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Comments
You have to hit the 'eject' button to open up the little cd door - yes, even if there's no CD inside. I got stuck on it myself for a moment. You can't just push the CD inside.
Maybe annoying but I guess it prevents dust from getting in.
Also, I've noticed it often takes time for the CD player to read mp3 tags, but eventually it works and titles are displayed on the screen.
to get to the oil filter, try taking off the front passenger side wheel. easier to access now?
easy way to do yourself just jack the passage up
They have ordered a new 6 CD unit.
Some drivers claim to be getting 35, 36, some even 40 mpg on '07 model reviews. Nissan rates their hybrid 35 city / 33 highway.
I made my first 2000 miles, and depending on my driving style, I've been getting 31-34, mostly average 31.5 now. About 70% highway so I can see the mpg go down. When it was warmer, (I'm in NY) I would get about 32-33. I try to stay in EV as much as possible and go easy on the gas.
After going to a gas station and crunching my numbers, I got 31mpg last time. Display showed 33pmg. It's still better millage if I would drive 2.5 non-hybrid Altima - 23/31mpg, but I wonder how come some people get mpgs in high 30s range?
I know when it's cold the engine has to warm up = wasted gas, and then you use the heat = more wasted gas. Lately I've been relaying more on heated seats then heat itself.
Some people say I will get better millage after first oil change. Couple of mechanics told me that's not really true... maybe a tiny bit more.
So what's your mpg? ...and do you drive in cold / warm state?
Thanx for your thoughs,
karolpl7
so far for the winter (if i take out a 5.5 hour, 25 mile drive in a blizzard out of my calcs), i'm getting about 31 MPG so far during the winter
I had taken in my NAH for servicing a few months back and they give my a 2.5S automatic gas version for a rental. I got 33MPG. I have come to realize, unless you drive a lot (20,000 miles or more a year) and a lot of stop and go, a hybrid is a good buy, otherwise gas version will be good. Especially since the Altima gas has a CVT engine.
Another observation, the trip computer is a waste. Its is no good. The readings are all incorrect from the range to the MPG. One things I noticed is the "Range" increases when I am on the freeway, but once I start to drive "stop and go"-city streets, the Range drops. You would think it would increase since hybrids are supposed to bo better in the city then highway. And on the freeway its better not to cruise and just drive. On gas cars, using cruise helps the MPG, but in my NAH, I have obeserved it doesn't.
I drive Altima's for a car rental agency and have driven over a dozen standard 2.5S. They were good on MPG. On the highway I continuely got 38 mpg at 70 mph.
However I bought the hybrid and have had it less than 1,000 miles. I know that I can't evaluate the mpg in our winter weather or compare it to the standard 2.5S at this time. Just way to early. However, it does get 13 mpg more than my Subaru did. So I am happy. I expect better after driving 5,000.
I got 29mpg on last tank (trip computer: 31-32mpg, yeah right) while driving in 20-30F weather (freezing NY). So I fill up today, drive about 50 miles and so far I've been getting 35-37. It was about 50F today. And I take the same road driving to work every day. Can few degrees make such a difference or it's all in my head?
I'll definetly post some numbers on the web, got my receipts saved up. :P
Edmunds '08 review still has exaggerated numbers, nissanusa corrected it, so should Edmunds;
Specs Fuel Tank Capacity: 20 gal.; EPA Mileage Estimates: 42 mpg / 36 mpg; Range in Miles: 840 mi. / 720 mi :confuse:
I used to have a Haynes manual for my old Civic... but they don't have anything for Nissans at all.
Thanx,
karolpl7
Unit works well. I am happy.
I had expected some decrease in MPG compared to the average based upon my short trips. I had not however, expected a 7 MPG decrease.
If someone is looking for great mileage for short commutes, better to buy a clean diesel (when they become available) as opposed to a hybrid.
For example, I started the car today, first time in two days, it's about 50F outside, pull out from the parking lot, and I can feel as if the car is trying to switch to EV mode, but the engine is too cold yet so it doesn't. You can feel those little shudders from time to time, some are stronger. It's was annoying at first, but need to ask Nissan service during first oil change.
Any one experiencing the same? Thanx,
karolpl7
The shudders is what I'm concerned, but I see you experience the same.
It runs smoother after 1-2 minutes and is all fine after 5 I would say. It does take 10 minutes or so for the cold engine light to go off, unless you start driving and it goes away faster. Probably depends how really cold it is.
I was little bit surprised you can't just press the gas while parked, to rev up the engine. It doesn't do much. Kind of miss my '98 Honda where I new exactly what was going on. :shades:
I wish I could have read about this in countless reviews that are out there. Hope our friends in CA don't have the same problem. Thank you cold east coast...
karolpl7
In regard to the shuddering, I live in Northern California. We've had some unseasonably cool weather just before the holidays. Frost almost every morning. In this weather, the car definitely shudders harder when the ICE kicks in, until it warms up. This is reasonable, considering that all the fluids (oils, greases, coolants) are all pretty viscous (even if the oil is a very thin 0w 20). Over longer trips, as the systems warm to their tasks, the shuddering returns to the slight bump we'd feel in the summer months. I am a backyard mechanic, and have listened for odd noises or behaviors. I don't think the harder bump is a problem. If it keeps bumping/shuddering hard come April/May, then we'll go see Nissan...
