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Nissan Altima Hybrid Real World MPG

149 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 7:06 AM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Altima Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

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#126 of 149 Break-In Period and Transmission Question by cruiser1964 Aug 28, 2009 (1:18 pm)
One issue that I haven't seen addressed is "break-in" period.   The manual only says a couple of things about it. Is there anything a person can do to ensure that the car is broken in "properly" to ensure it's highest performance/fuel economy.   One other question I had was about the eCVT. How does it do in the hills/mountains. I live in a fairly flat area, but if I want to travel, I know that I'll be taking it through some good sized hills and possibly even in the mountains. Has anyone done any major travelling with their NAH and how has it performed for them?   Appreciate any feedback.   thanks.
#127 of 149 type of gas... by cruiser1964 Aug 28, 2009 (1:51 pm)
One question that came to mind:   Is it worth the couple extra $$ to put premium gas into the tank? Will a person get better mileage for those few extra $$. Has anyone tried it and what have their results been? Replies to this message: meanboy2005 (Aug 28, 2009 3:32 pm)
#128 of 149 Re: type of gas... [cruiser1964] by meanboy2005 Aug 28, 2009 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: cruiser1964 (Aug 28, 2009 1:51 pm) If your car engine does not ping you will not benefit from the higher octane. I used to own mustang with a 5 liter engine and it had plenty of power and used regular gas.
#129 of 149 Re: When is the car running in "hybrid"mode? by db59 Sep 19, 2009 (12:09 pm)
1 kilovolt (KV) = aprox 1.34 horsepower. The KV gauge is stating the total KV currently being consumed (combination of electric motor and engine if not in EV mode). The NAH does not have 158 HP on the highway! It has 198 HP Since the full engine and electric motor power is available when applying enough throttle. To prove this, hit the pedal to the metal an the highway and watch that KV gauge. Mine will just butt up to 150KV (which is equal to 201 HP) then I have to slow since I'm going over a hundred now. The NAH has more power and significantly better torque than the standard 2.5. It is always in hybrid mode and can be either a mean SOB on the road or a miser which is why I love my NAH so much. I commute 130 miles every day mostly highway with a significant traffic jam daily. I'm getting 40.9 mpg. I generally drive 70 mph except for the heavy traffic spots and the last five miles of my commute I do almost in hole in EV mode.
#130 of 149 Re: Hybrid mileage note [roar02ram] by db59 Sep 19, 2009 (12:41 pm)
Replying to: roar02ram (Jul 30, 2009 3:05 pm) That's not really right. The reason its called a hybrid and not an electric car is because the gas motor and electric motor work together in their most efficient modes. With the gas motor off you can only go a few miles or so then the battery is depleted. The NAH gets better mileage even when the engine is running because the electric motor assists the engine at those times when it would be most inefficient by itself. Also, and this is the biggy, the NAH stores unused energy in the battery. The NAH engine cruises at significantly lower rpm than its standard counterpart. It regenerates braking and coasting energy for future use, and since the engine runs only as much and as hard as needed, it does not waste as much energy in the form of heat through the radiator and the tailpipe. In the end though, ALL the energy the hybrid consumes still comes from that gasoline you put in the tank, just more of it goes into making your car move.
#131 of 149 I love my NAH by db59 Sep 19, 2009 (1:14 pm)
I just joined the forum and as you may have noticed I am very enthusiastic about my NAH. I love it because it's like a well kept secret. Not everyone has one and I don't have to look like a green peace activist or wear a tree hugger badge driving it. That's not to say that I don't care about the environment, but I just don't want to look like a snob or drive a wheezy under powered space buggy while I'm caring. Getting back to the MPG subject, When I first got my NAH I only got 35 MPG (this was just over a month ago). I've since done my first oil change using 0W20 synthetic oil. I immediately got a four MPG improvement! The rest of my 40.9 MPG average comes from learning how to drive my car most efficiently. For example, I turn off the A/C button (turns off the A/C compressor) whenever I'm not hot and my windows aren't fogged up. This saves enormous energy. An A/C compressor consumes aprox 25 horsepower when running! I've read somewhere a comment that since the compressor is not driven by the engine it would not rob power. This is a fallacy! ALL power used in your NAH ultimately comes from the gasoline. There is no free energy. Even the regenerated power from the brakes ultimately came from the gasoline since it was required to charge the battery and to make the car move in the first place. Also, I watch the KV gauge when braking and try to keep it in the blue zone. If you pin the needle in the blue zone and brake even harder you will waste some energy. Of course safety prevails and at times you must brake hard. I try to drive with the KV gauge at 25 or below as much as possible when cruising on the highway.
#132 of 149 Real MPG ratings vs. Car computer & EV mode by trekbowl300 Sep 28, 2009 (2:41 pm)
