Nissan Murano 3.5 CVT: the truth about fuel consumption and how to save up to 2 l/100 km

Crossover Nissan Murano third generation (Z52) with naturally aspirated engine VQ35DE 3.5 l and variator CVT Xtronic — one of the most comfortable and dynamic representatives of its class. However, owners and potential buyers are often concerned with the question: what real fuel consumption this car in the city, on the highway and in the mixed cycle? Official figures from the manufacturer (10.5–12.8 l/100 km) often diverge from practice, and reviews on forums range from 11 to 16 liters. In this article we will figure out what appetite depends on. Murano, how to objectively measure it and what techniques will help save up to 15–20% of fuel without compromising comfort.

Let us immediately note: Murano 3.5 does not apply to economical cars - this is a car for those who value a smooth ride, a spacious interior and the reliability of a proven engine. But even taking into account its “gluttony” there are ways to optimize consumption, knowing the operating features CVT variator and injection systems. We analyzed on-board computer data, reviews from owners with mileage from 50 to 200 thousand km, as well as technical nuances that directly affect gasoline consumption.

Official data vs real consumption: where is the truth?

The manufacturer declares for Nissan Murano 3.5 CVT (model 2015–2021) the following fuel consumption figures:

• 🏙️ Urban cycle: 12.8 l/100 km
• 🛣️ Country cycle: 7.6 l/100 km
• 🔄 Mixed cycle: 9.6 l/100 km

However, these values were obtained in laboratory conditions (according to the standard NEDC or WLTP), which weakly correlate with Russian realities: traffic jams, fuel quality and driving style. According to owner surveys on Drive2 And Murano-Club.ru, real figures are usually 15–30% higher:

Driving conditions	Official data (l/100 km)	Real consumption (according to reviews)	Difference (%)
City (traffic)	12.8	14.5–16.0	+13–25%
City (free traffic)	12.8	12.0–13.5	–6–+5%
Route (90–110 km/h)	7.6	8.5–9.5	+12–25%
Mixed cycle	9.6	10.5–12.0	+9–25%

Critical feature: the CVT on the Murano is designed for smoothness, not efficiency. Under aggressive acceleration, it keeps the revs at 3500-4000 rpm, which instantly increases consumption to 18-20 l/100 km in the city. At the same time, when driving quietly on the highway (cruise control, 90–100 km/h), many owners record figures in the region of 8.0–8.7 l/100 km - close to the passport values.

5 main factors affecting fuel consumption

Gasoline consumption per Murano 3.5 depends not only on driving style, but also on the technical condition of the car, fuel quality and even weather conditions. Let's take a closer look at the key factors:

1. Condition of the CVT variator

CVT Xtronic paired with a motor VQ35DE requires special attention. When the belt or oil in the CVT wears out, the following problems arise:

• 🔧 Belt slippage — leads to loss of power and increase in speed (consumption increases by 10–15%).
• 🛢️ Contaminated oil - impairs heat dissipation, the variator overheats and works less efficiently.
• 📉 Faulty solenoids - cause jerks and delays when switching, which makes the engine run longer at high speeds.

Recommended oil change interval for CVT - every 60–80 thousand km (despite the dealer's claims about "lifetime" filling). Use only original fluid NS-3 or its analogues (Idemitsu CVTF, Ravenol CVT).

2. Fuel quality and octane number

Engine VQ35DE designed for gasoline AI-95, but in Russian realities, even at proven gas stations, the octane number may be underestimated. Consequences:

• 🔥 Detonation — leads to overheating and an increase in consumption by 5–8%.
• 🧪 Carbon deposits on valves — the filling of the cylinders worsens, the engine “suffocates.”
• 🛑 Clogged injectors — the fuel does not burn completely, some goes into the exhaust.

Advice: if after refueling the consumption increases by 1–1.5 l/100 km, drain the gasoline and flush the fuel system. For prevention, use additives every 20 thousand km (Liqui Moly Ventil Sauber, Wynn's Injection Cleaner).

3. Tire pressure and rolling resistance

Incorrect tire pressure increases the contact patch with the road, which increases rolling resistance. For Murano with tires 235/65 R18 optimal values:

• 🚗 Front wheels: 2.3–2.4 bar
• 🚙 Rear wheels: 2.4–2.5 bar

When the pressure decreases to 1.8–2.0 bar, fuel consumption increases by 3–5%. The type of tire also affects: winter tires with studs increase appetite by 0.5–1.0 l/100 km compared to summer tires.

