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Walkin Kamikaze

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey all! I am new to these forums, but i've been looking around for a little bit now. I have an '03 sixxer that I plan to continue putting a little bit of mods onto each year for many years to come. Bought the car used from a nissan dealership (weird, but whatever). 38k original miles, clean carfax, one or two dings. Took to my shop and they said it only required new rear brakes. So it was a good deal i thought....

BUT: i have been reading about guys getting an average of like 20-25 MPG mixed between city/highway in these cars, which i believe completely, but mine is getting between 16 and 19 MPG driving 75% city. I recently installed the CAI from American Muscle and have yet to get a full couple of tanks to measure the mileage, but i will soon. Anyways!

Should I be concerned that I only average 200-220 Miles per fill-up?.. I mean I am nowhere close to 20mpg's and I drive a v6. Any suggestions to see if I can boost the mileage to a more "normal" level?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to learning a lot from these forums in the future. :D
 
#3 ·
Yeah the mileage seems pretty random for our cars...Some people get great mileage and some dont lol

I was getting 280 to a tank then it dropped down to 220 for no apparent reason so I got a tune up (new spark plugs, oil+filter change, air filter, fuel filter, and tranny oil+filter) and it went back to 245 and is holding steady. (Im stock btw) Before my next oil change Im going to try to Seafoam the car and see if that helps, never tried the stuff before but a lot of people seem to have had good luck with it so what the hay.

Drafted a semi on the way down to Myrtle Beach once for 75% of a tank and got 360 miles that tank, that was pretty exciting lol
 
#4 ·
I have a 98 With a CAI and Exhaust, I run 89 Gas and I average 280-300 per tank.
I am also a 5 speed, And I usually don't drive much.

My biggest advice is to just do your routine maintenance on it, And see how it goes.
Every time I buy a car, I do my own oil change, Even if they say they just did it.

Never trust anyone you are giving money to for something. ;)
 
#5 ·
I average around 240 a tank; im an auto with bolt on mods. :)
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Well first of all I do have an AUTO so i know i'll get less MPG than a stick. But it seems low and i was just gonna figure out if there was any maintenance i should get done to fix it. I got the oil changed 1,000 miles ago, the air filter is brand new, and thats all i've done so far.

btw thanks for the replies and if anyone here is from orlando or Tampa Hit me up because it's always nice to have fellow mustang people around.
 
#7 ·
Every 250 Miles or Weekly (whichever occurs first)
Check engine oil level
Check engine coolant level
Check windshield washer fluid level
Check brake fluid level
Check tire wear and psi

Every 3,000 Miles or 3 Months (whichever occurs first)
all items previously listed plus:
Check power steering fluid level
Check automatic transmission fluid level
Check engine oil and oil filter
Check clutch pedal freeplay

Every 6,000 Miles or 6 Months (whichever occurs first)
all items previously listed plus:
Check and service battery
Inspect and replace windshield wiper blades
Rotate tires
Check seatbelt operation

Every 15,000 Miles or 12 Months (whichever occurs first)
all items previously listed plus:
Inspect and replace underhood hoses
Inspect cooling system
Check fuel system
Inspect steering and suspension componenets
Inspect brakes
Check manual transmission lubricant level
Check rear differential lubricant level

Every 30,000 Miles or 24 Months (whichever occurs first)
all items previously listed plus:
Check engine drivebelts
Inspect ignition system components
Replace air filter
Check PCV valve
Replace fuel filter
Inspect exhaust system
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter
Service cooling system
Change brake fluid

Every 60,000 Miles or 48 Months (whichever occurs first)
all items previously listed plus:
Replace spark plugs
Change manual transmission lubricant
Change rear differential lubricant

Recommended Fuel
All except Cobra- unleaded 87+octane
Cobra- unleaded 91+ octane

Engine Coolant
50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol antifreeze and water

Brake Fluid
Dot 3 or Dot 4 brake fluid

Differential Lube
80W-90 Lubricant; for trak-lock axles: add 4oz of friction modifier when changing oil

