JGRI2002

First off, I have a 2002 Maxima SE with 4,000 miles on it.

Two questions for the board:

Every time I fill up I have been figuring out my MPG for that tank of gas just used. So far I have yet to get over 22 mpg even though on an extended trip I used two tanks on only highway miles. When ever I check to see what the cars' computer says I got per gallon, it always is 5 or 6 mpg higher.

So my two questions are. What type of MPG are you guys getting on a regular basis? Anyone else having the same problem with the computer overstating the MPG?

Thanks in advance
John

PIONEER

iTrader: (1)

It depends how you are doing the math. If you do the Miles put on Devided by 18.5 then you are doing it wrong. The correct way is to Do the miles driven Devided by how much the next fill up is in Gallons.

I get about 360-390 per tank on my car in city/hwy mix driveing. ON straight Hwy I get about 450 on 14-15 Gallon fillups.

Give you car some time to break in. Your MPG should go up. Good Luck.

JGRI2002

Yep, thats what I have been doing. Number of miles just driven divided by the number of gallons just put in. I figure over time, the averages I get, then averaged together should give me an accurate result.

What really concerns me is the computer always telling me I am getting I am getting 27 - 28 MPG when I know I am not.

John

PIONEER

iTrader: (1)

then the computer may be trying to calculate using, Miles driven, and average speed. I don't know man, All I know, is I put 14gallons in the tank, I expect to get b/w 360-390 out. If I get less then I worry, b/c my driveing is the same pretty much. Drive it like you stole it

alembicf1x

My computer consistently shows about 3 mpg too high. The best I have gotten is 23.5 straight highway, but I usually average around 17-18 mpg (corrected).

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

YOUR CAR IS F-ED UP if your only getting 23.5

My 02 gets 400 miles to 15 Gals. Thats around town and so on.

My computer during this says 30-31

On the highway I avg 30-31 and the comp says 32-33

Go figure......BUT you should be getting better mileage....did you leave your E-Brake on???

JGRI2002

Padsy 02 6sp,
How many miles does yours have on it? How long(many miles)did it take for you to start seeing that MPG range?

Thanks

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

Right off the get go.....I bought it with 12 miles on it, and it now has 15,000 on it.

JGRI2002

Thanks
That was what I was afraid of

PIONEER

iTrader: (1)

15,000 miles, Man where did you take that car?

emax02

iTrader: (1)

To work.




My computer is always off by 4 MPG. I average about 20 MPG(Give or take 1). My average speed is usualy 31 MPH, atleast thats what the computer say's.

alembicf1x

You have an 02 and already 15,000 miles? I'm guessing that you have a lengthy commute with a lot of highway miles, right? Also, how is your driving style? Do you mostly short shift it or drive aggressively?

My commute is only 11 miles, so unfortunately my car barely gets a chance to warm up. Also, I drive the hell out of the car when I'm not commuting (I just love driving the Santa Cruz mountains on the weekends). Add that to the fact that I live in California, where we get crappy gas relative to the rest of the country. I'm pretty sure there are at least a few other people on this forum with 02s that are probably getting close to the mileage I am getting, so I believe the mileage you are getting is the exception, not the rule.

My previous car was an SVT Contour, and I never saw more than 17-18 mpg, I also have a 94 Sentra SE-R that almost never gets more than 22 miles per gallon. So in that regard, I'm actually happy to get 18 miles per gallon with the power that I've got.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Maybe the stock tires give some speedo error. I wonder if the computer is calculating your mileage from the speed or odometer. Probably speedo, since the measurement is dynamic. Maybe that's the issue you guys are having.

DW

swallac2

I was wondering this same thing. I have two theories:

1. In older cars with a trip computer the mileage is calculated using the engines vacuum. Don't know if this still applies to the 2k2 with it's electronic throttle and all.

2. I saw mine is more accurate if I am doing straight driving. I don't know if the computer calculates the time you spend sitting in traffic or at a stop light. Unless you turn the car off, it is using gas then too you know.

