I'm really sorry for reposting and being a pain. I cant take it anymore with my gas consumption. I search both google and here for top10 reasons why 94 maxima burns so much gas.

I really love my car and dont want to get rid of it(get a toyota corolla). I need to have it for 2 years until i finish college then i can upgrade to a newer maxima.

Anyways heres my consumption:
Tonight i looked at my gas guage and its exactly Half tank..needle facing the left side. My mileage is only 86. I know my car has potential to get more milage, but i dont know what to fix to get that.

Exaust:
So far, my exaust seem to be ok, no sound showing its got holes or anything. Maybe some rust spots. Saturday i will take it to inspect to see how bad is it. but i doubt that will cause my gas mileage to be so bad.

Smell: Ive been noticing some strange smell from my car. Its not exactaly like gasoline but maybe like burning gasoline..or really high exaust fumes.

Plugs:
About a month ago i changed plugs on my car.

Oil:
I change oil every 3000 miles.

What are some things to look at to fix to get more mileage.
Also i'm dont really do much fast driving..only if im late etc.

Thanks everyone, and i really apologize to everyone.

 

Bad Injector[s] /Bad oxygen sensor...

 

hmmm clogged cat?? hows the flow at the mufflar?? might be

 

Is it expensive to replease? if so how much.would it be worth it or buy a new car?


[Quote=hmmm clogged cat?? hows the flow at the mufflar?? might be[/Quote]

will check that by putting my hand against mufflar to see how it pushes.

 

Have you checked the engine codes yet? Some things that can affect gas mileage:

- O2 sensor (mentioned)
- leaky injectors
- fuel leak (cracked fuel hose)
- engine coolant temperature sensor

 

^^^ These are the main culprits to poor fuel economy on the 3rd gen.

Another one is exhaust leaks or problems, primarily manifold leaks or holes/rust and gasket problems.

Adding a performance y-pipe with new gaskets helps in this department, unless you have manifold leaks, in which case you should replace the studs and check to make sure the manifold(s) aren't warped.

After that, it's common sense stuff like the right pressure in your tires, removing excess weight and keeping your car in a good state of tune.

 

One that I had last year. Fuel Filler pipe came loose.

Was replaced when I moved to Chicago based on a recall for Salt-Rust in the area. 4 years later, it same loose. Could not find leak (self and dealer), keep smelling gas and fuel milage dropped like a stone (simular to what you are talking about). Was at gas station and over filled tank, start engine fuel started to pour out of leak. Took to dealer (just down block, lucky) to have them reseal.

 

I havent checked any of those as yet. I will have to take it to a mechanic to check. I recently put engine coolant into my car because a hose was burst and it all leaked out. The hose is now replaced/fixed and the engine has coolant again.

Well, for fuel leaks i dont really see anything drippping on the ground. When i warm my car up in the morning and reverse out i dont see any wet spots on the ground.

Saturday i'm taking the car to the shop to check the exaust. I'm honestly hoping its that because it might be cheaper to fix than to replace injectors or fix manifold.

I usually ram my tank to the max too . But havent noticed any leaks when i do..i will try it saturday (lol its half tank yesterday so i'm guessing no gas by sunday..

 

engine coolant has nothing to do with fuel consumption.

the o2 sensor costs <$100 and can be replaced easily by you with a jack, jackstands and basic tools.

checking the codes take a couple of minutes and can be done by yourself. Just look through the stickies and there is info in there. Sometimes things can go wrong, even if a code doesn't come up, though. It is still a good place to start.

leaky injectors usually come along with running or idling rough or high emissions.

You can take your car to an emissions check place and see what the readout says, too. In Oregon you can have your car checked at the state DEQ without having to get new tags. They will give you a readout for like $20. IIRC, if it doesn't pass, it doesn't cost anything. You would have to check with your local and state air quality place.

 

I would get the the cat checked out when I hit around 157k I started getting around 16mpg in town I took a rod and pounded it through the cat for temporarily and next tank of gas it went up to 19.

