I'm new to the site and I've been reading a lot of good information. I know there are several other gas mileage threads on here but I can't really find much info relating to my current problem. I bought a 2001 Frontier CC S/C Automatic (which I like very much) last week with 109,000 miles on it. I changed the air filter and went on a trip which was all freeway for about 180 miles and got 12.3mpg. I then filled up (with premium) and drove another 160miles over hilly country roads and got 15.5mpg. I then came back on the freeway for 180 miles and again got about 12-13mpg. Now I know that these trucks are not great on gas but I find it weird I am getting worse on the freeway. I was only running 65-70mph at about 2400-2500 rpms. Any suggestions as to what the problem may be? Knock sensor, O2 sensors, ect.?
Gas mileage worse on highway than in city
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I am right there with ya. I am noticing pretty poor gas milage in my first week of ownership.
Matt
Matt
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cars today are geared to get optimal mileage around 45-50 mph, but of course we all drive 70-80, hence poor mileage
Thanks
Thanks for the replies everyone. I didn't expect to get great mileage, that's not why I bought it. I was just making sure my truck wasn't out of the ordinary. The worse mileage on the freeway was something I've never really seen before. The 5speed Cavalier likes the open roads
Now...time for some more posts on some other topics.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I didn't expect to get great mileage, that's not why I bought it. I was just making sure my truck wasn't out of the ordinary. The worse mileage on the freeway was something I've never really seen before. The 5speed Cavalier likes the open roads
Now...time for some more posts on some other topics.
dont think he was asking for 40mpg.
just concerned that freeway speeds kill fuel mileage.
and yes, these trucks are a bit odd. My N/A truck gets the best mileage at about 80 mph, but there is only about 1 to 2 mpg difference between 50 and 80.
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I've been noticing this oddity in these trucks.
I've never gotten worse than 18mpg, but never better than 21mpg, and the thing that strikes me is that any fluctuation in mileage seems to be completely unrelated to how the truck is driven. I've driven 75mph with a 500 pound load in the bed and gotten 21mpg, but I've also driven 60mph unloaded, and gotten 18.5mpg, and vice-versa. This is on the same stretch of highway, same areas of town, under the same weather conditions, so.... who knows.
On the minus side, I can't finesse better mileage out of it no matter what I do.
On the plus side, I can drive it like raving maniac without worrying that I'm killing the gas mileage.
I do wish someone could explain it to me though.
I've never gotten worse than 18mpg, but never better than 21mpg, and the thing that strikes me is that any fluctuation in mileage seems to be completely unrelated to how the truck is driven. I've driven 75mph with a 500 pound load in the bed and gotten 21mpg, but I've also driven 60mph unloaded, and gotten 18.5mpg, and vice-versa. This is on the same stretch of highway, same areas of town, under the same weather conditions, so.... who knows.
On the minus side, I can't finesse better mileage out of it no matter what I do.
On the plus side, I can drive it like raving maniac without worrying that I'm killing the gas mileage.
I do wish someone could explain it to me though.
Best I have gotten is 21 mpg. Topped off on fuel in Houston on the 290 between the beltway and FM 529. Jumped on the beltway and run around to 59 north. I had a bit of a south wind, but kept the truck between 70 and 80 except thru the towns until I topped off in Nacadoches (I know I can make it home from there without fuel). My hand calculated fuel mileage was just a hair over 21.
The worse fuel mile I have gotten was about 13.5 mpg. I made two trips hauling cars from my aunts house to another uncles house. 92 miles round trip each. Truck done great towing, probably would have done better on fuel if I wasn't running back empty like I wanted to be somewhere else (70 mph).
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That's actually great from driving at those speeds.
Sorry, I take it back, I got over 23mpg once, but only once. Who knows what factors contributed. I might have mis-calculated.
As for mileage at those highway speeds, I've only noticed an average 200 rpm difference between driving 65 and 75 mph, which might explain why mileage doesn't really improve by "babying" it. Has anyone else noticed this?
Sorry, I take it back, I got over 23mpg once, but only once. Who knows what factors contributed. I might have mis-calculated.
As for mileage at those highway speeds, I've only noticed an average 200 rpm difference between driving 65 and 75 mph, which might explain why mileage doesn't really improve by "babying" it. Has anyone else noticed this?
Wow, I would love to get anything near that mileage. I have non-SC and I cannot get better than 15... I usually average 13 and thats driving like an old fella. Drives me nuts! If I could even average 18, I wouldn't complain. I kknow the 20's are out of the question
My driving style keeps the engine above 2500 rpms until Im at the speed I need to be. if your putting around keeping the revs low, thats not helping. You will feel your truck start to really pull again about 2700 to about 4000 rpms. thats where the 3.3L engines like to run.
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I've noticed that too. It feels kind of like a dog until I hit 2700 to 2900 rpm, then it almost feels as if a turbocharger kicks in. By 4000, your eyes are in the back of your throat. I try to avoid the temptation to under-rev it between shifts. Even as Fort-Knox-tough as the Nissan V-6s are, lugging it even slightly has got to be hurting it in the long run.
And the power falls off as you pass 5000 rpms.
as counterintuitive as it seems, the tuning and the engine like to be wound up.
The tuning on these trucks, the stroke length of the engine, the gearing, all work together to form a sweet spot. every vehicle has one, just a matter of finding it (and this is what burns me when people tell me slowing down saves fuel).
Yes, faster movement means more drag, but if your engine plays as much of a role as areodynamics.
I know just about every vehicle I have owned was a bit different. even my gen 1 truck and gen 2 x are a bit different. the X seems to like 70, the truck like 80. My 71 chevy liked about 50 or so. Never really figured out what my s-10 liked. the transmission would overheat at 70+ for long trips.
as counterintuitive as it seems, the tuning and the engine like to be wound up.
The tuning on these trucks, the stroke length of the engine, the gearing, all work together to form a sweet spot. every vehicle has one, just a matter of finding it (and this is what burns me when people tell me slowing down saves fuel).
Yes, faster movement means more drag, but if your engine plays as much of a role as areodynamics.
I know just about every vehicle I have owned was a bit different. even my gen 1 truck and gen 2 x are a bit different. the X seems to like 70, the truck like 80. My 71 chevy liked about 50 or so. Never really figured out what my s-10 liked. the transmission would overheat at 70+ for long trips.
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That sounds like an S-10, LOL.
But you're absolutely right about finding the engine's and truck's "happy place" for the best efficiency. Good advice.
But you're absolutely right about finding the engine's and truck's "happy place" for the best efficiency. Good advice.
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