How's Your Gas Mileage?

[boingo82]

How much do Versa's weigh? I was looking into them but the mileage is sounding nowhere near what I expected. My old B13 Sentra (91-94) got 43MPG on a 500 mile drive (1 tank! 13.2 gallon tank! And I had a passenger.) and got 30mpg on all city. My B14 (95-2000?) only gets 36MPG HW and about 26 city, but weighs a couple hundred pounds more and is 4 door. Is anyone breaking into the high 30's low 40's with this car?

Oh both my cars are/were 5speeds with the GA16DE (1.6L 110HP/115HP motor)

Versas weigh 200 -400 lbs more than B13 Sentras did if I remember right. My b13 was about 2500 lbs, Versa is about 2800-2900 lbs.Gotta expect the Versa to get worse mileage. BTW, you beat me, the best my Sentra ever got was 42mpg. That car was sluggish as all hell though especially on high altitude hills. (Yes I did have the GA16DE and a 5-spd.) Sometimes couldn't even get the poor thing to go the speedlimit on a hilly freeway. Esp with the AC on.

Also you gotta love that you can fit people who aren't double-amputees in the Versa's back seat. Remember that on the B13? Anyone in back had to lick their knees just to fit.

[collegeversa25]

my mpg still sucks, haven't been driving above the 2000 rpm mark. also the weather if finally getting warmer here in iowa. i am pretty frustrated with the 20 mpg, i have been making smooth starts and stops - i guess i just don't understand how some of you get 30 mpg.

[boingo82]

my mpg still sucks, haven't been driving above the 2000 rpm mark. also the weather if finally getting warmer here in iowa. i am pretty frustrated with the 20 mpg, i have been making smooth starts and stops - i guess i just don't understand how some of you get 30 mpg.

Is that all city, all highway, mixed, etc?It's one of two things - your driving, or your car.It sounds like you are doing everything right to get good mileage, but it's hard to really know from here. If you are driving like you say, and your calculations are correct, I'd take it to the dealer and have them investigate.

You haven't modded the car, have you?

[XterraVersa]

Since I started tracking my MPG I average 29mpg. The Highest I've gotten is 34.9 and the worst is 22.3 (but that included a lot of sitting in the car to enjoy the nice AC). I use https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mp...arage to keep track of my mileage. A simply on-line site that keeps me from having to go to the work of setting up my own spreadsheet.

I use the same site.

I have the one at ~37mpg. Over 22k miles, but this winter gas is killing me. I haven't had a tank over 33mpg all winter.

[frankoV]

II haven't had a tank over 33mpg all winter.

Break my heart

[collegeversa25]

Is that all city, all highway, mixed, etc?It's one of two things - your driving, or your car.It sounds like you are doing everything right to get good mileage, but it's hard to really know from here. If you are driving like you say, and your calculations are correct, I'd take it to the dealer and have them investigate.

You haven't modded the car, have you?

granted it is all city driving. i was hoping it was a little bit better in the city also. and no i have not modded the car. i will probably take it to the dealer soon.

also i had another question, if the tank is around 13 gallons, each time i fill it up, the pump clicks at around 10 gallons, i fill up when the low gas light displays??

thanks to all

[boingo82]

Yes the light comes on when you need gas but it's not a total emergency yet. You can go 50 miles or more with the light on.

Also in many cars, the location of the fuel pump means you won't ever get 100% of the gas out of there. In the G20 if you drove it all the way to empty (we had a forum member deliberately do this so he could inform the rest of us) it would run out of gas and die with a gallon still in the tank.

However, this doesn't affect your gas mileage.

[collegeversa25]

Other than driving style, weather, tire pressure ,

are there any mechanical reasons my mpg is way below estimated?? if there are any mechanics or anyone with this knowledge, it would be greatly appreciated.

also, i have about 5600 miles on the car, would this affect the gas mileage, the break in period? please explain what the break in period is in a car
Modified by collegeversa25 at 2:26 PM 3/2/2008

[longo]

Hi collegeversa, I too have a Versa that sucks....gas. It has been checked out from computer to road tests and comes up clean. The bad MPG's ( low to mid 20's on the highway) have become an obsession with me. (ask my wife)

I have been trying to eliminate as many reasons as possible to see if the cause is what's left over.

