Hey all,

I just got my 2004 Maxima SL 3 weeks ago. I just wanted to ask everyone here how their MPG were during the first few weeks, b/c I've been getting like 15.8 or something. I think thats horrible~...I called up the dealership to ask him why this was happening...and he tells me that its b/c its still so new, and the car wouldn't be getting its optimal MPG until the 1st oil change. Right now I have like 650 miles on it so far. Is what the dealer telling me right? Or is there something wrong with my car?

 

It will take a lot longer than the 1st oil change for the MPG to come up. More like 5000-7000 miles. Once the engine wears in a bit it'll be fine. Don't worry too much about it for now.

 

I dunno, 15 seems rather low. My car had just under 500 miles on it when I got it and it now has 1400 and gets 22 mpg.

 

the 15.8 is a mixture between highway and local...almost 50/50...does that really matter that much, b/c 15.8 is REALLY low i think.

 

[QUOTE=Dynamo]Hey all,

QUOTE] I've been getting like 15.8 or something. I think thats horrible~...I called up the dealership to ask him wh
Dang man, I just got 24.2 on my first tank. And I pushed mine some.

 

I get 17.1 normal
I get 19-20 HWY

I use 91 octane and run synthetic oil.

I have 04 SE MAX with 18" wheels with Auto transmission.

Hope this helps.

David

 

I'd say about the first 5000 miles I was getting about the same mileage (15-ish 50/50 driving). From 5-10k it steadily went up, and now I'm around 22. I have a stock SE manual and use 93 octane.

I wouldn't worry about the mileage, it just needs to break in.

-Nate

 

I've been getting anywhere from 18-21 in town and 25-27 on the road, for an overall avergae of right around 23.5

Sinec I put on my Berk CIA, I've been getting about 27-28 on the road. This had been pretty consistent since new.

 

Are you calculating your own MPG, or are you using the trip computer?
I don't know about the 6th gen, but the 5th gen MPG computer was always off by 2-3 mpg.
Unless you're driving w/ a lead foot (which i'm sure wouldn't be too hard to do in your car - hehe), that's pretty low.

 

General driving around I get 21 or so.

Averaged 27.4 on a 1,000 mile trip with four adults and a LOADED trunk.

These figures are on 87 octane according to the trip computer with <10K on the odometer.

 

just curious..do you guys do a reset for each leg of your trip?? I noticed that the average mpg is an average value since day one or the last time it was reset..if I keep doing a reset for each leg of the trip (i.e.from home to work, from work to home, etc.) the numbers are more higher...

 

I usually do a reset every time I fill up.

 

Aliti19: "Are you calculating your own MPG, or are you using the trip computer?"

I'm using the computer's trip calculator.
I'm also resetting my trips everytime I refill the gas with 93 octane. Funny thing is that when I initially fill it up, I get MPG like 19 for the first couple of miles, then it drops all the way to 15.4-15.8...It looks like 40% of the people who replied thinks this is normal. My main question is, should I be worried? Should I bring it back to the dealer?...etc.

 

Your dealer is just going to tell you it needs the break in period. It's normal. It's also normal to freak about it. I did the same thing, and now my overall average is 22.7 (looked on the way to work). And yes, I use the trip computer to check it... haven't checked the accuracy of the trip computer.... might be an interesting test.

-Nate

 

I bought my car with a thousand miles on it, so I just missed the break-in period. That's why i'm not sure how it acts right out of the box.
I highly reccommend figuring your MPG manually. If it's anything like the 5th gens, you'll find a substantial difference.

 

I got 29 MPG on highway trip (Premium UL) from Plattsburgh to Bucks Cty PA. I was like "c'mon 29...!" when it was at 28.9 then 28.8 then 28.9...then I dropped the cruise to around 68MPH and bingo..29 MPG.

I averaged 26MPG on trip up but was driving over 75MPH (and many Quebec's kept passing me). Had A/C on too..

I even took a screen shot of the 29mpg! Distance To Empty was 196 miles left.
(yes, I reset at fillup..both TRIP and ODO and Fuel/Econ) 3/4 tank to go 400+ miles.

 

You'll get a lot of different opinions on this one. My SE auto got almost as good mileage right out of the box as it does now ... which is to say great.

I almost always get over 22mpg in town (mixed driving - some freeway, some stoplight crawling), and on the two long trips I've taken (3300 and 2200 miles), I got anywhere from 28-30mpg.

I use only unleaded premium. My trip computer (which I reset with each fillup) is extremely close to mathematical calcs. It may vary a couple of tenths, but sometimes it's high and sometimes low, so I figure it's the difference in the amount of gas I can squeeze into the tank. In any case, it all averages out, so I quit doing the math a long time ago. At 20,000 miles, my Max is as strong as ever and it gets the best mileage of our three cars.

I have noticed, though, that a lot of people say theirs didn't get optimal mileage until it had a few thousand miles on the odo, so maybe yours is like that. Or maybe you just have punk driving conditions (lots of stop and go traffic, short trips, etc.).

Mike

 

When I bought my Max in July I drove it to Kittery Maine a 340 mile trip from my house with only 80 miles on it, I average 24.5 mpg crusing at 80 to 85mph on the return trip I average 25.3 at the same speed, constant highway driving its great, but around town it sucks, mine is about the as yours 14.5- 15.3 something like that. what you need to do is next time you go on a long road trip
say 200 plus miles is fill up your car and reset your mpg to get true reading or while your are crusing down the highway reset it as long as the trip is over 40 miles

 

Checking the computer, and doing multiple resets:

City: 15.9

Highway: 21.0

Car just passed 2k miles on the ODO

I run only 93 octane.

I do take into consideration that I have 20" chrome rims on it and I do give it some gas, not really hammering on it, just normal driving. Hopefully once the engine looses up I will get a bit better miles on it.

Bad thing is: I got better MPG on a Camaro LS1 Z28 with gobs more HP...that kinda bumms me out, even though I know the Maxima weighs a bit more.