Fuel Economy

[Flagrum_3]

Here's my latest, second tank since redline fuel treatment, still got the snows on but temps are a little better...so; 455 km driven, used 36.01 litres (40/60 city/Hwy) that works out to 7.91L/100km or 35.5 mpg (Can), 28.4 mpg (U.S.)...expect better once snows are off!!


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[Hives]

I heard Sunoco is the best. Too bad there isnt one around the house =( . I hafta stick with Petro.

[Aggy]

I took two trips today, same distance, same route. Trip 1 tire pressure was around 45psi, fuel consumption average was 10.5l/100km. Trip 2 tire pressure was 34psi front 32 rear, fuel consumption average was 8.5L/100km. Not sure if it's correct, but can tire pressure affect consumption by that much? I got my car last week and forgot to check the tire pressure which was wayyyy too high.

[trix241]

I'd say mine are pretty close. I do 240 - 250km per 1/2 tank. If the tank is 55L then this would amount to about 480 - 500 km / 55L.

500 km/55L = 11 L per 100km.


Cheers,

Yupp that seems pretty accurate to me. Id say i get about the same.

[bhrm]

8L/100km = 80% highway, 20% city

Tire pressures 38/36

[Fuman]

8L/100KM. (weekend driving)
the PSIs you guys are listing are the on cold or warm tires?

Aggy - if you are on RS-As, max cold tire PSI is 44.

I don't think PSI matters much if the tire isn't under inflated.

[Mafty]

eek i get 9.6l/100 avg on my tack. and i do 90%hwy/backcountry roads which are 80kmh. im getting about 530km out of my tank. 2.3 5 speed. the milage is no where near what mazda says it should be. im not to impressed.

[MikeyGT]

switch over to full synthetic. It'll help you slightly, like 3 to 5%

[Flagrum_3]

8L/100KM. (weekend driving)
the PSIs you guys are listing are the on cold or warm tires?

Aggy - if you are on RS-As, max cold tire PSI is 44.

I don't think PSI matters much if the tire isn't under inflated.

To properly check your tire pressure; it should always be done with cold tires.

The max should never be used unless your carrying very heavy loads and for short periods and never at high speeds.

Tire inflation is very important to fuel economy; High or low.Your tire pressure directly effects the 'contact patch area' of the tire....too low a psi and the centre of the tire has no contact, too high a psi outter edges of the tire have no contact....

Follow the psi recommendation on the door trim of the vehicle and check them regularly as temperature changes will change your psi.

[S.F.W.]

Breaking News:
CNN reports that gas stations will start showing "adult" movies on the
screens of the pumps so you can see someone else get screwed
at the same time you do!

[ghostdog]

i believe the general rule is the harder the tire the more mileage you should get... harder tires roll more than softer tires... obviously you lose traction, shock absorption, etc., etc. with harder tires...

i don't get anywhere near what people are posting ... 2.3L, 5 spd with 6500km and right now getting 10.1L avg on the car computer with a mixture of hwy 7 driving from bayview to dixie in brampton (where it is named queen st.) so i don't know if you can classify that as highway driving but i also hit the 407 and 404 and 401 so maybe 60% hwy 40% city... i hope what people say are true that the car breaks in around 10k and gives better mileage... that's also when i plan to switch over to synthetic oil...

[x_o_k_x]

on my very first tank of gas from the dealer, i get 8l/100km, so now i have 260km for my milage plus another 430km left.. on the same tank of gas, so im looking close to 650-600ish, very good i think, and only 26% of break in

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Breaking News:
CNN reports that gas stations will start showing "adult" movies on the
screens of the pumps so you can see someone else get screwed
at the same time you do!

New international sign for 'Gas pumps available'

[JiNuWiNe]

HAHAH. WICKED PICTURE JEFF! That's EXACTLY what we're getting at the gas station!

[Fuman]

i believe the general rule is the harder the tire the more mileage you should get... harder tires roll more than softer tires... obviously you lose traction, shock absorption, etc., etc. with harder tires...

i don't get anywhere near what people are posting ... 2.3L, 5 spd with 6500km and right now getting 10.1L avg on the car computer with a mixture of hwy 7 driving from bayview to dixie in brampton (where it is named queen st.) so i don't know if you can classify that as highway driving but i also hit the 407 and 404 and 401 so maybe 60% hwy 40% city... i hope what people say are true that the car breaks in around 10k and gives better mileage... that's also when i plan to switch over to synthetic oil...

I got 9L/100KM consistently since I got my car. It wasn't until I adjusted my driving habits did I get 8L/100KM. Are you doing the driving you listed in bumper to bumper traffic?

awesome pic jeff

[super_vixen]

Seeing as how I have had consistent unknown problems with my gas mileage on my car, I'm curious about the differences I'm seeing between winter and summer driving.

From my understanding, you SHOULD see better mileage in the summer months, correct? Less idling, no heat, etc. And provided you aren't using a lot of A/C in the summer months, you should see an increase in mileage?

Is there any reason why my car is the opposite? In the winter I was getting at MOST 470 off a tank..now I'm lucky to get 400-415.....with about 70% highway driving in both cases. I used heat a lot in the winter...no idling...I had winter tires...I haven't used the A/C at all yet for the current issue.

So, yeah...any ideas?

[S.F.W.]

I find my mileage has gone down in the summer as well. Was getting ~500, now getting closer to ~450.

[x_o_k_x]

Seeing as how I have had consistent unknown problems with my gas mileage on my car, I'm curious about the differences I'm seeing between winter and summer driving.

From my understanding, you SHOULD see better mileage in the summer months, correct? Less idling, no heat, etc. And provided you aren't using a lot of A/C in the summer months, you should see an increase in mileage?