About all I am left with now, is the suggestion from the dealership to use a 'mid-grade' gas (that's what all the new cars leave their dealership with)

Second, don't use a Synthetic oil until 12,000 miles, as the theory is the piston rings won't seat in properly and the engine is pumping gas into the oil pan. (I have used Mobile one since first change)

Both suggestions sound a little dodgy to me, more like "we don't know what the hell is wrong with your Versa so we'll just make up some crap so you'll go away"

I have read of one guy in New York City who uses his Versa to deliver flyers to appartment buildings and he gets 11 MPG.

[collegeversa25]

hi longo

glad to find someone in my situation...i guess but not really. i really just hope the our versa's would get better fuel economy as advertised. frankly i would be happy with 26 to 27 mpg i was getting over the summer! and i read about these people with 30 -35 mpg, almost unbelievable.

hmm well about the oil change, my first was at the dealer, and i hope they used the correct one. i am about to go to the dealer within the next month, just wondering what you think I should ask them. since you have been through this.

also, did your versa get bad mileage since the beginning, as i said before, mine was getting 26 to 27 mpg in the summer, but the past four fill ups, i got about 20 mpg. just wondering what was going on!

arg, frustration

thanks for the advice

[longo]

Hi CV, I see you are from 'Corn Country' and I have read over and over that the fuel for winter conditions has a higher amount of water displacers in it, and of course, there is the question of corn based ethonal killing up to -10% MPG's for everyone.

So first of all I would be patient with the Versa for a while until you can get a good mid-grade gas in it to check that factor. (Our V loves Chevron)

Warm up times=no MPG's and the V's do need some time to get that little cold blue light to go out. I also think that the CVT transmission fluid is stiff and sluggish when cold, as the oil is a lot thicker than a/t fluid..(BTW it has rubber molecules in it as well)

Stop and start urban jungle driving is a killer on MPG for everybody...and those that claim High MPG's around town, I take with a big 'grain of salt'.

If you are getting 20 MPG's around town, lots would say "that's not bad"It's the easy, long haul highway bad MPG's that get me twisted.

Check this link and you will see that lots of other Versa owners are posting low city driving mpg's as well.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

I would drop the lowest numbers as aberrations and discard the highest numbers too.

(just too many people who don't really know how to figure out their MPG's, plus we find our V' very suseptible to head winds and tail winds, one bad, the other good for MPG readings)

As for the OEM oil changes, don't worry about them putting in expensive Syn-Oil...they get their OEM oil in bulk and it ain't Mobile-1.

[collegeversa25]

thanks longo,

i am not too car savvy, so when you say mid grade gas is that just the octane rating. i usually fill up with like the lowest priced gas? is that the right one. does all fuel in Corn Country have ethanol? i see signs with E 85 and I know that i cannot fill up with that stuff. so maybe i am using the wrong fuel. and now actually when i think about it, i started to notice the low mpg after i filled up at BP, and ever since then it has been low. after the BP fill up, i fed the most expensive fuel in, thinking that it would have higher mpg, but of course it didn't. so i must not be using the right fuel?

hmm!

also more for my driving habits,

i don't really warm up, i drive with the blue light on? is that bad??? probably. should i wait until the blue light goes off?

yeah, your right about the big grains of salt! i should be happy with my car. i am planning a trip to chicago soon, and so i think i will see how my V performs on the highway! usually my mpg goes up a little after i drive highway for a little bit. but I haven't driven too far yet, my V only has 5500 miles on it. over the summer, I drove to omaha - i don't remember getting bad mpg that trip.

thanks again for all your help! keep me notified!

[longo]

The Versa owners manual recommends "regular" or 87 Octane fuel for the V'sthe only reason I suggest that you try the next grade up...'Mid' or 89 Octane, is that the Nissan Dealership is using the mid grade for mpg tests and is also using the same brand and the same pump every time, to try and take some variables out of the equation.

