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Hello all, I am a Noob to the forum scene. I am going to get right to the point, I currently own an 04 Maxima SE. I have had it since Dec. 03 as an 04 model. I love the car, and it rides like a dream, but I have been having a huge fuel consumption issue for about 2 years now. The car burned fuel great (About 400 miles to a tank local/highway combined. About 25 mpg) for the first 60,000 miles then over night the mileage figure was cut in half. I now get about 220 mile to a tank local, and about 330 highway stretching it. I have used nothing but 93 octane Mobil since I purchased the car. It runs as smooth as it has since I got it, but gettting horrible gas mileage now. I am getting between 11-14 mpg local and 18 highway at best. I changed the plugs, and had it check by the dealer serveral times to no avail. Also had the computer re-flashed with updated programming and no change. It driving me crazy with the rapidly rising fuel costs. I was wondering have anyone else had this problem, and if so what was done to correct it? Sorry this is so long, just wanted to explain as much as possible to get as much help as possible. Any help or direction is greatly appreciated in advance.
We had this same issue with my wife's '02. Turns out the rear brakes were hung up and not completely releasing, so they were always sticking to the rotors. I replaced the calipers, rotors and pads, since then, her gas mileage has increased back to 26+ highway mpg. It may not be the correct answer, but maybe something to consider.
yeh definatly want to make sure everything is working right do a tune up sparks, fluids, make sure the belts is good, air filter, check out the fuel filter. u change up the way u drive by anychance. and also are u going by the cars calculations or are u doing it your self cause the car computer is not too accurate
Thanks for the heads up. This give me a direction to go in, because I can remember one time my wife drove home (About 15 miles) with the parking brake engaged. Will Check the parking brake this weekend. The service pads are new all the way around. Any info is good info, so I will check, and update if you are interested.
Sergey85 Thanks for the heads up, because this also give me some direction. I just want the milage back. I have done some of the things like changed the plugs about 8000 miles ago, and I have replaced the tranny fluid. Have not dont the antifreeze yet or I have not dont a complete tune up yet either. It doesn't call for on until 100,000 miles which is crazy in itself to me. Thats why I have changed the plugs, but they were not fouled. Air filter have been changed several times, but no change in fuel economy. I have not done the fuel filter because when I inquired about it at the dealer the technician told me that the fuel filter on these cars do not get changed because it is inside the gas tank, which i found a little weird too! I am going to inquire about it again, because that may be the problem. Have not changed the way I drive, because I already drive slow, so I would hope that would not cause the fuel to burn inefficiently. I am going to check on your recommendations and update when I am done. Tahnks for the help and direction. Anymore info please feel free to share. Thanks again.
Sergey85 Thanks for the heads up, because this also give me some direction. I just want the milage back. I have done some of the things like changed the plugs about 8000 miles ago, and I have replaced the tranny fluid. Have not dont the antifreeze yet or I have not dont a complete tune up yet either. It doesn't call for on until 100,000 miles which is crazy in itself to me. Thats why I have changed the plugs, but they were not fouled. Air filter have been changed several times, but no change in fuel economy. I have not done the fuel filter because when I inquired about it at the dealer the technician told me that the fuel filter on these cars do not get changed because it is inside the gas tank, which i found a little weird too! I am going to inquire about it again, because that may be the problem. Have not changed the way I drive, because I already drive slow, so I would hope that would not cause the fuel to burn inefficiently. I am going to check on your recommendations and update when I am done. Tahnks for the help and direction. Anymore info please feel free to share. Thanks again.
your exhaust. Just a thought, but you could have a plugged cat or muffler. Maybe even a bent exhaust pipe causing a little too much back pressure. I had it happen on a truck I used to own. Those are some things that are easily overlooked because you don't get to see under your car too often.
Just a thought.
Thanks Little's07, that too offers me a direction to go in. I never even thought of looking into the exhaust system. I am really appreciative of all the responses, and help I am being giving. Once all things are complete I will update with results. Thanks again.
is there a mixture of ethonal is your fuel. The fuel companys are putting up to 15% ethanol in gasoline now. Not all of them are doing this. But if you do get a tank of this crappy fuel your milage will be greatly affected.
Actually there is ethanol mixed in. On the pumps it says up 10%. But here in NYC they have been doing this for about 3 years now, and I have been having the fuel ecomnomy issue since then. I dont even know where to find a gas station that dont have the ethanol. It used to be only added during the winter months, but now it is done year round. I have taken it to the dealer, and they can not find anything wrong with the fuel consumption of the car, so I stopped bothering them with it. Now I am trying to figure it out with the help of my fellow Maxima owners. Thanks for the insight. I am going to try to research and see if there are any gas stations in the NYC area thats not running ethanol mixture.
well in order for u to see the diference u need to fill up with the regular gas then the gas w/ethenol if u see the diference thats a culprit, it shouldnt hurt your mpg that much. about thhe fuel filter im suprised that its the tank cause filters do get dirty even when premium fuel is used. am also wondering are u using the cars calculation for the mpg or are u doing your own math miles driven devided by tthe amount of gas put in?
