Gas mileage drop

[edogg27]

So my last 4 or 5 tanks ive seen a major gad mileage drop. Usually to a full tank i get about 210 to a tank. Latley ive only been getting around 180. Nothing had changed from usual so idk whats going on.

[yngw13]

man you have alot of problems with your pathy...how many threads now???

flowmaster is an mpg gremlin................

[Towncivilian]

Change your fuel filter if it's ancient, then run two tanks with one large bottle of Chevron Techron each.

How many miles do you have on your PF?

[edogg27]

Well the only problems i have now are the gas mileage drop and the little click sound on my front passanger tire whenever i go over a bump. Everything else is actually fine. And it has 133k i bought it with 76k never changed fuel filter. I asked my dealer and they said it wasent necessary

[Chuck Tribolet]

So my last 4 or 5 tanks ive seen a major gad mileage drop. Usually to a full tank i get about 210 to a tank. Latley ive only been getting around 180. Nothing had changed from usual so idk whats going on.

Only 210 miles to a tank? If I run mine until the warning light comes on, I get about 250 miles. That's a mixture of freeway and
around town, about 15MPG. It used to be about 17-18 MPG, occasionally 20, but she's getting tired at 206,000 miles.

[edogg27]

I get about 230 or so if i go to the warning light usually i dont do that but even before my flowmaster the last few tanks the warming light hits at 200. I mean i drive mostley all local but drivig habits hvent changed.

[Pathfound49]

Mine drops around 1-2 mpg when the winter rolls around. I don't know where you live, but extra warm up time plus the torque converter taking longer to lock up due to colder trans temps makes a big difference.

[edogg27]

I mean ya I guess that could be it.. But I'm thinking a fuel filter change and maybe some other maintinence couldnt hurt. Jw if anything would help

[Pathfound49]

The fuel filter won't cause a drop in mpg. Just make it run like a@#. Most likely a sensor. Throttle position, maf, temperature sensor. Does it smell rich(gassy smell) coming out the tailpipe? Could be a fouled plug or coil problem. That will make the engine work harder to accomplish the same end. More fuel used.

[Towncivilian]

Change the fuel filter regardless, an original fuel filter at 133k is surely partially restricted and is making the fuel pump work harder, which may potentially shorten the fuel pump's life. As stated above, it won't help MPG but it does affect the ability to reach higher RPMs.

[edogg27]

Ya I'm gonna get on that this week and see if I feel a difference

[SBK03SE]

Wowsers... and I complain about 275...

My question is, if we have a 21.5 gallon tank, we should be getting at LEAST 344 if you get 16 minimum.
I've gotten it to 293 and I got scared. When the light comes on, it fills up with ~17* gallons, so what gives?

Is there gunk in the tank that is taking up space? I've been filling up with 91 the last three tanks...still waiting for that "performance" and mpg gain . One more tank and I'm back to 87.


*I'm talking about a 2003 SE with about 90k.

edit: I meant 17 not 15. But yea, can anyone explain why we don't get at least 344?

[Towncivilian]

I fill up with about 17 gallons after going ~290 miles which triggers my low fuel light (this is with little to no use of A/C in the winter, 93 octane).

17.53 MPG recently:

[edogg27]

I run 93 octane and never use the ac in the winter just the heat. I dont drive it to hard and still dont get more than 220 withought a gas light

[Towncivilian]

Were spark plugs replaced around 105k miles? If not, replace them with OEM plugs. You can obtain 6 NGK PLFR5A-11 (6240) spark plugs for $40.54 + tax at Advance Auto Parts if you order online with discount code RETMENOT123 and pick-up in store. There is a guide on changing spark plugs here.

Air filter clean? If not, replace it with an OEM or Wix/NAPA Gold as they seal best in the airbox in my experience.

Run some Techron in the fuel as I mentioned in my first reply.

[Chris.m]

Wowsers... and I complain about 275...

I've gotten it to 293 and I got scared. When the light comes on, it fills up with ~17* gallons, so what gives?

We just have a fairly good sized reserve.