Run out the fuel you have in the tank now, and then get a fill-up with the mid-grade (89 octane) at a gas station that you can use all the time. Preferably a Chevron (IMHO)

This is not Gospel...it's just an experiment. Remember when you stopped filling, and then do the same routine next time...i.e. stop filling at one click- off, or 2 click-offs it's up to you...just establish the same refill routine, or your MPG calculations are meaningless.

Also, don't try to do an MPG check after only 100 miles or so...run the tank down to at least half. My Versa will throw huge MPG's on a light top- up for some strange reason, but when the tank gets down well off the 1/2 full mark, then you have somthing to go on.

On your upcoming long highway trip, take note of the wind speed and direction...a good tail wind will make my V' seem like it's making gas...but a strong gusty head wind will make the gas gauge drop like a rock.

In either case MPG windy readings are pretty much useless for comparison.

Solid information on the "Break-In" period is equally confusing, everybody has an opinion, but no consensus, conflicting advice, Old Wives Tales and Dealership Misinformation.

There is a website, hosted by a very sincere and knowledgable mechanic, that claims break-in periods are a MYTH! He says engines experience run- in at the factory, plus micro polishing techniques mean that the motor is probably set in after the first few test drives...not long extended periods.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

My 2 cents worth is this..on the first oil change I installed a magnetic oil drain plug. When I took it out on the next change it looked like a big fur ball.

On the next change, it was covered with more debris, but a lots less, then on the next 2 changes it came out with just a grey smudge on the magnet.

This indicates to me that indeed the engine was making lots of cuttings during the first 3 to 5 thousand miles...now it has tapered off to just a very fine powder-like material that actually disappears when it's touched.

[dannybye]

my mpg still sucks, haven't been driving above the 2000 rpm mark. also the weather if finally getting warmer here in iowa. i am pretty frustrated with the 20 mpg, i have been making smooth starts and stops - i guess i just don't understand how some of you get 30 mpg.

College I really feel for you. If I was getting that lousy gas mileage Id sell the car ASAP. Here is a suggestion maybe to see if the problem is you or the car or any of you that are having a problem with MPG ... see if you can rent a versa somwhere somehow for a day/weekend. Run it for 200-300-400 miles and check your mileage.

2nd sugestion for those of you who are having bad mpg issues. Surely you know someone who has another type of car that gets X MPG gallon ... trade cars for a day or weekend see if you duplcate their mpg It woukld be good if you could get your hands on a Fit or a Yaris ...you know something that is supposed to get great gas mileage

Anyway again I'm thrilled with my V Am I the only person here getting over 40mpg with the car?

[collegeversa25]

thanks for the new info. i will try the 89 octane gas!and calculate it that way! for the total gallons per tank, should i divide miles driven by the gallons filled or should i divide by 13 gallons, as some Versa onwners say the tank holds. but each time i fill up, it clicks at 10 gallons. as for selling the car, that is probably not an option!

well i will keep you all updated!!

[longo]

When you do the next re-fill, re-set the milage by pushing the little black button in on the speedo and hold untill it re-sets to OOOO.

Then when you do the next re-fill, (stoping the filling at the same point as the last time)...divide the recorded milage on odometer by the number of gallons you just put in = MPG...i.e. 300 miles...divided by say..8 gallons would equal 37.5 MPGs (good luck with getting THAT)

then reset the odometer to 0000, again and you are now ready for the next test cycle.

Lots easier than borrowing someone elses car to see what they get for MPG's.,

[JoshH]

I get around 26-27mpg with a heavy foot. I shift in the 3k-5k range most of the time. My typical week is about 30miles highway and 20miles city driving per day (weekdays).

[keanucosmo]

According to the Versa Specs the SL with CVT weighs 2770 lbs.

Don't know what your old Sentras weighed but probably a few hundred pounds less.

Oh, BTW the Nissan Dealership answer to why my Versa sucks gas was that I had mentioned that I have been using Mobile -1 oil since the first change.

