tfalcon

Went on a trip to Vermont with the 2002 SE with 500 mlies on it. Trip was about 60 % highway the rest typical Vermont up an down hills with speed limit between 45 and 50 mph. Refueled at same pump when I got home and got 26.1 mpg for the trip. Trip computer said 29.5 mpg, I guess that thing isn't too close. Its amazing to have a car that can go as fast as it does but still get good mileage.

nddst

Trip is off 3-4 MPG. What speed did you go? I have not been able to get close to that MPH and I drive all HW.

BioMaxDDS

iTrader: (1)

my gas mileage sucks
avg. 18 mpg I had the car for 11000 miles now

tfalcon

I drive on the highway around 68 to 72 mph, the roads in Vermont did not have any traffic lights but were still up and down quite a bit but was able to maintain a steady 45 to 50 mph most of the time. When I got back just for the hell of it I tripped the computer to zero after I fueled up and then drove a steady 60 mph for 15 miles on the highway and the trip computer was showing 30.8 for that stretch. I know it will not get that much but it would probably get 28 or so.

Newman

iTrader: (3)

ditto. i was getting about 18 or 19 MPG. only about 21 or 22 when i do a lot of highway driving.

lildanny61

still in my break-in period. 800 miles on the odo.

getting anywhere from 18 to 25. and i havent even taken it on the highway yet

ABS

Could you tell us what the build date for your car is? I wonder if Nissan changed the ECU program on the more recently produced vehicles or if there was a problem with the MAF or O2 sensors on the early cars. Thanks in advance . . .

Andy

JAKE02

just checked mine this weekend and got 26-27 , with the trip saying 29-30. mostly highway on the trip doing 70mph. bought my car in early nov, 2nd 6spd my dealer had sold.

KLOOGY

iTrader: (12)

With my foot , and this much power,, no such mileage, I love to listen to my frankencar !

maximadave

iTrader: (10)

I'm the same way kloogy!
I have about 4200 miles, average is about 26.8 mpg and mostly freeway driving since work is about 32 miles each way. Its a blast driving to work though.

MAX2000JP

I usually go 310 miles on tank, which equates to about 20 mpg.

annimax

That's exactly what I'm getting out of mine.

nddst

As you can see even a 93 tank doesn't improve the gas milage. First Oil Change Friday, so, I should be able to see some improvement after that!
Grade MPG
DLR 21.4
87 21.0
93 23.1
93 23.0
93 23.0
89 23.4
89 21.4
89 22.5
89 21.6
93 22.0
93 Current

Slickone

Keep up the work, nddst. I'm interested in seeing if you have a trend there. It does seem you get better gas milage w/ 93.

I started playing with numbers a little. See what you think. This is assuming $1.44 for 89, $1.54 for 93, assuming you fill up with 18.5 gal, and assuming 22mpg for 89, 23mpg for 93.

89 octane:
22mpg x 18.5g = 407mi. 18.5g x $1.44/g = $26.64.
407/26.64 = 15.28mi/$ (miles per dollar)
26.64/407 = $.065/mi (dollars per mile)

93 octane:
23mpg x 18.5g = 425.5mi. 18.5g x $1.54/g = $28.49.
425.5/28.49 = 14.94mi/$
28.49/425.5 = $.067$/mi

What does this prove? I don't know. Just thought maybe you don't save as much as you think w/ a maxima switching from 93 to 89 since your mpg is less.

DAVEB

iTrader: (133)

Nissan changed the ECM part # sometime in 10/01. Don't know exactly when, tho. PM or e-mail for more details.

Regards,
David Burnette, Town North Nissan

tfalcon

Where would I get the build date from?

