Solution to the Titan gas mileage problem…(long).. (very long)

lowlypawn · 01-13-2005, 04:12 AM

Solution to the Titan gas mileage problem…(long).. (very long)

Reading these forums quite often I have noticed this topic rears it’s head much more then the others. It usually starts off with someone talking about abnormally low/high gas mileage, complaining or bragging about their situation. Then someone else posts just the opposite. Then it sucks the rest of us into wondering if our own titans could be one of these “abnormal” trucks getting really high or low gas mileage.

I too am guilty of getting sucked into the gas mileage game. In fact before I bought my titan I never worried what my 92 GMC was getting. I KNEW it was getting around 10…………. No matter how I drove it…. (Well there was that one time it seemed like it got like 5MPH but then again the accelerator was floored the entire way but yet I digress). The point was I didn’t worry about it and just happily accepted it. That was simply the price I was willing to pay for owning a big heavy truck with a V8.

So one day I finally trade it in on my new titan and for weeks I didn’t even bother to check what my mileage was just like with my old truck. I mean it runs great, sounds great, it’s big, heavy and has a V8, I know what the gas mileage is going to be so I didn’t even think about and just enjoyed the drive.

Well then I discover Titan talk. Hmmmmm look a gas mileage thread, this looks interesting. OMG this guy is getting 17 in the city! And this poor guy is only getting 8 on the highway!!! Maybe my titan is getting some crazy gas mileage too!!!!!

So every time after that I start checking the mileage. I start using the calculator on my cell phone (the worlds most inconvenient calculator). I start calculating it out to the 3rd decimal and to the 1/10 of a mile. I’m getting between 12 and 10.5. I start thinking about my driving habits and how I can improve my mileage but despite my best effort it just keeps getting worse!

So after a week of what I thought was very conservative driving (except for that guy in the explorer that wanted to race and maybe a few hotties I needed to catch up to) I gas her up with high expectations… After a few calculations on my cell phone (out to the 3rd decimal of course)………nine point four…. 9.4! WTF! I’m thinking to myself how can this be!

Then it all becomes clear to me. I can’t dive conservatively. I live in the city with frequent unpredictable traffic jams. The gas pumps are probable all out calibration. I have a big, heavy truck with a V8 that puts out 100 more HP then my old truck and did I mention I have a led foot. Getting any kind of meaningful mileage numbers is futile. Besides what am I complaining about, it’s getting the SAME mileage as my old truck, it’s twice as fast and puts out 100+ more horsepower.

So now I stopped checking my mileage and coincidentally haven’t worried about it since. Besides, is two MPG really worth worrying about?

10,000/12MPG = 833.333333333333 * 1.80 = 1499.999999999
10,000/10MPG= 1000.....................* 1.80 = 1800
---------------------------------------------------------------
…………………………………………...........………301 bucks more a year!

Hell didn’t u save 2K or 3K just buying the Titan VS the other big 4 (and it’s not like they’ll get any better mileage). I know, you can buy a diesel! Might take awhile to get that 8 grand back in fuel savings thou.

Well if you still not convinced that it’s not worth worrying it might want to consider buying a Vespa or something (just for commuting so you can afford the big weekend trips towing a 5th wheel of course).

Well that’s my story/rant, I had no intentions of making it so long but somehow it ended up this way. Also don’t take everything 100% serious. I’m very tired (it’s 3am) and might be slightly delusional. Thx & Cya

P-Kidd · 01-13-2005, 04:29 AM

Well said, Big truck with a big V8 = low gas milage. I am not the one to complain, I knew what I was getting myself into when I got the TITAN. I consistently get around 15 mpg.

SeaRider · 01-13-2005, 04:53 AM

If you worry about gas mileage, don't buy any truck/pick up with v8 or v6/6. Stay with the little Sentra with 1.8L or alike to save some gas money but then, probably will b****ing about lack of power, can't pull a boat yada yada yada!.

