4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

What highway speed proves to be the best gas milage...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-08-2004, 07:27 AM
  #1  
5th Gen till she dies!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
ManualMaxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,546
What highway speed proves to be the best gas milage...

What highway speed proves to be the best gas milage... Gas is getting higher and higher.....
ManualMaxima is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 07:33 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
PoePoe2797's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,003
I heard 55
PoePoe2797 is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 07:41 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Cal0205's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 255
55 is too slow, i stick with 60
Cal0205 is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 08:58 AM
  #4  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (2)
 
RapidMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 778
55 was the best in the 70s which is why the speed limit was set at that. Now I believe its around 75 for most modern day cars.
RapidMax is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 09:17 AM
  #5  
SLOW
iTrader: (23)
 
Nealoc187's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: West burbs, Chicago
Posts: 14,631
I don't know what is best, but I know that I get pretty good mileage with my normal cruising which ranges from 75-85. I can get about 420 miles out of 16 gallons which is 26.25, compared to my mixed city and highway driving which generally gets about 21.5 mpg
Nealoc187 is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 09:28 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Kbuitre's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 199
i put about 400 miles a week on my max... with a 3/4 tank all week...most of them highway...
Kbuitre is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 09:29 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Kbuitre's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 199
i will say 70 - 80 miles
Kbuitre is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 10:06 AM
  #8  
V^___^V
iTrader: (7)
 
happyricefob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 6,407
cruising at 80mph from norcal to socal gave me 26.5mi/gal, similar to nealoc's #s.
happyricefob is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 10:30 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
maximomo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 302
My 95 gets 29mpg if all hwy miles with an avg cruising speed of 70.
I doubt I could hold the speed below 70...I barely touch the pedal when I'm at cruising speed and keeping the max from cranking 80mph is a chore!
maximomo is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 03:41 PM
  #10  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Taken2DaMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: san antonio, Tejas
Posts: 2,336
I would have to say 55. But most people don't go 55...
Taken2DaMax is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 06:17 PM
  #11  
maxima no more
iTrader: (1)
 
SkinnyMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 398
I have gotten 31 mpg doing about 72 mph, that way the engine is at about 3000 rpms which gives it enough power to get up hills without using a ton of gas
SkinnyMax is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 06:57 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
gto400no1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Franklinville, NJ
Posts: 1,092
i hear after 55 is when mpg declines but u cant do that speed on the highway unless u wana get run over.
gto400no1 is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 07:00 PM
  #13  
Hooooooonda.....
iTrader: (2)
 
DAVE Sz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chiiiii
Posts: 8,105
After a certain point the faster you go the more drag your car has and needs more power to sustain that speed. These days I'm guessing that 60mph is optimal for good gas mileage but that means it's only the right lane for you turtle boy.
DAVE Sz is offline  
Old 05-08-2004, 07:10 PM
  #14  
THT
Throbbing member
iTrader: (8)
 
THT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 3,391
I've hit 29-30mpg at 60-65mph. I try to keep it there to maximize fuel economy. I paid over $2/gallon for the first ever today.

~THT
THT is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 08:40 AM
  #15  
5th Gen till she dies!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
ManualMaxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,546
yea i paid $2 today and it made me think. It is shifter below 2500 for me! I am go slow now it i see that it does use les gas.

there is no way i am doing 55 on the highway! looks like people said 60 - 72 was good.
ManualMaxima is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 07:01 PM
  #16  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (2)
 
PLUMMAXSE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 707
Originally Posted by THT
I've hit 29-30mpg at 60-65mph. I try to keep it there to maximize fuel economy. I paid over $2/gallon for the first ever today.

~THT
BUMP
PLUMMAXSE is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 07:08 PM
  #17  
Member
 
Maxima Moose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 67
This weekend is the first weekend that I have paid over $2/galloon. Gas jumped hugely. Some places were selling for $2.13-15/galloon.