Synthetic is always better in today's engines. The longer molecular chains make is slipperier for a given application, reducing friction and wear, and a condition in oil lubrication called "shearing" (that's a bad thing). Synthetic generally isn't recommended for break in, since it is so slippery that the part that would normally be polishing against each other, plus rings trying to seat don't do that break in work as well, but once you've broken the engine in, synthetic is the thing to get, if you can afford it. The one myth to avoid, though, is that you can go longer between oil changes with synthetic. That's true as far as the oil's ability to lubricate go, but remember that your engine is constantly dumping garbage into your oil, so even synthetic should be changed regularly to get that crud that the oil is carrying out of your engine. A filter will get some of it, but once the filter gets full, a relieve valve lifts in the filter, and the oil is no longer filtered. Change the oil!
In regard to batteries and extending the range, like everyone else (and you of course) I'm hoping for a breakthrough in hybrid technology which will extend the electrical range of the car. Out here in California there are companies which will install plug-in systems in hybrids, but the installation is currently quite expensive (on the order of $5,000 or more) and voids your warranty. Right now the technology for plug in hybrids is more for bragging rights than anything else. More work has to be done.
My chemical engineer friends tell me there is currently a new battery technology in testing stages which is going to make current batteries pretty pathetic, if they can get all the bugs out of the thing. Additionally, it uses some sort of foam technology which allows the battery to be molded into pretty much any reasonable shape, and the materials used are considerably lighter than current technology batteries. The implications to the automotive industry (and motorcycle and recreational vehicle) are pretty obvious. No more need to lose 1/2 the trunk space for a big brick of a battery, like we NAH owners do. The battery could be conformally mounted to the belly pan, or inside fenders, behind bumpers, or any number of places. Fingers crossed that they can get the bugs out of the thing...
highwayman
Where did you get this info? Everything I've read - owner's manual, shop manual, tech bulletins - the main recommendation is for 0W-20 year round. 5W-20 and 5W-30 are listed as acceptable substitutes but nowhere have I come across written recommendation to use 5W-20 in the summer instead of 0W-20.
it used to be 0-20 but the latest one on the meunal(08) it said 5-20 or 5-30
http://www.nissanusa.com/pdf/techpubs/altima_hybrid/2008/2008-Nissan-Altima-Hybr- id.pdf
Page 9-2 still has 0W-20 as the primary recommendation for oil with 5W-20 or 5W-30 listed as acceptable substitites.
*3: SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 engine oil may also be used. However, SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for optimum fuel economy and optimum starting in cold weather.
In regard to SYNTHETIC oils, the statements I made there are general knowledge about synthetics. Synthetics are always better, if you can afford them. Though Nissan doesn't specifically recommend them (the owner's manual of any make of car should be viewed with circumspection, since it is heavily edited by lawyers and bean-counters), it's fine to use them. It is common ICE research knowlege that synthetics are better for any given engine, ONCE IT HAS BROKEN IN. The reason being that synthetics, for any given grade, have better lubrication properties. This is due to longer, stronger molecular chains which work better to keep metal parts apart than "regular" oil. Synthetics also resist "shearing" better. Shearing is a condition in which the molecular chains in the oil are literally sheared, as the oil runs through gear trains (in a NAH, that would be a timing chain area, the oil pump, the cam chain). This can cause premature break down of the oil (causing premature loss of lubrication properties).
In regard to changing synthetic oil, the oil DOES last longer as it was formulated, than regular oils, but the thing to remember is that your engine is constantly filling the oil with debris from on-going wear, combustion chemicals, and other junk, at about the same rate as it would for regular oil. Oils have three missions. 1. Lubricate. 2. Cool parts (which is why the oil pan always hangs down in the air stream below the car) 3. Carry microscopic debris away to the oil filter. So, for item #3, synthetic fills with junk, too, and should be changed only slightly less frequently than "regular" oil.
All of what I've said about synthetic, is NOT in the Nissan Owner's Manual. It is just the current best practices and theories for synthetic oil. As far as what grades to use, you are dead on the money correct. The only caution I'd give in regard to the Nissan oil recommendations is to find that 0w20 if you can find it, expecially in winter. Any misbehaviors in your engine and Nissan MAY try to pin it on the use of the wrong grade oil (they cannot pin it on the use of the wrong brand, due to the Magnusson Moss Act).
"Nissan does reccommend 0w 20 for winter, and 5w 20 for hot summer, and tough conditions."
That's an exact quote from your post. I was curious where you read that about summer and tough conditions because I haven't seen that anywhere else. If it were true I'd like to know the source before I switch over to a heavier oil for the summer. In the past I always liked to use a heavier oil for the summer but the hybrid is a different beast and I'll stick to whatever Nissan recommends as their primary oil.
BTW, you can always purchase Penzoil 0W-20 on line at the oil-store.com. I just bought 12 quarts for about $5.60 a quart and that includes S&H.
isn't all 0-20 are Synthetic?
isn't all 0-20 are Synthetic?"
How often does Toyota have 0W-20 on sale and do you know if this is a national sale or just your local dealer? $3.20 a quart is a great deal.
I believe, which doesn't make it fact, that 0W-20 would have to be a synthetic but I think that I've seen 5W-20 that isn't.
i think lots of the new Honda using 5-20 and is not sys.
We JUST hit 10K on our car on a trip, returning from friends' house in Sacramento, California. My wife, who is a much more gentle driver than I am, probably averaged about 75. We got 40 MPG according to the car's computer. Impressive for freeway driving, to say the least. We've also noted that the machinery is getting looser and looser (more broken in). When we first got the car, it wouldn't stay in EV mode much above 30. Now, it's common to see it top 40 for short distances before it switches to ICE. With crude oil hitting 100, we're very pleased.....