Hey guys was wondering what other people are getting as their usual MPGs for their city driving and if any one has an tips to increase it. Im currently getting 21.4 which i guess is good for it being rated at 19 but it cant hurt to try to improve it!

 

I'm getting roughly 16 or 17 city but I pound on it most of the time.
I'm thrilled that I just averaged 26 on highway on trip to Maine but keep in mind I averaged 80 mph and when I enter a highway I pretty much tach out most the time. I also have the stillen intake and exhaust which I feel helps. I mean I'm the one filling the tank I should know.

 

Currently averaging 22.1 mpg according to the computer, but I use a fuel monitoring app to track my driving and mileage and that is currently reading 22.3 mpg.

The quickest step to better your fuel economy is to check your tire pressures. Open the driver's door and check the little sticker for the proper tire pressures. Those pressures are the cold pressures, so if possible adjust the pressures when the car has parked overnight or has been cooled dramatically. Discount Tire will pump your tires for free, but try to find one that is within your home so the tires do not dramatically heat up once you get there. Be very careful though if you do this in the morning and go to the gas station ones that are left out in the open, humidity can be trapped into the air nozzle and you may as well be shooting water straight into your tires by that point.

Another one is your driving style and driving routes. Constant stop and go traffic will kill any MPG, regardless of car or type (looking at you Tesla with those electronic motors and range anxiety). Of course, many cars counteract this waste of energy with regenerative braking which the Maxima does not have since it doesn't have a separate small electronic motor - the way I look at it, just (more) parts to go wrong further down the road haha.

The car will also learn your driving style, so if you mash the pedal often it will be very touchy and responsive. Drive like a granny for a couple of trips and the computer will tune down the sensitivity. This is what I've noticed so far in the 1500 miles I've had it so far. From easing onto the throttle to now for engine break-in, the car has been very responsive, smooth, and linear.

 

On my commute if I keep it under 70 I am able to get up to 34 mpg. The car's computer is not very accurate but it's better than nothing

 

I haven't reset the cars computer in a very long time but between city and highway I average 20.7mpg. One of these days when I'm not lazy I'll track the mileage myself

 

Awesome thanks for the tips I will try that and see if it helps! And thanks everyone else for your input!

 

Considering the MPG most people get that sounds pretty unlikely regardless of how you drive. Unless you are one of them hyper milers. Then again hyper milers do not purchase Maxima's.

 

keep it under 2000 rpms; helps a lot.

 

18.3 is what my dash says. i like to mash the pedal tho

 

I always calculate the MPG at the tank fill. Computer is exactly 1 MPG better than actual for me.
I've averaged 20.1 MPG over the last 1000 miles, commuting around Schaumburg IL. No hwy at all, but very light suburban traffic.
Been living here for 5 years and my 5 speed 97 Maxima was aveeraging 25 mpg in the same commute. Had fidanza flywheel, UDP, and 10 lb rims. Nobody believed that I get that kinda mileage from a V6 but I did. In the summer.

 

I always calculate the MPG at the tank fill. Computer is exactly 1 MPG better than actual for me.
I've averaged 20.1 MPG over the last 1000 miles, commuting around Schaumburg IL. No hwy at all, but very light suburban traffic.
Been living here for 5 years and my 5 speed 97 Maxima was aveeraging 25 mpg in the same commute. Had fidanza flywheel, UDP, and 10 lb rims. Nobody believed that I get that kinda mileage from a V6 but I did. In the summer.

 

The advice provided so far is good. I have more. I've written this same advice in one form or another multiple times, both here and on the Accord forums I was active in before I got rid of my Accord and got my Max. I became interested in the subject with the Accord, primarily because it was a 4 cylinder and I wasn't going to make it into something fast. So I decided to experiment with ways to improve MPG by making small changes and adapting my focus. It became a game. The results were dramatic - I went from averaging around 18-20 to around 28-30. You will not be able to replicate these results for a number of reasons. The Max is a powerful V6, is large, and is heavy. However, you can improve your numbers by utilizing these tips. I should also state that I average a calculated (read: not what the computer in the car says) MPG of 21.01 over 4,247 miles (since I began tracking). I am a lawyer in the Chicago area that handles matters in Lake, Cook, and DuPage counties and drive in varied conditions, from wide open highways to congested big city traffic, regularly. It is not uncommon for me to begin my day with a slow slog into Chicago for court in the Loop (the most congested nightmare imaginable), then back to the office and off to court in Waukegan in the afternoon on wide open or congested highways.
Here is a cut and paste from a different thread on this forum.
1) Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Check them when they are cold and the car is on a level surface. As temps drop, PSI does too. For the best MPG, inflate 3-5 psi above factory recommendations
2) Make sure your air filter is clean. Dirty air filters can kill mpg
3) Make sure you keep your car empty. You'd be amazed at how many people keep way too much junk in the trunk. A friend of mine was complaining about mpg on his car. I popped his trunk and he was lugging around weights, an extra tire with rim, and a ton of clothes/shoes/sports equipment. An empty car is a light car.
4) Make sure your brakes aren't dragging. Dragging brakes can be caused by icy conditions or improper maintenance.
5) Stop warming up your car. Even in the coldest conditions, your car does not need to be in a state of static idle for more than 60 seconds. 30 seconds is adequate in most circumstances. Also, while your engine is warming up during this time, the CVT fluid isn't. If you are going for trips of shorter than a few miles, idle for 30 seconds, then drive gently until the temp needle starts to move.
6) Focus on driving gently. A ton of gas is wasted driving too aggressively. Keep the RPM's below 2000/2500 during acceleration. Keep your eyes ahead and, when traffic permits, coast if you see a light changing to red. When you are stopped at a light, you are getting 0 MPG.
7) If you get stuck at long train crossings or traffic lights that last more than 60 seconds or so, turn off the car. I travel on roads where there are metra stops and freight lines. When the gate comes down, I turn off my car. Instead of burning fuel for 3-5 minutes at a time, I burn no fuel.
8) When driving on the highway, keep the speed consistent and below 70.
9) Use cruise control. When I drive on a road with a 45 mile per hour speed limit, I accelerate to 52 or so, and set the cruise control. If you see a light change to red ahead, turn it off and coast down (traffic permitting).
10) Braking. People have different ideas on this. Here's my take. Using the brakes is wasteful. You should only brake in an emergency or when you are stopping. Otherwise, if you use predictive driving techniques, you should use your brakes very little. You'd be amazed at how little you touch the brake pedal if you pay attention, try to predict traffic flow, and keep your eyes ahead.
11) If these don't help you get better MPG, get your car looked at. A good mechanic can be the best help you'll get here.

