I was driving down to Atlanta and I was getting a good 450+. One my way back to Chicago, I filled up the tank and got 471 miles. I was wondering if anyone is getting 500 miles or more on a tank of gas.

K

 

I do. On a road trip Plain Jane gets 30 mpg. I've heard of some Maxima owners doing even better.

The 4Gen Maxima has an 18.5 gallon tank. It's a bad idea to run it dry, but 17 gallons times 30 miles per gallon equals a safe range of 510 miles.

 

Hehe..I like how you named your Maxima "Plain Jane."

Hmm..I think the day my Maxima gets 500 miles on a tank of gas is the day when pigs grow wings and hell freezes over...

 

do you guys know how many gallons of gas is left when the gas light turns on? just curious... i get about 270 miles with city driving and i fill up when i have an 1/8 tank left...

 

I do regularly. The most Ive ever gotten was 557. From Blacksburg, Virginia to Fairfax, Virginia, and back.

 

I made it to Chicago and back, a little over 1,500 miles, on just over 3 tanks of gas.

 

This is something I'd like to know. Even my '85 Accord told me how many gallons (down to the tenth of a gallon) left in the tank when the fuel light made its first appearance, but there's no such info in the Maxima owner's manual.

 

First off about the light:
I've heard that when the light comes on you have 2.5 gallons left..but one thing i've learned is that maxima gas guage is useless... my gas light came on and i only 35 more miles b4 my car died.. luckily i was by a gas station so i filled it up..IT ONLY TOOK 17.5 gallon.. so i'm figuring since my maxima has 100K miles that a lot of crud has accumatlated in the gas tank

about the 500 miles to tank.. NO WAY i've never even gotten 400....but it's entirely my fault..i have this birth defect, there's about 5lb's of lead in my right foot and it always weighs down the gas pedal ..

Ant

 

To answer your question about how many gallons is left when the light comes on. Well when my gas light turns on I go fill up my tank and it usually takes around 15.5 gallons. So there is about 3 gallons left.

 

You'll want to fill up sooner than later when the low fuel light comes on if you're going up hill or on an up incline. I think the fuel pickup on the Max is in the front of the tank.

I was at the Sac Speedway running the 1/4mile. I had it down to just slightly below the 1/4 tank mark... but not down to the 1/8 tank mark. On my second run, I ran outta fuel on my auto Max. About 3/4 of the way down the track, the car sputtered and cut out and just started coasting. I was thinking crap... but wanted to see if I could roll to the 1st turnoff. Low and behold the AUTO Max restarted itself as I was crossing the finish line (still pulled at 16.8 .

Another time, I was accelerating on a freeway on-ramp to an elevated part of the freeway. Right before I hit the top, the car started surging and sputtering. As I got onto the flat section, the car died... Luckily, there was an immediate exit ramp that went down hill. While I was planning on how to coast into the gas station, without wasting too much braking energy, the car once again restarted itself. I never let the car go too low after that.

That was in a '96 Auto Max. I've run lower than that on my '97 5sp and I think they might've fixed it...

-V

 

Unless you accelerate to 80+ then shut the engine down for the rest of your trip and repeat this procedure often I cant begin to imagine gas mileage that great. I have 5 speed which is great for speeding but not for fuel economy. Fifth gear is too short so cruise speed 2500rpm @ 60mph, and 3000rpm @ 70. I know auto Max's probably turn at least 300-500+ rpms slower at identical speeds. Last week I got 390 miles per full tank (17 gallons) and I felt pretty good about that. Lets be honest here guys, those who report mid to high 400+ miles per full tank are you guys really babying the gas to achieve that or does it just happen as a result of normal driving.

450 miles per full tank sounds amazing to me. I'd love it if my Max could do that. Maybe I love to hear her bark so I'm always in the pedal a little more than usual.

 

I have gotten 463 at an average of 77 mph.

 

Was that all highway?
Do you have any mods? Please list if you do.

My car must be in bad shape or everyone else has got some pretty efficient motors.

Dont know?

 

Calculated over multiple tanks in a trip from Seattle, Wa to LA. Auto w/no mods that would affect gas mileage. I'd believe the mid 400s are reasonable and 500 can be achieved with a lighter foot than I have (plus not having to cross the couple of mountain passes on my route).