He said they are "telling new owners not to use Synthetic until at least 12,000 miles"

Acording to their theory, my piston rings have not set in as a result using Synthetic-Oil too soon.

So I guess I have killed it with kindness?

That's pure BS. Mobil 1 is Factory fill on many high performance vehicles including GT-R.

I have used Mobil 1 5w30 since the 1st oil change @3500 miles in my 07 and 08 S'. Overall mileage on each is over 31.5 with 65%highway and 35% city driving

[achr]

Without knowing which transmission is involved, a lot of the comparisons are meaningless.

I have a Versa SL with CVT. All gas receipts have been logged in an EXCEL spreadsheet since new so I know exactly what my car delivers. I now have 11,500 miles on my Versa and it has seen a miserably cold winter in the process. My driving is approximately 65% highway/35% City. On the highway, I drive between 65 & 70 mph which keeps me below the aerodynamic BRICK WALL. In the city I generally drive moderately but my Versa has definitely seen a number of full throttle attacks.

Overall U.S. mileage to date is 29.46 mpg which I think is pretty good. It was definitely higher overall before the winter hit. Best ever tank with straight highway driving was 37.2 mpg for 462 miles. Worst ever with straight city driving in winter has been 23.86 mpg over a couple hundred miles.

Hope this helps.

[collegeversa25]

its nice to know that others are having the great discrepancy between tanks, depending on how they drive!

[Treetopflyer]

Hi all,I am new to this forum and I googled it because I, too am having horrible mileage. It is a 2008 (Canadian vehicle). I average NO MORE than 20 MPG. This car is all highway driving. I have a quest that we drive everywhere else. I just use the Versa to drive to work and back only and it is 98% highway. I took it into Nissan and they gave me the usual BS that the advertised MPG is based on pristine conditions blah blah blah. Ya, but to get 20 MPG???? I can't seem to squeeze another mile out of a full tank. Man am I pissed off, since I bought the versa to offset the guzzler quest. Nissan replaced the air flow sensor but still no joy. If anyone has any info on things that Nissan has said or things that have helped I'd love to hear it,Regards,TTF

[longo]

HI There in "TO"...I too have 'Canadian model Versa' but doubt that is the underlying problem with our Low MPG's....first, one thing of interest is Nissan Canada's MPG sticker itself is totally so far out of whack that they should be sued. The MPG's on the sticker are in Metric and Imperial Units...when was the last time you bought anything in Imperial measurment?

Thing is, it makes the Versa look like it gets over 40 MPG's. And in the Metric measurment, it has to be converted to something else that makes sense, so I guess if you want to calculate your MPG's 20% higher than U.S. gallons that's up to you..but my point is: the EPA should NOT allow them to post those 20%-higher numbers in the first place. The obvious reason Nissan does it, of course, is to increase sales.

Remember that the Versa MPG's have been downgraded in the U.S. EPA ratings, along with all other vehicles, but in Canada..they are still hiding behind the old numbers.

Well, now that I have that off my chest, on to your problem. I am begging to think that either the high MPG's reported by some Versa owners are flukes of tailwind conditions, or the Versa has a preference for certain brands of gas, or the actual calculations of the numbers are suspect, because of the Versa's odd fuel filler-tube to the tank making it impossible to get the same amount in each time, without running it over, and screwing up the breather vent filter...like I may have done. (They did replace the filter on warranty)Mine too has had a complete checkout and nothing was "out of spec" either.

The only advice I got was "try using a mid-grade gas" not 'regular', contrary to the owner's manual.

And then the most bizarre explanation was that my use of "Mobil-1" has prevented the rings from seating.

It now has 11,500 miles.

[Treetopflyer]

Thanks for the reply, I am averaging (in litres) 10-11 litres / 100 km. that is about the same or worse than what i get in my Quest. TOTALLY unacceptable. The dealer keeps making excuses. But everyone I know with Versas is Canada are getting around 7L/ 100 km. Even if I do the conversion, it is still only 20-21 MPG not the 30 most are getting. Man is this ever frustrating!!