Newman

iTrader: (3)

open your driver's door and look on the B pillar. there should be a white sticker there with your car's info. if that isnt there, pop the hood and look on the back "wall" i guess you'd call it.

tfalcon

Thanks, the date 02/02

nddst

I got it. I figured the same thing out, but I figured I am still too close to "break in" not having an oil change. Here's what I paid per tank, too!
MPG Are for Previous Tank...

cabernet

I have one of the first 2000's built and I get about 18 mpg on the highway. Took it to the dealer and they told me my tires needed more air. Of course that didn't fix the problem. Anyone else relate poor mileage to the version of the ECU?

2k2kev

on the odometer... I've only filled it 2 times since I got it and I'm coming up on 1200 miles now so I must be due for another tank.

I drive all highway and haven't found anyone to race me since break-in ended 200 miles ago. I thought a heavy foot would kill my mileage but I haven't been in enough races to do much MPG damage (yet).

nddst

400-1200 with 2 Fillups and due for another?

That is fillups at 800/3 = 266 Miles per tank. A little less than me. I go about 300-350 per tank.

400 Miles on a tank is tough: The tank is 18.5 Gallons. Considering you shouldn't top off (from what I am told it is not good for the car) and you get flashing stuff all over the place to fill up after using 16 Gallons, you'd have to get 25 MPG and run the tank to "fumes". Edmunds note on getting 518 MPT(ank) is IMHO, ridiculous...

2k2kev

My post was unclear.

Delivered with a full tank, drove to odometer over 400 and refilled. Drove to over 800 (closer to 840) and refilled. Now I'm approaching 1200... hence my comment, must be time for another fill-up.

Also, I'm not draining the tank. I did the exact math in a different post and figured over 27mpg for the first two tanks. I got flamed for it...basically called a liar... so I figured it wasn't worth pushing it.

tfalcon

You can get that mileage driving highways and not pushing the pedal all the way to the floor every chance you get. The 6 speed is probably a little better than the auto. If you are driving country type roads and pushing the car a bit than I would not believe you. 27 or 28 mpg is real possible driving a steady 60 mph.

2K2_6spd

iTrader: (1)

I just got 370 miles out of a tank, mixed city/hi-way driving, with a/c on, and 1700 miles.

Slickone

I'm wondering if you would get better mpg w/ the windows down up to a certain speed. Then above that, get better mpg w/ the windows up and a/c on, because of wind turbulance.
Also yes, a 6 speed manual should be much better on mpg than a 4 spd auto (for a couple reasons).
Also as you know, don't forget those that drive 55 on the highway should get better milage than say someone that drives 75-80 (for a couple reasons).

2k2kev

They answered that question in this past sunday's news... I'll see if I can find it. I do remember driving on the highway with windows down reduces mileage by about 1%, using A/C is less.

I drive 2 miles to the highway and 20 miles to work. No lights and only one stop sign the whole way.

I got over 400 miles and better than 27mpg for the first two tanks. This one I'm probably going to get about 360 miles because I went past break in and started pushing the gas harder.

For people who don't believe, fill your tank and, for that whole tank, NEVER go above 3k rpm, and NEVER accelerate hard. I keep reading "I only get 21mpg" from people who also post "I raced a xxx last night" and "I hit 130mph." You'll be surprised how quickly the mileage goes bad if you redline it a few times.

enicemax

My gas mileage sucks *****! I've got 12k miles on my 2k2 auto, and I've only been gettin around 310-325 miles/tank, which is only between 18-20 mpg(maybe less). My trip computer has never read anything over 20.2 mpg. I drive highway miles 85% of the time. The rest is the NY/NJ crappy stop and go. Is this normal gas mileage for an auto 2k2? I've kinda been lazy about gettin it checked out with the dealer. Anyone think I should get it looked at? Thanks in advance.

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

Well it looks like my 26 avg still is holding up

I get 32...SO THE COMPUTER SAYS.....but mathmatically I get 26....bout 400-420 miles per tank.

remykins

I think my milage has actually gone down a little more. Even if I do a 1/2 tank of pure highway the most I get is 21 MPG. I have even started driving with a MUCH lighter foot to try and improve the MPG but no such luck. I think its time to pay Nissan a visit???

