Another MPG issue

[geforce]

Hey everyone

New to the forums! I decided to buy a Rogue based on the reviews I saw here, especially about the awesome gas mileage.

Unfortunately, I'm running into bad gas mileage issues with my new Rogue now
I've been getting pretty poor mileage ever since I got my car. I read somewhere that I should give it some time to break in, but now I'm at 13000 kms (7800 mi) and two oil changes and the mileage is still the same.

I get about 400-450 kms (240 - 270 mi) per fill up, which is about 55 litres (14.5 gallons). That equates to about 13L/100km (17.24mpg). I drive my car to work, which is about 60% city and 40% highway. At BEST, I've gotten 480 kms, but that only happened once and it was because I was driving all highway. In my books, that's pretty bad.

So anyway - when my car was in for service, I mentioned it to the service guy. He said it's "normal" and from what he's seen, people are averaging around the same as me. That's total B.S. because I know people are getting better mileage than me for a fact.

He got the technician to run diagnostics and everything and he said my O2 numbers look fine. Nothing wrong anywhere.

I don't know what I should do... I really want my car fixed so I can get the same mileage everyone else is getting. It's impossible to get the dealership to fix it if everything keeps showing "normal".

Any ideas anyone?

[kerrton]

Hi there, I agree your gas mileage is quite bad, and yes there are lots of ideas/possible causes, and many of them have been discussed in detail in existing threads accessible from the glossary/table of contents which I encourage you to read.

I'm going to assume that because your service shop did a complete diagnostic, everything is mechanically working properly. So that leaves the most common culprit - driving style. I do not presume to know how you drive your car, but when you drive if your rpms are consistently above 2000, you will not get great efficiency from your Rogue. Also on the highway if you run at high speeds that rev the engine over the low 2000s, your milage will plummet.

With a light foot, the Rogue powertrain is a tool that will enable you to return some great efficiency, and over time the Engine and Trans Control Unit/computer will learn your driving style and actually fine-tune the drivetrain to your style (Nissan calls it "adaptive logic control"). So the more efficient you drive, the greater the benefits over time as the trans will start to anticipate your light foot and select a higher gear ratio sooner to save fuel. Braking is equally important, if you don't coast in your car, keep on the gas until the last minute coming up to a red light then push hard on the brakes, your mileage will suffer. Keep in mind that when you are cruising, as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator, you will be using zero gasoline and the engine is only running because of your momentum being transferred from the transmission to the engine pistons - any time you're coasting this is very efficient, so coast often and brake lightly. If you drive like this, you'll be surprised how often you won't even need to brake because the light will turn green and you'll be ready to accelerate again

[kerrton]

Another big factor is temperature and winter gasoline. Do you live in an area that gets cold winter temps? If so that will really drop your efficiency and things will improve with warmer temps and once all the winter gasoline runs out and we start running summer blend.

By the way I get around 550 kms on a tank in normal city driving, with some highway driving I'll at least get 600 and as high as 650 if the conditions are perfect.

[geforce]

Thanks kerrton

I've read through a few of the threads about common poor gas mileage issues, but none of the ones (that I've read, at least) seem to apply to me. I'll try to keep reading more to see if one is more similar to my situation.

As far as my driving style - I drive with a light foot. I always have because I am trying to get the best mileage I can get. I don't accelerate hard and I don't break hard or at the last minute. I live in a temperate city which is never very cold or hot (Vancouver, Canada). The only thing I can think of is that some areas are a bit hilly. It's not that bad though, so I can't see it making the mileage so much worse.

What the service centre did do was reset my car's adaptive logic control thing. I can't see it making a difference though since I've always driven with a light foot and it's not going to change anytime soon.

One thing I did notice about my car is that the acceleration is inconsistent. The service centre said that's just how CVT is like. On the same stretch of road, sometimes it would feel like my car accelerates really good.. sometimes it feels like it doesn't want to move. On several occassions, when I'm parking, I would just tip the gas pedal to inch forward, and for some strange reason, it would SURGE forward. Scares the crap out of me because I'm trying to just to inch forward. I almost hit a post one time because of that.

[ImStricken06]

i hope your awd clutch isnt seized into awd mode 24/7 - sometimes gets stuck, or activated at times it shouldnt. (hence the erratic poor acceleration)

[geforce]

I thought about that as a possibilty.. That would explain the poor mileage too right? I'm guessing running awd all the time would eat a lot of gas.

[ImStricken06]

I thought about that as a possibilty.. That would explain the poor mileage too right? I'm guessing running awd all the time would eat a lot of gas.

the fuel consumption would be big time. it possible your experiencing this issue.

[Rogue One]

Hey everyone

New to the forums! I decided to buy a Rogue based on the reviews I saw here, especially about the awesome gas mileage.

Unfortunately, I'm running into bad gas mileage issues with my new Rogue now
I've been getting pretty poor mileage ever since I got my car. I read somewhere that I should give it some time to break in, but now I'm at 13000 kms (7800 mi) and two oil changes and the mileage is still the same.

I get about 400-450 kms (240 - 270 mi) per fill up, which is about 55 litres (14.5 gallons). That equates to about 13L/100km (17.24mpg). I drive my car to work, which is about 60% city and 40% highway. At BEST, I've gotten 480 kms, but that only happened once and it was because I was driving all highway. In my books, that's pretty bad.

