When to expect Max. MPG's???????

[honeykeeper]

I'm not complaining here...just wondering...and I know I'll get many opinions here: What is the minimum break-in time or mileage on a Titan that will yield the maximum or expected mpg range????? How many miles does it take to loosen or tighten up all the engine and drivetrain components???? Also I would like to see a checklist of all the owner duties that will ensure maximum mpg's so they will know they have done their part to control the fuel economy and be able to adjust for it. Also I want to know if altitude does effect mpg's as I know the air density is different and like planes the higher you go the mpg's go down. Does the Titan sense the altitude to make any adjustments in fuel mixture to air????? If not seems like the altitude would make a difference to me.....would like to clear that one....once and for all!!
Thanks.......Tom
5/04 SEKC Pearl White 4 x 4 Off Road with Big Tow and E-loc..Popular Package, Bench Seat and “Sweet Thumbshifter.”.ARE Z shell..OEM bug/rock deflector, mud gaurds, rubber mats, Utilitrac with Lower Sliding Tray, White Knight Backup Lights, 75-140 Valvoline Synthetic In Rear & Front Differentials

[CaliforniaTitan]

Not sure about MAX mpg's but the experience we had with our first was...

AVG first tank - 14.3

Initial bump around 1k miles..Avg 14.6

Second bump was around 6k miles... Avg 15.1

Last bump we had was around 18k miles...Avg 16.2

saw the same consistentcy all the way to 28,848 when we traded her in.

The new one after 6200 miles thus far has an avg of 15.870 right now since the beggining. She has pretty much been dead on consistent the whole time on this one.

Chris

[honeykeeper]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaTitan

Not sure about MAX mpg's but the experience we had with our first was...

AVG first tank - 14.3

Initial bump around 1k miles..Avg 14.6

Second bump was around 6k miles... Avg 15.1

Last bump we had was around 18k miles...Avg 16.2

saw the same consistentcy all the way to 28,848 when we traded her in.

The new one after 6200 miles thus far has an avg of 15.870 right now since the beggining. She has pretty much been dead on consistent the whole time on this one.

Chris

Hey Chris...what is the difference in the two models???? and did the first Titan stay or climb above 16.2 mpg ever ???

[CaliforniaTitan]

As far as the avg..no it never went above 16.2....We had a couple of tanks hit the 17 range but also enough tanks in the 15's to offset...

Our driving is pretty consistent as well on the same route..mostly same traffic everyday.

Difference between the two models was the Off-Road Pkg only...the new one doesn't have it. Rear-end gearing the same on both trucks. So really the only difference is 17" O-R wheels Vice the street 18" version. And different diff fluid...LOL

Chris

[onthefence]

Tom, Airplanes are more fuel efficient with altitude- Reciprocating or Turbine.
I don't have access to a Nissan service manual but I would bet Nissan's ECM gathers atmospheric pressure data from an engine load sensor, either a Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor or Barometric Pressure Sensor. Adjustments are continuously made as you drive.
Remember this-the higher you go, the thinner the air,(oxygen is what your burning, the gasoline is the catalyst!)therefore less power is made. Your ECM adjusted for the thinning air and leaned the mixture. Your mileage didn't increase because your decrease in power prompted you to add more throttle, which negated any fuel savings.
If the fuel mileage data is correct, I'd be surprised at how long the adaptive strategy in the ECM takes to form. Most vehicles I've dealt with only take 500 miles or less. Maybe twice that mileage to loosen the drivetrain up- if at all! I'm not sure what you mean by an owner checklist, other than following the maintenace schedule.

[dman]

Originally Posted by onthefence

Tom, Airplanes are more fuel efficient with altitude- Reciprocating or Turbine.

Why would this be? The only reasons that this would make more sense is that if:

1) Airplane engines are tuned rich to compensate for altitude and thinner air. This would cause the airplane to burn more fuel at lower altitude until it leans out in the thinner air.
2) Because air is thinner at altitude does this also reduce drag?
3) Less wind at altitude or is this also incorrect?

Not that any of this is really that important to the Titan gas mileage, just curious.

[onthefence]

Dman-
1. Reciprocating engines run rich on the ground to aid in cooling. In a nutshell, Turbines are pigs when on the ground idling. The second part of your statement is true.
2. Yes!
3. In the altitudes that most of us fly- more wind the higher we go. Click here for todays winds and temps