hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

5.5 Gen, No mods, 6MT

About 7 months or so, when i bought my car, i drove over 1000 miles on highway to drive it back home. It was showing me 32-35 mpg on the dash (i know it probably wasnt doing what it showed)

Since past winter, it has been running really rich in gas....i could smell it when starting cold in new england weather. So, i was told to change upstream o2 sensors, i did. Still no luck. I am still getting around avg 300 miles a tank, with mostly highway (70% or more) and rest city driving. I have tried all this without AC on, and even not exceeding RPMS above 3000.

I had a check engine light for cylinder misfire on cylinder 2. Im thinking coil packs. Would spark plugs and coil packs do the trick ???

Oh btw, now my display on dash shows around 14mpg - 19mpg.... Sometimes on highway it has shown 23mpg recently. Within past 4 months or so, it has gone as low as 8 mpg. During winter, especially when starting in the cold, initial driving would show around 7 MPG on old o2 sensors. But with new o2 sensors, its still hovering around the same.....

Thanks

mist max2000

iTrader: (16)

if you had a code for coils .. do coils and plugs.. if that fixes it.. the money you spend in that you will save on gas at the upcomming 5.00 a gallon.. good luck...im on track for 500+ miles out of my tank right now in my 02 6mt 80-90%% highway..

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

holy cow........ 500 miles !!!! I have never seen 500 Miles on my dash or even manually calculating. So you saying, if i drive at around 60 mpg or at about 2000-2100 rpm.

How are you managing to get AROUND 500 MILES A TANK !!!!! Pleasee share some love here

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Or look into this:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=373331

wyche89

you could maybe do that if you rode around constantly in 6th gear at 35-40 mph with no stops... no?

you won't make it going 60

IHAVEA2KMAXIMA

iTrader: (7)

drafting + downhill maybe?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Maybe if he changed his FD....or 6th gear ratio.

Drockb418

iTrader: (10)

i get about 300 miles per tank ... is that bad?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Depends on how you drive, obviously, and when you fill up, obviously. The term 'per tank' is really a misnomer.

AEMAXIMA01

iTrader: (3)

Isn't a v6 most efficient around 62mph? I bet if you drove it around that speed in 6th gear, you could easily get 30mpg+ and 500 to the tank. I have gotten around 33mpg in my 01 5spd. Take it easy on the pedal and keep it under 65, its amazing what that can do to your mileage.

wyche89

it really is.. some people fill up at a quarter tank, some when their gas light comes on, and some even after that.. we should use a consistent definition of "per tank..." such as filling up when your gas light comes on.. that sounds about right to measure a fill-up

IHAVEA2KMAXIMA

iTrader: (7)

full up your tank all the way and drive till you are bone dry, then repeat (i would suggest at least 5x for a more accurate result) and calculate the average. then you'll have a per tank mileage~!

huffdaddy2008

iTrader: (1)

The most I've ever gotten is ~515 on a full tank from Lubbock to Austin. I reset the trip odometer at the start of the drive. It was around 50-60 degrees that day, no need for AC, cruise control the entire time around 65ish. I guess the car was just running perfect, tire pressure perfect, maybe some northwestern winds behind me, who knows. I had over a quarter of a tank when i got to Austin which is around 380 miles. Drove mostly highway for the next few days. Finally filled up when the light came on and what do ya know...over 500 miles! It is possible.

mist max2000

iTrader: (16)

thanks huff daddy on backing me up lol.. yeah i can only get that when its like 90+% highway driving.. which it is because i communte 80 miles round trip each day... 6th gear at like 63mph the entire way... shifting at or before 3k...and never racing it... even though its tempting.. oh and mine only has 21K miles on it..so that might make some difference..and im stock for now except FSTB and RSTB..RSB/illumina's/ebiachs on the way hopefully those only help lol...

and heres how to measure a fill up.... the way i do it anyways....

and the math...500 miles divided by 16.5 gallons = 30.3 MPG... so if our cars are rated at highway 28MPG which 28MPG X 16.5 Gallons = 462 miles per tank.. i dont understand how you guys are so shocked at this.. start driving slower lol...

Step1: top off gas tank till gas is almost comming out of tank LOL...(usually once it clicks i can fit another half gallon or so in there lol)
Step2: measure exactly how many gallons you put in and record
Step 3: Once the gas light comes on i drive for about ~30 miles no more then that
Step 4: follow step one.. and that is how much gas you have used since your last fill up.. and thats what i get my measurements to calculate 500 per tank....its all about how you drive.. you can get it just drive on the highway in 6th gear at or around 60mph shifting to 5th only to go up highway hills.. oh and sometimes i shift from 4th to 6th and screw 5th lol...

to Drock: i was lucky to get over 300 in my 00-5 gen autotragic i averaged like 280-290...

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

There are plenty of 6MTmembers that can get 500+ per fill-up it's not unheard of so,

Mist max200, I'm wondering what year your car is? That plays a semi-significant role, although it is offset by an extra gear for the 3.5L and a smaller engine for the 5MT.