 

I've been at 480 on my most recent tank actually, but never over 500. And that's: gas station -> highway -> gas station and with OD on all the time. I don't think I've ever had the light come though now that I think of it.

 

Like you, I have a lead foot But, I know my max can get great gas mileage. I recently took a 2000 mile road trip there and back between NYC and Iowa. I got slammed with a whole lot of rain on the way there. Because my front tires were so worn and therefore had an extreme tendency to aquaplane, during the rain, I set my cruise at 60 mph in 5th gear. For that tank of gas only, I got 30 mpg. All my other tanks I averaged 22-23 mpg. The key to getting great mileage is not to spend most of your time pushing the pedal, as I do in hi speed mode. If you feather the pedal at highyway speeds (just goosing it a little to pick up speed, and letting go to slow down), your mileage will be really good.

I actually once got 31 mpg out of a tank. I will probably NEVER do that again. Cruisng at an average speed of 40-50 mph in 5th gear, taking in the scene on one of those Car and driver 10 best roads with my girlfrined.

DW

 

all highway w/ cruise set at 80...between Md and Il...VERY FLAT drive. Prior to the trip I had changed oil (Mobil synthetic 5w30), cleaned out the K&N panel, and the tires had been inflated to the max 45psi (according to the sidewall)...(filled up until the pump stopped once...no topping off).

On a day to day basis, I'm averaging 20mpg. I seem to average 10-12 gallons when filling (topping off) up each evening, and that's w/ a lead foot. Of course the company pays for the gas (regular unleaded...but I've got 4k miles on it so far and no problems yet)...
I think you've got about 2.5 gallons when the light comes on (I seem to recall reading it somewhere)...of course how long that lasts depends on your driving.

 

After the light turns on, you have a 2 gallon reserve. basically the light turns on after 16.5 gallons. The entire tank is 18.5

 

Most I ever got was 450 miles and my tank was bone dry. I usually get 24 incity driving and 25-27 hwy ( I usually set the cruise at 80 and can leave it set for a couple hours). I have a 95 5 speed w/ 102K

 

I do the same. I tried couple of time not to fill the gas and see if my low fuel light works but it doesn't. I'm scared to run really low on gas and so i fill up.
I have never seen low fuel light though on my Max either!

 

The fuel pump is located inside the gas tank. The fuel gauge sending unit is attached to the fuel pump. It consists of a float which operates a variable resistor. For vehicles with conventional analog fuel gauges the resistance value for a full tank is 8 ohms and for an empty tank is 82 ohms.

An on/off switch is incorporated into the gauge sending unit. The switch is normally open, but closes when the fuel level is close to empty. This switch operates the Low Fuel dashboard warning light.

The Low Fuel warning light circuit is simple. The light has +12 volts whenever the ignition is ON. The ground side of the circuit is completed by the in-tank switch, as described above.

Diagnosis procedure.

1) Move both front seats all the way forward. This is to give you more room to work in the rear seat area.

2) Fasten all rear seat seat belts. This is to keep them out of the way and facilitate subsequent installation of the back seat.

3) There are two release latches at the bottom leading edge of the rear seat bottom cushion. Pull these latches toward the front of the car.

4) Lift the leading edge of the rear seat bottom cushion and pull the cushion toward the front of the car. Remove the cushion from the car.

5) Note the fuel pump access access cover in the center of the car. Remove three 10mm bolts. Lift the access cover and move it aside. You can now see the top of the fuel tank.

6) There are two electric connectors. Remove the one on the passenger side. No tools are necessary, just press the latch, wiggle, jiggle, and lift.

7) Turn the ignition ON. No need to start the engine.

8) Note that one of the wires leading into the disconnected connector is red with a black tracer. Use a test lead to connect this terminal to ground. The Low Fuel warning light should go on. Remove the test lead. The light should go off.

9) If the Low Fuel warning light did not go on the dashboard bulb is defective or the wire between the fuel tank and dashboard has an open circuit.

10) If the Low Fuel warning light did go on the in-tank Low Fuel switch is defective.

This diagnostic procedure takes only ten minutes. It is not difficult and does not require any special tools.

If the switch is faulty you may remove the fuel pump and attempt to repair the switch or replace the assembly. Instructions for removing the pump are found in the Chilton repair manual (page 5-2) and the Haynes repair manual (page 4-4).

