Vistance

What have you guys gotten for the maximum fuel range out of your Maximas? Asking because mine seemed to be exceptional this last tank, I had 330 on my trip and still showing 1/4 a tank and about 100 miles to empty but now I went to start it and it struggled to start - had to crank it over for about 6 full seconds before it started. Ran ok for a bit, then started to heavily drop RPM and then when I tried to rev it just went real low and died and the SEL came on. I'm suspecting it's just out of gas, though my gauge still shows 1/4 a tank and I have no fuel light on.

Typically I always filled up at 300 on my trip, just out of habit from my previous car but since I have another car now I was going to see at about what distance my fuel light came on. I never ran it low enough to see it when I drove it regularly, but what kind of distance could you guys get at best out of yours? Is there a big difference between the 6-speed and the auto?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Is this another what's your MPG type thread?

I get anywhere from 360 - 400, of course, not the maximum range since I don't like to walk to gas stations with a fuel container.

4AT here.

foodmanry

iTrader: (15)

Just drive till you run out of fuel and see how many miles or what happens.

Fakie J Farkerton

iTrader: (51)

Vistance

I really only care because I'm trying to figure out if it's likely that I ran out of gas, or if there's something mechanically wrong with the car. I already know my MPG, it's about 21-21.5 MPG and that's driving it mostly highway, but plenty of good acceleration mixed in with mild amounts of traffic. I track all my fill ups on Fuelly as it's pretty nice for keeping track of every fill up on your car.

So at 350 miles, maybe I did run out or I'm to the crappy parts of gas in the tank. I've never even gotten the fuel light to come on as I usually fill up at 1/4 a tank but thought I'd push it this time. Shows me what I get for doing that...

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

Check the code. It's pointless to speculate. And if you're really bored, then spend 2 mins and look in the gas tank.

Crank/cam sensor is likely to be the culprit.

Vistance

I have a second car so it's not as huge a deal as it would otherwise be. I just poured some gas we had saved up for our lawn equipment and it seemed to run ok. I put a code reader on it and it looks like the SEL only come on when it dies so just part of the normal startup procedure where it lights up I think. I'll recheck again tomorrow and make sure it doesn't die again and probably just have a buddy follow me to a gas station. Guess I shouldn't have been so trusting of the distance to empty or my fuel gauge, though I was never aware of it being so far off. Even now it shows over 1/4 a tank, but by my estimate it probably is about empty. I'm not going to chance it anymore, back to my every 300 miles fill up interval.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

If it is empty, then the fuel sending unit is bad. It's an easy replacement, but good luck getting just the sending unit.

cornholio

iTrader: (1)

i can get over 400 on a fresh tank driving highway
3.0 at
ymmv

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

And here we go ...

foodmanry

iTrader: (15)

Oh yeah...well I set my cruise control to 30MPH and can driver 4ever!!!!!!!

Meh..who the fck cares.

cornholio

iTrader: (1)

op cares or he wouldnt have asked the question

cornholio

iTrader: (1)

And here we go ...

maxinout93

of course the 3.0 is gonna get better gas mileage, its the 3.5 that gets less miles per fillup.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

All hwy at 400 miles is almost 27 mpg when the light comes on. A 3.5 can EASILY do that if you're not speeding and don't have ****ty grades (80 mph limits excluded).

maxinout93

sounds kool im gonna have to give it a try once i get mine ready for the long trips. I use to get like 380-400 in my 3rd gen.

Vistance

Sorry fellas, wasn't trying to start a "here's my best possible tank with A/C off, cruise control at 50 mph" or anything, I just don't know anyone else with a Maxima to compare how many miles they could go for a fillup. I had a Buick before that at best could do 320-330 miles in a tank, but it would be bone dry at that point and it averaged about 18 mpg. I figured since I got about 21 mpg on the Maxima and it has a gas tank 2 gallons bigger I could get maybe 380 miles out of it, but I think 350 looks to be about it (and I don't drive conservatively nor do anything to try and get better mileage).

Donkeypunch

From fill up, to the gas light just turning on
it's about 300 miles for me.
I get up to work at 3 and drive back with the a/c on. That's about all I use the max for, work.
Rarely I drive like 100mph when I'm running late, but that doesn't seem to effect much.

2000 automatic. Engine and trans are maintained perfectly. So there you go.

Oh. On a camping trip I got like 430 miles but it was 100% freeway 65mph
so your mileage can fvcking very allot.

The bmw on the other hand I fill up every 150 miles.

george__

iTrader: (1)

Ontario

With the stock 6 speed HLSD transmission

During the winter gas stations change the formulation of the gas so mileage drops to 300 - 400 km depending on how gas heavy I am.

During the other seasons 450 km is usually the average.

Highway driving the car hits 500 - 600 km no problem

When I had the AT Maxima with bolt ons I had awful mileage.. 300 KM on a good day

This is all before the needle hits 2 lines, I never go until the fuel light comes up

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

Light comes on at 3 gallons left if anyone was wondering.

Vistance

Went to get gas today, and it took 17.2 gallons. So accounting for the fact I poured a bunch in from our powertools gas can I'd say it ran bone dry. No fuel light on even on the drive up. When I filled it up, the needle was actually sitting on top of the F, so it looks like it's about an 1/8th of a tank off. Damn gas gauges, besides my Mustang I haven't been able to trust any of them and that one is only because it's a 2013. Lucky for me the Maxima made it home and then ran dry though, could've been much more annoying to deal with. No more high mileage runs for me! I don't remember if I said already but that makes 350 miles my maximum range and I actually got just under 21 mpg on this fillup.

cornholio

iTrader: (1)

reminds me of my 3rd gen, the gauge stopped working so i'd have to reset the trip counter and remember to refill around 300 miles. not once did i run out but it was annoying not knowing what was in there.

Vistance

My old Buick was the same way, gas gauge was accurate until 1/4 a tank then it rapidly went to empty so I couldn't trust it. At this point I trust using trips to figure out when to get gas so much that I barely even look at the fuel gauge, although in the Mustang I can at least trust it. It also alerts me exact mileage until empty each time I start it if low, and so far has been pretty accurate.

I wonder what goes bad in cars as they age that makes their fuel gauges become inaccurate?

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

If you know the mileage on the junkyard cars, then one with lower miles would be a safe bet.
Sometimes they last forever...sometimes not. Same general design in a lot if not most cars.

Kinda sounds like your is getting stuck, since it works fine except when it runs low.

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

actual tank is 17.5 gallons, so yea u were bone dry !

and once the light is on 3 gal till empty is good to know ,

my light works fine, if I ride around a day with the light on, and the fuel needle is like scary and you know u are pushing it and pushing it .. the most my fill up will be is around 16.6~16.8 gallons, always the case, if I fill up around when the fuel light first comes on its around 15.5~15.75 gallons

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

Interesting. All of mine when the light comes on only fit 15 gal on the nose.

Mateen995

I used to average about 400km till it dipped just below the 3/4 empty mark. Fuel mileage was whatever on my old 4AT 3.5

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

i rarely do a full full up under 15.5 gallons, if i ride a day or two with light on around town and "push" it then its usually way closer to 16.5 gals,

and i just checked the manual and it says our tank is 18.5 gals capacity, so your theory with 3 gals left when light is on seems legit too.

Donkeypunch

I used to get better mileage with the maf messed it.

maxinout93

yah all the maximas ive had have 18.5 gallon tanks.