I get about 360 on my 4AT 3.5L. Most I ever got on my 4th gen 4AT was 430 per fill-up.

mist max2000

iTrader: (16)

02 6mt.. still sterling mist... i totaled the one in my sig 00 4at..and just bought this new one with 20K 1 owner...now i just want to push out as much HP as u are Nmax lol.. if only headers+install wernt so damn expensive ha

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

20k 1 owner FTW.

I got my headers sued though, so I didn't pay as much as you fellas, so I feel your pain.

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

You guys, how do i know if its my spark plugs (which im getting done soon), MAF, coil packs, or Knock sensor ? iv already done O2 sensors.

I had a ghost misfire code on cylinder 2 which went away. No significant hesitation while taking off or wile driving (like some say, if coil packs are bad, even only one coil pack, youll know it). So what about MAF, or knock sensor, or you think i can get away with changing spark plugs ???

Last resort, should i get stealership to run a diagnostic and tell me ? Thanks

4DSCDriver

Well, if you were running rich, you more than likley fouled your plugs..hence the misfire.
Have you removed the plugs and had a look at them? You'll be able to tell right away if your plugs are fouled. For the cost though, replacing the spark plugs is a no brainer. Also, if I'm not mistaken, can;t you take your coil packs to Auto Zone and have them tested?

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

is 61K a good point for plugs to get replaced. I mean the factory manual suggests it i think, but my mechanic said NGK stock plugs go upto 80K, and hence wanted me to do O2 sensors. O2s done, no change....

Anyone else knows about Coils being checked at Autozone ??? Thanks

kcxd35

iTrader: (2)

This is what mine shows and that's all city, I shift at 1900rpm and chill in 6th doing anything over 40mph...

I love my gas mileage and my mechanic told me that our gas tanks are more on the 19 gallon side of that 18.5 nissan specf something to do with the way the tank is shaped...Is he talking B.S.???

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

I think thats where i used to Hover in city. ON highway mine wud show 32-35.... even when i did 80mph, but when going 80mph, i calculated my actual mileage was something like 25-27ishhh. But constant cruise @ 65ish, i wud get above 30mpg.

NOW ITS ALL DIFF STORY

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

How did your mechanic come up with that figure? Maybe they're 18.75 G?

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

So here is the deal now:

Changed the upstream O2 sensors
Changed all 6 spark plugs
Changed PCV valve (part of 60K tuneup)
Changed engine drive belts (part of 60K tuneup)
Changed Front and Rear Valve Covers becuase of oil in couple of cylinders during spark plug replacement


So the gas mileage still says POOR. Its hovering around 12ish in city and doesnt move beyond 24ish on highway. That is the DASH DISPLAY. From the distance to gallons consumed ratio, i am getting between 15-18ish, getting like 260 or so miles to a full tank driving WITHOUT AC under 3000 RPM shifting.


Jeez, im thinking the car is possessed. I mean what should i do next ???? i dont feel like paying Nissan 90 bux just for a diagnostics. Do you guys think i shoudl go after Knock Sensor first ? There are no codes on the computer.

HELP, HELP, HELP !

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

Actual mpg doing the math was 27.4 and averaged just under 27 for the whole trip to Kentucky and back (from the Dallas area). I kept my speeds between 70-78 or so pretty much the whole way and ran the a/c about 90% of the time.

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

Com'on boys, i need some suggestions what to go after. I appreciate everyone sharing their Super Mileage stories, but honestly thats making me more frustrated. I say it again, the car is possessed !

So today, it showed me Distance to Empty (dte) on FULL TANK (i filled it at the pump yesterday and drove about 3 miles) and today the dte on dash showed 170 Miles FOR THE WHOLE tank.

anyone got suggestions besides what i already anticipate them having sick mileage :P

BTW ScottWax, with AC on, pretty impressive mileage even at those speeds. Im TRULY JELOUS !

User 12822

iTrader: (1)

gas will never reach 5 dollars. thats basically the cut off point where people will start to revolt. i dont think it will go above 4.99, literally

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

I disagree. Just because in America we have been used to paying DIRT CHEAP gas prices, now that the actual gas prices are introducing their bitter face to us, we are screaming.

http://gasprices.mapquest.com/ ===> Right now TODAY , Saturday June 28th, 2008, it shows Lowest Gas price in USA @ 3.52/gallon, and highest at $5.40 in USA.

Lets see, 1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters. In Europe and majority of the world (except oil producing freaking countries like mid east and nigeria etc), people pay by the liter. Keeping that in mind, now that gas is Little over $1.xx PER LITER in USA, we are angry. Lets think of people in countries without any resources and even weaker economy than ours. Oil is like a hot commodity at this point and time, and almost everyone is paying the same price of the oil. However, now everyone makes $7.75 (i think thats what my state minimum wage is).
Now if i start political *****ing my passionate views against oil companies and certain government party and their affiliations in oil comes up and its just a mess Lets keep it maxima forums here and not politics.

