I have not talked to any owners of the Nissan claiming better than 16 mpg
Hi Ziggi,
I too have talked to other NV drivers who constantly get 14-16 with the V6 or V8. They usually have passed me on the highway going about 70.
The terrain, headwinds, and other factors have a lot to do with it as well, mostly the right foot, though. Not saying they were driving too hard, because sometimes you really are in expedite mode and have to get it there yesterday... SOOOO, 14-16 doesn't surprise me at all.
I ran a load to a small town in CT where the last 5 miles I could have used a 4x4. The hills and curves reminded me of the days when I ran my Dad's Ford F250 4x4 up and down Green Mountain in Colorado, when I was a teenager. Needless to say, the fuel mileage under those conditions went to crap!, but that's part of the business.
I have been fortunate that the loads I have fallen into are loads that have reasonable time tables for pick up and delivery, as well as having weights that are between 300 and 1000 lbs, and occasionally the 2200 pounder. I run on my own authority and do not have a dispatcher riding my tail. Each load is negotiated, including sometimes, the p/u and delivery windows.
I'd rather pass on a load and get the next one, rather than run my truck and me into the ground.
I do realize not everyone has that available, and in the past, I too ran for a Fleet Owner, but, he ran out of money, so I started my own thing, and ...well...here we are.
I make every effort to squeeze every once of mileage out of the gas I buy. I even added a 5/8" hose to fill the gap between the bumper and the fender to improve aerodynamics, and will be adding more modifications as I go along.
If possible and safe, I coast to stoplights, stop signs, while using the off ramps and on the downhills and let the weight push me while in neutral (Engine ON, though!). I also put it in neutral at stop lights that I think will be red for a bit. No use having the engine trying to move you forward in gear when your foot is on the brake. I didn't invent these driving techniques, but I sure do implement them, and they have been paying off rather well.
The V8 uses a cylinder technology that if I had bought my NV with a V8, would be tempting fate when you start modifying things. The V6 is always a V6, and that is what I counted on. The use of performance chips and so on, if desired, wasn't as much of a risk on the V6. Even though the chip is unplugged for now, it will be returned to services once I have completed the other mods to the van. I see folks using "Airtabs", but the real messy air is under the truck, hence; modification under the truck is going to have greater results than over.
I'll keep posting as I go.
Mark