Fuel Economy

99% highway driving 115 the entire way I average 7.6 over 400 000kms between two first gen Mazda gt's with the 2.3L 5speed. A yearly average between winter with winter tires, hot days cranking the AC, and everything in between. Not amazing but pretty good IMO.

So I drive mainly all paved country roads, 80km zones. I have a 2012 mz3 sport GS Sky 2.0. I only use the 91+ octane. I notice a huge difference when I don't use it. With the 91 gas I can hit 680kms on a tank, but when I use the 87 I get about 550kms. According to my gas cubby app I average 6.9 litres/100kms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 2012mazda3hatch

So I drive mainly all paved country roads, 80km zones. I have a 2012 mz3 sport GS Sky 2.0. I only use the 91+ octane. I notice a huge difference when I don't use it. With the 91 gas I can hit 680kms on a tank, but when I use the 87 I get about 550kms. According to my gas cubby app I average 6.9 litres/100kms.

---

That's not how gas works. Sadly, it's all in your head.

The octane rating is actually an "anti-knock index" number. It has to do with how well a gas resists knocking, which is basically premature ignition due to high compression. That's why sports cars with turbo chargers, or some larger engines, need higher octane fuel. The pressure inside the combustion chamber is much higher, and 87 would ignite prematurely rather than with the spark plug.

You don't get more "octane" in 91 vs 87. The amount of energy produced per litre of fuel is actually the same.

The only possible explanation is if you're buying ethanol-free 91, and your 87 has ethanol, then you might see more mileage. Save some money and just use 87.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m_bisson

That's not how gas works. Sadly, it's all in your head.

The octane rating is actually an "anti-knock index" number. It has to do with how well a gas resists knocking, which is basically premature ignition due to high compression. That's why sports cars with turbo chargers, or some larger engines, need higher octane fuel. The pressure inside the combustion chamber is much higher, and 87 would ignite prematurely rather than with the spark plug.

You don't get more "octane" in 91 vs 87. The amount of energy produced per litre of fuel is actually the same.

The only possible explanation is if you're buying ethanol-free 91, and your 87 has ethanol, then you might see more mileage. Save some money and just use 87.

---

But he's still saving money in the long run - even by paying the $0.20 premium per L

He's not gaining power - but he's gaining the fuel economy savings

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Default User

But he's still saving money in the long run - even by paying the $0.20 premium per L

He's not gaining power - but he's gaining the fuel economy savings

---

No, it isn't possible. The only way he'll get more mileage is if it's ethanol free. In kitchener, at least, I don't know of any gas stations that have ethanol free gas.

ok so I am awful at using the search tool, so I will pose a question in this thread rather than open a new one.

Back in the beginning of June I bought a 2013 Skyactiv Mazda3 GS. I am using it primarily to drive for uber while I am in school. What sorts of things other than more efficient driving (something I am working on after having a heavy foot in my 2008 GT) can I do to improve my mileage?
My mechanic brother in law mentioned he got better gas mileage in his Ford F150 buy installing a cold air intake, and diamond tip sparkplugs.

Would either of these options be worth my time or money? And is there any other mods or things I can do to squeeze out the most KM to a tank?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geobur

ok so I am awful at using the search tool, so I will pose a question in this thread rather than open a new one.

Back in the beginning of June I bought a 2013 Skyactiv Mazda3 GS. I am using it primarily to drive for uber while I am in school. What sorts of things other than more efficient driving (something I am working on after having a heavy foot in my 2008 GT) can I do to improve my mileage?
My mechanic brother in law mentioned he got better gas mileage in his Ford F150 buy installing a cold air intake, and diamond tip sparkplugs.

Would either of these options be worth my time or money? And is there any other mods or things I can do to squeeze out the most KM to a tank?

---

first ive ever heard an intake will get better fuel economy. 99% of the time is less. you already have ngk iridium plugs so you cant really put in better. i would make sure your intake air filter is clean. and keep your cars service up to date my 2010 averages around 8.0L/100KM and from fuelly 2012 -2015 are getting 7.2 - 7.7L/100KM so if thats what your around then your in the ball park. but check out that site if you dont track your fuel economy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Booter22

first ive ever heard an intake will get better fuel economy. 99% of the time is less. you already have ngk iridium plugs so you cant really put in better. i would make sure your intake air filter is clean. and keep your cars service up to date my 2010 averages around 8.0L/100KM and from fuelly 2012 -2015 are getting 7.2 - 7.7L/100KM so if thats what your around then your in the ball park. but check out that site if you dont track your fuel economy.