So anyway - when my car was in for service, I mentioned it to the service guy. He said it's "normal" and from what he's seen, people are averaging around the same as me. That's total B.S. because I know people are getting better mileage than me for a fact.
SNIP<<

Welcome! No, I'd say your MPG is atypical and the dealership is blowing smoke up your skirt. Here's what I've been getting...

[Honva]

Like others said, your fuel consumption is abnormally high for what you described. The only time I recorded 13L/100km is when I was stuck in down town traffic at rush hour. For the past 3 years, my 2009 Rogue averaged 10.2L/100km with half highway and half city (busy Toronto traffic). My 2012 is too early to tell but first 900km shows even better results at around 9.3L/100km.

You didn't mention in your post. Did you use sports mode all the time? took overdrive off? or use L often?

[kerrton]

Something is definately up.....just throwing another idea out there: where do you fill up? If you use an ethanol blended gasoline this can have a minor negative effect on efficiency as ethanol is less energy dense than regular gasoline.

[ImStricken06]

also check your tire pressure, and make sure your not lugging around extra weight in the trunk.
i would run another test with a full tank, and compare.

[geforce]

Like others said, your fuel consumption is abnormally high for what you described. The only time I recorded 13L/100km is when I was stuck in down town traffic at rush hour. For the past 3 years, my 2009 Rogue averaged 10.2L/100km with half highway and half city (busy Toronto traffic). My 2012 is too early to tell but first 900km shows even better results at around 9.3L/100km.

You didn't mention in your post. Did you use sports mode all the time? took overdrive off? or use L often?

Thanks for all the input guys.. much appreciated!

I've been wanting to get to the bottom of this gas consumption issue, so I've been pretty diligent with stuff like tire pressure and fill up almost exclusively at Chevron using 87 oct. My model doesn't have a sports mode (I don't think). I have the Canadian 2011 SV model with no tech package. I never use L and overdrive is on default position (there's indicator light is not on, forgot if that means overdrive off or on... I remember it's the good setting though haha). I drive by myself about 95% of the time and carry no cargo at all. I've even thought of taking out the full-size spare to lighten the load, but I figure it doesn't weigh enough to affect consumption that much.

Rogue One - those are some awesome numbers! I'm so jealous!

I'm really suspecting the awd drive issue now. I'm scared that if I bring it in to the service centre, they're just going to give me their famous excuses again - "cannot reproduce problem" and "computer diagnostics show normal". Is there any way I can check the awd problem on my own?

[ImStricken06]

Like others said, your fuel consumption is abnormally high for what you described. The only time I recorded 13L/100km is when I was stuck in down town traffic at rush hour. For the past 3 years, my 2009 Rogue averaged 10.2L/100km with half highway and half city (busy Toronto traffic). My 2012 is too early to tell but first 900km shows even better results at around 9.3L/100km.

You didn't mention in your post. Did you use sports mode all the time? took overdrive off? or use L often?

Thanks for all the input guys.. much appreciated!

I've been wanting to get to the bottom of this gas consumption issue, so I've been pretty diligent with stuff like tire pressure and fill up almost exclusively at Chevron using 87 oct. My model doesn't have a sports mode (I don't think). I have the Canadian 2011 SV model with no tech package. I never use L and overdrive is on default position (there's indicator light is not on, forgot if that means overdrive off or on... I remember it's the good setting though haha). I drive by myself about 95% of the time and carry no cargo at all. I've even thought of taking out the full-size spare to lighten the load, but I figure it doesn't weigh enough to affect consumption that much.

Rogue One - those are some awesome numbers! I'm so jealous!

I'm really suspecting the awd drive issue now. I'm scared that if I bring it in to the service centre, they're just going to give me their famous excuses again - "cannot reproduce problem" and "computer diagnostics show normal". Is there any way I can check the awd problem on my own?

honestly, no. there isnt a way you test it by your self. between the vdc and all the other computers its going to keep throwing it into awd mode, and giving you false readings. i would head back to the dealer and tell them you feel a serious loos in power, and it feels like awd is always on.

[geforce]

If they put it on a machine like a dyno where all 4 wheels are on rollers, would you be able to tell if awd is on?

[ImStricken06]

If they put it on a machine like a dyno where all 4 wheels are on rollers, would you be able to tell if awd is on?

you know thats a tough one. VDC might detect wheel slip somehow. awd dyno's are made for full-time all wheel drive vehicles.

once our car reaches 6mph the rear differential clutch disengages and the rear wheels should stop receiving power (while the propeller shaft continues).
if you put our car on that dyno at 7mph the rear tires would stop spinning the same speed as the front and VDC might kick in trying to remedy the problem thinking the car is on ice, or spinning. and idk if there is a way to completely disengage vdc on our cars.

you could unplug the rear wheel sensors, but that could end up screwing a lot up with the transfer-case etc. murano's were known to blow trannies and transfer-cases out because people locked the awd at high speeds.

i think the only way is to unplug the clutch system from any electrical signal supply and see if the rear wheels still spin while on a lift.