Im with all you guys feeling it up their *** to fill these VQs esp for those of us who show love with 93 octane. However, we as people have not HELD GOVERNMENT responsible for anything so far other than minor *****ing and whining. We are letting this happen to ourself. On the final note, IF we go on another war, we prolly wont be taking about $5.00/gallon gas, perhaps debating $10/gallon gas, because we freaking love to burn taxpayers dollars on wars and personal family legacy of presidents on their takes of war. (10 bux a gallon is hypothetical figure)



MY MAXIMA STILL STAYS AT 170ish / FULL TANK :P

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

No ones got any tips ? Knock Sensors , coils ????

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

It takes a while, a lot more than just driving 3 miles to get an accurate dte. Mine was on 91 miles when I got gas today, took 20 miles of driving for it to rise to 310 miles (I didn't fill it all the way). I think you are obsessing too much about the dte and the digital readout.

Fill up your car, drive it a few hundred miles, fill it up again and divide the gallons into the miles driven for your true mileage. Do it a few times to see if it is consistant. You may find you are getting better mileage than you think.

When is the last time you changed your air filter? Checked your tire pressure? Those two items can have a noticable affect on mileage.

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

Scott,

Thanks for replying. Air filter was recently done. The tires are relatively new (less than 10K on them), i just had the wheel alignment check and they did tire pressure. All checked out to be okay.

I have given it a though too, if i am over thinking it, but doesnt seem so. I mean the dash display used to be OKAY. And now pumping gas at every 230-270 miles to a FULL tank past at least 4 times when i was analyzing it seems absurd, especially driving in 6th at 2400 RPM on highway for the most part WITHOUT AC.

A33 VQ30DEK

iTrader: (23)

hahaha i laugh at your comment. Come over to California, Southern California and you'll see gas prices over $5 for regular.

I won't really complain until gas reaches $10.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

AC doesn't really play that big of a role in MPG, not these days. Have you tried resetting the dash readout?

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

I cant reset the dash DTE display, but yes i have reset the MPG display numerous times. In past winter when i would turn the car on, it would show as low as 9MPG in snow when started cold, but would stabilize around 14ish. Now its still at 20ish with actual low mileage.

I understand that AC does not play a big role these days on Bigger engines like 3.5. I have driven smaller cars in other parts of this world, and had started to learn how to drive on Manual shift cars. No matter what research or computers say, i still think on engines like our car, despite being big, it still does make a difference in mileage. It has to ! I mean given windows are closed, less air resistance that car has to put up, but on the other hand, AC needs a compressor to run, and as soon as you turn the compressor, you are directly putting another load on the engine. It has to work more to make that extra power. And if you really want to validate it, go to a quiet place and drive your car WITH AC and then WITHOUT AC. Without AC i can feel my maxima more responsive and aggressive in acceleration, than wiht the AC on.

My 0.02 cents, but i am very confident about mine. On highway its diff story though, you might be right, it wont make huge difference becuase your car is already going at a velocity with constant momentum (p=mv, where mass of the car is constant at city driving and at highway, BUT the v for velocity at highway is constant).

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

When WOT, the AC compressor disengages, that's why.

Since you know it all, why does your MPG say 14?

Your problem could be an injector problem, since that's what the DTE/dash readout is basing it's calculations from.

When I went to Z33 injectors, my readout went higher on the dash. When I use the AFC to adjust (take fuel out), the readout goes even higher

Maybe your MAF is dying, maybe your KS is on it's way out. I don't think so, but you never know.

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

NmexMAX,

Take it easy man I am not good with mechanics, but theoretically im okay. If i knew it all, i wouldnt be asking for expert advice here. I never said i know it all. I was just stating my personal feelings about response of the car with and without ac. What is WOT by the way ?

Injectors....yes, i had tried an injector cleaner, but no good. I have used 93 octane since i have had the car, previous owner said he used 93 most of hte time, but used reqular after every few tanks of premium. The car has 61K miles, so i want to keep away from injectors. Nonetheless, you are right, that could be possibility.

Anyway to rule out MAF, KS or Injectors ?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

I would guess in this case the injectors are leaking or staying open, hence for the dash readout thing, since the ECU is having to adjust (STFT / LTFT's) and that's why you're getting that strange reading. Maybe only 1 inj. is acting up.

WOT = wide open throttle.

User 12822

iTrader: (1)

but dude you forget other countries dont pay the taxes that we do, which is why gas costs more in European countries. its that simple.

hassanqadir

iTrader: (1)

C'mon you are saying Europeans dont pay taxes and they still get Free healthcare. Now i wont go into that, just the reply to your tax rebuttle:

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/E...axes-and-Costs

Just look under INCOME TAX, and the bracket that says Over 32,270 Euros, i believe TAX RATE IS 50%. THAT IS ONE HALF OF THE INCOME. I know it from personal first hand visit to Brussels.

If you want to join me in being Proud American because of our role in NASA leading the world, our role in throwing $$$ from NIH into drug discovery, our $$$ going in UN, IM ALL WITH YOU.

But if you want my support in saying, We pay Higher taxes for crappy healthcare, for blowing money on wars, and having poor economy, outsourced jobs and high commodity prices, i think ill excuse myself. Again, i feel we are getting off-topic of this thread, but i would love to have a political talk with you if we were to sit down. Keep me in mind when you visit Boston next time !!! Im sure youll be here for Celtics, Patriots or Red Sox one of these days . OH YEAAAHHHH