New Member - Florida Nissan Owner - Stats Inside - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Superluminal · 03-01-2013, 08:36 PM

I'm currently driving a 2001 Nissan Sentra SE with manual transmission. This car has the renowned SR20DE engine from the factory. I've owned the car since 2009, and just recently started logging my mileage. To my dismay, the car gets some pretty awful mileage for a 4 cylinder. I was wondering if anyone has some tips or pointers in order to make the car more fuel efficient during city/highway driving.

The motor is 100% factory. Currently, I have the ignition timing advanced to 17* running 93 octane gasoline. I have a lightweight battery (15lbs.) installed. I've removed the factory spoiler off the car. I've replaced the 16" wheels that came factory with 15" wheels off a 240SX (same offset, 2lbs. less per wheel). Spare tire/jack removed, I ride very spartan in the car. Minimal A/C usage. I will be receiving 195-60-15 tires to replace my worn 205-60-15 tires next week.

Currently averaging 26ish mpg mixed driving.

Let me know if any of you have any suggestions and in the meantime I'll be searching and reading up information on the site.

Superluminal · 03-05-2013, 04:26 PM

I will have a project thread up shortly.

mcrews · 03-05-2013, 04:36 PM

Welcome!

did the diameter of the tires get smaller?
read ther threads on tires size.
weight reduction 2-4 lbs a wheel will not increase mpg.
Try taking out the spare and test the mpg.
You are better off increasing the diameter thus lowering the rpm when at cruise.

also increase the psi.

But a good search will provide the answers.

Superluminal · 03-05-2013, 06:36 PM

Project thread is up: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tra-25134.html

Superluminal · 03-05-2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcrews

Welcome!

did the diameter of the tires get smaller?
read ther threads on tires size.
weight reduction 2-4 lbs a wheel will not increase mpg.
Try taking out the spare and test the mpg.
You are better off increasing the diameter thus lowering the rpm when at cruise.

also increase the psi.

But a good search will provide the answers.

The base Sentra SE comes with 15" wheels. I have the performance package that had 16" wheels. I dropped down to a 15" wheel which is about 2.5lbs lighter a wheel. I went with a smaller contact patch (195 down from 205) and a taller profile (60 series up from 50). I just had these new tires mounted yesterday, so no data as of yet. The tires are at maximum psi.

Visit my project thread for more details: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tra-25134.html