I generally get 25 and the computer reads 28 or so. Also remember to reset that computer after each fill up, otherwise your good milage from your last tank will skew the results of the new tank.

KTM

On the last 3 tanks, the computer has overestimated my MPG by exactly 3.2MPG. I make sure to reset everything at the fill-up. Not sure why they couldn't have got this to calculate spot on???

I've been seeing around 22-25 with mixed driving.

ssp34

Man... I'm seeing some really high numbers for MPG... I'm getting 22.3-22.4 on my Auto 2k2 SE... I usually get like 300 or so before the low-fuel indicator lights up... do you think this should be higher?

JGRI2002

I have been resetting the trip computer each time I fill up.

I used two full tanks on 100% highway miles and got 22.78 mpg (Had 2500 miles on car to start trip). My normal everyday driving consists of 80% highway - 20% city and I am getting around 20.75 to 21.85 the last few tanks.

There should be no problem for them to calculate it accurately. Mine is always 25% higher than what I am actually getting.

After hearing everyone say their computer is higher than the true mpg it makes me wonder if it truly is an error.

Newman

iTrader: (3)

ive been getting pretty crappy mileage with my car. ive filled up about 4 times since i got it in february (i dont do much driving here at school) but each time i pull into the station with my gas light on i have only gone about 250-275 miles. when my light comes on i think i usually have about 3 or 4 gallons left but thats still ****ty mileage. only about 17 mpg or so. i drive it hard every now and then but 90% of the time i'm just trying to get from A to B and dont punch it or anything. my computer usually tells me im getting 20 or 21 mpg. a few months ago Emax said his was ALWAYS 4 mpg too high and i keep that in mind while im driving but i keep hoping my computer is right. since its only telling me 20 or 21. i only have about 1800 miles on the car so with time hopefully it gets a lot better than it is now.

right now i am at about 170 miles on 1/2 a tank as indicated (it did indicate 150 miles on 1/4 tank but the needles had moved) and that is after driving 130 miles back to school this weekend. so that is 130 highway miles and 40 just driving around. im pretty disappointed.

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

$3,000,000.00 In sales does not come from sitting on ones ****.

Just local driving usually.........I usually shift around 2500-3000, but i do "kick her" every now and then.

Norm02SE

Damn.Most ive gotten out of a tank was 290 miles.That was alot of highway too.Computer used to say 21-23mpg and now after my intake im getting 15-17mpg.Only have 1600 miles on the car so I hope it will get better as she ages a bit.Aslo noticed when the DTE starts blinking and reads ---- which means almost out of gas,when I fill up I only put in 16 gal or so(19gal tank).Anyone else notice this.Hey,atleast the temp guage is correct!?

remykins

Join the club!! I have had my 2k2 for 3.5 months and I have 5500 miles on it. I reset the trip computer every time I fill the tank and the best milage I have gotten is 21MPG and that was a full tank on the highway. My gas milage sux!!! The computer constantly tells me at least 24-25 and I know its lying. I get on it soetimes but for the most part I drive like a "normal" person. I actually emailed Nissan about it a moth and a half ago and they told me the estimates were based on EPA testing not their own!! What a crock. I would kill to get the milage I am supposed to!!!!!

Newman

iTrader: (3)

OT: im curious...what company do you work for?

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

International P's distribution Co.

swallac2

Man you people need to keep your foot out of these cars. I get 25MPG around town and saw over 30 on a high speed highway trip (comp said 73 average over 200 miles) were is was speeding up and slowin down a lot. I don't drive this thing like a grandpa either. I bought the 6-Speed because I enjoy driving.

Newman

iTrader: (3)

its not the drivers. i just drove 130 miles traveling at about 75 mpg in 6th gear at 2500 RPMs. that should be way more than the 18 or 19 mpg it looks like ive gotten so far.

remykins

maybe some of the six speeds have a prob??? I dont know what the hell else it could be.

nddst

Here are my Gas Milages so far. I think their is some break in...


As you can see, I mistakenly got 87 Octane at a "fill 'er up" self serve place. Used to my old "Fill it on 87".