 

Might want to clean the throtle body, & clean out injectors, it worked for me.

 

Hmmmmm, if your T-stat is stuck open, then it could cause you to run rich. Something to think about (considering it sounds like your car lost a considerable amount of coolant).

 

Hey guys, im new to this forum so i cant really search and i have a pretty dumb question. Actually two.

First, i suspect that my coolant temp sensor has gone bad and I just wanna know where it is so I can replace it.

Also .. where is the IACV located so i clean it out and fix my funky idle problem?

Thanks for any help.

 

CTS is on the thermostat housing normally.
the IAC is by the throttle body (butterfly plates on the intake)
you may want to update your profile to show what year and trim level you have for more accurate info

 

Hey thanks for the reply... i forgot to mention i have a ve5.. 93 se



you wouldnt happen to have any pics would you? im new to the nissan thing

 

If you aren't sure about the coolant temp sensor, check the codes. Mine threw a code for that.

look in the stickies under repair information. There is info on checking codes and the autozone guide thing has a lot of diagrams and pictures.

IIRC, the coolant temp sensor is down below where the TB is. It wasn't very hard to find and replace. I think it took just a few minutes.

As for your IACV, be sure to get the gasket BEFORE you take it apart. No parts places carry it and I think very few dealers stock the gasket. My dealer had to get a gasket from California. I recommend cleaning the TB and replacing that gasket if you are going to do the IACV. It's easier to get at.

 

 

thanks guys, youve all been great help.

My last stupid question.. you say the IACV located under the TB... where exactly is it and what am i looking for.

Can i get the throttle body to plenum gasket and the IACV gasket from nissan.. or is it one of those weird hard to get things? Or better yet, does anyone have any part numbers?

I went looking through the stickies along with the autozone thing and i havent had much luck finding info on this. Thanks again

 

Yes,you can get all the needed gaskets from the dealer..

 

definitely start with your exhaust, leaks, oxy sensors, cat, etc. your see your MPG's get better no matter what the real culprit is...

 

definitely start with your exhaust, leaks, oxy sensors, cat, etc. your see your MPG's get better no matter what the real culprit is...

 

Clean out your exhaust to egr pipe too. if its clogged you will run rich (with resulting low mileage) and you will fail your nox emissions test.

 

Here is the number one reason for the bad gas milage: the way you drive. If you only drive a couple miles in the morninng to get to school, than a coulpe more to get home, than may be a couple more to get something to it, and only get to a freeway once around on weekends, it's gonna be crap. For exsample, my mom kept complaining that she was getting 180 miles per tank on her Celica, but every time I took it for a couple od days, I'd get around 300, and I drive with throttle on/throttle off style, 20 miles over the speed limit all the way (exept the school zones etc.), how could that be? I didn't find out 'till I changed my lifestyle a bit. Now my job is a 1.5 away from home, and me and my wife don't drive around all that much, so I get 14 mpg on my '92 SE, and 20 mpg on my '93 Integra. A few months ago I got a second, day job, where I have to drive at least 20-40 miles a day, mostly on freeway, and guess what my Integra get's now? 25 to 30 mpg. My Maxima is broken, but I know that when I took it to a trip to the Seaside last year, I got well over 25 mpg.
Ther could alwaysly be mechanical issues, and I've asked people her many times on what they thought, but than I bought my Integra, and it still got only 20 mpg, I realized....now, what were we talking about?

 

I recently, had injectors cleaned, Throtle body cleaned, installed new plugs,wires, rotor & cap, & I now get about 320Miles per tankful, mixture of Highway & city driving even with a small manifold leak, all in all I am satisfied with that.

 

I just got 385 miles on a tankful last night driving from provo ut to boise id (25 mpgs). I WASN'T getting this great of gas mileage until I rebuilt a sticky rear caliper that was dragging. After that, my mpgs jumped up. Check you brake pads maybe for any one that's worn suspiciously low.

 

When I drive like a normal person, I get around 300 miles per tank on my 93 GXE in city driving. But when I drive like an *** I get between 200-250.