads already lol
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Old 08-16-2012, 09:07 AM
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Y pipe and b pipe?
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Old 08-16-2012, 11:24 AM
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KS bypass?
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Old 08-16-2012, 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
swap in a b series motor
lmaoo
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Old 08-16-2012, 07:25 PM
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Get new O2 sensors!!
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Old 08-16-2012, 08:04 PM
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Most of it is driving style. I highly recommend the ScanGaugeII or ScangaugeE, being able to see how your driving effects your fuel economy really helps. http://www.scangauge.com/products/ I went from a city best of 26.9 mpg to 28.6 after driving with the scangauge installed for a couple tanks. You would pick up more mpg than I did if you aren't using any hypermiling techniques already.

I also picked up and extra 5-15 miles per tank after various performance mods.

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/schmellyfart/maxima

+1 on Maintainence, I picked up ~2mpg from new spark plugs alone.
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Old 08-16-2012, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
swap in a b series motor

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Old 08-16-2012, 11:47 PM
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Agreed about driving style.

I just drove 466 miles on one tank...avg spd 72 MPH, with radio and air conditioning cranked...and I got 29.56 MPG.

If the car is properly maintained in the first place, the mileage will show as a result.
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Old 08-16-2012, 11:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Amerikaner83
Agreed about driving style.

I just drove 466 miles on one tank...avg spd 72 MPH, with radio and air conditioning cranked...and I got 29.56 MPG.

If the car is properly maintained in the first place, the mileage will show as a result.
doubt the radio has anything to do with gas mileage lol
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Old 08-17-2012, 02:18 AM
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What tune up's does Nissan recommend at 130K miles, anyone have a link, I didn't see a link in the stickies.


***where did you guys buy your NGK spark plugs and how much did you pay for each one?

*** whats the best price you've seen on O2 sensors?

Last edited by Chrono; 08-17-2012 at 03:37 AM.
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Old 08-17-2012, 04:19 AM
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Originally Posted by T_Behr904
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Old 08-17-2012, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by schmellyfart
Most of it is driving style. I highly recommend the ScanGaugeII or ScangaugeE, being able to see how your driving effects your fuel economy really helps. http://www.scangauge.com/products/ I went from a city best of 26.9 mpg to 28.6 after driving with the scangauge installed for a couple tanks. You would pick up more mpg than I did if you aren't using any hypermiling techniques already.

I also picked up and extra 5-15 miles per tank after various performance mods.

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/schmellyfart/maxima

+1 on Maintainence, I picked up ~2mpg from new spark plugs alone.
Thanks for the reference SF. I just ordered a new scanguage2 for $149 off ebay. I'm installing it for mpg and to watch the AT fluid temperature after modifying the VB with the transgo shift kit.
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Old 08-17-2012, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by jholley
Thanks for the reference SF. I just ordered a new scanguage2 for $149 off ebay. I'm installing it for mpg and to watch the AT fluid temperature after modifying the VB with the transgo shift kit.
MPG is calculated based on realtime engine management/monitoring parameters of sensors. These info can be acquired via a good OBDII scanner. Realtime rpm, tps, vehicle instantaneous speed, ... are included in the calculation. You can also monitor timing advance, fuel trim, IAT, and adjust your pedal to go light/easy or hard. I'd rather invest in an OBDII scanner for tuning your car.
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Old 08-17-2012, 01:54 PM
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if your bone stock than get a cai and a aftermarket y pipe and youll notice a big differance. and i see your in naperville. where at. im in addison
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Old 08-17-2012, 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by styliztik
doubt the radio has anything to do with gas mileage lol
The amount is negligible to most.
Originally Posted by saig
MPG is calculated based on realtime engine management/monitoring parameters of sensors. These info can be acquired via a good OBDII scanner. Realtime rpm, tps, vehicle instantaneous speed, ... are included in the calculation. You can also monitor timing advance, fuel trim, IAT, and adjust your pedal to go light/easy or hard. I'd rather invest in an OBDII scanner for tuning your car.
You can't tune an A32 with an OBDII scanner.
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Old 08-17-2012, 03:22 PM
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I've had my dads car just over a year now. I drive roughly 60 miles to work (and back) with about 45 of that freeway, mostly 70 mph. My worst fillup MPG was 26.7, my best just last fill was 31.2. I frequently see 29.6 - 30.x.

I've noticed the biggest impact on my mileage is going over 2500 RPM. Whether it's from acceleration or cruising, if I got over that I'm closer to the 27MPG.

My car is all stock, some Firestone 50k all-season tires at 32PSI. I put between 89 and 91 octane and that seems to have hardly any impact on my mileage unless I run 89 four or more fillups in a row.

I've never gotten less than that 26.7 and that was mostly running around between the malls and home with the wife on a 300 mile weekend shopping spree.
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Old 08-17-2012, 08:27 PM
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http://forums.maxima.org/general-max...ge-thread.html
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Old 09-09-2012, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Amerikaner83
Boris, you get 22/25 consistently? I average 20 all city, 22 in mixed
Wow. I have a 96 with no mods and bad knock sensor and o2 sensor and i average 30-33 mixed. Guess i cant complain about my mileage anymore.
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Old 09-09-2012, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Sportrunner
Wow. I have a 96 with no mods and bad knock sensor and o2 sensor and i average 30-33 mixed. Guess i cant complain about my mileage anymore.
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Old 09-09-2012, 06:47 PM
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He's probably using Ethanol-free gas. http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=LA
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Old 09-09-2012, 07:20 PM
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Drive like an old lady.....or hang up a vacuum gauge and keep it in the hightest vacuum zone....
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Old 09-09-2012, 07:53 PM
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Originally Posted by schmellyfart
He's probably using Ethanol-free gas. http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=LA
That will do it. I lost 3+ mpg with ethanol blended gas. 100% gas is the best to go with.
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Old 09-10-2012, 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Sportrunner
Wow. I have a 96 with no mods and bad knock sensor and o2 sensor and i average 30-33 mixed. Guess i cant complain about my mileage anymore.
Just replaced knock sensor and I got 32 hwy, but even with the bad KS, the DH regularly got 35 with it. We get ethanol free gas when we can, but usually just have to go with whatever grade premium we can get. We swear by Michelin tires though. Just put new Defenders all around after running over 100K on the old Michelins. Great blend of durability, MPG, traction, ride quality and noise level. They always give us our money's worth.
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Old 09-10-2012, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by T_Behr904
That will do it. I lost 3+ mpg with ethanol blended gas. 100% gas is the best to go with.
Sucks living in CA when it comes to modding
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Old 09-12-2012, 12:46 AM
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Its not toooooo bad lol
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