thepostman

All-
I have a fuel economy question and would really appreciate feedback on this.

I am trying to figure out the total number of miles I can drive (on average) before filling up at the pump. (I'm not cheap..just trying to figure out if I have a fuel sensor problem).

I noticed that I was consistently filling up no more than 14 gallons at the most. The tank is 20 which leaves a 6 gallon discrepency. Every fill up the fuel gauge reaches the top.

I am trying to figure out a trend, gathering data from my last 5 fill ups at the pump. I don't top off, and when I tried it wouldn't let me. I have used the same pump AND different pumps (pump sensitivity). I drive somewhat spirited 70% freeway/30% surface streets and I usually don't speed faster than 70 mpg..I live in OR (plz don't give me flak about why I dont get 15 mpg driving it in 3rd/4th gear...i may have a tire feathering issue but thats a whole different story)

Each fill up I gradually increase my miles to see how far I get. Obviously, I don't want to run out of gas and hurt the electric fuel pump but I am left to no other recourse. I am to the point of bring a 1 gal emergency gas tank with me just in case to figure this out.

Nissan simply says ..."its a 20 gal tank with 3 gal left after the light comes on, we need u to collect data and we'll figure it out". the last thing I want is those baffoons ripping things out to get to the fuel sensor. I am traveling more than 100 miles after the light goes on...with 4 gallons left in the tank.


My latest fill up was today:

Total miles driven: 442 miles @26 mpg
gas filled at pump: 16.83 gal


=20 gal - 16.83 gal
=3.17 gallons left in tank

=3.17 gallons * 26 mpg

Remove 1 gallon just to make sure as a buffer.

=2.17 gallons * 26 mpgs
=56.42 miles until empty

=442 miles driven + 56.42 expected miles
=498.42 anticipated miles driven???

500 miles???



Am I smokin crack? Is anyone else getting close to this?

Bottom Line: Is this a possible fuel sensor issue or am I just getting ridiculous great mileage?

In about 2 or 3 more fill ups I will have either ran out of gas or will get 500 mpg consistently (I won't be complaining...)

Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks!

Ztalker

the VQ engine has been known to easily go over 30 miles to a gallon cruising on the highway.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

26mpg is possible sure.

Z_Monzter

iTrader: (11)

Damn, I am hating.

I have to fill up every 300 miles. Maybe cause I drive it like I stole it

savvy

iTrader: (1)

what the crap i have never seen over 25 and thats all highway no very fast driving....i hate life

TacoMadre

iTrader: (4)

Thats awesome! I get close to 300 out of one tank also.

bofa

iTrader: (23)

280...:d

kaybee650

iTrader: (3)

well from one of my friends i met at the track, he said that when the light turns on and when its acutally empty he drove 127 miles, jus to see, he had a gas container in his car.. i have driven 90 miles when the light turned on. so 127 miles seems true. plus when i did that i got 18.5 gallons filled to the brim.

DanielW

iTrader: (27)

I get a little more than 400 miles to a tank of gas

zstreet86

iTrader: (4)

i average 450 miles per tank sometimes more sometimes less, when i fill up from empty i never put more than 18 gallons, sometimes when ive driven like 470 miles on one tank im scared that any second my car will stall from lack of gas, but when i fill up its only like 18.2 gallons that i put in. i average 24-27 mpg, i do mostly highway driving to school and back.

Beagle_Z

Yo Postman! I run up and down I-205 (Vancouver to Clackamas) about once a week and I generaly set the CC at 65 MPH as soon as I hit the freeway before crossing the Glen Jackson. Going down the I-205 bridge (downward slope) I hit about 38 to 40 MPG's (according to the trip computer) and it drops to about 30.1 on level land along 205. If there is a slight rise (coming around Rocky Butte for example) it drops to about 24/25. I watch it like a hawk (again the CC is always on to maximize my mileage) and I have noticed a consistent overall average of 27/28 on the highway at 65. I've had the car since March. I have to take Hwy 212 into work and I just use the gas pedal as normal once off the 205, and at 45 miles per hour, if I make all the lights along 212, I get dang near 29/30. So far the overal mileage (combined city/freeway which is about 25% city/75% freeway) I'm getting 25+. I'm quite happy with the mileage on such a high horsepower vehicle. My other cars for example, a 1974 Porsche 914 (2.0 liter/95HP/2200LBs) gets about 30 on the hwy, and our 1996 Suzuki X90 (1.6 liter/95HP/2400 LBs) gets about 29/30 consistently. For a car that is almost half again heavier, has 3 times (3 TIMES!) the power and takes a ding of about 1 mile per gallon, I can't complain. Now I gotta wonder if you work out in Clack? There are quite a few Z's out by the golf course and I sure enjoy looking for my fellow Z owners every day out on the road. Ahh, I forgot to say, I generaly fill up once the needle hits the halfway mark. She takes about 8 gallons and I usualy show just over 200 miles on the odometer, so that confirms the trip computers 25+ estimate. And..for those interested because of the fuel valve problems, my needle goes straigt up above the 'full' hash mark. She's an '06 Interlagos fire GT Coupe. See ya around Portland!

DCroz

I don't start looking for gas until I'm over 400mi. The fuel light has usually been on for 75 miles by then. I have never been able to put more than 17.5 gallons in.

Jun

iTrader: (45)

the 350z has problems with the fuel tank. Sometimes you will top off, and when you check the needle, it doesn't go all the way to the top.

It is a 20 gallon tank, i actually DID run out of gas trying to figure this out LOL
From the moment you get the "- - - -", you probably can drive about 100 miles before the car stalls

It's not worth taking the car in an replacing whatever they have to replace (fuel sensor, fuel pump, etc). God knows what else they can screw up while trying to fix something so insignificant.

I just learned to live with it.

BTW, i probably get around 350 miles/tank average.

Miko

iTrader: (2)

Really trying, you can get 280 miles `till you hit the halfway mark. After that I lost my patience and my MPG went to hell.


This was about 40-50 miles freeway, rest city (not much stop & go); I hit about 250 miles till it was at the halfway mark.

bonusfrag

iTrader: (3)

I get about 320 miles or so on each fill up (16.6 gal). Where are these huge mileage differences coming from? I do about 65/35 highway and city. And I'm not particularly a crazy driver. The fact I have a 5AT have a big part to do with it, doesn't it?

rockinbboy

iTrader: (1)

My DTE gauge has been a lil odd lately. usually when I fill the car it shows 400 miles till empty. One time it was 375 and i was like..wtf? I did another fill up by filling very slowly and it showed 425 miles till empty...woohoo. I filled my car up last week doing the same method of pumping slowly and gauge showed 385 miles until empty (wtf?). I reset my trip meter at every fillup to measure my distance till empty. Its relatively accurate. Not sure why lately I am getting less DTE at a full tank. I wonder if it takes note of how I have been driving and calculates that to determine the DTE. Any guesses?

Anyways...I've gotten 26/27 mpg on the highway. Its possible.

FastZ33

iTrader: (29)

i avg around 300 lol

Zmazing03

iTrader: (9)

26 is not hard on the highway. On the NE mountain run we did, which was some HARD driving, I averaged 24.6 mpg, and we were FLYING on the way home on I-91. I've taken a 175 mile trip and I got 27.0 mpg, roughly 70-75 mph. 500 is definately doable.

BigRez

iTrader: (7)

i am only getting 18 mpg your lucky

Frostydc4

iTrader: (3)

The best I was able to get was 360mi/17 gal (this is with city & highway driving). If I was not driving through rush hour traffic I can get 400+ miles easily.