4. Climatic conditions

In the cold season, fuel consumption is Murano 3.5 may increase by 15–20% due to:

• ❄️ Long warm-up (optimally - no more than 3-5 minutes at idle).
• 🔋 Increased load on the generator (heated seats, windows, headlights).
• 💨 Thick air — the engine spends more energy on “pumping” it.

In summer, consumption may decrease slightly, but at temperatures above +30°C the air conditioner turns on, which takes up to 10–15 hp power (increase 0.3–0.5 l/100 km).

5. Electronics and additional equipment

Modern crossovers are equipped with systems that indirectly affect consumption:

• 🔋 Battery — a discharged battery makes the generator work harder.
• 🎵 Audio system - powerful subwoofers can add 0.1–0.3 l/100 km.
• 📡 On-board computer - errors in the engine control unit (ECU) lead to suboptimal injection performance.

How to measure fuel consumption correctly?

Many owners Murano make errors when measuring flow, which leads to distorted data. To get accurate numbers, follow this algorithm:

Calculation example: you filled up 50 liters and drove 400 km. Flow = (50 × 100) / 400 = 12.5 l/100 km.

Please note:

• ⛽ Don't trust the on-board computer — its error can reach 10–15%.
• 📊 Measure flow in both directions (there/back) to level out the slopes of the road.
• 🚗 Avoid aggressive overclocking during the test - they distort the results.

⚠️ Attention: If fuel consumption is on your Murano 3.5 exceeds 16 l/100 km in the city or 10 l/100 km on the highway, this is a reason to carry out diagnostics. Possible causes: faulty lambda probes, air leaks in the intake manifold or worn piston rings.

Top 7 ways to reduce fuel consumption by 10–20%

Even without deep tuning, you can optimize your appetite Murano 3.5 CVT. Here are proven methods from owners with over 100 thousand km:

1. Optimizing your driving style

CVT Xtronic “loves” smooth accelerations. Avoid:

• 🚦 Sharp starts from traffic lights (consumption +2–3 l/100 km).
• 🏁 Long-term retention of high speeds (more than 3500 rpm).
• 🛑 Engine braking in lower gears (turn on the L only on steep slopes).

Use cruise control on the highway - this reduces consumption by 5–7% due to stable speed.

2. Regular CVT maintenance

As practice shows, change the oil in the variator every 60 thousand km (instead of the recommended 100 thousand km) allows you to save up to 1.0–1.5 l/100 km. Also check:

• 🔧 Condition of the CVT cooling radiator (clogged radiator = overheating = increased consumption).
• 🛠️ Integrity of pipes (air leaks impair the performance of the torque converter).

3. Cleaning the throttle valve and injectors

At a mileage of over 80 thousand km, deposits form on the throttle walls and injectors, which interfere with mixture formation. Symptoms:

• 🔥 Floating speed at idle.
• 🚗 Jerks during acceleration.
• ⛽ Consumption is above 14 l/100 km in the city.

Solution: flushing the throttle (Abro Carb Cleaner) and ultrasonic cleaning of injectors (cost ~5–7 thousand rubles). Effect: reduced consumption 0.5–1.0 l/100 km.

4. Use of quality oils

For engine VQ35DE it is critical to use approved oil Nissan 5W-30 or 0W-20 (For example, Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30, Idemitsu Zepro Eco Medalist). Synthetic oil reduces friction, resulting in savings of up to 3–5%.

5. Optimization of weight and aerodynamics

Every 100 kg load increase consumption by 0.5–0.7 l/100 km. Remove unnecessary things from the trunk, remove the box from the roof if you do not use it constantly. Also check:

• 🚪 Are the windows closed at speeds above 80 km/h (open windows worsen aerodynamics).
• 🔄 Does the air recirculation system work (it reduces the load on the air conditioner).

6. On-board computer calibration

If after replacing wheels (for example, on 235/60 R18 instead of 235/65 R18) or firmware ECU do not reset the settings, the on-board computer will show incorrect consumption. To reset:

1. Turn off the ignition.
2. Press and hold the daily mileage reset button.
3. Turn on the ignition (without starting the engine).
4. Hold the button for 10 seconds until the message appears RESET.

7. Flashing the ECU (for advanced)

Caution

ECU flashing: Some workshops offer "economical" firmware for the VQ35DE, which supposedly reduce consumption by 10-15%. However, such interventions often lead to:

• 🔥 Engine overheating (due to lean mixture).
• 🛑 Loss of warranty (if the car is under warranty).
• 💥 Accelerated wear of the CVT (due to changed switching algorithms).