I have driven quite a bit under E

Interestingly enough, when you are that low and park on a hill nose down, the engine will cut out.

[wisehunter1]

Tire pressure brought my 15mpg to about 18mpg...

[yngw13]

what psi? Gonna check tom

[Towncivilian]

I run about 32 PSI in my Yokohama Geolandar HT/S tires (stock size). 95% city driving.

[SBK03SE]

I usually run 35-38. I'll try 32.

[wisehunter1]

went from 31 to 35psi

[humsafar77]

I fill with 64 Liter when the Light Comes On. and then it goes 330 kms (approx206 mile) with mix driving. this is the case with my earlier 2003 Pathy and current 2002 QX4 both have around 110K kms on he Odometer.


This breed consumes a lot of Fuel.

[asnorton44]

I am lucky to get 220 out of a tank, then again I do not drive with fuel efficiency in mind.

[SBK03SE]

Yea but even driving hard shouldn't cost you a 50mpg difference... that's insane. Does anyone know what they were getting when the car was new?

It still baffles me the "lost" gas...

[shelby500krz]

My 01 gets close to 240 miles a tank. By 230 the light starts to go on and all I do is highway driving. I figure this equates to 16mpg with a 16 gallon tank. I have a cold air intake, different exhaust, and the 2 inch lift. From what I can tell none of these have affected my mpg because before all of these modifications it was the same miles for a tank.

[Pathfound49]

I get a little over 18 mpg on long highway runs, and about 13-14 around town/short trips. Right in line with nissan specs. 102k miles on mine.

[DAiNiUS]

I get a little over 18 mpg on long highway runs, and about 13-14 around town/short trips. Right in line with nissan specs. 102k miles on mine.

That's exactly what I get. I record all my fuel stops on an iPhone app, and my average is 13.6. If I drive on a highway doing 55-60mph then I'll get 18. Ever since the temperatures have dropped I've been getting around 11.5mpg.

I'm seriously considering getting another car as the gas millage is pathetic. I wouldn't mind it if I had 350hp under the hood, but horrible gas millage and no power is just sad.

[shelby500krz]

I'm seriously considering getting another car as the gas millage is pathetic. I wouldn't mind it if I had 350hp under the hood, but horrible gas millage and no power is just sad.

Same here

That's exactly what I get. I record all my fuel stops on an iPhone app, and my average is 13.6. If I drive on a highway doing 55-60mph then I'll get 18. Ever since the temperatures have dropped I've been getting around 11.5mpg.

I get around 16 when I'm highway driving around 75-80mph

[Densetsu]

The light on my 2004 in winter goes on around the 350-400 km mark (220-250 mi). That figure drops to around 300km in extreme cold, like when we had weather under -30C a few weeks ago. I also notice a dip in mileage, maybe 25km or so, in the fall time when the gas stations switch to a winter blend but the weather is still warm. Maybe it's in my head or maybe my driving style changes, but I always thought it was the extra additives in the winter gas.

Ethanol blends also aren't as fuel efficient. A couple years ago most stations switched their regular gas to 10% ethanol, and it was noticeable. Before that switch there were stations that advertised the fact that they used ethanol blends... maybe people don't realize they get less mileage out of it? Or maybe the effect is more/less noticeable depending on the vehicle. My Pathy certainly noticed it.

Increasing the tire pressure helps, but on icy/snowy roads that's asking for trouble. I've tried it in the summer, but around the 35psi mark the tires I've had start to get noticeable wear in the middle vs. the edges around the 35psi mark.

[02psyhcopathy]

My 01 gets close to 240 miles a tank. By 230 the light starts to go on and all I do is highway driving. I figure this equates to 16mpg with a 16 gallon tank. I have a cold air intake, different exhaust, and the 2 inch lift. From what I can tell none of these have affected my mpg because before all of these modifications it was the same miles for a tank.

thats interseting CAi and exhaust are suppose to boost mpg and hp, maybe you just like to listen to the intake and exhaust too much to let up on the throttle.

Ive noticed the same since about October i use to get 13.5-14 mpg and now im lucky to get 11, has to be the colder months.