Just wanted to let some of you know that I just got 221.4 miles to my full tank on my rx-8. I have about 1200 mile's on it and was using a 93 octane on it. I was so surprised when I saw this just had to let some of you know. Hope this become's a regular thing because $25-30 every 10 day's is not fun!

In getting roughly 14-15 mpg? I'm not too sure about the specs, but the tank is roughly 15-16 gallons right? Wouldn't that translate to:

~220/~15 = ~14 mpg

How can that be a good thing?

what is your average trip length? I cannot get more than 209 no matter how hard I try, but work is only 5 miles away- car warms up quickly but I am sure the short distances make the mileage worse....

I'm spending 20 bucks every other day and driving 60 miles a day

I fill up a little after the light comes on- and it usually takes ~13.5 gallons at that time

A "tank" is not a unit of measure, certainly not with any level of accuracy. Unless you run it empty every time...

Can't you just fill up your car, reset your trip odo, drive it, refill it, and divide the miles travelled by the number of gallons you filled with? That gives you an accurate, measurable, repeatable indication of what mileage you're actually getting.

Sorry, just an engineer's pet peeve! Miles per "tank" is entirely useless information.

Regards,
Gordon

ouch gordon

Agreed...

As I said before:

220~miles/15~gallon = ~14 miles/gallon

How is that a good thing? Definitely not the 18/24 that was advertised.

I guess I am just excited about the fact that I am getting more then 200 miles per fill up (For gordo). Which is 20 extra miles which is fine with me. And as far as driving and how hard I get the shifts under 3K rpm and don't really rev the engine all that often. I drive about 10 miles to work or so if not a little longer.

Also I guess the point behind my post was that I have noticed a slight increase in mpg after the 750-1000 mile rang. I hope that it's just a break in period and that it will get a little better as time goes on. So if any one out there has noticed this or can let me know if you are getting mpg after 1000 miles that would be appriciated.

Question also while I think about it. Any one notice that in the morning when you start the engine it makes a loud purring noise when idleing? I know it's just warming up the engine etc. But man that noice make's me smile when I hear it. I normally let the car warm-up for about 2-3 minutes before I start to drive it. Any other thoughts on this?

letting it warm up is fine
my mileage went from 13 to 18 and it changed the most after about 2k miles on the car

Glad you're happy with that, Gator. But ouch. My car is sitting in the garage right now on 267 miles and a 1/4 tank left.

I swear I really think this car likes to be driven hard. Has anyone else noticed that their needle actually goes backwards after redlining the car? Mine does almost every time.

It doesn't seem to make any difference how I drive the car, though, my mileage has been consistently 22/23 and it might be getting even better - current tank is looking pretty good. Car has 2800 miles on it.

I hope someone going to SevenStock will quiz the Mazda reps about the mileage issues. That is a far more important topic than the HP thing, in my mind. I'd love to know why the huge differences in fuel efficiency.

Gordo? Gordon? Is right. It is difficult since we have so many variables. I get 18.2 mpg avg using meter reading between fillups. I drive 17 miles one way runs twice daily in town with speed limits of 45 and 50 mph. There are several stop lights in route and I usually get stopped by about 4-5 of them. It takes me 35 -40 min (avg) to travel the miles. I get this mileage with 87 octane and with TCS/DSC off and I try to keep the RPM around 3500 at takeoff.

Just got back from my first Hwy trip. 3k now on the odo. 3 tanks total. 20mpg, 21mpg, 20 mpg. The second tank was at 70 mph ave. First and third were something north of that the exact details I'm not going to devulge but it was fun!

I am up to the 1000 mile mark am getting 20+ mpg for the last 600 miles. We drive 60 miles a day 50/50 driving. I haven't got over 6000 RPM ( Old timer I guess just shift). I try to keep it under 3500 rpm most of the time. I am not bragging only to let people know they can get good mileage.

Well from what I hear it does seem to get better the more you break in the engine etc. I am not going to lie eiather I'm 23 and just out of school (My first car by myself mind you no mommy and daddy this time around!). So I have taken on a few GTS, RSX S-Types, 240 SX etc. And so I guess I could say I run the car a little harder then the average Joe. But this last tank I noticed a huge diffrence and it was right around when I broke 1K. So just hope the milage gets better with time. Thanks for the imput everyone.