KaxMaxSEAE

And in his sig:
Now, y'all don't think that had anything to do with it, do you?

jjs

and only get between 19-22...usually with the AC on and running around 70 on the highway...

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

Newman

iTrader: (3)

that doesnt mean he's racing every second he's in the car. my mileage sucks and i havent raced anyone but my friends once or twice.

i think there is something wrong with some 2k2s for this many people to be getting such terrible mileage. i have no idea what but something just doesnt seem right. the dealer said "you're not going to get vert good mileage out of these 3.5Ls" but obviously some people are.

ive been at school ever since i got the car and driving around JMU is bad for MPG because its so hilly and i am only in the car for 5 minutes usually. but even when i come home the mileage still sucks. i tried shifting below 3k for an entire tank but it didnt seem to help. this summer at home ill experiment some more. im convinced there is something wrong mechanically with some of the cars. i dont think it is TOTALLY driver error, although that could account for some of it. but Padsy getting 26 MPG and so many of us getting only about 18 or 19....thats just too big of a difference to blame simply on pressing the gas a little harder than someone else. hopefully we get this figured out.

KaxMaxSEAE

I've owned cars with 4 valves/cyl engines since my '88 Grand Am. (The heck with you guys. I still like that quad-4... )

He's right. As long as you don't go above 'bout 3.5 your gas milage will probably be pretty good. Above that and the engine seriously sucks gas. Near redline, and you can watch the gas gauge (or gage, for you GMer's) visibly drop... (I'm sure turbos are like that too. Once it spins up, it sucks gas.)

I'm averaging 22.6 overall, about 27 on the highway, 20 in the city. Considering the power I get out of the engine, I'm happy.

CHAZMAX

My sentiments exactly!

There's only TWO things about my 2K2 that I've been dissapointed w/:

1) Seats. They have no lateral support and are just plain hard. (Maybe I'm just use to my old Mustang SVO seats that was recaro-like that "hugged" you, though)

2) Gas mileage. I have over 8K on mine. I have gone over 300 miles on a tank in my Max once...... ONCE! I get about 18.0 mpg also.

But hey, It has 255 horsies, and a silky smooth engine.... I'm not complaining.

KaxMaxSEAE

Well, come on. When was the last time you saw an accurate factory gas gauge?

Is your speedo accurate? If it's high (mine reads +1mph/35mph) that would increase it. And how does the trip computer measure gas flow? Anyone know? Could it be that Nissan engineers changed the gas per squirt (technical term there) for the new 3.5l VQ and didn't tell the trip computer guys?

Padsy

iTrader: (1)

Amen...about the factory MPG.

I have not actually had the "Speedo" checked....BUT I did run my GPS and my "Speedo" is on to the T.

Slickone

Funny, I saw an article a couple years ago talking about how using your A/C w/ windows up on the highway uses less gas than w/ windows down w/ A/C off.
Also this may be at a pretty high speed.

KaxMaxSEAE

Well, then you all have to get together and get consistant. Someone who drives in Denver all the time, probably get's worse mileage than someone who lives in Miami. Everyone needs to be consistant on using quality gas, and to fill the tank every time and keep accurate notes. Single checks of mileage don't count. You need an average over several consecutive fill ups. You need to contact your local governments, and find out what additives are being put in your gas, if any. (Here in Chicago, we get this lovely, and sometimes rare blend that not only raises the price to unbefore seen heights, but gives me less power and worse mpg... ) You also have to take into account driving habits and transmission types. (At highway speeds, the difference between an ATX and MTX is nothing. In the city, it makes a big difference. Unless you like the sound of your intake. Short trips of a few miles kills mpg.) Oh yeah, mods have to be taken into account too. Well, you get the idea.

I found when I broke my car in, my mpg was very good. As I've gotten used to how to handle the car, my foot goes down a bit more and my mileage has gone down. Ces't la vie. That's the reason I bought this car.