RX8Club.com - Cumulative Gas Mileage (Gas MPG) Thread

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- - Cumulative Gas Mileage (Gas MPG) Thread (https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/cumulative-gas-mileage-gas-mpg-thread-61139/)

If you follow the above advice, you will find it will go far towards providing you with a good solution.

The alternative (and given your problem I'd say it's not too unethical) would be to drain about 3.5 quarts of oil from your engine, run the hell out of it until it dies, then put that same oil (used and brown) back in the engine, then call MAZDA and have them "fix" your engine. :D

Please don't do what I just said, but it sure makes you pissed off when they don't address a real problem like yours. Documentation and a good lawyer will go a LONG ways towards Mazda helping you out.

Howard, email me and let me know if that phone number I gave you was of any use.

Trevor

Howard's problem is only slightly worse than mine. Mine was built about the same time also ( if I remember correctly). I get 13 mpg. Now about the oil. When the oil level gets low, a indicator light comes on. This might send a error condition to the ecu which could be read later. I wouldn't try to kill an engine that way.

jsh1120, that's the best advice I think I've read here so far! It only figures you're several years and 1 day older than me. ;) That means you've been around the block a few times more than me. Experience is the best knowledge gained, isn't it? Right on! (and, nice avatar.)

Howard, do that stuff there. It really isn't a lot of trouble. A solution should come if you do.

Howard...

I work with insurance adjusters, field adjusters, and insurance companies working in the claims department at my job. What jsh1120 told you is right on the money. What you are trying to do is prove your case...ranting without proof does not go very far (not that you are doing that I think you have a real problem engine/car and you are just shareing, thanks for doing so) I"m just saying that you really have to start documenting this.

It does you no good to say it and not have anything to back it up. Here is what I suggest regarding what jsh1120 said.

Not only are you going to take pictures of the miles on the car & fuel receipts but also ask someone else to drive your car around town. If they also get 10mpg then they can't blame your style of driving or something like that.

To top it all off...while your doing the test take video of it. This is alot of work, time, and some money wasted (plus some miles on your car) but you are at a point where you need to document this and make it a FACT not your opinion.

So, take pictures
Let at least 2 other people (3 total with yourself) drive the car to see what miliage they get
Take video of this test so there is no way they can say that you were REVing the car to hell

If I was in your area I would love to do this test with you (ha ha, I would get to drive an 8 for a few hours...LOL) since I think you have a lagit and worthy complaint.

Oh yeah, since alot of people say the RX8 somehow looks like the Viper...you might want to remind the dealer that it aint a VIPER...and if it was it would get 12MPG in the city and not 10!!!!!!

Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsh1120

Been following your threads for a couple of months. And unless you're a nut case with the ability to conceal it on this forum, you clearly have a legitimate complaint. Here's some advice that is worth exactly what you're paying for it.

1) If you haven't already done so, begin immediately to collect documentary evidence to support your mileage claims. This should include dated photographs of your odometer readings and dated receipts for your fuel. (Purchase a disposable camera for the purpose if necessary.)

2) If you have not already done so, begin keeping a detailed log of all phone calls and copies of all correspondence with your dealer and with Mazda. Note the facts of each call, preferably in non-emotional language, in order to add to the documentation of your case.

3) MOST IMPORTANT. Contact an attorney, preferably one with experience in product liability or even better "lemon law" litigation for automobiles. You will probably find that an attorney's registered letter to Mazda has considerably more impact than your repeated calls to your dealership and the Mazda corporate help line. If your attorney is ethical, and lawyer jokes aside, most are, he/she will attempt to protect your interests and resolve the problem at minimal cost to you.

4) Contact your state attorney general. I have no idea how active the Indiana attorney general is in dealing with consumer issues, but you may find an advocate there.

5) In general, direct your energy and frustration toward a solution to your problem. Believe me, I, and others, understand your frustration and can sympathize with your desire to blow off steam on this forum. Having said that, however, I suspect that you should focus your attention directly on a strategy to resolve your problem. Others on this forum may provide solace, but they're unlikely to be very effective in assisting you (as you've already found, I suspect.)

Good luck.

I have already started this process and it is very good advice. Unfortunately I did not document the mileage in writing up until a couple of weeks ago. I do have copies of the service orders and the dates of phone calls etc. The dealership called me a few minutes ago. They want me to empty my car as far down as I can of gas and then they are going to rent me a car for a week to document the mileage issue. This is a good thing. Mazda told them they did not believe anyone could get low mileage like I am talking about. I really don't want to get an attorney. I am on a fixed income and I don't think attorneys will handle these cases on contingency. I would hope Mazda can solve the problem, whether they have to replace the computer, the engine, or the car. I really like this car and I believe Mazda has done a wonderful job in engineering it. I would hope that Mazda will be able to provide as good of support as they have a vehicle. I don't drive a lot of miles so it may be a week or so before I can take it in. I guess that venting on this forum is exactly what I was doing. I would hope that anyone could do that here. The issue needs to have the emotions taken out of it when dealing with Mazda. I really don't want to alienate them. I am just frustrated with the process and concerned that they won't offer a solution. I have dealt with many companies in my life over product and service issues and I have found that more then half the time they are worked out satisfactory. I have never had a problem with a product this costly before and that makes it a little more worrisome. I appreciate those of you on this forum that have listened to my ranting and have given positive advice. As for those who are more critical, well they have the right to say what ever they want also. I think the fact that there are venues like this to discuss something we all value so much is great.

