2nd tank of gas just finished in 165 miles for 13.4 gals. That’s 12.3 mpg(75%city driven gently) this is very disappointing. I was prepared for 15mpg but this is ridicules and this is one of the newest build dates 8/05. Come on Mazda you haven't figured out how to get uniform mileage after 3 years.

 

Per tank I mean, sorry.

 

I average about 190 miles per a tank. Of course I have my foot heavy on the throttle and drive abour 60% streets but could care less since I dont have to pay for gas(my employer pays for all my company/personal gas consumtion).

 

Maybe you guys can help me on this one. I usually get 10-11 days of driving on a tank, but lately I've doubled it to 20-22 days. I'm thinking that I just hit 15,000 miles and the mileage doubles at that point, or that maybe I just found out where the dipstick is and added my first quart of oil! (My salesman said that if I used synthetic oil I would never have to worry about checking it!) Or it might have something to do with being on vacation. I don't know. This mileage stuff is just so hard to understand!

 

well -- another gas milage thread... ill throw in my 2 cents, I get at best around 280-290 before im almost fucked for running outta gas.

Seems lately though since I got my valentine one radar detector and now i do ~90 on the highway, my MPG has gone down to 240-250 per tank... oh well it makes my 6 hour weekly drive for work go by faster.

 

170 for city.
255 for hwy @ 73-74mph
220 for hwy @ 85 mph

 

I really wish people would stop reporting total miles without also reporting gallons used. Not only does the yellow light vary sometimes across different cars, it can also vary a little within the same car.

 

The sudden gain in mileage is probably from the switch to synthetic oil, as it lubricates better than regular oil, but I still can't explain why it would increase that much. However, you still need to check your oil regularly since your engine is designed it burn it, whether its synthetic or not. Also, I noticed the car runs smoother with the oil level filled to the full line (as opposed to the bottom quarter), which probably contributes to better mileage.

 

that's what you get for living in such a hilly area...it just kills your fuel economy

 

Your comment is related to my post in the other thread. I remember when the RX8 first came out, there was concern about putting too much oil. Some owners were getting their car back after an oil change at the dealership with the oil at the top line on the dipstick and concerned that it could harm the car and that the dealerships didn't know what they were doing. Apparently, the dealerships knew what they were doing (at least the ones filling all the way to the top, like my dealership). Maybe they were specifically told to do so by Mazda or maybe they did it for practical purposes because the rotary drinks oil. Whatever the case, I think we now know it's not only safe to fill oil to the top line but you should probably keep it as close to the top line as possible or at least over the midline.

I don't know about you guys but I find this topic interesting.

 

I have always seemed to get better then the norm regards gas mileage on all of my cars. With my 8, get approximately 20.5 to 22 as a combined city-highway mileage. Now the strange thing. I recently made a rather fast run, 262 miles in 3 hours and 17 mins. with a significant portion of the trip was over 90 and some shots as high as 110. I filled up at the end of the trip. 262 miles, 12.92 gallons, approx. 20.27mpg. Of interest, I used very little oil also.

I called and talked to the Mazda service manager I deal with and he stated that the rotary engine is far more efficient at high speeds. It is all the 0-60 shots that suck gas. He was however a little surprised about the low oil consumption.

 

well... the 4-rotor engine in the 787B racecar didn't get much worse fuel economy than it's piston powered competitors at an average speed of around 127 at the lemans race, I guess that goes to show that what the dealer told you is in part true. I think what is also true tho is that piston engines get proportionately worse gas mileage the faster you go too.

It's interesting to compare engines too

Audi R8, winner of last year's le mans race has a 3.6 twin turbocharged V8 with 610 horsepower and 516 ft lbs of torque

the 787B is nearly 15 years older, is a naturally aspirated 2.6 with 700 horsepower and 488 ft lbs of torque

both get about the same gas mileage, this is in sharp contrast when comparing the gas mileage between say... an RX-8 and an S2000. (at normal driving speeds)