Is your Nissan Sentra getting relatively poor MPG gas mileage? Fly along in the steps below to find out how this number can be improved/increased.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Exterior Adjustments

  1. 1
    Add one full container of fuel efficiency booster (such as STP Fuel Boost or the like which you can purchase at any superstore supermarket carrying automotive supplies). Utilize the scheduled mileage chart as written on the bottles. Most ask for a new one to be added about every 4000 miles, but some may be anywhere from 4500 to 6000 miles, while some may ask for theirs to be added more regularly such as at every fill up so read the directions on the bottle carefully to ensure you aren't adding too much to your tank too quickly.
    • Most fuel efficiency boosters require that your tank be completely full or very close to full when you add so that the booster liquid can seep into the sides of the fuel tank and thereby clean the sides providing for a cleaner tank that can send the fuel up to where it has to go quicker, thereby producing less lag time. You'll earn a little more fuel efficiency mileage.
    • Be careful not to pick up a fuel booster that is designed to be a carburetor cleaner. The Nissan Sentra doesn't have a carburetor in it and adding one that has that in it can be a complete disaster and can break your gas tank along with your engine.
  2. 2
    Change your air filter. For country-driven Sentras, an air-filter change is suggested at every 20,000 miles[1] though city-driven Sentras will need closer an air filter change about every 15,000 miles[2] .
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  3. 3
    Change the car's engine oil every 7,500 miles[3] . Older Sentra's may require more routine mileage than 7,500 miles (12,000 km), so only use this mileage as a general guideline. It may sound weird, but if you change it when you are supposed to, this should help. Lightening the load of old oil can help decrease the amount of stored oil and thereby lighten the load of fuel needed to be moved during a given period of time, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency of the car. (You'd be sluggish too and not want to move too fast if you had too much to drink, so why test your car's ability when it's got too much oil too?)
  4. 4
    Remove unnecessary items from the car at the very least by the summer months (if you can get away with it). Heavy coats and heavy containers in the trunk may cause the fuel to increase due to the unnecessary heavier workload they'll have to carry when they shouldn't need to. Check through your backseat and remove any old items you may not need or have any use for anymore.
  5. 5
    Don't overfill and top off the fuel tank upon fueling the Sentra. As is advised in the owner's manual, the more fuel it's got, the heavier the car will be (even hairs heavier). For most Sentras of the 2009 model year and newer, the average size of the gas tank will be about 14 gallons, but be sure to check your owners manual for exact details or fill the tank till the gasoline pump clicks off and don't fill any further after that (regardless of price).
  6. 6
    Don't let the Sentra run below a quarter tank of gas. Letting it get that low could put unnecessary stress on the fuel pump which can decrease the fuel efficiency rating.
    • Buy fuel from better-known companies. Although those few cents savings can seem great, cheaper gas prices from lesser-known ("mom and pop") sellers who may not seem that worthy of your money, may end up costing you more in the long run, as these fuels may have different ratios of gas to additive added to their mixture when the better-known ones have more respected ratios that are up to government standards. Be wise and notice whether that deal is really the best deal out there when driving past the gas location.
  7. 7
    Check your tires for proper inflation often. Although Sentra's tire pressure number will differ from model year to model year, this number will be on a sticker inside the door jam (but not on the door itself), and rotate on the schedule set in your Service and Maintenance Guide.
    • Select tires that are narrow, if you need to purchase tires, but not too narrow. If you don't need new tires due to tread wear being good, don't worry. There will come a time when this could happen.
  8. 8
    Try your hardest to not use your air conditioner in city traffic. Unless it is hot and leaving your windows down won't help when moving, the air conditioner will only cause the car to drag and the fuel efficiency to decrease.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Driving Style

  1. 1
    Use cruise control if your Sentra is equipped with it. Most Sentras have their cruise control as buttons on or near their steering wheel, however, old Sentras may have their cruise control on their own driving stick off the steering wheel, so be sure to know where it is and how to use it if equipped with it.
    • Stick to using cruise control on long drives on the highway rather than using it on short drives through the city.
    • On some older models this is an optional feature, though most people tend to think it's standard on all Sentras.
  2. 2
    Avoid city streets unless there is no way of avoiding them. If you have the choice, use highways or multi-lane streets without traffic lights. Try not to drive on city streets where stop-and-go traffic is apparent. If you can't avoid it, you may have to resort to the other Steps in this article, but this should be one of the other major things you can do for your car to improve its rating.
  3. 3
    Ease up on the gas pedal. Lead-footed people (on the gas) tend to use a lot more gas than the vehicle is designed to put out. Put it down until you feel your car begin to move at a steady pace equal to the speed limit and don't let up on the gas pedal until you need to use the brake pedal. Make only minor adjustments as conditions warrant between the gas pedal and brake never pushing the car too much, and never going above the set speed limit.
  4. 4
    Don't let your Sentra try to idle, unless this can't be helped. This may seem to be a problem in most people's driveways, but when you see your Sentra idling at a traffic light for a long period of time, this may decrease your fuel efficiency rating. (Don't keep moving through a red traffic light, but avoid letting it sit idly on the highway.)
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About This Article

Simon Miyerov
Co-authored by:
Driving Instructor
This article was co-authored by Simon Miyerov. Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment. This article has been viewed 33,148 times.
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Co-authors: 10
Updated: February 21, 2023
Views: 33,148
Categories: Cars
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