Whenever I wrote "traffic permitting", here's what I mean. Don't be the jerk who gets to 35 in a 45 and then stays there because you think you understand traffic flow (you don't). Don't be the guy who coasts down to a stop for over a mile when people are trying to get home. Don't be the guy who screws up everyone else's day because you want to save one or two mpg. Don't be the guy going the speed limit in the left lane for the sake of MPG. Don't be the guy who's actions have a negative effect on other drivers. When roads are empty or there is very little traffic and no one behind you, sure, start to coast down. Otherwise, be aware that the stuff you do in your car can really tick off other drivers. Don't inject yourself into other people's lives to save a few pennies.

 

Check out this thread
http://forums.maxima.org/general-max...ge-thread.html

 

"Don't be the guy going the speed limit in the left lane for the sake of MPG."

Way off topic here, but man that is such a pet peeve of mine! In almost every state it is illegal to drive in the left hand lane when you are not actively passing someone. So if someone pulls up behind you and you are not actively passing some one you are required to move over and let them by. It does not matter if you are going the speed limit or 20 over if someone wants by you have to let them.

As a former State Trooper no other ticket was more satisfying to write then impeding traffic in the fast lane....

Edit: so far in 9 fillups since May 21st I am averaging 24.0mpg driving 80 miles a day 95% interstate driving @76mph.

 

Great tips/advice thank you its greatly appreciated!!

 

Again this is off subject. Bossman150, I would like your opinion about people driving in the left lane all the time when they are not passing or driving at slower speeds than the right lane of traffic is moving? I live in Florida near Fort walton beach and most of the time when I drive on the 2 lane highways I see so many folks driving in the left lane below the speed limit. Or I will see people drive in the left lane and match the speed of the guy in the right lane and it prevents all traffic flow from passing and many times causes traffic to backup. As a former State Trooper I am sure you seen this and pulled some of these type people over for this type of action. Have you ever asked these people what they were thinking or why they decided to drive in that manner which can lead to problems? Thank you for your time.

Bt the way my 2012 Max usually gets around 19 mpg with mostly suburban type driving.

 

My friend it makes me so mad to see people stuck in left line for 2 miles cruising and paying attention around them......but on other side you are lucky man whose problem is people stuck in left line. Keep in mind there is people with all kinds of problems and driving in left line under speed limit is nothing compering to what they have going on in their lives. My little one was diagnossed with cancer in january of this year and belive me my world turned up side down since and sometimes as much as i hated it i am now one of this lost people who you have to honk on to go on green. Not excusse just to help understand. All the best.

By the way i get 21.5 mpg 50/50 city/highway

 

Same area man I know exactly what you're talking about. Thanks for the input guys!

 

Yeah, there are a few reasons I couldn't be a LEO. I'd write a ton of left lane tickets. I'd also write a ton of impeding the flow of traffic tickets. Every day on my way home from a long day - a day defending my clients against aggressive prosecutors - with a ton of driving around from court to court, I get stuck behind some doofus who thinks that despite the fact that the speed limit signs they keep passing say numbers like "45" or "35", they choose to go 40 or 28. Burns me up, not because I need to speed, but come on.
I never hassle anyone who drives the speed limit, but 5-10 under is ridiculous, dangerous, and irritating to everyone. I get it that some people just aren't in a hurry, but when I've put in 11 hours of hard work and have to get to, say, physical therapy for an hour and a half session before I can get home so I can cook dinner for my wife, all I want to do is get where I'm going. The less time I have to spend driving behind some joker going 25 in a 35, the more time I have to enjoy life.
I had to change my commute home to one that is more miles because the road that gets me home most directly goes from two lanes in each direction (45 mph zone) to one lane in each direction (35 mph zone) to two lanes in each direction (40 mph zone) to one lane in each direction (35 mph zone). This route ends up taking 30-40 minutes because people go 40 in the first 45, 25 in the first 35, 30 in the 40 and then 25 in the 35, slowly puttering away from every green light they force everyone to miss. It is infuriating. Instead, I take the long way home, which (if people went the speed limit) should take me 10-15 minutes but ends up taking me at least 20.
So yeah, good fuel economy is a great goal that saves money, but being clueless about how your actions affect other people isn't worth the few cents you save. Had to rant. Sorry to all.
I'm averaging 21.09 mpg over the last 4870 miles. For a large car with a powerful, fun, sporting engine - that's just fine with me.

 

My in dash computer states that my combined mileage in 24.6. I do some serious daily highway driving between 80-85 mph using mid grade gasoline. I have not noticed a difference with my mpg using various grades of gasoline. I have just noticed performance differences. Hence, that's why they recommend premium for the ultimate performance.