Is there any reason why my car is the opposite? In the winter I was getting at MOST 470 off a tank..now I'm lucky to get 400-415.....with about 70% highway driving in both cases. I used heat a lot in the winter...no idling...I had winter tires...I haven't used the A/C at all yet for the current issue.

So, yeah...any ideas?

are your windows open? and in the winter I assume you were taking off slowly, how about in the summer?

[Flagrum_3]

Seeing as how I have had consistent unknown problems with my gas mileage on my car, I'm curious about the differences I'm seeing between winter and summer driving.

From my understanding, you SHOULD see better mileage in the summer months, correct? Less idling, no heat, etc. And provided you aren't using a lot of A/C in the summer months, you should see an increase in mileage?

Is there any reason why my car is the opposite? In the winter I was getting at MOST 470 off a tank..now I'm lucky to get 400-415.....with about 70% highway driving in both cases. I used heat a lot in the winter...no idling...I had winter tires...I haven't used the A/C at all yet for the current issue.

So, yeah...any ideas?

I can think of alot of things, XoKX's mention of the windows for one, but have you checked tire pressure lately? air filter? How many klicks do you have on the engine now...Plugs maybe? Cleaned the injectors lately? when was your last oil change?....as you can see alot of things can effect the fuel consumption.Its a matter of "process of elimination" and checking off all the items mentioned and then see where you are....hope that helps


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[Cardinal Fang]

I assumed that summer would get me better mileage and I have. At the same time I'm running synthetic motor for the first time so I was expecting the engine to not have to work as hard. I'm not sure switching oil has that effect.

But coming off my winter setup to summer and with the new oil I'm getting 25 to 30 kms a tank farther.

[super_vixen]

I can think of alot of things, XoKX's mention of the windows for one, but have you checked tire pressure lately? air filter? How many klicks do you have on the engine now...Plugs maybe? Cleaned the injectors lately? when was your last oil change?....as you can see alot of things can effect the fuel consumption.Its a matter of "process of elimination" and checking off all the items mentioned and then see where you are....hope that helps


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Brand new tires (pressure is ok), no windows open, no A/C, same speed/start-off as in winter, oil changed in the last 2000km, new air filter about the same time, I'm currently at 84k on the car......I'm aware of the common list of things, but I'd like to think I'm working with less factors against me than in the winter.

And Mazda just raped me $1100 for new brakes today

[LockOut]

And Mazda just raped me $1100 for new brakes today

What all did you get? I'm hoping that's rotors, pads, labour, a flush of the system.... new lines.... hahaha jk.... that's brutal.

[super_vixen]

It was new pads/rotors and labour for the front and rear. And tax. My car was in for a few things, but they also charged me another hour of labour for the downloads into my car.

Yeah - I thought it sounded like a lot...considering I was charged for 4 hours of labour which I know the car wasn't even in there for that long (love the "standard" rating system for how long it SHOULD take). But yeah....I called around to smaller places and they were actually MORE expensive.

I had to take out a loan just to get the brakes fixed...I really don't have that much sitting around at the moment.

[Flagrum_3]

Well you eliminated most things on the list, and please understand I wasn't implying that you didn't have knowledge of those things, just that they must be eliminated and it would help in answering your question.
But you seemed to have had a on-going problem with your fuel consumption since like forever from what I recall.Since you mention your driving is 70% hwy, it would seem your using much more fuel than you should (As compared to my usage).So lets look at other possibilities, having an auto tranny will raise your fuel consumption right off the bat compared to a 5sp, so there's one reason.Two, What oil have you been using? Have you tried changing to synthetic? I found that helped to lower my FC.Another thing is regularly adding a good quality fuel system cleaner to your fuel to clean injectors, ....the process goes on!

As for your brakes, yeah you got raped but unless you have the option of doing them yourself or taking advantage of the resources avaliable on this site i.e; sponsors and affiliates for deals on parts and labour, you have no choice and are going to pay the price, unfortunitely most shops work on the book price, which always works to the shops advantage.

Keep us posted.


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[alhope34]

I normally average 9.8-10.2L/100km all city driving in my MS3. Yesterday I did a 360km round trip to Campbellford and back for fishing, and I got decent enough highway mileage. The whole trip, about 98% highway driving, I averaged 8.4L/100km. I had the cruise on at 120km/h and the a/c on most of the way, and once I was on the rural highway from the 401 up to Campbellford, I was having some fun too. On the way there I was at 7.9 when I got off the 401.

People don't seem to realize that 80% of what makes good mileage is the driver and rather just blame it on the car or the company for rating it too well. Mazda rates the MS3 at 11.6L/100km city and I have NEVER seen past 11L/100km all city driving, even with small bursts of fun. I shift at 2000rpm for normal driving, nice and easy on the car. The car is happier that way, plus I save my gas money for the fun week end driving.

That being said, Mazda rates the MS3 at 7.6L/100km highway, but at 120km/h the car is beginning to boost so uses quite a bit more gas, plus I was loaded down with 3 people and all our gear, and like I said had a bit of fun too. When we had the BBQ and I was leading the east end group to Heart Lake, I actually got 6.8L/100km average staying 90-100km/h the whole time with only me in the car.

All of this being said, I am not stock anymore. I have the Mazdaspeed CAI and a down pipe installed, but I don't think those two things can make a full 1L/100km city mileage improvement over stock.


Edit: Oh...also, from factory the MS3 tires have 34psi front and 32psi rear, I bumped it up to 42psi front and 38psi rear. The stock MS3 tires have a max pressure of 50psi so I am far inside the safe range.