5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

WRONG MPG?!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-18-2010, 12:51 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
nabeel24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northridge, CA
Posts: 100
WRONG MPG?!

Hey guys, curious I know our 02-03 maximas don't say the right mpg but it's been 25 miles since I filled up the tank full and did all city Los Angeles traffic driving. It's reading right now 12.7 mpg at an average of 8 mph.... Is it ok to read this off or is something wrong?

Also just to add to this the car i bought which has been 3 weeks now has been pretty much sitting in the garage a long time. The lady who owned it before only drove 300 miles in 1 year and been like that for a few years I guess.... Don't know if it helps any but thinking a Fuel induction clean from Nissan would help...

Thanks guys, this got me worried right now.

Last edited by nabeel24; 10-18-2010 at 01:07 PM.
nabeel24 is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 02:34 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
VQP0WER's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Moore, OK
Posts: 1,767
To get a accurate mpg:

1. Fill up tank

2. Reset trip odometer

3. Fill back up when you need gas

4. Note the amount of gallons you put in, and divide that by the amount of miles driven on the trip odometer.
VQP0WER is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 04:07 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
 
Shift_GRIND's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 18
Mine seems pretty accurate when i do the calculations, i average 24-25 with a 02 6 speed.

If you beat the **** out of it for a tank and average 12, then the next tank you average 24 it takes it a while to get back up to 24, a few tanks probably.
Shift_GRIND is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 04:15 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Waxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 750
Originally Posted by VQP0WER
To get a accurate mpg:

1. Fill up tank

2. Reset trip odometer

3. Fill back up when you need gas

4. Note the amount of gallons you put in, and divide that by the amount of miles driven on the trip odometer.
+1. This will give you an exact and accurate number on your MPG, not the guesswork of the car's computer. The MPG calculator doesn't even work on my car so I have to do it this way.
Waxima is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 04:57 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
VQ30MPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 191
Originally Posted by nabeel24
Hey guys, curious I know our 02-03 maximas don't say the right mpg but it's been 25 miles since I filled up the tank full and did all city Los Angeles traffic driving. It's reading right now 12.7 mpg at an average of 8 mph.... Is it ok to read this off or is something wrong?

Also just to add to this the car i bought which has been 3 weeks now has been pretty much sitting in the garage a long time. The lady who owned it before only drove 300 miles in 1 year and been like that for a few years I guess.... Don't know if it helps any but thinking a Fuel induction clean from Nissan would help...

Thanks guys, this got me worried right now.
Doesn't sound that off to me. What do you think, idling uses no gas? It doesn't mean anything's wrong with your car. Get some highway miles on that tank and see what your results are before drawing any conclusions. 25 miles is too small of a sigma to determine anything, regardless of the conditions.
VQ30MPG is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 05:41 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
luvlexus101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Queens Village, NY
Posts: 1,419
Sounds about right, I beat on mine hard all day in the city and I get around 14-15, take it on the highway and cruise I'll get around 25-26
luvlexus101 is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 05:44 PM
  #7  
iTrader: (7)
 
Mr. Brett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 3
That seems realistic.

When I first installed my headers, after two days, I started worrying because I was getting 18-18.5 MPG.

Then I realized I was doing mostly around town driving, and a little highway here and there. I let the gauge sit, forgot about it for a while, checked back the other day, and I'm currently doing about 22.3MPG combined 75%-ish city, 25%-ish highway.
Mr. Brett is offline  
Old 10-18-2010, 07:44 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
L_U_D_I_AMaxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 921
Just use the old fashion way:
1. Go to the gas station.
2. Fill up until the pump stops itself
3. Reset the trip and drive 80 to 100miles
4. Go back to the same gas station and use the same gas pump until the trigger stops and then do the math!
L_U_D_I_AMaxima is offline  
Old 10-19-2010, 02:42 PM
  #9  
Member
iTrader: (2)
 
foxy curls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montréal, Qc, Canada
Posts: 64
If the car has really been driven 300miles per year for a few years then you will probably want to do a full tune-up prior getting the best MPG out of the Max.
foxy curls is offline  
Old 10-19-2010, 03:42 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
nabeel24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northridge, CA
Posts: 100
So far did an oil change is all I did, was planning to do a fuel induction service but not sure yet. I will clean the MAF tomorrow, that might help it.
nabeel24 is offline  
Old 10-19-2010, 04:39 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
trooplewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,039
My experience with the onboard fuel computer is that is about 10% too optimistic.
If it says I average 30mpg, when I fill up it is actually 27 mpg.

My 2003 Altima was the same way...
trooplewis is offline  
Old 10-19-2010, 05:30 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
nabeel24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northridge, CA
Posts: 100
Yea same with my 05 Altima but I've noticed it's usually optimistically higher but mines is lower is why it worried me.
nabeel24 is offline  
Old 10-20-2010, 03:54 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
SteveB123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ottawa Ontario
Posts: 1,023
Originally Posted by L_U_D_I_AMaxima
Just use the old fashion way:
1. Go to the gas station.
2. Fill up until the pump stops itself
3. Reset the trip and drive 80 to 100miles
4. Go back to the same gas station and use the same gas pump until the trigger stops and then do the math!

I think you'd get a better picture over four tanks, rather than four gallons.
SteveB123 is offline  
Old 10-20-2010, 01:48 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
L_U_D_I_AMaxima's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 921
Originally Posted by SteveB123
I think you'd get a better picture over four tanks, rather than four gallons.
Still it will more accurate than looking at the "computer readings"
L_U_D_I_AMaxima is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Forge277
1st & 2nd Generation Maxima (1981-1984 and 1985-1988)
12
06-13-2016 09:26 PM
BobTX10
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
14
10-07-2015 08:43 AM
ef9
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
10
10-04-2015 08:43 AM
bigfrank
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
10-01-2015 12:51 PM



Quick Reply: WRONG MPG?!



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:29 PM.