Gearman1987 · 01-13-2005, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaRider

If you worry about gas mileage, don't buy any truck/pick up with v8 or v6/6. Stay with the little Sentra with 1.8L or alike to save some gas money but then, probably will b****ing about lack of power, can't pull a boat yada yada yada!.

Exactly what I my answer has been to every gas mileage post - It's A Truck - not a Civic. I do understand the concerns of the guys who reportedly get 8,9,10 mph. I just truned over 3,000 miles on my new 2004 Ram with a 5.7 Hemi - I drive 50/50 Hwy-city and I'm averaging 13.5 mpg. I'm not so sure that's any better than my Titan was. But then again, I didn't buy it for the mileage - I bought it cause it was a big a$$ truck.

The true answer to solving anyones fuel mileage problem is a Honda Civic.

honeykeeper · 01-13-2005, 06:29 AM

I'm hoping for a hybrid 4 x 4 Titan to come out in a couple of years. That would be my dream truck. Many of my clients have hybrid cars here in WNC and I have driven some of them....until then I am satisfied with the mpg's my 4 x 4 Off Road/Big Tow gets here.....compared to many I am doing better and that is with using the 4 wheel hi and low ranges twice every day getting on and off the mountain here. Just wondering how the huge ifference in mpg's is occuring.....and when the Titan is finally broken in???

Coffee & Bailey's

logicjunky · 01-13-2005, 06:36 AM

I fall into the 10-12mpg range right now and I don't even notice. I spend less on gas in a month now w/ my Titan than I did ever driving my 00 Maxima. I don't drive as much, I know that my mileage is considerably less now, like 300 to 1000 less miles a month, but the bill is the anywhere from $54 to $180 less each month.

The power, size, hauling capabilities, and overall BADA$$-NESS of my truck makes it all worthwhile!!!

Cajun · 01-13-2005, 07:13 AM

Guys, let me tell you a few stories....I get about 20-30 calls weekly from guys with Ford/Chevy/GMC/Dodge/HEMI/,,,the big callers the past year have been the Hemi boys. They all think they should be getting 20 mpg, and don't we make a chip or something to inprove their mileage and the power??? Then we get the average 20 calls weekly from the underpowered guys,,,the rangers, sport trac, S10, festiva, escorts, focus, they want a chip to add just a bit more power, say like 50 horse or something..They get great mileage, they hate the lack of power...Great mileage except for the rangers, explorers, sport tracs,,,I guess the moral of this story is that for now, you either get power or mileage, maybe neither...Look on the bright side,,,the Titan compare to all others in the mileage department, it blows them away in the REAL POWER department, by real power, I mean applicable power, not advertised power.
Don't get all flustered and get your drawers all wadded up. This is available from Edmunds, I did not do the tests, they did.

All test w/trailer was done with a 6000 pound trailer
Go here for test results:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...8/pageId=58906

DT

markislive78 · 01-13-2005, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajun

Guys, let me tell you a few stories....I get about 20-30 calls weekly from guys with Ford/Chevy/GMC/Dodge/HEMI/,,,the big callers the past year have been the Hemi boys. They all think they should be getting 20 mpg, and don't we make a chip or something to inprove their mileage and the power??? Then we get the average 20 calls weekly from the underpowered guys,,,the rangers, sport trac, S10, festiva, escorts, focus, they want a chip to add just a bit more power, say like 50 horse or something..They get great mileage, they hate the lack of power...Great mileage except for the rangers, explorers, sport tracs,,,I guess the moral of this story is that for now, you either get power or mileage, maybe neither...Look on the bright side,,,the Titan compare to all others in the mileage department, it blows them away in the REAL POWER department, by real power, I mean applicable power, not advertised power.
Silverado W 5.3 15/18 0-60mph mt=9.6 with trailer=22.6
Dodge Ram Hemi 13/17 0-60mph mt=8.3 with trailer=19.5
Ford F150 5.4 14/18 0-60mph mt=9.5 with trailer=20.2
Toyota Tundra 14/18 0-60mph mt=9.5 with trailer=21.2
Nissan Titan 14/18 0-60mph mt=7.7 with trailer=16.8

Don't get all flustered and get yourt drawers all wadded up. This is available from Edmunds, I did not do the tests, they did.
DT

Good post coonass...