 

My $.02.
*If I drive 50-55 mph, I easily get more than 200 mi. per half tank. That's about 400 mi. per tank. I never let my gas tank go half way anyhow. You can get more milage by adding some motor oil in your gas tank, that's what my mechanic says.
*The gas tank level is obtained by a pressure sensor. Because it is pressure measurement it can be affected by outside pressure and by ambient temperature. Thus, you can't really rely on the "empty" light since it is just for information. There is no such thing as precise gas level....

 

have you tried that yet?

 

Ask your mechanic if he can substantiate this unorthodox idea. I'd be interested to know of any book, factory shop manual, magazine article, or Web site which makes this assertion and can explain it.

This is incorrect. It is obtained by a float-actuated variable resistor. Please refer to the Chilton repair manual (page 2-10) or the Haynes repair manual (page 4-6).

 

I'm heading back for atlanta on thursday. So I'll put some of this expensive chicago gas in my baby, and let you all know. I got 481 on the last tank. Damn I luv this car.

K

 

I had three guys in the car, including myself. (Each of us about 200lbs + about 75 lbs luggage). I set the cruise at 72mph and drove through a lot of rain. I averaged close to 27mpg and hit about 390 b/f fill up. I don't think that was a full tank, though. I expected better. Do additional people make a significant difference at cruising speeds?

 

yea i have a 99 I30 wit 2 jl's in the trunk i only get like 250...300 if im lucky....i think i also have that 5lb birth defect.

 

On a level road, no difference. On an upgrade, a small difference.

 

I have 2 jl 15w6 and still get all that mileage. I don't know what it could be.

K

 

One thing that will affect your mileage, even when cruising at 55 mph, is the climate control. If your AC is on for the whole trip, then your mileage will go down. I tend to not use my AC, just economy mode or vents and sunroof. The only time I really use my AC is in really hot weather and alot of rain to keep my windows clear. Other than at, its economy mode all the way.

DW

 

That is so tru. That's why when I hit the road, A/C is off. You can feel it draining when you accelerate.

k

 

I don't know if you guys really noticed how the fuel gauge works, but it's not how you think. it is not linear, e.i. when it's on the 1/4 or 1/2 or 3/4 IT'S NOT REALLY THAT

what they do is for the first 1/4 from the Full the niddle almost doesn't move, and they do this on purpose so you think you're getting great mileage, after that point it the niddle starts going down faster and faster

so from
Full to 3/4 it could take you 150 miles
BUT
1/2 to 1/4 it would give you a mere 60-90 miles

take a closer look and you will see that

Konstantin

 

I see what you are saying on the full to 3/4 part. But on the 1/2 to 1/4, I get more than what you came up with. How did you come up with those numbers, and who did you get them from?

K

 

the numbers I just made up, i just wanted to get a point across, I'm not really sure what the exact figures are

the company does that to make you think you're saving on gas and ****, but when the middle is in the middle you seem to not care anymore... you get the point

 

You lost me. What do you mean, "when the middle is in the middle you seem to not car anymore?"

 

If you want to persuade people it is better to use facts instead of made-up numbers.

This seems far-fetched. It does not influence the EPA fuel mileage numbers which appear on the window stickers of new cars. People who really care about fuel economy keep careful records of fuel purchases and are not misled by fuel gauge readings.

 

No, he's right. The gas guage is definately not linear (of course it's the sending unit, not the guage). It starts off moving very slowly then picks up speed until the very end. My car (93 Caprice) does the exact same thing. Go figure.

Just to add to the discussion, on a family trip with 4 people and some luggage in the car, with the climate control on auto, cruise at 75 for most of the way, my dad averaged 33.4 mpg on mobil 93 octane. I was extremely impressed. You just have to be easy on the throttle and keep your speed in check. When I drive the Maxima, I tend to pass people for no reason (even if they're moving at like 85), just because it's so easy.

 

yes, this does not influence the fuel economy, you are correct, what is going on is they are influencing the way your niddle work, instead of it being linear, so when the niddle is on 1/2 it's really 1/2, they set it up so the niddle moves slower on the top and then faster on the bottom, the consumption of fuel is an independent factor

 

He's right that the gauge is non-linear.

He's wrong when he declares that Nissan "does that to make you think you're saving on gas."

 

Well I think it was just his hypothesis...I have no idea why it's like that and I'm not even convinced that it was purposely designed that way.