[kc5f]

I am begging to think that either the high MPG's reported by some Versa owners are flukes of tailwind conditions, or the Versa has a preference for certain brands of gas, or the actual calculations of the numbers are suspect, because of the Versa's odd fuel filler-tube to the tank making it impossible to get the same amount in each time, without running it over...

Yup, you got me - it's the tailwinds both directions to work and back! Especially helps going back up the 1000' climb on the way home!

Truthfully, I don't use anything special for gas, stopping at whichever of about five stations have a good price when I'm getting close to empty. As for not getting it filled the same each time, that's one reason I track averages instead of looking at any one tank and smiling or frowning.

Other than that, I think maybe the CVT really does like having some hills, as we do around here, and I let the cruise control pick the sweet spot almost all the time. So far, so good!

[longo]

Well, TO', not "everyone in Canada" (or the U.S.) is getting over 30mpg's, just on the last 2 pages of this formum there are 3 of us who are not.

It might more usefull to start a new posting here that is soley used by people who for unknown reasons are getting less that stellar MPG's ...until one of us figures out what, if anything is wrong with our gas guzzlers.

I don't think we are going to find any technical answers to our mpg issues here, as the majority of Versa posters seem quite satisfied with what ever mpg's they are getting. For them I am happy.

The difference between you and I on this matter, is, of the other vehicles that I own...(except my old 5 ltr. F150), they all get better mpgs. than the Versa

My next move is to install a Scangauge next month and see what I can tell from the info there.

Other than not getting decent mpgs out of that little 1.8 ltr engine, I still think the Versa is the best little econo car on the road today.

Only problem I have is mine is just not very 'ECONO'

I' thinkin' this will fit nicey behind the door of that little compartment above the radio. And if I ever get the Versa up to this speed, that's probably the MPG's I'd be getting too.




Modified by longo at 9:45 PM 3/5/2008

[frankoV]

Thanks for the reply, I am averaging (in litres) 10-11 litres / 100 km. that is about the same or worse than what i get in my Quest. TOTALLY unacceptable.

Yup. Just like me: 10-11L/100km . . . like my Villager [Quest]

Quote »Man is this ever frustrating!![/quote]yup again.

[longo]

Hey Frankohabs....what's your story....had any dealership visits that gave you any insights into the MPG's?

[frankoV]

The MPG's on the sticker are in Metric and Imperial Units...when was the last time you bought anything in Imperial measurment?

Actually, our conversions are usually to imperial units. We may have a larger MPG number but our tank is only 11 gallons.

Hey Frankohabs....what's your story....had any dealership visits that gave you any insights into the MPG's?

I only have 4600 km on the car (under 3,000 mi) so haven't been to the dealership yet. Am waiting for first -- maybe second -- oil change to see if there is a difference (rings seated etc).

Alos waiting to see if warmer weather makes a difference. I'm somewhat patient -- waiting until June to be really ticked off by [lack of]mileage instead of just ticked off.

[srellim234]

As you know, I'm one of those who is unhappy with the gas mileage I'm getting around town with my Versa. I was able to discover a lot about gas mileage on my cross-country trip down here to Florida. The gas mileage is very sensitive and varies widely.

Gas mileage when I could set the cruise control for the tank was much better than passing through cities and constantly being forced to speed up and slow down in traffic. Head/crosswinds in the hills of western Texas knocked over 4 mpg off of the mileage I got across flat southern New Mexico(35.7 at 75 mph). I discovered first hand that this vehicle with CVT is perfect for 45 mph steady driving without signals as I got over 40 mpg down highway 98 in Florida.

Those of us resigned to more city than highway driving, lots of signals, and hills are just destined to be frustrated with poor gas mileage as the Versa is a good car for steady, flat speeds. It is just NOT a good mpg in the city car.

[bucksnort]

29.6 on a 260 mile road trip yesterday. 65-75 mph all day. Only have 700 miles on the buggy so it only can get better! I'm happy so far.Should I be pizzed?