Bummed out about Gas Mileage

[Beaker]

so...ive read on here a few times that the gas mileage gets better around 5k miles....I have yet to read a detailed explination why. Is it something programmed in the computer or something?

I just broke 5k miles this past week and filled up my tank yesterday.I got 12.3mpg.

I am not smashing the gas very often. I Live in southern california where there is a lot of traffic.

I cant afford to drop $50 a week on gas anymore....when will this get better?

[kmonto]

Well it took,

FRONTIER: 17K
XTERRA: 14K
QUEST: 12K
ARMADA: 10K
SENTRA: 7K


So I would say around the 10-15K range. Why? I swear it just takes that long for all the oil to really get into the metal. We all know that metal absorbs oil, just how long does that take? That is the only thing I have come up with...

[NorCal 4x4]

Hey Kmonto, for the Armada, was all 10K with Amsoil? [After your first oil change]? Were all of these Amsoil?
Thanks,
Steve

[kmonto]

Except for Quest, Frontier, and Xterra - they were with Mobil 1 Ow-30 after their first oil change.

[Mike H.]

Originally Posted by Beaker

so...ive read on here a few times that the gas mileage gets better around 5k miles....I have yet to read a detailed explination why. Is it something programmed in the computer or something?

I just broke 5k miles this past week and filled up my tank yesterday.I got 12.3mpg.

I am not smashing the gas very often. I Live in southern california where there is a lot of traffic.

I cant afford to drop $50 a week on gas anymore....when will this get better?

That's about what to expect around town, for me anyway. Over the past 7550 miles, I have used 523 gallons of gas, for a running average of 14.4 mpg. That's a mix of city and highway. I currently have about 9500 miles on the truck. Mine started getting a little better at around 5000 miles, but is stable now.

[NorCal 4x4]

Hi Kmonto,
Since the Armada at 10K, is about twice what I've heard most people on TT saying, (and the Mobil1's cars seem high too), I'm wondering if it is a synthetic thing. Or do you have "engine friendly" drives, like 30 mile freeway, non-stop-n-go?
Also, what was the MPG improvement on the Armada?
Thanks,
Steve

[kmonto]

Well the mileage I listed is what I call consistant at that mileage. It started to get better before that but that is when the increases stopped - at least for me. I live out in the country so it takes 28 miles to get to work - sometimes 48 when I have to go into the city. I have now added a muffler to the Armada, but before that we got 15.3 to 15.8 on all highway with 12.9 to 14.9 mixed - the best was 16.5 when it was all flat highway. The worst was 10.3 towing my boat through the Ozarks average around 65mph. Now with the muffler change, I am not sure yet because I just had it done and not gone through several tanks to get an average.

One thing to remember is that my Armada is heavier than the Titan. So take that into consideration.

[CaliforniaTitan]

Beaker if most of your driving is in traffic and around town then 12-14 is about right. We get an avg of 16MPG (Varies a lil under and over) all around with an 86 mile drive to work....70 percent of the drive is freeway of which 7 miles is bumper to bumper stop and go...the rest is pretty much at speed travel.

Our initially was down in the 12-14 range no matter what we did in the first 3k miles or so...then began to steadily improve to where it is now. We now have 22k on the truck.

Chris

[culbrze]

I am only averaging about 12-14 MPG , but I only have 3k on my Titan.

[Jeostang]

I'm getting 13 - 15 with 3K

I've also been using the AC allot.

[NorCal 4x4]

At my last fill-up it was 14.3 MPG. This is with about 2K miles on it. Dino oil change at 1200 miles. Chevron 87 Oct. gas, with full fill-ups. Half tanks might save 80 lbs.
Air-conditioning runs full-time too. Off-Road tires are 1/2 lb. under 35 lb. max. No cover on bed. Big Tow pkg. mirrors too. 40 mile, each way, commute. Bad roads for half, at 45-55 MPH, other 60-65 MPH. I'm usually light-footed.

I think the following might be worth trying:
Gradual accelerations; anticipate stop signs and gradually slow down, not enough to hold up traffic, but there's no point in accelerating just before you need to stop, especially if there's several cars waiting at the intersection; drive 55 MPH; max tire pressure for your tires, (listed on the side); alloy wheels might help; half-tank gas fill-up; keep truck bed empty of unnecessary, heavy items; install a bed cover or remove tailgate and use a net; replace Big Tow pkg. mirrors; keep windows up; synthetic oil for engines and differentials -still researching this one, and MPG gains reported don't seem that great; make sure your differentials have enough lube, as some have had this issue, and fluid has broken down from heat; stagger your work hours to avoid stop-n-go; work from home one day a week, but don't take the chemicals home Beaker, just do your paper-work; tell your boss you need a cost of living increase, (but if you get fired don't blame me); also, once winter hits and the a/c isn't needed things should get a little better too; use cruise control; and if you down-shift to help with curves or stopping, remember to shift back to "D". This mostly happens to me on for a curve where I might end up leaving it in 4th, especially if there is another curve just ahead so I'm not powering out of the current one; and use cruise control where appropiate.

[garo1]

I have over 4K on my Titan now and my mpg has increased to 15.5 consistently. I didn't think mine was ever going to improve but it finally began getting better around 2K.

[PHOEBISIS]

Swarren1,your truck is the only SE I have seen with the Airbag pk.They are rare because you have to get a total of 5 option pks to get the Airbags with a SE.
Did you special order it,or just find it on a lot?Where?How much did they come off MSRP?It is uncommon,so they sometimes play tough if they think you want something that is "rare"Thanks,Charlie

[NorCal 4x4]

Hey Charlie,
I used the nissanusa.com site and searched all the dealers, in California's central valley, then on the coast just north of LA, then up US101 and finally in Petaluma, CA where they had two, (exactly the same). I asked an internet sales guy to get it for me. I paid $32,210 which was $3500 under sticker, of $35,710. Took the 1.9% instead of cash back. If I remember right, what I paid was $210 over invoice. I was happy with the deal which seemed good at the end of July. If I had waited, I might not have found all of the options I wanted.

[ColoTitan]

My Titan is starting to get better now and I am at over 7000 miles now, just got 17.5 with 50% Highway and 50% City.