I just purchased my NAH on September 7, 2009. I used it normally for the first 2-1/2 weeks both city and highway driving. The on board computer had mileage ratings about 5 MPG more then what I could compute after getting gas. Example the computer read 35.9 but after getting gas it was 30.7. The biggest difference was my first tank filled by the dealer when the computer was 32.6 and the actual was 24.8. Do most of you get that much of a difference between the car computer and actually figuring it out after getting gas?   Also the EV mode seems to go off anytime I touch the gas pedal. Even most of the time just rolling out of my driveway not touching the gas but using the brake the car jumps out of the EV mode. If I just barely touch the gas pedal and it jumps out of the EV mode and goes back in when I let the car coast not touching any pedal. Is this normal or should it stay in the EV mode until at least 30 MPH. I did notice the power meter showing use while driving on my trip described below so it was always in use but rarely by itself at low speeds of even 0 to 20.   I just went to Florida and back from NJ. A total of 2500 miles in 4 days and the mileage was not what I expected. Here are the tank fill ups ratings 28.7, 32.6, 31.3, 28.6 and the last one of 36.0. Speeds range was 55, 65, 70 and those 45 MPH areas for construction and bridges. Without going over the speed limits but staying at the max speed allowed, with air cond. on is this what I should expect? The car computer never went below 32.4 on any of the fill ups and was only close on the last one which it had as 36.9.   When I took my 2003 Honda Accord on the same trip in August it was 28 to 30 MPG range some faster speeds here and there and not a hybrid, so I was expecting at least the 33 MPG since my speed was lower and having a hybrid. Was this just unreasonable thinking?   On the last fill up the computer also said the car could only go 32 more miles (yes I was taking a chance but wanted to get as much of the gas out as possible) yet the fill up only took 15.81 gallons. If this a 20 gallon tank the computer should have indicated more miles since it was giving me a 36.9 rating per gallon. I just want to know if these numbers are close to what others are getting or if my car is just off by more then the usual amount? Replies to this message: meanboy2005 (Sep 28, 2009 2:54 pm) cephraim (Sep 29, 2009 4:06 am) cruiser1964 (Sep 29, 2009 8:20 pm)
#133 of 149 Re: Real MPG ratings vs. Car computer & EV mode [trekbowl300] by meanboy2005 Sep 28, 2009 (2:54 pm)
Replying to: trekbowl300 (Sep 28, 2009 2:41 pm) We've driven ours around 4k miles and so far it's been around 30mpg combined. City driving is the worst because of the long hills and the many stop signs. Recently, I filled up the tank and took it on a short drive on the freeway and the computer indicated 42.9 mpg. Once I got back into city driving it indicated 31 mpg. The city is tough on gas mileage. We have a 2000 Corolla VE we purchased new and after two years of city driving the average city gas mileage was 22 mpg. Freeway driving I did get 39 driving from SF to Stockton and back and I was running the AC a little. I have a friend along with me and 11 bowling balls in bags. I was driving around 65 mph. Second time I made the trip I only get 31 mpg but I was going a little faster because I was flowing with the traffic and touching 80 MPH in some sections.   I guess the answer would be it sounds like normal driving especially since the engine is still a little tight. Our computer is about 3 mpg off.
#134 of 149 Re: Real MPG ratings vs. Car computer & EV mode [trekbowl300] by cephraim Sep 29, 2009 (4:06 am)
Replying to: trekbowl300 (Sep 28, 2009 2:41 pm) Yes, most of us see between 3-5mpg difference between the gauge and calculated mpg. The gauge is always high.   EV mode only works when the engine temp is above about 161F. When you are stopped, the engine temp needs to be about 130F. Once you are at or above these temps, you still need to baby it to stay in EV mode. You also need to stay at or below about 40mph. Your success will be based on battery SOC (state of charge), ambient temp, and your acceleration conditions. It requires you to have a very light foot.   I am a true hypermiler, averaging about 44mpg in the summer. But, last winter my fuel efficiency dropped to about 35mpg. I do mostly backroad (40mph) driving and have a perfect commute for hypermiling. Very little highway driving. In the winter, I use a full radiator block and an engine block heater.   Yes, the fuel warning light comes on way too early. I wish there was a way to change it, but so far, nothing.   If you really want to increase your fuel efficiency, I suggest you check out ecomodder.com and/or cleanmpg.com.   Eph
#135 of 149 Re: Real MPG ratings vs. Car computer & EV mode [trekbowl300] by cruiser1964 Sep 29, 2009 (8:20 pm)
Replying to: trekbowl300 (Sep 28, 2009 2:41 pm) Also the EV mode seems to go off anytime I touch the gas pedal. Even most of the time just rolling out of my driveway not touching the gas but using the brake the car jumps out of the EV mode. If I just barely touch the gas pedal and it jumps out of the EV mode and goes back in when I let the car coast not touching any pedal. Is this normal or should it stay in the EV mode until at least 30 MPH. I did notice the power meter showing use while driving on my trip described below so it was always in use but rarely by itself at low speeds of even 0 to 20.   - Your comment about the EV mode was happening to me a bit when I first got my car and started driving it. I'm now learning how to work it and have seen my mileage improve, even after I fill the gas tank. I'm always checking the "range" button and notice that if I do a fair amount of city driving after I fill the tank, that the range actually actually "increases", because it has more gas to use later on!   Don't be to heavy on the gast pedal and EV mode will come on. Also note that if your antifreeze is cold, the gas engine will come on until it warms up (this info is in the manual).   It's starting to work for me and I'm enjoying my ride!

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