---

So I'm averaging around 9.6 according to the in car trip calculator so obviously I can be doing a lot better.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

2014 Mazda3 GS manual with 2.0L SkyActiv

Recently drove to/from FLorida. Average highway fuel economy hovered around 6 L / 100 km but that's with varying speeds (no cruise control) about 110-130 km/h.

Drove back where I was lighter on the gas pedal and got 5.2 L / 100 km - got 770 kms on one tank of fuel, filled up nearly 40 L.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geobur

ok so I am awful at using the search tool, so I will pose a question in this thread rather than open a new one.

Back in the beginning of June I bought a 2013 Skyactiv Mazda3 GS. I am using it primarily to drive for uber while I am in school. What sorts of things other than more efficient driving (something I am working on after having a heavy foot in my 2008 GT) can I do to improve my mileage?
My mechanic brother in law mentioned he got better gas mileage in his Ford F150 buy installing a cold air intake, and diamond tip sparkplugs.

Would either of these options be worth my time or money? And is there any other mods or things I can do to squeeze out the most KM to a tank?

---

There's not much you can do, I'd suggest pumping an extra couple pounds of air in the tires. Keep a clean air filter. Make sure your not carrying any extra unnecessary weight in the car and finally don't fill the tank right up. Every gallon of gas weights around 8 pounds.


_3

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Flagrum_3

There's not much you can do, I'd suggest pumping an extra couple pounds of air in the tires. Keep a clean air filter. Make sure your not carrying any extra unnecessary weight in the car and finally don't fill the tank right up. Every gallon of gas weights around 8 pounds.


_3

---

Ya keeping the tires a little fuller is something I just started doing this morning actually. And I totally didn't even think about the fuel/weight aspect I normally try to squeeze in as much as possible so I can get a longer day of driving in. I guess in the end I've been doing the opposite. Thanks for the tips.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

Yes to the air filter, less weight, keeping car maintained, synthetic fluids etc but how you drive is key. Coast and hypermile when you can - look ahead and plan the lights. Constant stops and starts drink more fuel and especially idling. Plan routes and avoid short trips, especially in the winter - engine is most efficient when at operating temps. Driving slower on the highway is also a good way as well - ie 95 to 100

If you really want to be anal...make sure none of your brakes are dragging and keep alignment within spec. And finally, choice of tires will affect mileage as well...all those Prius owners are sporting the lowest rolling resistant tires - no oversizing and crazy tires ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sarujo

Yes to the air filter, less weight, keeping car maintained, synthetic fluids etc but how you drive is key. Coast and hypermile when you can - look ahead and plan the lights. Constant stops and starts drink more fuel and especially idling. Plan routes and avoid short trips, especially in the winter - engine is most efficient when at operating temps. Driving slower on the highway is also a good way as well - ie 95 to 100

If you really want to be anal...make sure none of your brakes are dragging and keep alignment within spec. And finally, choice of tires will affect mileage as well..

---

Now I've heard the term hypermiling but what exactly is it?

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

Doing everything possible to get better mileage. No air conditioning, windows rolled up, etc... Stupid nonsense that is beyond the realm of practicality.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m_bisson

Doing everything possible to get better mileage. No air conditioning, windows rolled up, etc... Stupid nonsense that is beyond the realm of practicality.

---

Ah ok was wondering about that my girlfriend mentioned Mythbusters did an episode on hypermiling and like they folded in their mirrors (or took them off) taped over any cracks in doors and whatever and it only saved them about a quarter of a tank which is decent but considering the lengths they went to not really worth the trouble.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geobur

So I'm averaging around 9.6 according to the in car trip calculator so obviously I can be doing a lot better.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

---

so try fuelly. i never find the cars "calculator" is that correct fuelly measures the km driven against the gas used from the fill up prior so you know exactly what you got.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kiewan

We need an insurance mega thread.

---

I agree... my insurance just went up 200$ a year by moving from Guelph to Sudbury to school. Seems weird to me

This thread is about fuel economy and now talking about insurance?? Can we please keep discussions in the right place?
@S.F.W. can you clean this up?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sarujo

This thread is about fuel economy and now talking about insurance?? Can we please keep discussions in the right place?
@S.F.W. can you clean this up?

---

done

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7d3023569f.jpg
Drove to Ottawa from Toronto. Still had 4 squares left. My SUV can’t do that. 2010 GT still runs like new.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yep they do still get decent fuel economy i have no complaints about my 2010 2.0L