UFGatorx8

Just wanted to let some of you know that I just got 221.4 miles to my full tank on my rx-8. I have about 1200 mile's on it and was using a 93 octane on it. I was so surprised when I saw this just had to let some of you know. Hope this become's a regular thing because $25-30 every 10 day's is not fun!

RodimusOne

In getting roughly 14-15 mpg? I'm not too sure about the specs, but the tank is roughly 15-16 gallons right? Wouldn't that translate to:

~220/~15 = ~14 mpg

How can that be a good thing?

miata2rx8

what is your average trip length? I cannot get more than 209 no matter how hard I try, but work is only 5 miles away- car warms up quickly but I am sure the short distances make the mileage worse....

mikeb

I'm spending 20 bucks every other day and driving 60 miles a day

miata2rx8

I fill up a little after the light comes on- and it usually takes ~13.5 gallons at that time

Gord96BRG

A "tank" is not a unit of measure, certainly not with any level of accuracy. Unless you run it empty every time...

Can't you just fill up your car, reset your trip odo, drive it, refill it, and divide the miles travelled by the number of gallons you filled with? That gives you an accurate, measurable, repeatable indication of what mileage you're actually getting.

Sorry, just an engineer's pet peeve! Miles per "tank" is entirely useless information.

Regards,
Gordon

mikeb

ouch gordon

RodimusOne

Agreed...

As I said before:

220~miles/15~gallon = ~14 miles/gallon

How is that a good thing? Definitely not the 18/24 that was advertised.

UFGatorx8

I guess I am just excited about the fact that I am getting more then 200 miles per fill up (For gordo). Which is 20 extra miles which is fine with me. And as far as driving and how hard I get the shifts under 3K rpm and don't really rev the engine all that often. I drive about 10 miles to work or so if not a little longer.

Also I guess the point behind my post was that I have noticed a slight increase in mpg after the 750-1000 mile rang. I hope that it's just a break in period and that it will get a little better as time goes on. So if any one out there has noticed this or can let me know if you are getting mpg after 1000 miles that would be appriciated.

Question also while I think about it. Any one notice that in the morning when you start the engine it makes a loud purring noise when idleing? I know it's just warming up the engine etc. But man that noice make's me smile when I hear it. I normally let the car warm-up for about 2-3 minutes before I start to drive it. Any other thoughts on this?

mikeb

letting it warm up is fine
my mileage went from 13 to 18 and it changed the most after about 2k miles on the car

loco4rx8

Glad you're happy with that, Gator. But ouch. My car is sitting in the garage right now on 267 miles and a 1/4 tank left.

I swear I really think this car likes to be driven hard. Has anyone else noticed that their needle actually goes backwards after redlining the car? Mine does almost every time.

It doesn't seem to make any difference how I drive the car, though, my mileage has been consistently 22/23 and it might be getting even better - current tank is looking pretty good. Car has 2800 miles on it.

I hope someone going to SevenStock will quiz the Mazda reps about the mileage issues. That is a far more important topic than the HP thing, in my mind. I'd love to know why the huge differences in fuel efficiency.

RodsterinFL

Gordo? Gordon? Is right. It is difficult since we have so many variables. I get 18.2 mpg avg using meter reading between fillups. I drive 17 miles one way runs twice daily in town with speed limits of 45 and 50 mph. There are several stop lights in route and I usually get stopped by about 4-5 of them. It takes me 35 -40 min (avg) to travel the miles. I get this mileage with 87 octane and with TCS/DSC off and I try to keep the RPM around 3500 at takeoff.

Sparky

Just got back from my first Hwy trip. 3k now on the odo. 3 tanks total. 20mpg, 21mpg, 20 mpg. The second tank was at 70 mph ave. First and third were something north of that the exact details I'm not going to devulge but it was fun!

RX8by

I am up to the 1000 mile mark am getting 20+ mpg for the last 600 miles. We drive 60 miles a day 50/50 driving. I haven't got over 6000 RPM ( Old timer I guess just shift). I try to keep it under 3500 rpm most of the time. I am not bragging only to let people know they can get good mileage.

UFGatorx8

Well from what I hear it does seem to get better the more you break in the engine etc. I am not going to lie eiather I'm 23 and just out of school (My first car by myself mind you no mommy and daddy this time around!). So I have taken on a few GTS, RSX S-Types, 240 SX etc. And so I guess I could say I run the car a little harder then the average Joe. But this last tank I noticed a huge diffrence and it was right around when I broke 1K. So just hope the milage gets better with time. Thanks for the imput everyone.

zoom44

Hey, wait until your first road trip and you get over 300 miles on a tank!! i had previously got between 200 and 240 on a tank and when that little red light came on at @280 i just had to go for it. :D good thing it was downhill those last 20 miles into Cali. my wife was a little pissed:o 4 days later i got nearly(don't have the figures in front of me) 330 on a tank and when i filled it at the gas station it gulped down like 15.3 gallons. now that was close:D

newport8

I'm no engineer, but my guess is that when breaking in the engine, residue begins to build up on the rotary trochoid's seals, providing for a "tighter" seal and therefore better fuel efficiency. Just a guess though.

Sparky

I did 312 on a tank with the light comming on at 270. Was sweating until I filled it up. 14.8 gallons so I was still 15 miles short of the end I guess. Shall we buck up for the first person to run it out!

Wankeler

Umm... my "break-in" period of 1000 mi (no 6000+ rpms), gave me the best mileage.... lmao. About 17-18 mpg. Since passing the 1K mark... my mileage has gotten WORSE! Alot worse! lol my last average was 10.8 mpg. But this isn't the car's fault... it's entirely mine. Doing lots and lots and did I say LOTS!!!! of curvy, twisty country roads at fairly high speeds. Anyone can do 120 on a straight stretch of country road (yeeehaaaa!), but can they take 35mph curves in the road at 70? :D I'm seeing alot more bikes than I'm used to seeing.... they're doing the same thing I am... enjoying the "drive"

Love my 8!

Quick_lude

To me that's the biggest negative of the rotary compared to a piston engine. Yes it is possible to get decent fuel economy driving like a granny but who does? And if you push the engine a lot your fuel economy drops a lot more % wise than a piston engine.
I'm hoping that as the engines get more miles on them they will show better numbers.. 7mpg at the track is still to low imo.

Elara

I got my worse mileage so far on my last tank- just under 15mpg! I'm kinda excited, because I was starting to think I was doing something wrong by getting 18-26. So, I drove it like a maniac for the past three days, and managed to eke just barely 100 miles out of half a tank. I'm pretty proud of myself!

zoom44

How's the knee elara?

UFGatorx8

K I hate to say this since I started this topic but I ran out of gas like 4 day's ago. Thank good it was some what close to a gas station but I did it! Yep I feel like crap...lol make fun of me I deserve it!

mikeb

I wait til the orange low fuel light comes on but I read on another thread once that light comes on you have about 25 to 30 miles left

that sucks you ran out of gas

Zaphod

You sure you didn't go to Florida State? LOL