What is up with that????!!!
Maxima Moose is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 07:15 PM
  #18  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Guinader's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 874
I pay $1.89, but I have to drive 6 miles to the gas station. cheapst place around merrimack valley. (I Think)
Guinader is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 07:16 PM
  #19  
UCF Lexus
iTrader: (12)
 
|Bijan|'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,851
a buck twenty
|Bijan| is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 07:18 PM
  #20  
THT
Throbbing member
iTrader: (8)
 
THT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 3,391
huh? how? where? directions? I'll re-enact a scene from The Road Warrior and drive a tanker to the station for that price...

~THT
THT is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 07:50 PM
  #21  
UCF Lexus
iTrader: (12)
 
|Bijan|'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,851
$1.99 for premium in ATL
|Bijan| is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 08:17 PM
  #22  
Member
 
drvefastho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 37
lucky bastards...in LA the prices are between 2.35 and 2.55 for premium....depending on which block ur car runs out of gas.
drvefastho is offline  
Old 05-09-2004, 10:35 PM
  #23  
2060lbs and falling...
iTrader: (10)
 
Broaner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 5,160
No matter what type of car fuel economy is in the shape of a standard curve. The mean of this standard car is right around 55 +/- 1MPH. So, at this speed the car is the most aerodynamically effiecient and is travelling a good distance. On my last tank I got 29.4MPG from mixed driving. $2.04 for premium here.
Broaner is offline  
Old 05-10-2004, 09:59 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Mikesburn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 511
You guys are lucky, I pay 2.39 por 89. San Diego is so freakin' expensive for both gas and living.
Mikesburn is offline  
Old 05-10-2004, 10:03 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Str8ridin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,185
Originally Posted by broaner22
No matter what type of car fuel economy is in the shape of a standard curve. The mean of this standard car is right around 55 +/- 1MPH. So, at this speed the car is the most aerodynamically effiecient and is travelling a good distance. On my last tank I got 29.4MPG from mixed driving. $2.04 for premium here.

Correct, I read somewhere that manufacturers build the cars to acheive the optimal gas mileage at 55MPH.

Worst gas mileage? Idle.

And with the rising prices in gas, some overlooked tips to save on gas for our Maximas are: Make sure ALL your O2 sensors are working properly as well as your knock sensor. Those things, if not working, can reduce your MPG dramatically. Oh yeah, and drive slow.
Str8ridin is offline  
Old 05-10-2004, 04:08 PM
  #26  
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
abradic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Mount Prospect, IL
Posts: 253
Pretty interesting thread. Most prices here in Chicago for premium are running in the $2.35/gallon range. I flew to Oklahoma City to get my car and had an 800 mile drive a few years back. I fueled up about 50 miles before the end of OK, kept cruise at 77mph and got 500 miles on my tank...made it into IL! Now, the light was on for appx. 30-35 miles so I didn't have much more left, but I was so amazed that I just wanted to hit 500 miles. A few miles later I refueled!
abradic is offline  
Old 05-10-2004, 04:27 PM
  #27  
Member
 
chancy31's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 43
I hit 500 miles cruising at 78 before my light came on. 95% highway.
chancy31 is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 06:32 AM
  #28  
Senior Member
 
Str8ridin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,185
Wow, 500 miles? That's pretty impressive. I've only heard of that in 4 cylinder Hondas! I've never gotton over 430.
Str8ridin is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 06:41 AM
  #29  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
deezo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FV, NC
Posts: 14,287
I feel that the optimal mileage for highway driving and making good time is 70 to 75 mph.

I've gotten a range of 463 miles on one tank before I was modded and it'll go up with less restrictions on the car.
deezo is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 07:07 AM
  #30  
Senior Member
 
belosic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 116
I think I win the gas price competition:
Mammoth Mountain, CA - $3.05 (Premium)
Bridgeport, CA (if you don't make it all the way to Mammoth) - $3.37

I get 380 miles to a tank, but thats with a bad Knock Sensor (got a new one coming today, thanks Jerry Rome Nissan!) and 50/50 highway-city driving.
belosic is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 07:15 AM
  #31  
Senior Member
 
belosic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 116
On the topic of the proper speed to maximize efficiency- any object moving above a certian speed will have a bell-shaped-curve graph where you could show that power use goes from moving the objects mass to fighting air resistance. For example, on a bicycle, 80% of your power is spent fighting the wind above 15 mph, which increases more and more the faster you go. I haven't studied any wind tunnel results for a max, so I don't know what the optimum speed is... but the faster you go, the greater percentage of power is spent fighting air resistance, not keeping the object in motion.
belosic is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 07:29 AM
  #32  
Senior Member
 
