Bad gas mileage? Whats the problem?

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thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
3
81
I just bought a 2000 Maxima SE with a 18.5 Gal tank.

Using only premimum gas. Just filled up on saturday, and have driven it for about 210 miles. Of that 150 were highway miles. The rest stop and go in the city.

Well now I'm down to about 40% of the tank left Something seems really wrong.

Bad fuel filter? This is averaging 22 mpg. And this is on good estimate. Most of it was highway, and should be a bit higher. If I get the city estimate, its around 15mpg.

What the F!!!
 
arcenite

arcenite

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
10,660
7
81
That's not crappy gas mileage... I have a 2001 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl 5-speed that averages 25mpg...
 
C

cavemanmoron

Lifer
Mar 13, 2001
13,664
28
91
Originally posted by: thatsright
Its a V6 Automatic
Click to expand...

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
 
V

vegetation

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
4,270
2
0
Off the bat, that doesn't sound too bad. City driving with an auto gives you horrible gas mileage in my experience -- way off the artificial EPA ratings.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
I don't think that engine requires premium, so you wasted your money right there.

And 22MPG sounds a little low for mostly highway, but from the info you gave you aren't getting 22MPG.

~18 gallons, 40% left; 18 * 60% used = ~11 gallons used

210 miles / 11 gallons = 19MPG

19MPG with 70% highway does seem low. Since you just bought this used car, do you know when the last tuneup was? Do a full tuneup: fuel filter, spark plugs (maybe wires too), air filter, oil change, check tranny fluid, check coolant, check tire pressure, and depending if your car needs it stuff like the PCV valve.

How many miles on the car? May need O2 sensors or something more expensive & PITA.

A V6 auto in the city should get you 18-20 stop & go driving, but 26-28 highway (really depending on the transmission's gearing, I've never driven a Maxima).
 
T

thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
3
81
Originally posted by: Strk
How fast on the highway? And if you don't need premium, don't use it.
Click to expand...

Around 70mph.

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

thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
3
81
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I don't think that engine requires premium, so you wasted your money right there.

And 22MPG sounds a little low for mostly highway, but from the info you gave you aren't getting 22MPG.

~18 gallons, 40% left; 18 * 60% used = ~11 gallons used

210 miles / 11 gallons = 19MPG

19MPG with 70% highway does seem low. Since you just bought this used car, do you know when the last tuneup was? Do a full tuneup: fuel filter, spark plugs (maybe wires too), air filter, oil change, check tranny fluid, check coolant, check tire pressure, and depending if your car needs it stuff like the PCV valve.

How many miles on the car? May need O2 sensors or something more expensive & PITA.

A V6 auto in the city should get you 18-20 stop & go driving, but 26-28 highway (really depending on the transmission's gearing, I've never driven a Maxima).
Click to expand...


I just got a new air filter put in, and battery.

But, how much would a full tune up run me for this 2000 Maxima.... Anyone have a ballpark??

How much are oxgyen sensors?

BTW: the car has 79,290 miles
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,641
17,271
136
Originally posted by: thatsright
Originally posted by: Strk
How fast on the highway? And if you don't need premium, don't use it.
Click to expand...

Around 70mph.

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

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.
 
X

xrax

Senior member
Sep 17, 2005
341
0
0
gas gauges aren't that acurrate. 40% could mean closer to half a tank than you think. The best way to determine gas mileage is to write down the mileage as you fill up the tank.
 
EXman

EXman

Lifer
Jul 12, 2001
20,079
15
81
Originally posted by: arcenite
That's not crappy gas mileage... I have a 2001 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl 5-speed that averages 25mpg...
Click to expand...

My accord 4cyl 5 speed gets 29.5mpg mixed driving. I had a maxima and I thought the gas milage kinda sucked in town. too much fun to drive too slow.
 
D

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: thatsright
I just bought a 2000 Maxima SE with a 18.5 Gal tank.

Using only premimum gas. Just filled up on saturday, and have driven it for about 210 miles. Of that 150 were highway miles. The rest stop and go in the city.

Well now I'm down to about 40% of the tank left Something seems really wrong.

Bad fuel filter? This is averaging 22 mpg. And this is on good estimate. Most of it was highway, and should be a bit higher. If I get the city estimate, its around 15mpg.

What the F!!!
Click to expand...

You're addicted to oil. What's the question or problem??? :confused:
 
T

thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
3
81
Originally posted by: xrax
gas gauges aren't that acurrate. 40% could mean closer to half a tank than you think. The best way to determine gas mileage is to write down the mileage as you fill up the tank.
Click to expand...

I reset the Trip odometer right after filling up.
 
Aquila76

Aquila76

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
3,549
2
0
www.facebook.com
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.
Click to expand...

Around 70mph.

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

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.
Click to expand...

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!
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: thatsright
I just got a new air filter put in, and battery.

But, how much would a full tune up run me for this 2000 Maxima.... Anyone have a ballpark??

How much are oxgyen sensors?

BTW: the car has 79,290 miles
Click to expand...
A full tuneup at a dealer would likely run $300-$400. Though they do pretty much everything: oil, coolant flush, brake flush, tranny fluid change, spark plugs, PCV valve, computer check, etc.

Oxygen sensors are generally pricey, $50-$100+. eBay for those definitely, but you don't want to replace those unless you know its them or if you've done everything else.

On a used car the first thing I would do is the full tuneup, unless you have paperwork showing it was done recently. I would look for a small shop that specializes in Nissans and/or imports, ask them how much for a full service along these lines. Hopefully they will come in cheaper than the dealer, but check dealer prices too.

You can probably also do most of it yourself, depending how handy you are and if you have any tools. Spark plugs, oil, and maybe even transmission fluid should be pretty easy. O2 sensors can be a real bitch depending where they are located. Get yourself a Hanes manual, small mechanics tool set, and the proper parts.

Originally posted by: thatsright
Well on the gas door it says "Regular Fuel Required. Premimum Recomended"
Click to expand...
Interesting. I'd investigate a Maxima forum for info on that :confused:
 
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