In most every vehicle I have had, running in the winter with the AC/drfroster off gave me 2-3 mpg more.

 

I wish you'd install a CAI to see how that affects the mpg under the same "test"...

 

AC will cause virtually no drag on your engine at highway speeds. even your manaul states that it is more efficiant to run ac on highway than drive on highway with windows down

its ac in the city that drinks gas

 

AC will obviously hurt some compared to driving with the windows up, and just using the fan.

But this is only good for small portions of the year.

 

Watch some NASCAR races & learn about DRAFTING! (JK)

 

^On my trip from los angeles to oakland I found that if I had my windows down I would get a lot of wind noise, but if I pulled up right behind a big rig, all the noise stop. I was drafting the big rig and letting it break the air in front and I was riding in the vaccum created.

 

Thats in the works now. I buddy of mine just wreaked his 05 coupe with an Injen CAI. I've been trying to buy it from him but hes wants $200 for it. Some buddy huh? I'm sure that when he gets his insurance settlement he"ll be calling my up on my $100 offer (he didn't have gap insurance). Hopefully, the new CAI will inprove my mpg. I did some figuring and found that for every 1 mpg I increase, I'm saving around $120 per year in gas (considering I'm driving around 20,000 miles a year at $2.90 per gallon). So, that my thinking as far as mpg mods go. If I can't break even in 3 years (my average car life), then maybe I need to rethink my justifications.

 

Dude. I'm not flaming here. I'm sorry I came across like that. My bad. Just thought I'd share my fustration as well. I just traded in an 03 Maxima 6spd that was "mod-ed up" pretty good. My old Max was quicker than my G and got better gas mileage. BUT, the G drives 100 times better. I will never go back to FWD unless I have to walk to work or something. Nevertheless, I too am on the quest for the holy grail of mpg mods.

 

It's the gear ratios, guys!

I brought this up March, 2004 when I took delivery of my car. "Road & Driver Trend" (i.e., the "mags") says auto G35's are revving 2200 RPM's at 60 MPH in top gear, while the Acura TL revs only 1750! (6 MT's rev a little lower, but not much).

450 RPM's difference - that's another gear !!

I know the VQ can "take it", but I don't see any reason to be spinning these kinds of R's in everyday driving - damn thing would probably have a 300,000 mile lifespan if the R's were lower.

But then again, you give up acceleration when you gear up (Hey - bet that's why my old Schwinn had a 10 speed, eh??).

My $0.02

 

The gearing is a big reason why the 5AT performs so well and also why the auto TLs are a bit weak. Take away the gearing and you take away some fun

And yes, the VQ is happy to roll well past 250K miles......but how many of us really own a car that long

 

Here is another way to improve fuel economy. Make sure to drive with a good tail wind

Drove about 530 miles today, with a tail wind for 470 miles of it, and I got the best fuel economy in nearly 3 years, 27.3 mpg with an average speed of approximately 70.

Of course, 2 weeks ago, on the same route, I averaged under 23 mpg. That time, I mainly was driving INTO a strong wind.

 

This is obvious but very difficult to execute, keep the rev below 2500 during city driving and lift early when approaching red light. Even more difficult to achieved when vehicle is modded, due to sweet exhaust note and increasing rush of acceleration.

I was able to pick up 1.5-2 mpg with 50-50 between city and highway, with 75mph on the highway. That only bring the tank average just above 21.5mph.

You know, Mobile 1 makes 0-20 motor oil full syn. Has anybody try it? When I switch from 5-30 to 10-40, both being Mobile 1, I saw a decrease about .8-1 mpg. I know that the factory recommend 5-30, but lighter weight in the 0-20 ...

 

LOL, I tired telling that to someone else and they dismissed it. I drive into a head wind going westbound in the morning and w/ a tail wind going east bound at night so I actually spent a couple of weeks altering my driving style and staying behind big semis going westbound and added 3 mpg on my '05 RAV4 (work car). Problem was that I was incredibly bored and frustrated at the end of the two weeks and went right back to my more aggressive driving.

To date the best average I've gotten on the G is 21....maybe 22 with an average of 18-20 and some of you are getting 24-25! Please don't complain anymore it's just making me feel more $h!tty!

 

With the recent extended highway driving, my overall mileage since purchase has reached about 20.9mpg.

 

Boy, id be thrilled with 20mpg :-(

I have an 04x5AT and right now, I have about 140 miles on my tank, and im one line above 1/2 tank - quite a change coming from a 99 Mamixa 5sp, where i was getting 25 or so MPG.........but the G is 10000 times better!

The BEST I have ever been able to get out of a tank, which was about 80 percent highway (about 75mph) was 360miles i think it was. My last tank was HORRENDOUS I didn't even make 300 miles, but that was about 80 percent city - took about 17 gallons for 280 miles. Most times, I can get about 300 miles on a tank. Oh yea, I got 69,500 miles.

I have a check engine light on, but the code is for a "high idle" - which doens't make any sense, the idle is the same as its been - constant, and about 775rpms. I dunno - im planning a trip to the dealer for a few things hopefully this week (creak in front suspension - yes, THAT creak, and I want a new starter, every once in a while, it hangs up - seems to be a common nissan thing, been through this with prior 2 maximas, and to get the CEL reset and fixed,whatever it may be, and see if there is something wrong as to why im getting this horrendous mileage.

I LOVE the car, but the MPG thing really sucks.......so to solve that major problem, I got an 88 Honda Civic off of Ebay - 800 buck, and last tank, I got almost 34 miles a gallon, city.....cant beat that! Save a few miles on the G and a few bucks in my pocket!