Bad gas mileage? Whats the problem?

[imported_Stewy]

Originally posted by: goodoptics

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Ryan

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
is it automatic tranny?

You want great fuel mileage?
buy a used Honda Civic HF 5 speed.

Fixed.

Fixed again

Or a used Civic VX.

QFT!

//1994 Civic VX owner

 

[compuwiz1]

If your car is not specifically calibrated to run premium gas, you could actually get worse mileage by using it. It throws the computer off.

 

[Rubycon]

PEBGPADS

Problem Exists Between Gas Pedal And Driver's Seat. :laugh:

 

[0roo0roo]

222hp ..heavy big car. u pay!
camry hybrid gets 40mpg combined real world according to road and track test. not to shabby performance either.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Aquila76

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: Strk
How fast on the highway? And if you don't need premium, don't use it.

Around 70mph.

I prob use plus gas after a while. Just givng it some premium to get it going.

What exactly does that mean, "to get it going?"
If the manual doesn't specify to use premium gas, it does you no good to use premium gas.

Wasn't there a study that showed this actually makes the car perform worse (putting prem. in a reg. car)? I think it had to do with the octane and residues left in the engine. Switch it back to whatever the last owner was using. The engine, ECM, and everything else have adjusted to that and you'll prob pick right up to where you should be.

Also, figure your actual MPG (miles / gallons to fill) and not going off gauges, as xrax suggested. My gas gauge doesn't even budge until about 80 mi. are burned off, and at that point it's down roughly a quarter tank!

yea i've heard the guages arent linear. they drop slow at first, its psychologically better or something
and yes no premium unless u need it. otherwise its money in the garbage. car and driver or something have a test of vehicles using different gases awhile back.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Well on the gas door it says "Regular Fuel Required. Premimum Recomended"

So you'll probably only get the advertised HP numbers using premium, but it will run just fine on regular.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
is it automatic tranny?

You want better fuel mileage?
buy a used Moped.

LOL.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

This is about the mileage you can expect from this car. I have a 2001 Max SE (with 5-speed) and it always got about 23 MPG until the mileage abruptly got much worse about a year ago, for reasons my mechanic is unable to explain. Hope that doesn't happen to you!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: DonVito
This is about the mileage you can expect from this car. I have a 2001 Max SE (with 5-speed) and it always got about 23 MPG until the mileage abruptly got much worse about a year ago, for reasons my mechanic is unable to explain. Hope that doesn't happen to you!

Tried Seafoam yet?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: DonVito
This is about the mileage you can expect from this car. I have a 2001 Max SE (with 5-speed) and it always got about 23 MPG until the mileage abruptly got much worse about a year ago, for reasons my mechanic is unable to explain. Hope that doesn't happen to you!

Tried Seafoam yet?

Nope, but I've tried other fuel conditioner/cleaners. I'm honestly stumped. The engine has always run perfectly and never thrown up a Service Engine Soon code. It has less than 58K miles, and has had all required maintenance.

The problem started when I moved to different tires (Bridgestone Turanza LS-Vs), but they are the right size and I can't see how that could be the issue. I now realize I had also put in an Amsoil air filter around the same time, but I later removed it to see if that was the cause - it made no difference. I am at a loss to understand this. The car now gets around 16 MPG.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

release the parking brake

 

[promposive]

Try regular, check your gas mileage. Probably will be better, and cheaper.

Also, may need sparkplugs/wires/rotor button/cap. Those will affect gas mileage if you aren't getting a nice stream of power to the plugs to ignite the fuel good enough.
Also, check your tire pressure, that will affect gas mileage and tire wear.

I'm sure a google search would turn up a few more tips on gas mileage.

 

[necine]

I have a V8 automatic, and get 25mpgs highway. Pwned.

 

[SampSon]

Are these mpg numbers based on actual calculations from filling your tank, driving and then filling it again?
Or just from the gas guage?

Your gas mileage is spot on.

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: Ryan

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
is it automatic tranny?

You want great fuel mileage?
buy a used Honda Civic HX 5 speed.

Fixed.

:thumbsup:

 

[Kadarin]

Check your tire pressure. Low tire pressure will significantly decrease mileage. While you're at it, verify that your wheels are not significantly out of alignment, as that may also increase rolling resistance.

 

[Vic]

22 mpg sounds about right for that car. It's not a Geo Metro, yaknow.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I get 32 to the gallon on my Jetta

 

[BoomerD]

Doesn't strike me as being particularly bad mileage for the car and the mileage. The O2 sensor COULD be bad, but only a diagnostic will be able to verify that, and they're too expensive to replace "just in case".

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
I get 32 to the gallon on my Jetta

Back and forth from school (going about 75 almost the entire time) I average 30-32 in my Passat.

 

[Eli]

Sounds about right.

What were you expecting? 40?

 

[eits]

don't you research cars before you think about buying one? jeez...

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: eits
don't you research cars before you think about buying one? jeez...

Yes.

Researched buying a car to death. Nearly 3 weeks of research/looking. I knew that the Maxima was no Honda Civic on mileage, etc.... but the mileage I'm getting now just feels odd.

As per a full tuneup, Its appealing. Im the opposite of a gearhead. This is my first ever car and so I don't know too much. I love the car even after this little 'surprise.'

If I get a tune up, I'll prob. take it to the Nissan dealership if the price is reasonable. I live in Boston and don't know of any shops that specialize in Nissan. Haven't called around. I'd love to get a referal from a Boston Nissan driver....?

A super 'not-car-knowing-stuff-guy' question. Would a tuneup price include replace sparkplugs, flud. I just have a feeling I'm gonna get gouged since I don't know jack about car parts/repairs.

Finding a mechanic who doesn't rip you off and knows what their doing is more valuable than your fist born child!!!

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron

Originally posted by: thatsright
Its a V6 Automatic

2000 Nissan Maxima, Automatic V6;

Fuel Type Regular Gasoline
MPG (city) 20
MPG (highway) 28
MPG (combined) 23

2000 Toyota Echo, 5 speed;
Fuel Type Regular Gasoline
MPG (city) 34
MPG (highway) 41
MPG (combined) 37

LOL why buy a Echo when you can get something better for almost the same price?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Well on the gas door it says "Regular Fuel Required. Premimum Recomended"

In that case use premium.

It's true that it's a waste of money to put premium in a car that only needs regular, but putting regular in a performance-oriented car that's tuned for premium is also a waste....might as well have bought an econobox

My bike gets 50mpg, though, and I bet it could take you