what to do to make rx-8 more fuel efficient ?
#1
what to do to make rx-8 more fuel efficient ?
i just purchased a rx-8 2005 model - type E . it has been driven 17259 kilo meters .
but the main problem i am facing , that it is having extreme octane .
per liter , it barely runs 3 kilo meters .
is it normal for mazda rx-8 ?
or , is there any way to make my car more fuel efficient ???
plz help me out .
but the main problem i am facing , that it is having extreme octane .
per liter , it barely runs 3 kilo meters .
is it normal for mazda rx-8 ?
or , is there any way to make my car more fuel efficient ???
plz help me out .
#3
Registered Zoom Zoomer
iTrader: (2)
"Extreme octane?" Although 93 octane is best for maximum performance, it will run fine all the way down to 87 octane (ECU will auto-retard the timing to protect engine from knock).
18 mpg is typical (7.65 kilometers per liter). The rotary is a known poor fuel efficiency engine.
Not much you can do other than the typical "drive like an old lady", but that's not what this vehicle is about.
3 kilo's/liter is exceptionally poor however. Look to replacing your coils and sparkplugs as you may be getting improper ignition. Next would be to have your fuel injectors cleaned. Low compression could also be a culprit (engine/drivetrain is still under warranty for same).
18 mpg is typical (7.65 kilometers per liter). The rotary is a known poor fuel efficiency engine.
Not much you can do other than the typical "drive like an old lady", but that's not what this vehicle is about.
3 kilo's/liter is exceptionally poor however. Look to replacing your coils and sparkplugs as you may be getting improper ignition. Next would be to have your fuel injectors cleaned. Low compression could also be a culprit (engine/drivetrain is still under warranty for same).
The following users liked this post:
ThomG97 (05-16-2023)
The following users liked this post:
wickwahs (04-12-2021)
#6
Living is best Modified.
1) Make sure you get your tires inflated to the highest-rated for the tires.
2) Low resistance tires also help.
3) Other than that, it's about how you drive the RX-8. You can dog the **** out of her and get low milage, i've gotten higher than 22 when I drive like I was driving a "eco" car. Slow accel, shifting it into 6th as soon as possible, braking lightly.
4) Try to get all the trips in one shot to conserve gas.
http://www.tirerack.com/landing/fuel_efficiency.jsp
As far as swapping engines... Most do it for power, but i've heard (on this forum) that someone swapped in a corolla(?) into their RX-8 for mpg.
I've also seen about reducing the size of the engine to help get the highest MPG.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html
...Just make sure you do ride the rx-8 hard. Carbon buildup and all. I usually rev it hard off the line in second gear to the beep. Once a day.
2) Low resistance tires also help.
3) Other than that, it's about how you drive the RX-8. You can dog the **** out of her and get low milage, i've gotten higher than 22 when I drive like I was driving a "eco" car. Slow accel, shifting it into 6th as soon as possible, braking lightly.
4) Try to get all the trips in one shot to conserve gas.
http://www.tirerack.com/landing/fuel_efficiency.jsp
As far as swapping engines... Most do it for power, but i've heard (on this forum) that someone swapped in a corolla(?) into their RX-8 for mpg.
I've also seen about reducing the size of the engine to help get the highest MPG.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html
...Just make sure you do ride the rx-8 hard. Carbon buildup and all. I usually rev it hard off the line in second gear to the beep. Once a day.
#10
Made in England
iTrader: (5)
If you do a lot of highway miles, driving behind someone will increase MPG, do not tailgate but from a safe distance you will still reduce air pressure in front of the car. Mythbusters showed that at a safe distance behind someone you can save about 30% of your fuel, something like that anyway its a while since I saw that episode.
#13
Boosted Kiwi
iTrader: (2)
i just purchased a rx-8 2005 model - type E . it has been driven 17259 kilo meters .
but the main problem i am facing , that it is having extreme octane .
per liter , it barely runs 3 kilo meters .
is it normal for mazda rx-8 ?
or , is there any way to make my car more fuel efficient ???
plz help me out .
but the main problem i am facing , that it is having extreme octane .
per liter , it barely runs 3 kilo meters .
is it normal for mazda rx-8 ?
or , is there any way to make my car more fuel efficient ???
plz help me out .
You fill up your tank with say 55litres and get around 160kms before putting in another 55 litres - is this correct ?
#14
If you do a lot of highway miles, driving behind someone will increase MPG, do not tailgate but from a safe distance you will still reduce air pressure in front of the car. Mythbusters showed that at a safe distance behind someone you can save about 30% of your fuel, something like that anyway its a while since I saw that episode.
NOBODY can save any mpg related to the air from the vehicle in front if you value your life or your paint.
Yeah, you can save some riding in the vacuum 20 ft back, but its penny wise and pound foolish ( Think Ben Franklin if you had any education).
At the safe distance its not enough to ruin your eyesight for the road.
#16
Registered
iTrader: (2)
As far as swapping engines... Most do it for power, but i've heard (on this forum) that someone swapped in a corolla(?) into their RX-8 for mpg.