Mikesburn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 511
Originally Posted by belosic
On the topic of the proper speed to maximize efficiency- any object moving above a certian speed will have a bell-shaped-curve graph where you could show that power use goes from moving the objects mass to fighting air resistance. For example, on a bicycle, 80% of your power is spent fighting the wind above 15 mph, which increases more and more the faster you go. I haven't studied any wind tunnel results for a max, so I don't know what the optimum speed is... but the faster you go, the greater percentage of power is spent fighting air resistance, not keeping the object in motion.
Good Job, way to go!
Mikesburn is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 09:32 AM
  #33  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Brudaddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,237
It is not necessarily a mph that you need to stay at, but rather a specific rpm. You want to stay between 2500 and 3000 rpms to get optimal mpg. This is a different mph for all cars.
Brudaddy is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 10:07 AM
  #34  
Member
 
96blblstickmax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 61
I Get 20miles/gallon Highway/city Mix
96blblstickmax is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 10:18 AM
  #35  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
deezo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: FV, NC
Posts: 14,287
Originally Posted by Brudaddy
It is not necessarily a mph that you need to stay at, but rather a specific rpm. You want to stay between 2500 and 3000 rpms to get optimal mpg. This is a different mph for all cars.
It don't agree because the closer you get to 3000, the worse the mileage gets. It's been talked about plenty time here on the org. Driving an auto around 3000 sucks the fuel right up. Manuals run higher rpms at every speed compared to autos so I'd imagine the best mileage for a manual would be lower than the autos.

Manuals may run closer to 3000 rpms at around 75 mph, but the autos run around 2500 rpms. I've seen the best mileage between 2000 to 2500.
deezo is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 10:31 AM
  #36  
Senior Member
 
imlikewoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 231
Just stay at 120 you wont believe how little gas you use before you get to your destination. jk. I beilve that 3000 to 3500 with the correct air pressure in your tires and premium gas was what we agreed on when this topic came up last summer.
imlikewoe is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 10:36 AM
  #37  
UCF Lexus
iTrader: (12)
 
|Bijan|'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,851
With my f*cked up knock sensor and other problems my car has, I got about 350 to a tank
|Bijan| is offline  
Old 05-11-2004, 10:54 AM
  #38  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Brudaddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,237
Originally Posted by deezo
It don't agree because the closer you get to 3000, the worse the mileage gets. It's been talked about plenty time here on the org. Driving an auto around 3000 sucks the fuel right up. Manuals run higher rpms at every speed compared to autos so I'd imagine the best mileage for a manual would be lower than the autos.

Manuals may run closer to 3000 rpms at around 75 mph, but the autos run around 2500 rpms. I've seen the best mileage between 2000 to 2500.
That's true. I guess I was thinking of it as running at 2500 would be way too slow anywhere you go. I guess ideally, you are right though, it would be better. I suppose in my mind, I was thinking of a reasonable rpm I could logically keep my car at and get good mileage, but still get where I need to go on time.
I don't think anyone should drive at 2500rpm all the time...ha ha ha.
Brudaddy is offline  
Old 05-18-2004, 04:32 AM
  #39  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Guinader's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 874
just wanted to let you guys know, my last trip.
Two days ago I had to drive for 350 miles (total, on highway) whenI got home I fill the car up, and got a average of 27.4 MPG.

My speed, I kept around 70-75mph sometimes WOT to 85mph (passing other cars)

Problems with my car:
engine light with 1008 EVAP...
brand new kock sensor.
Outside temp 60% humidity.
65F - 74F
Hope you all like my input.
gui
Guinader is offline  
Old 05-18-2004, 06:36 AM
  #40  
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
RastaManMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,014
Mine is definately best as Deezo suggested, between 2000-2500 RPM's probably in the lower end of that range too.

LEMAR
RastaManMax is offline  


Quick Reply: What highway speed proves to be the best gas milage...



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:47 PM.