2002 Nissan Frontier Gas mileage in different elevation

MONTYTRAMP

MEMBER
2002 NISSAN FRONTIER
89,000 MILES

In last several years a go to east Texas (elevation +-500' above sea level). There I get gas mileage about 20.5 m/g. On my 4cyl. 2wheel drive. My home is in Denver, el. 5300' and my gas mileage is 25m/g in town, 28 m/g on highway around Denver. Then I drive a lot in the Colorado mountains, el. 8000-11500' above sea level. There my gas mileage is around 30 m/g. I called the service dept. Of my Nissan dealer and they don't know an answer to my problem. Is there any way to fix it (computer. Chip. Adjustment) I'm satisfied with gas mileage home and in the mountains but it's a little high in lower elevation. Thank You.

Monday, September 2nd, 2013 AT 10:13 AM

2 Replies

TY ANDERSON

MECHANIC
719 POSTS

If there is a fix it would only be through the dealer w/ a factory reprogram tool. This is something I've never seen it is always the other way (worse mpg in higher altitude than at lower elevations). The only thing that comes to mind is your probably using you a/c much more than you are in Denver?
I don't think there is much of a problem here but let me know what you think, TY

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Monday, September 2nd, 2013 AT 10:32 AM

MONTYTRAMP

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank's Ty, I go to East Texas (by Longview) every year for about 6 weeks on second half of October till end of November so a/c is is on only sometimes, no more then in Colorado. Even here with a/c my gas mileage on a summer months is still around 25 m/g. When in Texas, I changed motor oil to a synthetic at about 60 000miles.
Twice changed spark plugs, once cables. No changes in gas mileage. I'm using 85 octane gas in Colorado, 87-89 in Texas because they don't sell 85 there. I used to work as a car mechanic in the 80's so my car has a proper maintenance all around, but today's computerized cars are too much for my hard skull. Monty

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Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 AT 5:30 AM