:

Looks like this time around my G.M. is improved. I have about 1300 miles and I am looking at another 100 before I will need to fill up. Almost ALL highway milage, but, 128 around Boston where I do most of my commuting is a lot of stop and go sometimes!

Hope this helps.

P.S. Why can't I use Courier New to make a nice table???

[Edit] I updated the image on 4/4

cigarmanh

Newman

iTrader: (3)

i went out to do some errands today and i was near the dealership so i stopped by to talk about this MPG thing. i filled up before i went in. 170.3 miles on 8.851 gallons. thats 19.24 miles per gallon. of those 170 miles 130 were stright highway cruising. no changing gears or running it hard whatsoever (maybe a downshift to 5th every now and then) so with 130 miles on the highway and 40 miles of regular driving i figured i'd be getting more than 19 mpg.
the i asked the service MANAGER about it. he looked at me and said "you have the 3.3 right?" and i was like "3.5L? yeah..." of all people i would expect the service manager to know that the new maximas have a 3.5L. anyway, all they told me was wait until i get a few thousand more miles on it then see what happens. everyone who is getting bad MPG, how many miles do you have on the car? i have 1800.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Show off

DW

ssp34

I have about 3600 miles on mine, and I'm registering 22.5 tops... its usually 22.3 - 22.4... it better start picking up... I mean, it falls in the range 19/27 (or 26)... guess you have to live with it.

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

WOW...yalls mileage really SUCKS....

Newman

iTrader: (3)

how many miles do you have on your car, king of all MPGs?

remykins

i have 5500 on mine and when I filled up today it was like 19.5 MPG. Gotta love it. On top of that my service engine soon light cam on on my way home from work!!!!! cant take it to the dealer till next Wednesday

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

WELL....my fellow black TWIN.

I have 15,000, as noted earlier.

26.6 on avg. MPG

31 on hwy trips.

EAT YOUR FREGGIN HEART OUT

Newman

iTrader: (3)

well thats good news. maybe things will get normal in a few months after i get some miles on the car.

dbrostrain

I've got the same problem. A 2002 SE w/ Auto and the trip computers MPG is almost exactly 4mpg higher then what I'm really getting.

I contacted the dealer's service department and the response I got was "the only an estimate of mpg". I truely wonder who's dumber -> the sales people or the service staff. I contact Nissan and they said all these technical issues have to be handled by the dealership.

I've checked using the std formula (miles on the trip compter)/(# gallons put into car - stop when it clicks off, no topping)

It's about 21-22 in the city and 26-27 on the highway (with 8000+ miles). Not bad, but it's annoying that they cannot get the trip computer to read out correctly. I've used rental cars with more accurate gauges.

I'm going to push the dealership to replace the computer and see if that helps, but getting them to agree is gonna be an uphill battle.

I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome.

nforg

from my experience it's the driving, I had a friend who complained he could only get 260 per tank and he swears he doesn't drive it hard... however, his normal driving is comparable to my driving when im in a hurry... anyways a few months went by and he magically just got it to do 350 a tank,.. he would always accelerate a little too hard off of dead stops and he never noticed it cuz he's been doing it since he was 16 so maybe asking for some back seat driving opinions might offer some insight into the problem....

also about the mileage estimate, i don't have a 2k2, but doesn't it say in the manual for the car somewhere about how its calculated; btw, i had a friend with a 3 series bimmer and he told me his was never accurate with his calc's either...


also, the 'highway' miles are not calculated going 75 or 80mph, they do 55mph flat (i cannot remember where i read this but i do remember it was a credible source like consumer reports), so unless your doing 55 on the interstate hitting the mpg on the sticker is pretty difficult; although with this mpg stuff i always see people with really high number sometimes so ....

-nate

nddst

I have tio assume there will be some break in. I will wait till after my first oil change to see if I get > 23MPG with 85% highway @ 70 mph

We shall see!

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I hope so for your sake.

Mine got this kinda mileage from the get go.......bought it with 12 miles.