Haha ok everybody knows the rotary's dont get the best gas mileage but does anyone have a some what cheap and reliable way to improve it, i bought my rx8 like 3 weeks ago and sometimes it idles high after starting being cold for maybe a good 30 seconds and its def not the best on gas so any suggestions?

 

Stay out of stop-and-go traffic
Let your car warm up only until idle drops to 1500 RPM then drive gently till warm.
Change tranny and diff fluid to synthetic.
Get a block/oil pan heater.
Buy a winter car
Car pool

 

People are going to get on for asking a question that has been answered a lot... but who cares...

When you bought the car, you bought the fact that you will be visiting the gas pumps more frequently than many other cars on the road. There is not really a cheap way other than the obvious, if any in fact, to improve your gas mileage. If you are that concerned, shift below 3750 rpm's (when the secondary ports open, requiring more gas) and drive it easy... (which somehow sounds so ironic to what the RX-8 stands for)... Enjoy the beep of 9K!! Just set money aside for the pumps...

 

Drop in air filter $40.
Premix $1 per tank.
Use regular gas.

 

I know the benefits of premixing, but does it really save all that much on gas mileage.... truely curious...

 

Very little, but helps some. If the engine runs smother, it only makes sense that the MPG should be better.


Also a clean air filter helps, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6Gk0Z8IrA

 

This helps also https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/no-more-detonation-%2Amiac%2A-121249/

 

Yea , here it goes .............A damn bike ........... or take it back......

........By the way I premix and it helps.

 

Well if you are worried about gas mileage i would suggest you trade in your car and get a toyota or a honda.

Why would you buy a car without researching ?
Why would you buy a car that is a sports car and worry about gas mileage?

 

seriously, how many new gas mileage threads are started daily?

 

i dont know what these peple complain about.....i get 38mpg and i have broken 400 miles per tank virtually every time i fill up

 

woah - that's double what I get!

I knew what i was in for when I picked up the keys!

a mate of mine sells Vauxhalls, he's always on at me about his amazing fuel consumption.... He soon shuts up when I smoke him!
I'll take a sports car over a MPG wagon any day!

 

^ man, chris' sarcasm is really going over people's heads lately.

 

I get about 31 miles per gallon most of the time sometimes 41 if I drive it just right.
Then again i see and write things backward

 

I'm dyslexic, I think I read it right.

 

This must be your first car.

All car idles high when cold.

walking is the best way to save gas

oh and search is your friend ...

 

Well for one, you could follow Mazda's recommended shift points:

Normal acceleration:
1 to 2: 14 mph
2 to 3: 22 mph
3 to 4: 29 mph
4 to 5: 36 mph
5 to 6: 46 mph

For cruising:
1 to 2: 14 mph
2 to 3: 21 mph
3 to 4: 28 mph
4 to 5: 35 mph
5 to 6: 42 mph

I have two modes: sometimes I drive it like a sports car, redline often, and forget about Mazda's gas saving shift points. But lots of times, especially when traffic is slow-moving and heavy, I'll follow those granny shifts (though I always redline it at least once or twice a day).

In and around NYC, about 60%/40% highway/city, I get around 17 or 18 mpg. Considering the handling—and how good the car "feels"—I have no problem with those numbers.

 

Well I get about the same mpg if i'm cruising the highway to work on the weekdays as i do when i'm cruising around town during the weekends. I have never gone below 21mpg. The best i've gotten was right at 24 the worst was right at 21. My last vehicle which was a truck only got 26-28.

 

You must be one of the lucky ones , if those numbers are correct .....

 

Some of these 8's get crappy mpg. I average 18 mpg, and could get 22/24 if I drove allot of highway miles. A work car would be the easiest way to get good gas mileage.

 

Those are definitely accurate numbers. I check almost every fill up what my MPG were that trip. Has never dropped below 21. Not sure if it matters too much but i have an '06. Can't remember all the tweaks they've made throughout the different years.

 

So has anyone proven that driving at 2k rpm is better then 3k rpm? whats the AF mix at 2k vs 3k? or even 4k for that matter.

I had a car that burned more gass under 2k then it did at 3.5k due to the fuel mapping.

And i would say the best way to improve MPG is to get a fuel modifier (ie SAFC) and tune it. And other then that, get a hydrogen tank put in the trunk and switch between both depending on city/highway.

 

I've had mine for 8 months now and can say that mileage is very dependant on how heavy your right foot is. When I take care to not accellerate quickly and drive with a conservative mind-set, I can get over 18mpg city, 22+ highway. When I drive it with "enthusiasm", the city mileage drops to 15mpg, 19mpg highway. A 3 mpg difference, or roughly 15%-20%.

 

I've never gotten above 225 miles on a full tank. For those that have, enjoy it.. And give thanks to the 8 you drive..

That's at most. I barely pass the 200 mark now.. And I drive normal.. I guess..
But hey, I don't care.. It's worth it.

 

ahhh wtf, theres at least 20 threads on this.....