Howard, have Mazda ever denied your mileage, or just not bothered testing for high fuel consumption at all?

Whatever, I don't think you want legal action, you just want your car fixed. Right?

Send a letter to Mazda stating your problem, how you measured the fuel economy, what correspondence you have already had with Mazda, and threaten legal action if they don't solve the problem.

In the meantime, drive your car as much and as hard as you can, and enjoy it. No use loosing hair over something you cannot do anything about yourself...

it seems none of the techs who looked at the car ever tried to document the milage at all. they checked for codes in the pcm, of which there were none, and since everything else "seemed" to be within normal parameters they performed a re-flash with the most recent flash. they wanted him to drive like that to see if the milage improved at all.

howard have you noticed any power loss in general or at higher rpms? have you had any Check Engine Lights?

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom44

That is exactly what they have done to date. That is after 4 appointments. I don't seem to have any power loss or anything, however i have always had the low mileage so I wouldn't really notice any different. I really don't rev it high very often. Most is usually 5000 or 6000. I did take it to redline last week just for the heck of it. Anyhow I really have never seemed short of power. I am wondering why the dealership wants my car for a week to test milage. I know they have electronic equipment to do so and it shouldn't take a week. I hate to drive some rental car for a week and be without my RX*. I know most of you can understand that.

Howard iif i were you i would go ahead and let them take the car for a little while to verify the mileage- on one condition. that being that they drop your ehaust and take a look at the inside of your catalytic conveter. i believe they might find something wrong with it.

My solution would be to have them replace the engine.....if they contunue to ignore tham, stand outside their dealership on a saturday with a big f*cking sign that states:

"This dealership is the worst I've ever delt with, ask me why".

I did something like that once when a dealer wouldn't own up to a promise. It took les than an hour for the general manager to come out and delever what they promised. They don't like seeing new customers talking to mad customers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotten42

I think I would get arrested for not having permission or something. I don't think they are going to check the converter or anything else until thry varify the mileage is low. They tell me it can't be and Mazda doesn't believe it as the emisssions are fine. They won't do anything else until they can varify that the mileage is low. After that if they don't fix the problem I will have it checked at a independent garage. The milelage that is. Then I'll go from there.

Believe me I know how all of this works. My father was a service manager for 40 years.

Can you go to a different dealership?...these guys, for whatever reason are not doing there job. It's possible that they have put you on "ignore until he goes away mode" that some dealerships use to solve problems that they can't fix.

Cal Mazda Corporate.....and talk to someone that can help you. Don't let them give you the runaround....

at this point you need to let them verify the mileage. they need to see it for themselves. offer to pay for it if you have to but get them to look at the cat

Damn, thats bad . I guess I should be VERY thankful. I'm averaging 19 t0 20 MPG on a tankful. :eek:

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom44

at this point you need to let them verify the mileage. they need to see it for themselves. offer to pay for it if you have to but get them to look at the cat

I'll have them check the cat. It will probably be sometime next week before I can get my gas down to where they want it. at is unless I syphon itoff. LOL On the bright side we are suppose to get 5-8 in of snow by the first of the week and I can try out my Pirrilli Snowsports. Maybe I'll take of the DSC and look for a big parking lot like when I was a kid.

So how many miles do you get from a tank?

Vince

Quote:

Originally Posted by RX3+5

So how many miles do you get from a tank?

Vince

About 140 if I take it down that far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom44

at this point you need to let them verify the mileage. they need to see it for themselves. offer to pay for it if you have to but get them to look at the cat

I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is getting silly Howard, you want them to fix the problem but you won't give them your car??????? If you are so informed about this industry, then why is a week for a fuel economy test so strange??? You tell me, how else can you carry out a test and get reasonably accurate results?

Give them the car!!!! And don't complain when it comes back with an extra 200 miles on the clock, they have to d-r-i-v-e the car to test the fuel economy.....

Sheeeezz!

:eek:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard

About 140 if I take it down that far.

Damn! That's very bad and your not crazy!

Vince

Just a quick note if you haven't given the car to them yet; take a photo of the odometer reading!!! That way when you get it back a week later you can see exactly how many miles they've put on the car "testing" it. If it comes back with 10 more miles on it then you know they didn't do much but take it around the block a few times and park it. It should come back with at least 100 more miles on it; in fact they should drive it a full tank's worth of gas to test it properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotten42

I was thinking along those lines, but maybe something a little more subtle. Go browse the lot while a couple of prospective customers are there, preferably looking at RX-8 with a salesperson. Interrupt the salesperson and ask if they can do anything to help you get some action since you can't get more than 10mpg and the service department is stonewalling you. Don't need to shout or be rude, just honestly ask for their help and make sure the prospectives can hear you. Nothing like souring a couple of potential sales to light a fire under their butts. May or may not work, but it's ethical and you don't "need permission" :)

well the past two tanks of gas have been horrible, 11/.5 and now 10.8! i made an appointment tomorrow and the car will be there at 8 in the morning. I am also haveing them look at the front headlight cause of the film inside them and the back brake lights have condensation in them at times... fun fun fun i will let you al know how it goes!
RObert

Don't take it to Wilkins. I have learned from previous posts that you live in the same area as I do. I took mine there for my MPG problem (13 mpg). I was told to wait untill the car reaches 10 - 15 K miles and the mileage would improve. I don't thing anyone knows why certain 8's get poor or good mileage.

you're not spending an excessive amount of time sitting in traffic are you?