Fluid Capacities

Oil Capacities
3.8L V6- 5qts
4.6L V8 (-1996)- 5qts
4.6L V8 (1997+)- 6qts
5.0L V8- 5qts

Fuel Capacity
15.4 gallons

Cooling System Capacities
V6- 11.8qts
V8- 14.1qts

Automatic Transmissions
AODE- 12.5qts
4R70W- V6- 13.9qts; V8- 12.8qts

Manual Transmissions
T5- 5.6qts
T45- 6.6qts

Rear Differential
7.5"- 3.25pts
8.8"- 3.75pts

Ignition

Spark Plug Gap
.052"

Torque Specs
Wheel Lug- 85-105 ft./lbs
Spark Plugs- 7-14 ft./lbs
Oil Pan Drain Plug- 8-12ft./lbs; '98 V8- 15-19 ft./lbs
Auto Transmission Pan Bolts- 10-12 ft./lbs
Manual Transmission Drain/Fill Plug- 12-22 ft./lbs
Rear Differential Drain/Fill Plug- 12-22 ft./lbs

Source: Haynes Manual
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Green_6er said:
^ there is no way in hell you are getting 360 per tank. I usually only run mine down to 1/4 of a tank and i am usually around 200-220 miles per 3/4 tank of gas. i average 23 mpg with about a 50/50 mix of city and highway driving and a few WOT pulls.
Click to expand...
See, im getting like 200-220 using it down until the fuel light comes on... :( i'll have to have everything checked out/ give it a tune-up. I read something about O2 sensors that could be messing up the MPG..i think in past posts, anyone have anything about that?
 
#11 ·
I got like 2 mpg better when i swapped my O2 sensors. Just a word of advice, get the longer wired O2's if you ever plan on installed long tube headers, you will thank me. I also got better throttle response when i swapped them. Do this and you mpg SHOULD increase.

1. Spark plugs
2. Spark plug wires
3. O2 senors (front ones)
4. Fuel filter
5. Driver mod (drive more economically)
6. Exhaust might be good for 1 or 2 MPG if you do a full exhaust (Long tube headers, O/R Mid-pipe, and cat back.)
 
#12 ·
I thought the same but at $50 each I decided I didnt care that much. I read somewhere someone said to take the o2 sensor off, soak the end in gas for a while to dissolve any **** on it, then light it on fire to "burn it clean" but that seemed kinda sketchy to me so I never tried it, didnt wanna get trolled for $50 lol

Some people suggested cleaning the MAF sensor using electronics cleaner, I never remember to pick some up any time Im at the store though.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
So, in regards to the Long-Tube headers then... What would be the difference/benefit of this compared to the shorty's? as my sig says im still a noob and just joined the car mod world..
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
alright thanks for the advice! so basically if I ever wanna re-build the exhaust system (which i will some day) I should go with long-tube headers to maximize the sound and perfomance in comparison to the shorty's. I was just gonna slap on a MAC catback from AM cuz it's cheapest and sounds great on the youtube vids..
 
#18 ·
If youre basing off the videos which one you want I would make sure you check them out on a computer with good speakers/headphones. I was looking at them once using my blah monitor speakers and then looked at them again with my $120 headphones and there was a HUGE difference, I ended up changing my mind on what I wanted. Then I ended up not being able to afford an exhaust, whoops.
 
#19 ·
GreenShift said:
If youre basing off the videos which one you want I would make sure you check them out on a computer with good speakers/headphones. I was looking at them once using my blah monitor speakers and then looked at them again with my $120 headphones and there was a HUGE difference, I ended up changing my mind on what I wanted. Then I ended up not being able to afford an exhaust, whoops.
Click to expand...
I definitely agree here. When listening to a video and not listening in person making sure the sound quality is at its best is pertinent when basing a purchase in this way.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
well, that is why im not basing it purely on computer sound.. i was just saying the MAC catback seems like a great exhaust for our v6 for cheaper.. The exhaust is lower on my list of upgrades honestly at the moment. but thank you for the O2 sensor advice, i'll get the ones wired longer just incase i do ever decide to go with longtube headers.
 
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