Lets get it out of the way: MPG

[StinkyCheese]

2005 Altima 2.5S

Around 25 MPG HWY

I don't drive more than 3 miles a day in the city- I live off of a Hwy, and work close to one, but I usually drive around 90

[AltimusPrime]

How can the computer give inaccurate MPG readings? isn't the odometer/tripometer tied in with the computer as well?

[nismos14]

If you don't believe me, measure your miles driven by gallons filled and compare this number to your computer readout.

[Zyphron]

because its baseing your fuel useage against distance. its not 100% accurate Because at times when you put it to the floor it makes it harder to calcuate the usage vs distance

set it on a long trip and you should find it becomes accurate

in any case 0.5-1.0 MPG off is still pretty close.

[stewiee]

I was cruising down the highway today when I decided to reset my the MPG reading on the trip computer, just curious as to the results I'd get. After a couple miles down the road, it flashed 35 MPG. I thought to myself, probably a terrible misreading because I just reset it. But NO, about ten minutes later, it's at 42 MPG. I'm thinking, WTF? I usually get crap MPG on my Altima. With the 3.5 engine, a CAI, and an upgraded alternator, there's no way I'm actually get 42 MPG. Of course, by the time I got off the highway an hour and a half later, it wasn't at 42 MPG, but I had still pulled off an impressive (in my opinion) 37 MPG! Miracles do happen

[madsen203]

Originally Posted by stewiee

I was cruising down the highway today when I decided to reset my the MPG reading on the trip computer, just curious as to the results I'd get. After a couple miles down the road, it flashed 35 MPG. I thought to myself, probably a terrible misreading because I just reset it. But NO, about ten minutes later, it's at 42 MPG. I'm thinking, WTF? I usually get crap MPG on my Altima. With the 3.5 engine, a CAI, and an upgraded alternator, there's no way I'm actually get 42 MPG. Of course, by the time I got off the highway an hour and a half later, it wasn't at 42 MPG, but I had still pulled off an impressive (in my opinion) 37 MPG! Miracles do happen

SEE!! What did I tell you.. You can get amazing gas mileage... you just have to watch out for that sneaky foot of yours. I think I am going to take a trip to Reno or Vegas sometime in near future and I will set Cruise control at 55-65mph and calculate what I come up with.. Normally it is between 31-35 depending on traffic and so forth.

Stewie, glad to hear you got a "miracle!" Told you you could do it. YOu just have to believe in your self!

[jnhalstead]

Originally Posted by stewiee

I was cruising down the highway today when I decided to reset my the MPG reading on the trip computer, just curious as to the results I'd get. After a couple miles down the road, it flashed 35 MPG. I thought to myself, probably a terrible misreading because I just reset it. But NO, about ten minutes later, it's at 42 MPG. I'm thinking, WTF? I usually get crap MPG on my Altima. With the 3.5 engine, a CAI, and an upgraded alternator, there's no way I'm actually get 42 MPG. Of course, by the time I got off the highway an hour and a half later, it wasn't at 42 MPG, but I had still pulled off an impressive (in my opinion) 37 MPG! Miracles do happen

but that wasn't your real mpg, that was basically your mpg from the time you reset it till you stopped.

by the cars readout it's always 22.5 at next fill up for me, it never fails, but then again it's driven in the same routine every day, takes me to work, takes me home, takes wifey to work, takes wifey home.

[stewiee]

Well, obviously a 37 stop-and-go MPG is more or less impossible for any Nissan non-hybrid (does Nissan even make hybrids yet?). But still, given that I hadn't set it on cruise control and just shifted +/- 10 mph from 60 mph, I'm impressed with how my car handles its gas mileage. REALISTICALLY speaking, it'd be near impossible for me to replicate that again (it was painful driving on par with everyone else)

[madsen203]

Originally Posted by stewiee

Well, obviously a 37 stop-and-go MPG is more or less impossible for any Nissan non-hybrid (does Nissan even make hybrids yet?). But still, given that I hadn't set it on cruise control and just shifted +/- 10 mph from 60 mph, I'm impressed with how my car handles its gas mileage. REALISTICALLY speaking, it'd be near impossible for me to replicate that again (it was painful driving on par with everyone else)

Nissan does make the Hybrid Altima. Damn sexy piece of machienery. I really wanted one.

Driving slow is a pain, but I always put up the mind set "why race home, I have nothing to do there and the time I roll in, there is going to be some sort of chaos that I am going to have to deal with." So, atleast when driving home, I take it easy. Everywhere else... drive like there is no tomorrow.

[aerojar]

I average 24.4 MPG actual vs 25.4 MPG computer over the last 5 fillups with 93 octane. I drive 80 hwy miles/day at 80-90 mph. The computer is inflating my MPG by 4%. Not too bad for a peppy V6!

[scorpio02150]

Originally Posted by nismos14

If you do actual measurements instaed of going off the inaccurate computer you will be surprised at just how inaccurate the computer is.

I know the computer's measurements are inaccurate, which is why I stated it in my comment that my reading where from the computer and not from my own calculations. Although the readings aren't 100% accurate, they're pretty close to the actual MPG (0.5-1 difference).

The thing that kills my gas in the city is the traffic lights in every corner, so alot of stop, idle and go.
On the highway, I def reset the MPG reading to get an idea of how good/bad my gas consumption is. Last weekend, I took a long road trip and I had 33-35 MPG readings, 45 MPG going downhill and 26 MPG on the small back roads.

[madsen203]

Originally Posted by aerojar

I average 24.4 MPG actual vs 25.4 MPG computer over the last 5 fillups with 93 octane. I drive 80 hwy miles/day at 80-90 mph. The computer is inflating my MPG by 4%. Not too bad for a peppy V6!

I wonder if the computer is trying to adjust for topping off and then miscalculates it. If you top off, there is gas that is not in the tank and can throw it off. (So I would believe). Maybe Nissan designed it thinking consumers would only go til the pumps stops, or whether it calculates with the topping off of almost half a gallon.

Someone should test this theory.

[aerojar]

to keep things consistent, I filled it up and let it stop automatically at the 1st time. I didn't top it off after that. Most of the time when I top it off, I end up getting another $.50 in there, most of which ends up on my paint...

[iGROCK]

no well really, i recently filled up for 50$, 13 gallons. last night when i cam from i had 300 and some small digits, so 23 for me, usually i get around 20-21

[madsen203]

Originally Posted by aerojar

to keep things consistent, I filled it up and let it stop automatically at the 1st time. I didn't top it off after that. Most of the time when I top it off, I end up getting another $.50 in there, most of which ends up on my paint...

Really? I wait until mine stops automatically and then wait a second, and I can manage to get another .5 gallon in there before it stops again. I think it also depends if you are on a up hill slant or down hill and so forth.