I would love to try using gas without Ethanol in it Sergey. But here in NYC I do not know of any gas stations that do not use it. I get around quite a bit, and all that I have been to have the ethanol. I mostly go to the same gas station and use the same pump because that is where you will get your most accurate calculation of the fuel milage, but there are times that I am required to use a different station/brand and they all have the Ethanol. Even the off brand stations. I was speaking with my dad about the fuel filter also, and he agreed with the mechanic on the filter. He used to have a 87 Nissan Stanza that he got 279,000 miles out of, and he had a fuel filter replaced, and then it was in the tank. I am going to ask another mechanic at another dealer just to make sure. As far as the the method of calculation...I learned long ago how to calculate the mileage. When I got the car, I used the computer the first time verse my own calcution and the computer was off by 5-7 mpg. So I knew the computer would always be inaccurate. But to also get an accurate calculation you have to run the car down to just about empty, becase you have no base on just how much fuel you have really used from half or 3/4 empty. From empty my car have an 18 gallon refill capacity and then I divide that by amount by how many miles driven, and I get my magic number. I do calculate from other points because I hate to run the car that low, and all the figures are very similar. I will be stopping by a Nissan dealer today on my way in from work to ask about that Fuel filter, and I will update with the location. I am really greatful for all of you help. Will keep you posted.
i just looked it up and the fuel filter is defiantly not inside the tank well attached to the tank but u dont need to replace the tank, but u can access it throught the back by removing the back seating. i thought it was wierd that it wsnt under the back seats cause mine (02 maxima )is their and so was the 98 i30 i had. it didnt make sence when i read it and im sure either the technician was confused or didnt know what he was talking about
I hope that do not happen. I guess not only will I get poor fuel mileage, I will have not fuel flow at all. I can not understand why the government pushed so hard for the supposedly cleaner burning fuel, but more harmful to the car itself. I tell you, they find a way to get our money. I just hope that hold up. The car is running great, but I just get poor fuel economy. As your reply came through I was just hanging up the phone with Nissan consumer affairs department. The young lady I spoke with said she was going to forward it on to a regional rep. I hope he can dig geeper, and help me out. I stopped by another dealer today just to ask the location of the fuel filter, and I was told that I had to bring the car in, that he could not discuss that with me being I am not a certified Nissan Tech. I explained why I was asking, and all he was interested in was me bring the car to the dealership. Trying to drum up business I guess. I tell you life is tough in the big city sometime. As I get updates and progress, I will keep you, and everyone else that has offered me guidance posted. Thanks to you all...Sorry to jack the thread a little, just want to thank all of my fellow enthusiast's that is helping me solve this problem. It has been useful info...I just wish I knew about this forum a few years ago when I started having the problem, and the car was still under warranty. Thanks again all. Sorry I am so long winded
That is wonderful. Is it something I can do myself? This is steps in the right direction. I agree that the tech maybe was confused or didn't have a clue. As I said in the original post, I am a newb at this whole forum thing, so I am not that great at searching and getting results. I have a direction to go with, so if it is something I can do on my own, I will be attemping it this weekend. Where can I find a "How to" or "D.I.Y." guide on this? Thanks again for all your help.
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04 Maxima Fuel Consumption issue...HELP!!!
with the rapidly rising fuel costs. I was wondering have anyone else had this problem, and if so what was done to correct it? Sorry this is so long, just wanted to explain as much as possible to get as much help as possible. Any help or direction is greatly appreciated in advance.
I hope that do not happen. I guess not only will I get poor fuel mileage, I will have not fuel flow at all. I can not understand why the government pushed so hard for the supposedly cleaner burning fuel, but more harmful to the car itself. I tell you, they find a way to get our money. I just hope that hold up. The car is running great, but I just get poor fuel economy. As your reply came through I was just hanging up the phone with Nissan consumer affairs department. The young lady I spoke with said she was going to forward it on to a regional rep. I hope he can dig geeper, and help me out. I stopped by another dealer today just to ask the location of the fuel filter, and I was told that I had to bring the car in, that he could not discuss that with me being I am not a certified Nissan Tech. I explained why I was asking, and all he was interested in was me bring the car to the dealership. Trying to drum up business I guess. I tell you life is tough in the big city sometime. As I get updates and progress, I will keep you, and everyone else that has offered me guidance posted. Thanks to you all...Sorry to jack the thread a little, just want to thank all of my fellow enthusiast's that is helping me solve this problem. It has been useful info...I just wish I knew about this forum a few years ago when I started having the problem, and the car was still under warranty. Thanks again all. Sorry I am so long winded
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