28 MPG??!???!? You've got to be KIDDING me!!!

[PaleMelanesian]

1. Generally good advice, but read the manual. Most Honda's specify 4-wheel towing up to 35 mph and up to 50 miles. Around town these are fine to EOC.

[ShadeTreeMech]

The biggest problem I have with EOC with an auto is the wear and tear on the starter motor; I suspect they're not designed to tolerate such constant starting. Of course, i may be underestimating the quality of them.

I wish my final drive ratio was as tall as your Infinity. Best i can figure is it's in the realm of 3.8 to 1. My LeSabre had a 2.8 to 1 as best as i can tell, and it made a world of diffference. The rpms of the LeSabre compared to the Maxima in overdrive were nearly half.

That being said, there's plenty of folks quoting 30 mpg figures on the highway for this car. Maybe I shoud aim for 35 mpg. Wouldn't that be something!

I've been driving with a much lighter foot now past couple of days. In my minvan I generally can get 150 mpg on a half tank, but my father in law borrowed the van for the week and managed to beat me by 30 mpg. I commented on it and he told me it's because he drives a lot slower! (well, he is 80 years old.)

the gas pedal is a sensitive sort of friend. I suppose I better be nicer to it

[PaleMelanesian]

2 sets of data on starters:
My Civic, heavily hypermiled, still has its original starter after 178,000 miles.
My Odyssey, not hypermiled by "other driver", had a dead starter at 60,000 miles. It looks to me like manufacturing quality was a bigger issue than wear in these cases.

Wanye at CleanMPG, who probably uses his starter more than 10 of us combined due to constant EOC, went 100,000 miles before replacing his. (automatic Accord)

[texanidiot25]

Starters will have no issues, as long as you don't crank on them for long periods of time. That's what kills them.

[talldudenumber5]

well i have good news for you. i have gotten 31 mpg in my 96 max 3 times. mostly drives from kc to jeff city and kc to branson. mine is an automatic gle with only 50 psi tires. the curb weight of the car is 3100 lbs. i combine the hypermiller technique and rally style so i have fun and get good gas milage

[talldudenumber5]

eoc on these cars would not be good. check maxima .org, the starters and transmissions are not ment to last on these cars

[superchow]

Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech

But...But....but it so HARD to not go with the flow of traffic!!! And i like going fast.......but I don't like paying for it at the pump. And my car feels so stable at high speed, like it just wants to go faster and is egging me on.....

This is a picture of my inner conflict. Wish i could afford to change out the final drive for better highway gears.

I like driving my Civic spiritedly too. I don't think Honda geared the car to max out it's "economy range" for rpms (1500-3500) at 80 mph exactly for no reason. Low drag, efficient engine = good mpgs despite high revs.

Yet I drive 55 in a 60 and 60 in a 70 to save some coin when not in a hurry. It's the money I can then use to burn some extra gas when driving "Arkansas-style". Plus, think of the reduced stress of not having to worry about cops at all! All of a sudden it's a whole new world out there. Crack the window and "smell the roses".

[ShadeTreeMech]

Lol, I love drving Arkansas style for shore, but lately I have been driving like a little old lady and I'm starting to become accustomed to it.

Talldudenumber5, you're in my neck of the woods. I visit Branson quite a few times a year. Amazing the small world we live in. And yeah, I'm on maxima.org as well (my tag is shadetreemech77). I like it but there is a much wider array of people and thoughts there, and quite a bit of misinformation. This crowd tends to be a bit more educated

[talldudenumber5]

ya as far as how to's and performance i love the org. but this site has one soul purpose. mpg increase. and as far as ark drivin i am learning to drive hills. i am going to do some aero modding on my max here soon. grill block for the bottom and top openings in the bumper and front air dams and side skirts. i will save the templates if you want

[nissanlover90]

has anyone mentioned lowering your car yet shadetreemech? ive recently lowered my 90 sentra and got my highest mpg to date (28.3) it should do yours a world of good also. keep up those awesome numbers