I've also seen about reducing the size of the engine to help get the highest MPG.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html
I've also seen about reducing the size of the engine to help get the highest MPG.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#18
Charles Bundy
iTrader: (5)
If you do a lot of highway miles, driving behind someone will increase MPG, do not tailgate but from a safe distance you will still reduce air pressure in front of the car. Mythbusters showed that at a safe distance behind someone you can save about 30% of your fuel, something like that anyway its a while since I saw that episode.
Last edited by Grace_Excel; 10-15-2011 at 11:50 PM.
#19
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
For the reason of this question, the op did not realize that the rx8 has poor fuel economy. Complaining about it may solve it or not. The only way to save from fuel economy is to get another car with good fuel economy...yeah, that's it.
#20
2006 WB AT
iTrader: (4)
MPG seems so hit and miss though.
I used to get a solid 310 miles for the gas light would come now. 2 years later, I am lucky to get 275. Car has had compression checks, new plugs, wires, coils, etc. Has never gotten better.
Having the AC on makes it even worse.
I am normally getting about 265 miles on a tank before the light comes on.
And before anyone asks, I don't drive like a maniac but also don't drive like a grandma and always drive it hard at least twice a day.
I used to get a solid 310 miles for the gas light would come now. 2 years later, I am lucky to get 275. Car has had compression checks, new plugs, wires, coils, etc. Has never gotten better.
Having the AC on makes it even worse.
I am normally getting about 265 miles on a tank before the light comes on.
And before anyone asks, I don't drive like a maniac but also don't drive like a grandma and always drive it hard at least twice a day.
#21
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I once had a 1972 ThunderBird with a 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8 ... that car got 6 mpg, was about 18 feet long and weight like 4800 lbs. I would say your 8 has some issues if thats the mpg you're getting.
#22
MPG seems so hit and miss though.
I used to get a solid 310 miles for the gas light would come now. 2 years later, I am lucky to get 275. Car has had compression checks, new plugs, wires, coils, etc. Has never gotten better.
Having the AC on makes it even worse.
I am normally getting about 265 miles on a tank before the light comes on.
And before anyone asks, I don't drive like a maniac but also don't drive like a grandma and always drive it hard at least twice a day.
I used to get a solid 310 miles for the gas light would come now. 2 years later, I am lucky to get 275. Car has had compression checks, new plugs, wires, coils, etc. Has never gotten better.
Having the AC on makes it even worse.
I am normally getting about 265 miles on a tank before the light comes on.
And before anyone asks, I don't drive like a maniac but also don't drive like a grandma and always drive it hard at least twice a day.
I've seen lots of your discussions, but do you premix, and have BHR coil upgrades?
You should get 23-25 on hwy unless you have lots of miles and are losing compression.
#24
Registered
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 16,684
Likes: 0
Received 239 Likes
on
109 Posts
It's interesting how few of you are reading the posts that already exist before posting again.
The OP's car has something wrong with it. 7mpg is worse than full WOT track mileage.
Given that, the OP isn't looking for hypermilling techniques, he is looking for help on what is wrong. Some suggestions in that direction have been offered, but plenty of you are giving what can be a 1-3mpg bump, when he needs an 11mpg bump.
Also get your brakes checked to see if one or more of them is partially engaged or won't fully disengage.
The OP's car has something wrong with it. 7mpg is worse than full WOT track mileage.
Given that, the OP isn't looking for hypermilling techniques, he is looking for help on what is wrong. Some suggestions in that direction have been offered, but plenty of you are giving what can be a 1-3mpg bump, when he needs an 11mpg bump.
A healthy RX-8 will get 17-18mpg city, 22+mpg highway. But 'healthy' means completely healthy: healthy coils, wires, plugs, O2 sensors, carbon free engine, good compression, healthy cat (or no cat), good transmission/diff fluid. Let even one of these slide, and your mileage WILL drop, and it will drop fast. If you believe that RX-8s simply can not get this mileage because you have never seen it, then there is only 1 person to blame, and that is YOU. If you don't get this mileage, then there is something wrong with one of the above points.
Last edited by RIWWP; 10-17-2011 at 07:50 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Dragon leo fire 1976 (04-27-2022)
#25
I've also seen about reducing the size of the engine to help get the highest MPG.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html
...Just make sure you do ride the rx-8 hard. Carbon buildup and all. I usually rev it hard off the line in second gear to the beep. Once a day.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html
...Just make sure you do ride the rx-8 hard. Carbon buildup and all. I usually rev it hard off the line in second gear to the beep. Once a day.
Who am I fooling, pedal to the floor in low gears, just in case I need to accelerate. That's my cruise, and my gas mileage shows it. I did hit 18.3 on my first real highway trip of any distance. Had a lot of fun and isn't that what it's really about?!?
Back on topic, definitely something wrong with the car to get only 7 MPG, I haven't even been that low! (14.5 is my lowest).