Hey, wait until your first road trip and you get over 300 miles on a tank!! i had previously got between 200 and 240 on a tank and when that little red light came on at @280 i just had to go for it. :D good thing it was downhill those last 20 miles into Cali. my wife was a little pissed:o 4 days later i got nearly(don't have the figures in front of me) 330 on a tank and when i filled it at the gas station it gulped down like 15.3 gallons. now that was close:D

Originally posted by UFGatorx8
Well from what I hear it does seem to get better the more you break in the engine etc. I am not going to lie eiather I'm 23 and just out of school (My first car by myself mind you no mommy and daddy this time around!). So I have taken on a few GTS, RSX S-Types, 240 SX etc. And so I guess I could say I run the car a little harder then the average Joe. But this last tank I noticed a huge diffrence and it was right around when I broke 1K. So just hope the milage gets better with time. Thanks for the imput everyone.

I'm no engineer, but my guess is that when breaking in the engine, residue begins to build up on the rotary trochoid's seals, providing for a "tighter" seal and therefore better fuel efficiency. Just a guess though.

I did 312 on a tank with the light comming on at 270. Was sweating until I filled it up. 14.8 gallons so I was still 15 miles short of the end I guess. Shall we buck up for the first person to run it out!

Originally posted by UFGatorx8
Also I guess the point behind my post was that I have noticed a slight increase in mpg after the 750-1000 mile rang. I hope that it's just a break in period and that it will get a little better as time goes on. So if any one out there has noticed this or can let me know if you are getting mpg after 1000 miles that would be appriciated.

Umm... my "break-in" period of 1000 mi (no 6000+ rpms), gave me the best mileage.... lmao. About 17-18 mpg. Since passing the 1K mark... my mileage has gotten WORSE! Alot worse! lol my last average was 10.8 mpg. But this isn't the car's fault... it's entirely mine. Doing lots and lots and did I say LOTS!!!! of curvy, twisty country roads at fairly high speeds. Anyone can do 120 on a straight stretch of country road (yeeehaaaa!), but can they take 35mph curves in the road at 70? :D I'm seeing alot more bikes than I'm used to seeing.... they're doing the same thing I am... enjoying the "drive"

Love my 8!

To me that's the biggest negative of the rotary compared to a piston engine. Yes it is possible to get decent fuel economy driving like a granny but who does? And if you push the engine a lot your fuel economy drops a lot more % wise than a piston engine. :(
I'm hoping that as the engines get more miles on them they will show better numbers.. 7mpg at the track is still to low imo.

I got my worse mileage so far on my last tank- just under 15mpg! I'm kinda excited, because I was starting to think I was doing something wrong by getting 18-26. So, I drove it like a maniac for the past three days, and managed to eke just barely 100 miles out of half a tank. I'm pretty proud of myself!

How's the knee elara?

K I hate to say this since I started this topic but I ran out of gas like 4 day's ago. Thank good it was some what close to a gas station but I did it! Yep I feel like crap...lol make fun of me I deserve it!

I wait til the orange low fuel light comes on but I read on another thread once that light comes on you have about 25 to 30 miles left

that sucks you ran out of gas

Originally posted by UFGatorx8
K I hate to say this since I started this topic but I ran out of gas like 4 day's ago. Thank good it was some what close to a gas station but I did it! Yep I feel like crap...lol make fun of me I deserve it!
You sure you didn't go to Florida State? LOL

ouch

Damn, I must drive the shit out of my car. I'm lucky to get over 200 before the low gas light comes on. Over my last 3 tanks, I averaged 17.3 mpg. My best was 267 miles before fill up, and that was with mostly freeway driving, and babying it to try and get good gas mileage. With my normal driving I am getting between 15-16 mpg. When my wife drives it though... whoa nelly. I think if she were to drive for a whole tank she would get like 10 mpg. She hasn't learned the finer points of a manual yet though.

No, 17 mpg is what I get around town and I live in a fairly open area where highspeed travel is the norm. With that kind of driving I get 230-250 miles on a tank.

The road trip I was refering to earlier when I got 20-21 mpg and over 300 on a tank was litterally get on the highway set the cruise and go. When I need to accelerate in that mode I nomally do it with the cruise buttons, not my feet. What can I say my family and I have good bladders!:D

I consistently go 260 miles before the light comes on. On my best tank I was at 294 miles before the light came on. The most gas it ever took me to fillup was 14.1 gallons.

Originally posted by Puppy1
I consistently go 260 miles before the light comes on. On my best tank I was at 294 miles before the light came on. The most gas it ever took me to fillup was 14.1 gallons.

For real?? What's your driving style like?? and what about other things that you do? (such as never use A/C, or always keep windows up, or never driving on rough pavement, etc)...


I live in your area, and I have an RX8 also, but I don't get nearly as much mileage per gallon as you are...

My car currently has 2700 miles on it, and I typically get 14-16 mpg.

