I think part of it is that you consider keeping it at 3k "calm".

When I'm just cruising around, (35-40 mph) I'll have it in 6th gear @ 1500-2000 RPM. I typically shift at 3000-3500 and go from 2nd to 5th or 6th in town. I don't know if this helps at all, but it may make a bit of a difference.

I commute on mountian HWY and Interstate, and am at 25 MPG and 40 MPH. My mountain driving is very aggressive though.

Also, I've only reset my computer twice, and only because I seemed to reach a limit on the computer (my MPG went to 0.0 all of a sudded in the middle of a drive). It happened at around 6500 miles, and 13000 miles.

-D'oh!

 

Yeah, and fall asleep driving... :-)

 

maybe its due to all the "nice" new jersey air! my car was around 18 for the first 500 miles or so. i have 1400 now and im around 24-25. i do a lot of commuting on 287 though, im sure that helps.

 

Well, we have had this discussion before, and going into 6th at 40 tends to lug the engine. I used to do it, and it does save gas, but I am fearful of lugging the engine. Now at 40, I am usually in 4th gear (5th occasionally) with rpms at like 3000, this actually works out great for me.

When I was in 6th, it was harder to know how fast I was going and would speed through town without knowing it. Now, in like 4th, I am better able to stay around the speed limit and it doesn't kill my mpg. I really don't worry about getting tickets around town as much cause I am more aware of my speed cause of rpms. Now on the interstate, well, that is a different story, lol.

 

I guess I like to have the instant acceleration available. I'll generally cruise town in 3rd at anything below 36~37. When I get around 40 I move to 4th.

On the highway, I drive almost the entire way to work, 50~75mph, in 5th. I'll occasionally move to 6th when there isn't much in my way, but that's very very rare around here. I usually need that 5th to maneuver and gain lane position because traffic is so dense and people are such clueless drivers here.

 

I use 5th as an all purpose city driving gear. I like hovering at about 1700-2000 rpms at any speed. Averaging about 24 mpg...The Z seems to give better mileage then my WRX with turbo-back exhaust. Go figure.

Ash

 

Aproy...

Might I ask where on 287? I drive to Parsippany from PA for my work commute. (I come I-78 to I-287).. I've just never seen another Z on the road except for 1 at the rest area on I78 at market # 7, and 1 one the off ramp at exit 15 on I-78..

 

Slay2K:
I would get a few injector concentrate and run it through your gas when the tank is half full. That may help

 

Injector cleaners used to do wonders for my old Chevy S-10, but according to Nissan, we shouldn't put them in the Z's gas tank.

From the service manual:

Aftermarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of any fuel additives (that is, fuel injector cleaner, octane booster, intake valve deposit removers, etc.) which are sold commercially. Many of these
additives intended for gum, varnish or deposit removal may contain active solvent or similar ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel system and engine.

 

Sorry, "owners" manual, not "service" manual.

 

I just drove to Knoxville from Nashville and got a computer indicated 29.2 mph. If you know that stretch of road, you know there are two long mountains/plateaus you go up and down. I think my average speed was something like 72 with the holiday traffic, but I was trying to cruise at 78 or so.

Around town, I get 20-22 or so. I don't do a lot of standstill traffic, though.

 

I think I'm with the other guy on the crappy gas mileage. I get about 15 mpg with an average speed of 18 mph. Although, I don't expect differently, I'm a teenager and drive it pretty "aggresively" and only in the city (nothings too far that I need to get on the freeway for) so I can't be upset with my mpg i guess. I am going to try the 5th and 6th gear at 35 mph thing to see if it helps at all. It would be nice if it does, thanks for the tip.

 

Uh, change that to MPG, not MPH. Doh!

 

Yeah, anything below 1500 RPM really bogs the engine. As long as I stay above that, then it seems to be fine. Most of the roads I drive are 2 lane HWY or 2 lane city streets, so there is not much of a need to accelerate, which really helps the mileage. I can practically coast through town in 6th.

-D'oh!

 

Over 9200miles my MPG is 21.6 with average speed of 34mph.

I have managed to get up to 33mpg on a 350 mile drive and not being too nice, and the lowest I have gotten has been 17.7mpg

Not sure how much difference it makes but I only have access to 91 octane fuel and I live and drive at between 5400ft and 7500ft. With nice mountain trips up to over 10,000ft.

 

should i be worried.... im getting 14.1 but only have 2130 miles on it.

 

5K on my Z; around town, running thru traffic, @3500 rpm +, get @ 19 mpg. recently 2 trips of 500+ got 25+mpg @ 80+ mph. It's all good!

Keep the rubber side down!