Nissan Maxima Real World Fuel Consumption

[SkylineR34X]

Car: 2000 Nissan Maxima SE AUTO
Location: Scarborough
Driving Style: Try to be as efficient as possible
Driving Condition: 50 highway /50 city

Fuel Consumption: 11-15L/100km

What do you guys get?

[boyoflondon]

11-15l? That seems too big of a gap to be true ...

DO you like red line it at times and then drive like a granny other times? :confused:

[D-3vil]

Hmm... yours is a 5th gen with the 3.0L engine.

I drive a 4th gen ('96) SE, with the same engine, but a manual gearbox. My normal fuel consumption, with mostly city driving (unless you consider driving on the DVP during rush hour highway driving), hovers around 11-12 L/100km in the winter (with a somewhat sticky rear right caliper that will need servicing soon). This was with a mix of normal and spirited driving.

I've only had the car for less than a year, and the lowest fuel consumption was 9.5L/100km (back in the summer months), with mostly highway driving, before I did a full tuneup. I should mention, all of these numbers are with premium (91+ octane) fuel, which is the recommended fuel grade.

I wouldn't be concerned about the 12L/100km fuel consumption, if most of your driving is in the city. I would, however, suggest something is wrong if you're getting 15 L/100km.


Some things that you might need to look at:
- tuneup: using the right spark plugs can make huge difference.
- brake service (Maximas are known for sticky calipers, they don't always make noise, just don't release fully)
- throttle body (may need cleaning)
- oxygen sensors (should have a check engine light go on)
- knock sensor (check engine light again)
- ignition coils (especially bad for 97-99 models, might have spilled over to the 2000 models) -- this should, again, throw a CEL, though it doesn't always happen.

For all this and more, I suggest you check out http://forums.maxima.org, you'll find a wealth of information on how to improve your fuel consumption.

[SkylineR34X]

Well, 11 is pure highway, and 13-15 is around city/highway mix.

I don't redline, and I try to drive as efficient as possible.
I have swapped in new NGK plugs like what ppl at forums.maxima.org have suggested, and I have just swapped a new PCV valve too. Brakes, I haven't checked yet, but last time I got new pads (last summer), they seemed to be ok.

I'm curious that if I'm one of the few whos getting 13-15 city or it's the norm.

[oscar_dog]

I had a 2001 SE (auto) and I was getting about 11 L/100km in about 70/30 Highway/City split for my daily commute.

I did everything to improve the fuel economy (change spark plugs, drive slower, change fluid regularly etc.), but could not get it better than this, with exception to long road trips where I could get 9 L/100km.

[Sonbuster]

adjust your driving technique.
check your air filter and change the oil.
use of fuel injector cleaners
perhaps get a tune up.

i have a 91' accord. when i first got it i was only getting 540km to the tank [ 55L]. but i changed the air filter, maintained regular oil changes and adjusted my driving [manual] by shifting 1 => 3 =>5 skipping 2 and 4 and avoiding revs greater than 2500rpm. i was able to push it up to 644km!

[SkylineR34X]

Well, the car is due for another oil change. After reading the FRAM FILTER thread, I will not use the Penzoil filter anymore. I don't know if that affects it or not. But yea, as regard to driving, I try to cruise as much as possible. 11L sounds really good, and I will try my best to improve it. I've got new plugs and new air filter. So yea. Thanks for the inputs :).

[maniacshopper]

Hmm... yours is a 5th gen with the 3.0L engine.

I drive a 4th gen ('96) SE, with the same engine, but a manual gearbox. My normal fuel consumption, with mostly city driving (unless you consider driving on the DVP during rush hour highway driving), hovers around 11-12 L/100km in the winter (with a somewhat sticky rear right caliper that will need servicing soon). This was with a mix of normal and spirited driving.

I've only had the car for less than a year, and the lowest fuel consumption was 9.5L/100km (back in the summer months), with mostly highway driving, before I did a full tuneup. I should mention, all of these numbers are with premium (91+ octane) fuel, which is the recommended fuel grade.

I wouldn't be concerned about the 12L/100km fuel consumption, if most of your driving is in the city. I would, however, suggest something is wrong if you're getting 15 L/100km.


Some things that you might need to look at:
- tuneup: using the right spark plugs can make huge difference.
- brake service (Maximas are known for sticky calipers, they don't always make noise, just don't release fully)
- throttle body (may need cleaning)
- oxygen sensors (should have a check engine light go on)
- knock sensor (check engine light again)
- ignition coils (especially bad for 97-99 models, might have spilled over to the 2000 models) -- this should, again, throw a CEL, though it doesn't always happen.

For all this and more, I suggest you check out http://forums.maxima.org, you'll find a wealth of information on how to improve your fuel consumption.

Check your brake pedal.
Do you have a gap between the full lift and when the brake actually starts pumping. If you don't have this gap, the brakes will not have enough vacuum to pull back the brakes. Look underneath the driver column. You should be able to adjust them , near the brake sensor. The gap should be anywhere between 2-5mm.

As for tuneup,
Don't know if you DIY, but you could check the repair manuals and see the procedure. AF ratio to rich? Look at the spark plugs, are they black?

As for the previous poster said, the right plugs matter. I remember putting Bosch plat plugs into my older Toyota. I didn't like it, even with proper gaps.
Put in the NGK plat, and it ran like like normal. Surprisingly, the AC/Delco plugs run well on JDM, so they can be a good alternative (non plat).

[B0000rt]

As for the previous poster said, the right plugs matter. I remember putting Bosch plat plugs into my older Toyota. I didn't like it, even with proper gaps.
Put in the NGK plat, and it ran like like normal. Surprisingly, the AC/Delco plugs run well on JDM, so they can be a good alternative (non plat).

Some AC-Delco plugs are made by NGK ;)

[SkylineR34X]

Quotes:

Some things that you might need to look at:
- tuneup: using the right spark plugs can make huge difference.
I have brand new NGK Platinum in them as well as brand new OEM PCV Valves

- brake service (Maximas are known for sticky calipers, they don't always make noise, just don't release fully)
Pressure seems right and last time I checked, calipers were free.

- throttle body (may need cleaning)
That I haven't checked, but that shouldn't make that MUCH of a difference shouldn't it?

- oxygen sensors (should have a check engine light go on)
Car was built before 10/2000 so only 1 rear O2. Got it changed few months ago when I got P0138/P0139. Now no light

- knock sensor (check engine light again)
No engine light and no code with OBDII

- ignition coils (especially bad for 97-99 models, might have spilled over to the 2000 models) -- this should, again, throw a CEL, though it doesn't always happen.
No engine light no knock. so coils should be fine.

Just an update, with highway/city mix driving, over 4 full tanks of gas, I average out to 12.7L/100km.

Most recent tank is about 13.3L/100km

But yea, it's no where near 11L/100km

And I have around 160k on the odometer.

Anything else that I may have missed besides TB?