Recommendation: if you decide to do chip tuning, choose proven studios with reviews from owners Murano and require a dyno for before and after testing.

Owner reviews: real consumption figures

We analyzed owner reviews Nissan Murano 3.5 CVT 2015–2020 model years with mileage from 30 to 180 thousand km. Here are typical indicators:

Region	Mileage (thousand km)	City (l/100 km)	Route (l/100 km)	Mixed (l/100 km)	Fuel
Moscow	45	13.8	8.2	10.5	AI-95 (Lukoil)
St. Petersburg	90	15.2	9.0	11.8	AI-95 (Gazpromneft)
Yekaterinburg	120	14.5	8.7	11.2	AI-92 (Rosneft)
Krasnodar	60	12.9	7.8	9.8	AI-95 (Shell)
Novosibirsk	150	16.0	9.5	12.5	AI-92 (local networks)

Interesting observations from the owners:

• 📉 "After changing the oil in the CVT at 80 thousand km, consumption in the city dropped from 15.5 to 13.8 l/100 km"(Alexey, Moscow).
• 🚗 "On the highway at 90 km/h the consumption is 7.6 liters, but as soon as you accelerate to 130 km/h - immediately 11.0 liters" (Igor, Rostov-on-Don).
• ❄️ "In winter with heating and a stove, consumption reaches 17 liters, in summer - 12.5 liters" (Sergey, Yekaterinburg).

⚠️ Attention: If your Murano consumes 20-30% more fuel than in the table above, this may indicate a malfunction mass air flow sensor (MAF) or catalyst. Check error codes via OBD-II scanner (eg ELM327).

Frequently asked questions about fuel consumption of the Nissan Murano 3.5 CVT

❓ Why did fuel consumption increase after changing the engine oil?

This may be due to two reasons:

1. Using oil with the wrong viscosity (For example, 10W-40 instead of 5W-30). Thicker oil increases friction and the engine spends more energy pumping.
2. Poor quality oil, which quickly degrades and loses its protective properties. Check to see if there is any knocking noise from the hydraulic lifters or noise during a cold start.

Solution: drain the oil, flush the system with flushing oil (Liqui Moly Oil-Schlamm-Spulung) and upload the original Nissan 5W-30.

❓ How does turning off the cylinders (VDC system) affect fuel consumption?

Engine VQ35DE is not equipped with a cylinder shutdown system (unlike VQ35DD in Infiniti QX60). However, it implements a variable valve timing system CVTCS, which optimizes consumption at medium loads. If consumption suddenly increases, check:

• 🔧 Solenoid performance CVTCS (error codes P0011, P0021).
• 🛠️ Condition of the timing chain (a stretched chain knocks out the phases).

❓ Is it possible to drive on 92 gasoline instead of 95?

Manufacturer recommends AI-95, but many owners successfully use AI-92 without consequences. However, there are nuances:

• 🔥 On 92 gasoline the risk of detonation increases, especially in hot weather or high load (towing, mountain roads).
• 📉 Fuel consumption may increase by 0.3–0.5 l/100 km due to the lower energy intensity of the 92nd.
• 🛑 At some gas stations, 92nd is the same 95th, but with the addition of additives to reduce the octane number. The quality of such fuel is unpredictable.

Conclusion: if you refuel at trusted networks (for example, Gazpromneft or Rosneft), 92nd gasoline is acceptable. In other cases, it is better not to take risks.

❓ Why did fuel consumption increase after washing the engine?

This is a typical problem if, during washing, water gets into:

• 🔌 Sensor connectors (For example, Mass air flow sensor or lambda probe).
• 🛢️ Air filter — a wet filter restricts air flow, the engine runs on a rich mixture.
• 🔥 Candle wells — moisture can cause breakdowns in the ignition system.

Solution: dry the engine compartment (you can use a hairdryer), check the error codes and, if necessary, replace the air filter.

❓ What is the fuel consumption for the Nissan Murano 3.5 CVT with a trailer?

When towing a trailer weighing up to 1.5 tons (limit for Murano) fuel consumption increases by:

• 🏕️ City: +2.0–3.0 l/100 km (up to 16–18 l/100 km).
• 🛣️ Route: +1.5–2.5 l/100 km (up to 10–11 l/100 km).

Tips for saving:

• 🚗 Use a lower “gear” (L) on inclines to avoid overheating the CVT.
• 🔄 Check the pressure in the trailer tires (should be 0.2–0.3 bar higher than in the car tires).
• 🛑 Avoid sudden braking - the inertia of the trailer increases the load on the brake system and engine.