I just recently purchased a 2003 SE with 66K miles and I'm looking for recommendations to increase my mpg and improve overall performance.

 

Performance has a slew of modifications including.
Forced Inductions
Tuning
Headers
Exhaust
Intake & Air filter
Throttle Body(increase size)
Spacer kit
VIAS delete
STS free mod
Port
Cams
Flywheel
Transmission Upgrades(clutch, flywheel, trans go, etc)
Weight reduction

Gas Milage increase can be had using some of those listed above(I'd assume a tune would be best)

 

Turbo

 

MPG = lightweight wheels, I gained 12+% with lightweight 17's when I switched, and it adds performance.

As for performance, I suggest you search. This car has been around for over 10 years, so there's plenty of information.

Remember, crawl before you walk.


http://forums.maxima.org/supercharged-turbocharged-38/
http://forums.maxima.org/nitrous-40/
http://forums.maxima.org/all-motor-61/
http://forums.maxima.org/advanced-su...is-braking-68/

 

Why is all these new kids all talking turbo?maby they been watching them F&F movies again!

Sent from my iPhone using MaximaOrg

 

All my kids talk about Turbo... guess that's some sort of snail.

 

How much are you looking to spend?

If you're looking for simple bolt-ons visit NWP for two fairly easy ones.
http://www.nwpengineering.com

 

Increases mpg? Weight loss (car and driver- no big sub in trunk), maintenance (engine, tranny, tires, drive belts not over tightened), ethanol free gas, and drive like granny (slow acceleration, slow braking, and use of cruise control, and not exceeding 65mph.)

Guess which one gains the most mpg? Yup, grandma takes the win!

Increased hp does not equal increased mpg. Most often, it is entirely the opposite, as one increases, the other decreases. Regardless whether boosted or not, your fuel savings come from the above mentioned areas, primarily keeping your foot out of the gas!

If you want added performance (and I use that term loosely when also discussing fuel economy) you should focus on mods which enhance the lower rpm range (bottom end).

 

Some may have different experiences, but I gained an average (comparing 3 fill ups without and 3 with) of 1.8 mpg with a 2 degree timing advance. Not a lot, but it has paid for itself already and a savings is still a savings in my book.

 

A previous poster was correct driver behavior/maintainence is the #1 factor in determining MPG. I don't know how the ratio works on large vehicles but on an ATV site I frequent someone posted a formula that you lose about 1-2 HP for every additional 8-10 lbs. you add to a quad. Anyone that has ever towed/hauled a heavy load knows how much additional weight destroys gas mileage, my Cherokee goes from 18-20 with no load to 8-12 pending on what I'm hauling. Increasing tire pressure to the max recommended levels will help but I only suggest this during the summer months when you don't expect any rain, speed is the #1 factor, once you get over 60-65 mph your mileage decreases greatly, I've found in my vehicles I get my best mileage driving around 2,000 RPM which is barely 65 on the freeway. I got 40 mpg in my saturn driving 55 and drafting trucks whenever I could, coasting off the off ramps, coasting up to stop lights etc., you may be surprised how much this helps it also pro longs your entire vehicle's life, my Saturn has `197,000 miles and I still have 50% of my original brakes.

 

 

I anticipate at least one snail in that movie to be eating rice.

 

Just woke up, drinking my morning cup of coffee. I read this and spit said coffee all over my phone. lmbo!

 

buy a sheet of ABS plastic from your local plastic store and build yourself a nice set of smooth underbody trays and a rear diffuser

Lose weight (the car, you, or both)

drive with the egg on pedal technique

find the freeway cruising speed where you get the best mileage and use it. Going 65 or 55 isnt always the answer, my 02 gets 2-3 MPG better mileage at 70 than 65

 

diffuser is a great note! aerodynamics play a nice part with added MPG's

lowering a car will gain aerodynamics slightly and slightly improve mpg etc. etc.

if you are serious about MPGs check out detailed forums on just saving gas alone

 

it feel like when I gas full tank it burns a lot less than just filling half a tank...

 

Think that's just the way Nissan makes the gauge. I look at it as the more weight, the worse mpg. Theoretically, you would have better mpg by only filling 1/2 tank vs. full. I personally fill up every time. The extra stops at the gas station are not worth whatever minimal savings that would get you.

 

Lightweight wheels pay themselves off in MPG.

 

Exactly, I can say this though. My Z and Max when I fill them up they stay on F for a while but once that hand goes below 3/4 full that hand (dots in Z's case) drops quick. Both have been this way since new, and I keep them in optimal running order.

 

Not trying to start an argument here, just a discussion, but I find it hard to believe that a few pounds off the wheels can result in a 12% increase in MPG. Is there any other documented proof of this?

 

Yup, just google benefits of light weight wheels and benefits of unsprung weight. Pretty common knowledge, easily found and digested. I understand it sounds like snake oil, but its performance fact.

 

......... what happened to the OP? lol

 

LOL! He just posted yesterday. Not everyone is a forum junky! :P

 

I'm 8 days and one tank of gas into my 2000 Maxima and on my first tank I got 395 miles before the gas light came on, filled up and it only took 15 gallons I couldn't get it to take anymore so I'm assuming I have a 3.5 gallon reserve? Does that sound about right? Seems like a lot but the manual says I have an 18.5 gallon tank, not that I want to test my gas light but it is good to know how much you have left in the tank.

So based on the math I got just over 26 MPG, take into consideration though that all but about 30 miles are freeway and I used the CC and kept it under 65 MPH. This was on regular unleaded, I filled it up with 91 octane today so I'll see if that makes much of a difference, a few have suggested 2-3 MPG gains using premium(seems a bit of a stretch) so we'll see if I can get over 400 miles before the gas light comes on. I also ran the a/c maybe 50% of the time. The biggest factor IMO are keeping it under 65 and slowly picking up speed whether getting on the freeway or approaching stop lights, I generally coast about the final half mile or less when exiting the freeway and I always coast up to stop lights using as little brake as necessary.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...installed.html

 

What? This is nonsense... Plus I sent that post from the future, duh.