Im new to this forum and have an '08 V6 pathfinder as well as a 4300 travel trailer.
I've noticed that my fuel mileage while not towing is approx 14 litres/100 KMs (16.8 miles/gallon) -- however, when towing the trailer, it goes to approx 25 litres/100 kms (9.4 miles/gallon).
Does this sound about right or is something wrong?
in addition, people keep asking if there's a button to press for towing - I don't believe there is - is there?
thanks
Reduced Mileage while Towing
Moderator: volvite
That sounds a little low. Is your travel trailer much taller than the Pathfinder? That would make more wind resistance. disallow has a 28" travel trailer that he tows so maybe he can help. Others are reporting around 14 MPG while towing with overdrive off. See this thread: http://www.thenissanpath.com/viewtopic. ... highlight=
I'm not exactly sure how to turn overdrive off though. Maybe someone can explain.
I'm not exactly sure how to turn overdrive off though. Maybe someone can explain.
Page 9-19 in the PF manual states that the front area of the trailer should not exceed 60 Square Feet. My trailer is about 8' x 8' so it exceeds this, but just. Also, the exposed surface is not that big, most of the 64sqft is blocked by the truck.AZ_Path wrote:That sounds a little low. Is your travel trailer much taller than the Pathfinder? That would make more wind resistance. disallow has a 28" travel trailer that he tows so maybe he can help. Others are reporting around 14 MPG while towing with overdrive off. See this thread: http://www.thenissanpath.com/viewtopic. ... highlight=
I'm not exactly sure how to turn overdrive off though. Maybe someone can explain.
Normally, I get about 550km (340mi) on a tank before filling (usually about 65L (17 US Gall)) or about 20 MPUSG. When towing, I only get about 350km (220mi) on the same amount of fuel, or 13 MPG.
Trailer is 28 feet, and 4500lbs dry. Add some gear and depending on where your going, some water in the tanks, and your looking at about 5200-5500lbs.
It tows like a champ, but I also live on the prairies. You can watch your dog run away for 3 days here its so flat. However, I would not hesitate to take it for longer trips, and hills wouldn't bother me. Maybe you can't go 70MPH up a hill, but you probably shouldn't be anyways if your towing a huge rig like this.
It looks like this changed in 08. The pic is smal, but I think I see the button you are refering to. If this is the case, then how do you not use overdrive on 2008+ models?myriad46 wrote:I know that my Pathfinder has a button on the shifter, where your thumb is, to specifically turn off overdrive.
2007
2008
AZ Path - your '08 has one of the slap shift gates off to the side. While in Drive, move the shifter to the right and you can then move the shifter forward and back to manually select gears. I've only played with it a little as my '08 is an S model with the old style shifter. 4th gear is a 1:1 on our transmission with 5th gear being the only overdrive.
I only tow 2,000lbs., which is a far cry from 4000+ lbs. you guys a talking about, but I tow with overdrive on and get about 16mpg.
The original poster may be referring to a tow mode, which the Titan has but our Pathfinders don't despite having the same transmission.
I only tow 2,000lbs., which is a far cry from 4000+ lbs. you guys a talking about, but I tow with overdrive on and get about 16mpg.
The original poster may be referring to a tow mode, which the Titan has but our Pathfinders don't despite having the same transmission.
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HillbillyJake
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MonkeyMike
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on mine, when i bump the shift lever to the right it is automatically limited to 4th gear. if i want overdrive, i have to "shift" to get the dash indicator to show 5th gear.Captain caveman wrote:If you have a SE or LE model like I do. If you want to take the trans out of O.D. you move the shift lever to the right and bump the lever back till the dash indicator goes from 5 to 4. S models just push the O.D. button.
~mike
As I recall from the few times I messed with the manual shift mode, if you leave it set at "4" the tranny will still automatically upshift and downshift through the lower gears. It just won't go any higher than what you have it set to. So when towing, I should just put it in manual mode and leave it set at 4 and I don't need to worry about shifting. Does that sound right?MonkeyMike wrote:on mine, when i bump the shift lever to the right it is automatically limited to 4th gear. if i want overdrive, i have to "shift" to get the dash indicator to show 5th gear.
~mike
ok, just my two cents, ive got an 08 SE, what ive noticed is that, if i was in D with over drive on (i.e. 5th gear) and if i move the shift lever to the right, triptronic mode (manual shift) it automatically goes to 4th gear and stays there until the revs get so low that it can no longer pull in that gear. Only then does it shift down..
But if you manually put it in 2 nd gear, it remains there again till you reach the red line, or almost the red line.
So what im trying to say is that, for 08+ SE models, if you guys need to tow, just leave it in the triptronic mode, its the same thing as having the OD button on or off but be ready to change gears manually.
But if you manually put it in 2 nd gear, it remains there again till you reach the red line, or almost the red line.
So what im trying to say is that, for 08+ SE models, if you guys need to tow, just leave it in the triptronic mode, its the same thing as having the OD button on or off but be ready to change gears manually.
Don't leave it in the lower gears unnecessarily when towing. I tow a 3000 lb travel trailer. The ScanGauge shows the best gear to use. For example, on a reasonably level highway, OD is fine. If I lock out OD when I could be using it, it costs me 2 MPG.
OTOH, when I come to a hill, the SG tells me when it's about to shift. If I reach over and push the button before it shifts automatically, the shift is much smoother. And if I hit the button a couple seconds before it would have shifted by itself, it seems like it climbs the hill in fourth more often than when it shifts automatically, it selects third gear (may be just my imagination).
Marv
OTOH, when I come to a hill, the SG tells me when it's about to shift. If I reach over and push the button before it shifts automatically, the shift is much smoother. And if I hit the button a couple seconds before it would have shifted by itself, it seems like it climbs the hill in fourth more often than when it shifts automatically, it selects third gear (may be just my imagination).
Marv
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