Yea the fact is that the titan has the strongest engine on any 1/2 ton on the market thats not considered a specialty item....ford lightning, silverado ss, dodge SRT, ect...Strongest given that you factor in torqe output and realize how underated our engine comes from the factory i'd guess 335 horse and 400 lb-ft. I'm sure the Titan being a little bit lighter helps. But you can't deny High engine outout = High fuel consumption.

terceltundra · 01-13-2005, 08:24 AM

As a comparison, my 3.4L DOHC V6 Tundra (4000 lbs with no load) is EPA 16/19 mpg. I do not have a featherfoot, so I get about 14-16 in town and 16.5-20 highway depending on weather an whether or not I have 300lbs sandbags in back like I do now.

Jeostang · 01-13-2005, 09:41 AM

I not mad about my gas mileage, I came from Supercharged mustang that got about 8 miles per gallon. Right now I got around 14.

TitanNV · 01-13-2005, 10:06 AM

good post, i get 12.7 with my 03' Ram with 4.7.

GETSOMZ28 · 01-13-2005, 10:25 AM

I think it is comical that some guys are comlaining that they arent getting "econobox" type mileage out of your TRUCK. If you wanted great mileage, why did you buy a BIG V8 TRUCK? Face it, its a BIG TRUCK and BIG TRUCKS that make decent power DONT get great mileage. Only when you accept that will you truly enjoy your ride (this isnt Titan specific) Now go out and stomp on the pedal and hear the Endurance roar and not worry about mileage!

pagerdaddy · 01-13-2005, 10:33 AM

I've yet to check my gas mileage on the Titan. It doesn't use any more than I would expect it to. The three trucks I owned before this one were Nissans, and I was satisfied with their fuel usage also.

The only truck I ever owned that concerned me on the gas it used was a Dodge Dakota with the magnum V6. That thing seemed to suck a lot of gas for a truck its size.

tnbowhunter · 01-13-2005, 10:33 AM

well said lowlypawn.....I would guess that all of the titans get around the same mpg +or- 2 mpg. Unless of course they do have a major problem.
You hit the nail on the head, its driving habits that determine weather we get good mileage 16+mpg or poor mileage -16mpg. And unfortunatly a lot of us don't want to admit that we have poor driving habits. Heck this truck is just too much fun to drive to drive conservativly all of the time.

Just saw your post pagerdaddy[Steve] I know what your talking about on the Dodge v6's I owned a couple of them and for a truck that size and that engine they did use a lot of gas.

rarjar · 01-13-2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnbowhunter

well said lowlypawn.....I would guess that all of the titans get around the same mpg +or- 2 mpg. Unless of course they do have a major problem.
You hit the nail on the head, its driving habits that determine weather we get good mileage 16+mpg or poor mileage -16mpg. And unfortunatly a lot of us don't want to admit that we have poor driving habits. Heck this truck is just too much fun to drive to drive conservativly all of the time.

Just saw your post pagerdaddy[Steve] I know what your talking about on the Dodge v6's I owned a couple of them and for a truck that size and that engine they did use a lot of gas.

Ditto Tnbowhunter. If I drive like I should, I can get around 16 mpg; driving it like I actually do most of the time, I'm lucky if I get 15 (with a little bit of city driving, it's more like 13 or 14). I knew this when I bought the truck, so if I am unhappy, it's no one's fault but my own! I suspect my coming from a Chevy 2500HD (that I owned for less than a year because I hated it) that got 13 mpg going downhill with a 20 mph tailwind made the transition to the Titan much easier.