Engine Break in = better MPG??
 

hey 8ter's,

so my 8 has 540 something miles on it now, and my MPG sucks!!! i know getting into this car to expect poorer mileage than most cars, but 11 MPG??!! c'mon that's kinda shafty don't ya think? i've heard as the engine breaks in you get better MPG, just wanted some inputs from the more expierienced 8 owner. Thanks guys.

lol...11Mpg? :rofl: let the engine break in first, don't be flooring it everywhere you go. give it at least 3k miles or until after your first oil change (whichever is first) to start going WOT.

as for your question...yea, gas mileage sux0rz big time in our 8, but that's one thing you gotta learn to live with. i get about 17~20 on mine depending on how i drive it.

but if you really need more in depth answering of your question....try the search button :D:

I've been breaking into the low 20s (21.5-23.5) with mine so far. I have about 1040 for miles on it right now. This tank is a little over half used and so far looks to be heading for the 20-something range again. I don't floor mine or drive it like a maniac. I've been doing as close to the recommended shifting points as possible. I can't vouch for how my mom drives it when she comes to get me (no license plates yet so no parking space at work :( ) but I'm fairly certain she isn't stomping it either.

Yes.... mine didn't get better until 15K, more powerful too. Much more smooth feeling. It progessively got better until @ 30,000. Just had mine in for service yesterday @ 42,000 miles, 1 year checkup. I'm consistently getting 22-23 mpg.

how in the hell are you people getting 20+ mpg? What kind of oil and gas do you use? I'm stuck at 15.

But yea, it gets better the further along you get. Those first few tanks are sooooo weak-sauce. My delearship took pity upon me and gave me a couple free fill-ups.

My first tank was 19ish, and I was repeatedly stalling it because I was having trouble getting used to the clutch.

I feed Bella premium gas from Chevron and the oil is what came in the car. I topped up with Castrol GTX yesterday (about 1/4-1/3 of a quart), which is what the dealer told me Mazda oil was and what they used.

In town - my car gets 17mpg, on the freeway - 20mpg. That's about it - has since day one.

My first couple of tanks were down around 15, but that might have been due to a heavy foot. :D: Now it's about 17 in town, 23 highway. When I take it to the track I get around 10-11. So driving style makes a huge difference.

My first tank was 14 MPG. I think it continues to get better and better over time. now I average in the low 20's. 22ish mixed, but I haven't calculated in a little while.

Every once in a while. Try keeping your foot out of it for a whole tank and see what happens. I'd bet most all of the complaints come from drivers that constantly floor it.

How exactly are you calculating your MPG?

When and how?

Miles driven divided by gas burnt. Usually do it over a series of tank fulls, but can be done by the tank. Best if you fill up at the same pump at the same station so the car is not filling at an angle one time and not another if you are testing by the tank.

During breakin i was getting 21-23 a tank, Once I got out it went to 19-20 but still not bad.

I calculate my MPG by x miles driven divided by x gallons needed to refill.

just fill until it spills out and then you know exactly how much you put in. ( no worry on underfilling, angle etc.. )

I'm at about 20-21 MPG mostly city, some highway and my car is a 05 manual with about 800 miles on it right now. Hopefully past 2000-3000 miles I'll start picking up some mileage. I always shift under 4000 and rarely go past 1/2 throttle.

Newbie mileage
 

Sheamus just turned 1000 miles the other day. Average about 19 mpg but most of that has been stop and go city mileage. Once or twice (wink) he had to streatch his legs and do the italian tune-up . . but we both felt guilty after as Sheamus is still a baby.
I certainly understand folks frustration with low mileage in a car that weighs 3000lbs when some 'econo-cars weighing 3500 get into the 30's. But personally I knew that going in. . . . .this is my toy . . . . a unique, somwhat rare . . . fun to play with toy. Practicality is sort of way back there trying to catch up with the grins I get when the motor starts to pull, whines like a motorcycle and zips thorugh traffic like shit through a goose. . . . . mileage . . . . oh well.
My dad told me ages ago . . . . drive like ya got a raw egg under the gas pedal and never use rpm's you don't need. Good advice for good mileage . . . . poor advice if you drive a sports car like the 8.

That's sad.



After 4200 miles of 12 to 15 MPG in mixed city / highway driving, I decided my '05 6MT was ready for a serious road trip. I now have 5500 total miles on the car.

Voila ! First leg was LA to Bishop CA. 260 miles, one mountain crossing otherwise mostly level cruise at altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, average speed 75 MPH. Fuel consumed: 12.2 gallons which equals 21.3 MPG.

Second leg was Bishop to Mammoth Mountain, back to Bishop, then to Las Vegas NV. 310 miles, altitudes up to 7,500 feet incluiding two mountain passes, twisties and heavy foot at speeds of 55 to 70 MPH first 150 miles then cruise into Vegas at 75 to 85 MPH. Fuel consumed: 17.3 gallons which equals 17.9 MPG.

Final leg was Vegas back to LA. 275 miles, two mountain crossings otherwise boring desert with some hills. Speed 73 MPH on cruise control, no stops other than agricultural check station outside Barstow. Fuel consumed: 12.6 gallons which equals 21.8 MPG.

RX-8 also seemed to have more power than ever on the trip, even at the high altitudes. Maybe she is broken in now... Since returning from my trip, I am averaging 18 MPG in Los Angeles traffic hell.

BTW -- I did the "tough break-in".

How did you use 17.3 gallons when the tank only has 15.9? :dunno:

Must have been hiding the extra in your trunk. :rofl:

Filled up in Beatty NV and again in Vegas. Added the gallons.

No, what's sad is the morons that go redlining their car with 50 miles on it and then come whine about getting 9mpg because they have bad compression and didn't break their engines in properly.

My car isn't even to 1000 miles yet, it's right around 700 right now so i'm keeping the revs down and 3/4 or less throttle. I made a 20K+ investment so i'm going to take care of it. Besides why the hell do you need to rev to 9000 rpms driving to and from work, I'll leave that for the ricers with fartcan exhausts.

Oh, still breaking in . . . You're doing it right. I never hit redline until 2000 miles, didn't even go over 6K until 1000 miles. Now at 5500 miles I hit 8K maybe once or twice a week. Vary your RPM and consider your first oil change right about now.

Once the Renesis is broken in (maybe 2000 to 3000 miles?) the concensus seems to be that occasional full throttle and high RPM prevent excess carbon buildup inside the engine

I'm a liar. For an unknown reason - my car has 215 miles on this tank of fuel, and I STILL have 1/4 tank left. VERY VERY weird.

first time my car broke 320 miles on a tank I had 240 miles with a 1/4 tank left.... ( roadtrip ).. i was wondering if my gas gauge broke...

My car has yet to see 300 miles on a tank - even on road trips. :(

The only tank I haven't had 300 on was my first tank. I think I got 280 on it but I don't have the book in front of me. I've got between 260-270 on this tank now and I am still above the 1/4 tank mark.