Optimal cruising interstate speed

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skinny2
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Postby skinny2 » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:24 am

I'm not aware of any real differences between '05 and '08+ that would affect mpg. There can certainly be differences just between identical vehicles though. I'm surprised by the mileage I get particularly because my typical commute is relatively hilly. I would have though the guy in FL would have done much better on flat ground.

What kind of tires are you running? I noticed a hit in mileage just from buying fresh tires, but they're still just a highway tread. MPG has climbed since the tires have worn....have about 45k miles on them now. An AT tire will easily cost you 1-2mpg. I also have trouble keeping mine aligned. I can tell when it starts getting out and my mileage drops. The last time it was almost an inch out of alignment by the time I got it into the shop and it felt like a new vehicle afterward and my mpg jumped up 1mpg.

You're not that far off my numbers at that speed. I don't get 22mpg until setting the cruise around 70mph (72mph indicated on speedo according to GPS). 80mph usually = 20mpg. My mpg computer is usually very close to actual calc.


ericbrooks
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Postby ericbrooks » Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:07 am

We just got back from a 1300 mile road trip. I had new 265/65/17 Hankook Dynapro ATM tires put on right before we left. I was driving 70-75 and got right at 20 mpg.

Mark21
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Postby Mark21 » Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:14 am

I am running Michelin LTX M/S2 265 70R16 on It now for the past 6 months. I ran premium and 78 mph from MO to MN on 35, so pretty flat. I did recently do 105,000 mile changes (new spark plugs etc..) so maybe I will see an improvement this summer when i make the trek again. Thanks for the response.

skinny2
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Postby skinny2 » Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:51 am

I'm running the exact tire but in a 17". MPG has improved as the miles wear on. Still have 6-7/32nd of tread except I have two that have worn really bad on the inside due to the alignment problem. I think I can get through the summer with those moved to the rear but likely will have to swap out before winter. I was hoping for 50k miles on these which I'll easily hit even with the wear problem. Worth the money in my book, the OEM tires were bologna skins at 30k miles. I drive toward the aggressive side for sure.

Mark21
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Postby Mark21 » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:28 am

Yeah, pretty happy with the tire. I am hoping I have them for 50,000. I just had to put four new tires on wife's 09 Maxima and they were just as much. I was shocked and am done spending money on tires for a while.

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fidelcastrol
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Postby fidelcastrol » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:52 pm

I just got a 2006 4x4 SE and all I'm getting is 17.8mpg and the highway cruising is at 65MPH but I got a MIL light (P4030). I will probably get a new cat real soon.

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Oly 22
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Postby Oly 22 » Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:56 pm

To put a bit of an international spin on the milage, I just drove from Vancouver to the Kootenays, along the Crowsnest Highway. Mostly mountain roads, lots of hills and corners. Total km's were 1287 (799 miles) return with average speed of 84kmh (52mph). Fuel consumption was 11.4 litres per 100km driven (20.6 mpg). Not too bad for the amount of hills to climb and hair pin corners, oh ya, and elk on the road.

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fidelcastrol
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Postby fidelcastrol » Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:48 pm

20.5 MPG, cruise on at 70mph, I love America!!

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hfrez
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Postby hfrez » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:44 am

Mark21 wrote:Sooo. I am amazed to see the mpg you guys are getting. I have a 2005 SE and have never gotten better than 18-19 on long drives. I usually have cruise set on 78 all the way. I always wondered how accurate the mpg gauge was. Am I missing something here or are the newer models that much better on gas.
Yes, you are missing the VOLO Performance Chip. I installed mine 6 to 8 months ago and my mpg's climed by 1-2mpg pending on driving. I just did a 2400 mile road trip from Florida to Jersey with a motorcycle in tow (1500 lbs) and ended up with a 19.8 mpg average doing an average speed of 75 mph. Hit bumper to bumper traffic on the way in Maryland, Washington DC and Jersey. That is not bad at all fully loaded with a family of three and a dog. Used Premium gas only all the way there and back.

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Oly 22
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Postby Oly 22 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:42 pm

Hey hfrez, where did you get the VOLO chip and is it easy to install?

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hfrez
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Postby hfrez » Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:12 pm

This is the Website http://voloperformance.com/ chose the one you think is best for you. Easy install just look at the website it explains it all.

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Oly 22
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Postby Oly 22 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:08 pm

Thank you hfrez.

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FLiPMaRC
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Postby FLiPMaRC » Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:57 am

I'm usually running at 75-80mph (~2500rpms) on I80 to the Poconos. Lots of up and down hills. I get around 19-20mpg (80miles one way). Last week, I did an experiment and put it on cruise at 70mph (~2100rpms) on my way home. I got 22mpg :lol: Running on regular 87octane gas.

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Oly 22
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Postby Oly 22 » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:56 pm

Hi hfrez,

I am now looking into the VOLO chip more seriously. Are you noticing the increase in HP and torque as advertised as well as an increase in MPG? Can you feel the difference when you accelerate? Is it worth it?

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hfrez
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Postby hfrez » Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:32 am

Oly 22 wrote:Hi hfrez,

I am now looking into the VOLO chip more seriously. Are you noticing the increase in HP and torque as advertised as well as an increase in MPG? Can you feel the difference when you accelerate? Is it worth it?
Yes in all areas; however, I do have a cold air intake system from K&N and it was installed before I got the VOLO (hence the reason I got the VP12). Do not expect a huge difference though. The VOLO only changes the fuel mapping in the Cache memory (temporary memory) of your ECU. The gains are there but not to the point of overwhelming satisfaction. For the price I got what I was looking for in the VOLO and most of all I'm getting better mpg.

I just went on a 2500mile road trip this summer and got 19.8 mpg on average but this was towing a 1500 Lbs. trailer with motorcycle. That is really not bad since I was averaging 72 mph. My city fuel consumption varies largely on my foot. Some weeks I'm just more aggressive and like to punch it a lot and I will see a 16.4mpg around town but if I use the Fuel Economy screen from Nissan I loosen up my led foot and get 17.3mpg around town. On Hwy if I go 80+ mph I barely get 20 mpg’s but if I tone it down it gets better and better. I have gotten 23.5 mpg doing 65 mph a few times. This is all on premium fuel of course. I do see a slight difference between premium and regular in the mpg’s (worse with regular) and I also notice a power drop with the regular fuel as well but not to the point that it really matters. I will use premium fuel however since I know that the additives are better regulated and do keep the engine running better. Regular fuel can be hit and miss but it usually has more ethanol content and less additives that benefit your engine. Besides if you calculate the difference it cost in a year it is marginal compared to the harm a bad tank of gas in regular fuel can do to your engine. If you use a base of 12000 miles per year and an average of 18.5 mpg the difference in price in my area would come to $150 a year with an average price difference of 23 cents between 87 and 93 octane fuel. Some folks will use the mid-grade of 89 which is not the best of solutions either since it does not quit live up to the manufacturer’s specs of using 91 octanes but is a bit better than most regular 87 octane fuels and would make a difference of $75 a year.


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