'09 2.5 Gas Mileage

[finnsepp]

Is there anything I can do to improve gas mileage? I drive virtually only highway miles and after 5,000 miles am only averaging 27.62. I've yet to crack 30 on a tankful. I had a '06 Camry and averaged 31.55 over 41,000 miles and '07 Civic that gave me 38.05 over 96,000 miles I was expecting Camry type numbers. I'm disappointed.

[zippy3]

Nissan sucks. Get used to it. I learned that after dropping $31k. Toyota, Honda or Acura are better choices. Wish I made a different choice. Too late now.

[marlin29311]

Nissan sucks. Get used to it. I learned that after dropping $31k. Toyota, Honda or Acura are better choices. Wish I made a different choice. Too late now.

Excellent and well thought out answer...

OP - how far are you driving each day? How fast are you going on average? Your car is still in the breakin period as well, so it's going to get better as time goes on.

Also - how are you calculating MPGs?

[finnsepp]

I drive about 60 miles each way, the same route I drove the Camry and Civic. I drive between 58 & 63 mph depending on limits. Mostly freeway. Based on the other cars I figure I'm getting around 15% less than I should.

[bb700092]

I have the 09 Altima 2.5SL with CVT. I am in FL where it is not freezing cold now, the temperature ranges between 30 and 60 degrees.

I have 2600 miles on the odo and my avg mpg is 30.3 from the trip computer (never reset since new). This is with 50% hwy and 50% city driving. My daily trip to work is just 5 miles one way. My car is parked outside all night. In the morning, by the time the engine warms up, I am at work. I think, such short commutes are killing my mpg. If I had driven longer for each trip, I believe I could have gotten better mpg.

Make sure a few things:1. Tire pressures are equal and at 32 psi at least.2. The wheels are balanced well.3. The alignment is within specs.4. You are not carrying a lot of unnecessary weight in your car.5. Try never to cross the 2000 RPM mark unless you are travelling at more than 50 mph. Do not accelerate or brake abruptly.6. Do not run the AC very high. Try using the "auto" feature if you have automatic temperature control.

[bb700092]

Nissan sucks. Get used to it. I learned that after dropping $31k. Toyota, Honda or Acura are better choices. Wish I made a different choice. Too late now.

Why would you say that?

I have/had a

1997 Altima GXE2007 Maxima SL2009 Maxima SV2009 Versa SL HB2009 Altima 2.5SL

and I do not agree with you. IMHO, Honda is wayyy overpriced for their product and Toyota is so bland that even a brand new car feels old and used. I test drove the 2009 Fit, Civic, Insight, Accord 4cyl, Yaris (sedan and HB), Corolla, Prius, Camry 4cyl (non-hybrid and hybrid) before purchasing my Versa and Altima. None of them enticed me enough.

[R.]

Wow I must drive a little hard on my car, I'm at 20.2. Lol.

[ALLEGROAE]

My 09 2.5S shows mid 30's for mpg on the highway. Not sure what your reason for it being much lower.

[Nicky Altima]

As marlin said..how do you calculate the MPGs? do NOT trust the numbers on the computer..they are not accurate..you have to divide the actual gallons used by the miles travelled..

I average 30MPG on my last road trip and I had my 18s on..so you should get somewhere close to mid 30s with the stocks..

[atlanta3.5]

you may also want to look into some option to improve airflow like a K&NAirpressure (as mentioned already) does make a big difference.Those number seem low though. I drive like a nut and get 22 on my 3.5 in the city....

[finnsepp]

Thanks for all your comments. FYI. I calculate the mileage each tank and also the total for the life of the car. MPG = Miles per Gallon. Divide the miles driven by the gallons of fuel consumed. My mpg calcs don't agree with the dash computer. I realize each fill isn't accurate but overall I'm still about 15% below what I think it should be. It's very cold now but I'm getting less with the Altima than I ever got with the Camry in similar temperatures. I drive for mileage; no jack rabbit starts, check tire inflation, no extra weight, drive steady speed, etc. Same way and route I drove with the '07 Civic & '06 Camry. I would guess the use of 5-30 oil reduces the mileage a bit compared to the 5-20 that Honda recommends but probably not 15%.

[Idok]

Increase your tire pressure 3-4 lbs over the recommended pressure . When you change your oil switch to 0W30 synthetic for the winter then when the weather warms go back to 5W 30. Limit your warm up time to 30-90 seconds but keep RPM'S low until it is warmed up. I just turned 20,000 on my 08 coupe which I bought new last March and I am averaging about 30--31 mpg for the winter and that is with winter tires and the ethanol they require here. In the summer my mileage increases to 33-34. I drive about 100 miles per day round trip to work.

[finnsepp]

Thanks.I'm running the tires at 35-36 psi and do a very limited warm up. I'll consider the synthetic but am puzzled why Honda specifies 5W-20 oil and Nissan 5W-30. Does Honda have closer engine tolerances? I'm in a cold weather climate and expect the mileage to get better as it warms up but I was expecting the CVT to help me get better mileage than the '06 Camry, 31.5 mgp, but not so.

[matterial]

It probably is mainly due to the cold weather in MN. I average about 30-31 mpg...but in the winter I get only 26 to 28 with a 2.5SL CVT.Check it when you get to the warmer months.

[ALLEGROAE]

One impact is the winter-blend fuel that we get during the winter months. It will NOT achieve the same mileage as the summber-blend regardless of what you do.

[finnsepp]

Thanks I realize the winter blend with ethanol will reduce my mileage and the cold weather only makes it worse but my previous cars were driven under the same conditions. I consistently got 30 mpg with the Camry during the winter and I've yet to get 29. The mileage isn't terrible but it's not what I was expecting. It will get better as the weather gets warm but I'll have to get 34-35 mpg in the summer in order to match the 31.5 mpg average the Camry gave me over 40,000 miles. Silly me, I expected the CVT to give me even better mileage than the conventional auto transmission. Not so far.