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2003 AT enthusiast Gas Mileage

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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 06:04 AM
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Default 2003 AT enthusiast Gas Mileage

Hello,

I tried to search the forum, but didnt find a topic about this.
I just bought a 350z with auto tranny and gas mileage was a bit bigger than I expected.

Is 14mpg a normal gas mileage in the city (for 2003 AT enthusiast)?
Thats the lowest I get in the city with smoothest ride. But I can get 8mpg with aggressive driving. (readings are from onboard-comp.)

Or there is something wrong with my 350z?

Thanks.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 07:02 AM
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you should reset the mpg every time you fill the tank
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 07:07 AM
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Hmmm between city and highway I average about 20 MPG with my 04.5. On the highway if I drive 55 MPH is get 34 MPG and if I drive 65 MPH I get 25 MPG. You must be driving pretty aggresive on the street to get 8 MPG.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 07:13 AM
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Like the old saying goes "your actual mileage may vary".

You may spend all day in heavy city traffic and somebody else may be cruising around the highways of a small city with not much traffic and both of you will report totally different "MPG in the city".

Based on my own average of 19mpg city and highway, I'd say 14 for the city is definitely possible with city only driving.

Reset the computer and go for a long drive on the open highway and see what you get there. Then you can worrry about low gas mileage or not.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 07:17 AM
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Those numbers seem a bit low to me, but we may drive differently. I get around 18 in town and 25 on the hwy with my AT (2006). I have seen as low as 14 after a fill up and trip computer reset (Probably shouldn't have accelerated flat out up the freeway entrance ramp.. )

I drive like an old man around town, though. AT shifts around 3 grand. Eight mpg is possible, I suppose.

Last edited by WhiskeyHotel; Jul 4, 2008 at 07:20 AM.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 07:24 AM
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I just picked up my 03 AT Enthusiast and I avg about 25-27mpg. This is a combination of San Francisco City and Freeway driving.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 07:31 AM
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I get 14.7 around town in stop light to stop light driving. Four miles to work - 18 lights. The computer shows that the average speed is 19-20 mph where the roads are 40-45 mph so I'm spending half my time getting 0 mpg at the stop light.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 09:52 AM
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here in NY, i get about 11-12 mpg

computer says my avg speed is 9-10mph....
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Taixxx

I tried to search the forum, but didnt find a topic about this.
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Old Jul 4, 2008 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by scmtkings4
here in NY, i get about 11-12 mpg

computer says my avg speed is 9-10mph....
My friend has an 03 has well, and gets just about the same.
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Old Jul 15, 2008 | 12:42 PM
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I used to get around 16-17 mpg.... but after i got a custom exhaust now it gives me about 19 mpg.... Don't ask me...Im not complaning.
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Old Jul 15, 2008 | 01:25 PM
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I'm getting about 20-25 in my 04 Enthusiast. I reset every fill up and drive mildly, mostly on the highway.
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Old Jul 15, 2008 | 03:50 PM
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I reset my MPG computer every time I fill up and then use a calculator to divide how many miles by how many gallons at fill up. In my experience our computers aren't very accurate. So far with 5 or 6 fill ups my computer has NEVER been accurate to within 10%, always gives AT LEAST 10% BETTER mileage then the real math shows. Take that for what it's worth... Good luck!
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Old Jul 15, 2008 | 04:32 PM
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Keep in mind that the computer is estimating based on how much fuel it thinks you've used based on the fuel level reading. That reading is not linear or very accurate. Ever notice that the level falls pretty quickly at first then more slowly as it gets lower? I'd say being within 10% would be really good.
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Old Jul 16, 2008 | 08:16 PM
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I was getting bad mpg, and then I replaced my air intake. I was getting 15 to 16 mpg, and that changed instantly to 21 to 22 mpg in the city and to 27 to 30 on the highway. I don't usually drive faster then 80 mpg.
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Old Jul 17, 2008 | 04:05 AM
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I got 0.5mpg improvement by adding some more pressure in tires, but i think I'm starting to think about a new intake? Which do you recommend?

The gas cost's about 1.5 EUR per liter here. That's no good.
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Old Jul 17, 2008 | 05:08 AM
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WOWwww that seems really low.

Granted I'm driving an '04 manual, but I get roughly 21.5 MPG pretty consistantly

(this is "highway" and city combined)
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 12:37 AM
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To the OP: How short are your drives? If you have really short drives (say <10 minutes), have a lot of idling, starting and stopping, that will KILL your gas mileage.

To quote my post at https://my350z.com/forum/350z/260594...ml#post3535915
"How short are your drives? Short drives will also kill your mileage. When I lived in WA and drove little (much of it city), it wasn't unusual to see my calculated mileage (on my 5AT) down into the 16s or 17s. Now w/my current commute (~8-9 minutes of city and expressway, not much stopping + 20 mins of highway at ~67 - 80 mph), I get ~21-23 mpg according to my calculations (trip computer is off by 0-1 mpg).

FWIW, when Consumer Reports tested an 05 Zr w/manual, they got 14 city, 27 highway, 20 mpg overall."
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 12:39 AM
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Originally Posted by 2ndname
I just picked up my 03 AT Enthusiast and I avg about 25-27mpg. This is a combination of San Francisco City and Freeway driving.
That's pretty high. You must really baby it and drive slow on the highway. I've NEVER seen 27 mpg and I don't think I've ever seen 26 mpg (going by actual calculations). However, I've never taken my Z on very long (300+ mile) trips.

My Prius on the other hand...
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 01:39 AM
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I'd start looking for leaks...
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