Banks Monster Exhaust... Gas Mileage?

autostnmn · 11-02-2005, 10:26 PM

I was hoping that the Banks Exhaust would improve gas mileage... less strain on the engine... but I seem to be getting less gas mileage.

Might be because I have been heavier on the gas just to hear it purr.

Your thoughts...

Better Mileage with Banks?

Same Mileage with Banks?

Not much difference with Banks?

*TitanFan59* · 11-03-2005, 06:19 AM

I'm going with you like the sound much more and the foot got heavier so less mileage with Banks. In theory reducing the backpressure should have given you some gain but probably not a noticeable amount.

KL99SEA · 11-03-2005, 07:15 AM

When I put mine on I had been watching my mileage closely. It showed .4 or .5 increase from around 12 flat to 12.4 or 12.5 all city driving. I joked that in a mere 1,000,000 miles it would pay for itself......

baseballfanz · 11-03-2005, 07:28 AM

Same milage for me, the first few tanks after installation was pretty low due to the fact I was testing it out.

buzzkillwill · 11-03-2005, 07:32 AM

I was thinking it was the other way...

Less backflow means the vehicle must add more gas at certain RPM's to meet the same performance...??? I'm probably completely wrong though.

The other thing, once you put the banks on, did you do the ECU Reset?

I disconnected my battery to insall mine, and once it was on, my truck was a gas-guzzling slug. I avg'd. just under 13mpg on my first fill-up, before ECU reset! That was down nearly 3mpg. I'm sure that having a new toy had something to do with that, but after the ECU reset, performance and gas mileage are back!

Mike H. · 11-03-2005, 07:44 AM

Definitely less for me. 14.01 MPG before, and 13.50 MPG after. These are long term averages. Both well over 12,000 miles and several hundred gallons of gas. I drove it harder at first, but not now. It's just a little less.

But all of the "after Banks" mileage includes the Nittos and lift, where only part of the "before Banks" mileage includes them. So, probably only a couple tenths less for me.

autostnmn · 11-03-2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzkillwill

I was thinking it was the other way...

Less backflow means the vehicle must add more gas at certain RPM's to meet the same performance...??? I'm probably completely wrong though.

The other thing, once you put the banks on, did you do the ECU Reset?

I disconnected my battery to insall mine, and once it was on, my truck was a gas-guzzling slug. I avg'd. just under 13mpg on my first fill-up, before ECU reset! That was down nearly 3mpg. I'm sure that having a new toy had something to do with that, but after the ECU reset, performance and gas mileage are back!

OK... what is 'the ECU reset'?... I had the dealer install the Banks... would had done this?... whatever it is? Please advise. Thank You!

nismotony · 11-03-2005, 10:29 PM

My milage went down 1.5mpg. I had it on for 15,000+ miles. I couldn't figure out why my gas milage had been so sh**ty, tried several things, finally put stock exhaust back on 1000 miles ago, sure enough mpg is back.

Chip Boehner · 11-03-2005, 10:56 PM

Could it possible be that the Nissan engineers work long and hard to develope an exhuast system that was optimum for the application and the aftermarket only works towards what their stuff sounds like? And then their marketing department yanks our chain with all kinds of bogus claims?.....kinda like the "Tornado"?

nismotony · 11-04-2005, 10:34 AM

If I had to venture a guess it would be that the Banks system does increase power but only at higher RPMs (as shown on many dyno charts, and as would make sense with less backpressure) However, most of the time driving is spent between 1,500-2,500 rpm. The engine is more efficient down at those Revs with a little backpressure.

nismotony · 11-04-2005, 10:36 AM

I don't have any doubt that the Nissan Engineers work long and hard, I'm an Engineer and so do I. It depends on what they are working long and hard for.... If it was fuel economy and low RPM torque, I'd say they hit the nail on the head with the factory exhaust system.

37L1 · 11-04-2005, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismotony

My milage went down 1.5mpg. I had it on for 15,000+ miles. I couldn't figure out why my gas milage had been so sh**ty, tried several things, finally put stock exhaust back on 1000 miles ago, sure enough mpg is back.

My experience was just the opposite. Up 1 mpg for city/approx. 2 mpg for highway. My Titan was 4 months old when I put it on but I have kept accurate mileage records for each fill and the change was immediate and has held steady for the 19 months I have had the Banks on. So I don't know. I guess it is one of those "your mileage may vary" kind of things.

GreenT · 11-05-2005, 02:05 PM

I also saw a 1-2 mog increase after the Banks. I consistently see 15-16 in the city with a heavy foot.

Vyrus · 11-05-2005, 02:13 PM

Gas mileage has been worse ever since I got the Banks (both with and without leaks). However since I added the AFE intake it has gone up considerably.

buzzkillwill · 11-05-2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autostnmn

OK... what is 'the ECU reset'?... I had the dealer install the Banks... would had done this?... whatever it is? Please advise. Thank You!

They probably didn't do an ECU reset. You'll know right away if you need it. My truck just seemed to be very 'sensitive' to the change-it was sluggish, so I did the ECU reset. It doesn't hurt if you do the ECU reset and do need it. It's kind of like rebooting your computer, so not a big deal.

How to do it...

Below is a link explaining how, along with a few other things that can help. It's really easy to do, and you can do it in less than a minute sitting in the comfort of your driver seat.
How to:ECU Reset,Throttle & Accelerator Position Learning

Good luck!