Some automatic transmissions are adaptive but the 4Gen Maxima is not one of them.

 

So I guess it's psychological.. or maybe I am the one who's getting adpative. :P

 

From what I've been reading on the NET about torque converters and how they work -- I tried this experiment --

My mileage has alway fluctuated between 16-19MPG without any noticeable drivability or power delivery of the engine -- I couldn't understand why aside from thinking about fuel leaks..

So I found out that torque converter mechanical efficiency is at its best when it is in "lock up mode" -- And at slower speeds RPMs below when lock-up mode occurs, the mechanical efficiency is less -- the slower the RPMs, the greater difference in speed between the input rotor and stators on the torque converter during normal cruising conditions -- It must have something to do with the fluid dynamics -- So the slower the RPM, the higher the mechanical losses

So on this fill-up, I have been making a conscious effort to not use Overdrive at all even at speeds up to 70+ MPH ---
And if I'm in slow traffic, I've been moving the shifter lever down to 2nd and even 1st gear to keep the tach above 2000 RPMs --

From looking at my fuel guage right now and the miles I've clocked since the last fill-up, I feel like I'm on the high side of my typical fuel mileage range -- maybe I might break the magical 20MPG milestone for all city driving!!!