1998 Nissan Sentra fuel consumption problem

Tiny
IRFMAN2000
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  • 1998 NISSAN SENTRA
If it were me I wouldn't mess with the throttle body especially if its idling fine. Do you have any check engine lights? If not, try putting some fuel additives in there. The stuff that I use is some lucas fuel injector cleaner which costs about$5-8 at autozone or advance. Put new plugs, wires, cap and rotor on it or just do the plugs. Your alignment and a bad caliper can kill your mileage too. Also check your tire pressures too which should be around 32-35 psi.

Or you can also put on a cold air intake which increases 8-10 hp and it does improve your gas mileage if you drive it conservatively. If you keep launching it at high rpms with it you would burn more gas as if you were to have the stock intake on there. I know from experience and I used to do that since I loved the sound and my mileage went down but when I drove it regularly, my mileage is awesome. I don't know how your driving style but if its not good slow it down a little lol.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. Hope this helps. That's all I can think of for now.
Sunday, January 25th, 2009 AT 7:42 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
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Engine Performance problem
1998 Nissan Sentra 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 131000 miles

Hi I just want to know how I can improve the fuel economy of my car. I changed the muffler for a sport one and I also had an oil change ls month. My car's engine is a 1.6L 16valve DOHC. Intake filter is stock. I am just wondering if I should tinker with the carburetor-looking mechanism where the air filter is atached, coz it seem to have idle control, air control and others, my cousin made adjustments to it some time ago setting the rpm to about 8500/ 9500 with AC. But on my calculations the car is doing like 8km to a liter. Please help me out sirs. Please inform me if you need more details on my problem. Would really appreciate any help
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Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 AT 9:07 AM
Tiny
IRFMAN2000
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Try the additives 1st since it's the cheapest way way for cleaning the injectors. Use Luceas injector cleaner like I said. It's the best out there. Do not go to the dealer to get your injectors clean since they will charge you an arm and a leg. If you want them cleaned, take to ther places other than a dealer which will be cheaper like pep boys, firestone, ntb, etc.

Also change your throttle body setting back to the factory settings. Yes you should be able to set it back since somebody did it. Try disconecting the battery 1st and if that doesnt work then take to that person that tinkered with it. The rear tires have a good psi but the front is lower than normal and it should be the same is the back. Reason being is because by the car being front wheel drive, the engine will work more harder since its more resistance and you'll have less than normal fuel economy. Those things should help. Let me know how it goes. Thanks and have a good day.
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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 4:46 AM
Tiny
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Guess i'll try that cold air intake and some injector cleaners. About cleaning the injectors, instead of using after market additives, is it better than going to the dealership and have an EFI cleaning instead?

Here are the things i've done so far.
Wheel alignments and camber correction
new plugs and brake pads

plans:
cold air intake and efi cleaning

hey sir, my tires are 185/14/65
30 psi at front and 35 at back. Is it okay?
Also, since someone already tinkered with the throttle body, is there anyway to set it back to default /factory settings?
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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 10:37 AM
Tiny
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Ok sir, will try the additives first and I guess i'll set my tire pressures to 33 psi on all. Also my tach is showing.85 on idle without AC and lights. Is it good sir. Many many thanks. Will update maybe tomorrow
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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 11:10 AM
Tiny
IRFMAN2000
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You did right on the tach. Sounds about right around 750-850 rpm. The tire pressures are good. Let me know how it goes. I'm glad I can be of help to you.
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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
IRFMAN2000
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You can go to a library and find a repair manual for your car and try to find it that way. Or you can google search it to find it that way.

As far as the additives try to find the best. If you love your car and planning on keeping it, put a higer priced additive in there. I don't know what you have out there where you're at but it'll be wroth it im sure. You won't notice very little difference if any. You should put it in there at every oil change if you want some significant reslts. Not gonna work overnight. Or try some octane booster so make your pick lol. Let me know.
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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 6:41 PM
Tiny
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Ei irfman2000 got my tires on 33psi. Will try to find a good additive here in our area, coz I think we dont have those brands you mentioned, here. (Asiapacific)
is there ay specific detail I need to know before buying an additive/cleaner? I also forgot to mention that im driving an automatic. And do you happen to know how I can get the default/factory settings on the throttle body?

>thanks for helping me out sir, this site became one of my faves coz of that :)
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 AT 12:20 AM

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