Tell me your secret??? :confused:

puppy has been reporting that kind of mileage since day one
I dont think there is any secret

Originally posted by Squidward


For real?? What's your driving style like?? and what about other things that you do? (such as never use A/C, or always keep windows up, or never driving on rough pavement, etc)...
Tell me your secret??? :confused: I would describe my style as "spirited" but not lead foot by any means.

I drive the 10 frwy every morning and evening between Monterey Park and Santa Monica in moderate rush hour traffic. A lot of it is bumper to bumper stop-and-go driving. I use the A/C far more than I ever have in any other car as I have been told I would get better mileage this way than with the windows down and the A/C off. Other than punching the gas and going up to 9k rpm everytime I get on the freeway to remind myself what a great car i bought, I generally shift at 3k in city traffic. On open roads I have been travelling between 75-85 mph.

Sometimes I think I just got lucky and my apex seals seated quicker than most.

Originally posted by mikeb
puppy has been reporting that kind of mileage since day one
I dont think there is any secret Mike: What is a secret to me is how you ever got the parking light bulbs installed. My hands are far to big to get in there even after removing the covers you showed me. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER TOPIC.

Originally posted by Puppy1
Sometimes I think I just got lucky and my apex seals seated quicker than most.

Can you elaborate on this?? I'm not familiar with this.. I do know what the apex seals are (the little metal brushes on the tips of each rotor apex), right?

When you say they get "seated" quicker, do you mean to say they are broken in and provide a better seal over time thus improving MPG? (analagous to running the edge of a brand new bar of soap several times against a substrate until there is very little gap between the substrate and the soapbar, thus improving the seal from air/fuel/exhaust leak in between chambers, thus improving compression and better mileage?

Is that what happens or am I WAY off??

puppy if you are talking about the lights near the mazda badge in front, I know they are a pain but try using a needlenose or tool if you cant get your hands in there

I think trying to get better mileage by driving conservatively (shifting before 3,000 rpm) kind of defeats the purpose and fun of having this car doesn't it?

I do aggree, the 18 mpg Mazda predicted should have been based on a driving style that is "normal" for this car.

I intend to drive the car the way I feel like driving it...if that means some quick accelerations and winding the RPM's, so be it.

Hey, I have an idea....the best way to improve mileage would be to just push the car everywhere or stick your feet through the floor and turn it into a flinstone-mobile...what? 80 MPG? yabba-dabba-doo! :D

Originally posted by HaroldDog
stick your feet through the floor and turn it into a flinstone-mobile...what? 80 MPG? yabba-dabba-doo! :D

Damn, I've gotta upgrade from K-mart sneakers to NIKE or something, braking flintstone style would go through some heels and soles... I wonder if the pessimists would complain about heel wear (cost) though. :eek:

Originally posted by mikeb
puppy if you are talking about the lights near the mazda badge in front, I know they are a pain but try using a needlenose or tool if you cant get your hands in there Thanx.

1 hour after I posted that my low fuel light comes on at around 260, it came on at exactly 260.5! I was kinda shocked at how consistent my fuel mileage is.

Just posting my info to compare.

All you people getting shitty gas mileage........ learn how to drive a car for mileage. It's interesting to see someone talk about fuel efficiency and redlining in the same sentence. PUSSY DRIVE IT, GRANDMA DRIVE IT - WHATEVER. Go easy on the car with some highway miles for a few tanks and see how much your fuel efficiency will improve. The mileage is hardly different from that of comparable cars.

The "E" comes about way before the tank is actually dry. I usually put about 13-14 gallons in on a fill-up. My worst mileage was just under 250 and my best was just over 330 miles.

YES THAT'S RIGHT - 330 Miles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, that equates to just about 24 mpg. OH, and SURPRISE, that's what the sticker says.... amazing !!!!!!!!!

Call bs if you want, but them's the apples .... so deal.

I was getting about 200 miles on a tank full when I first got the car. I am now about 1700 miles and I am getting 260 with the A/C on MAX and a heavy lead foot and DSC on. In other words I am not doing a damn thing and the mileage is improving. I drive about 60 % highway 40 % city.

I know some of you do not believe that this will happen so I am just telling you like it is. Things will get better.

Yesterday, our fuel light cut on at about 271 miles. And that was city/parade lap at VIR twice/highway combination. It's not terribly hard to get decent gas mileage on this car if you try.

Originally posted by Elara
It's not terribly hard to get decent gas mileage on this car if you try.


EXACTLY

Originally posted by Wankeler


Damn, I've gotta upgrade from K-mart sneakers to NIKE or something, braking flintstone style would go through some heels and soles... I wonder if the pessimists would complain about heel wear (cost) though. :eek:


HA. I think you would be better off with bare feet than with a pair of Nike shoes.