At least to my eyes… Maybe someone here can shed some light on this strange behavior..

I am one of those poor unfortunate souls who get no more than 180 miles per tank. Or at least I used to be one of those poor unfortunate souls. Until recently no matter what brand, octane level, driving condition or hwy to city driving ratio was in the equation, I would consistently within a few miles get about 180 MPT (miles per tank). I was afforded some time off of work so I decided to go visit my sister in Freeland, PA which is about 5 ½ hours from where I live. I filled up the tank before the trip and some time later when the fuel gauge read half a tank I saw that instead of the usual 99 mile reading, it read 120. I know what you’re thinking at this point, So what, stop wasting our precious time with another MPG thread. Believe me I’m sick of them as well but keep reading. By the time the fuel warning light came on I had accumulated 290 miles with the AC off the whole trip. I again filled the tank for the trip back and this time I drove 320 miles before the light came on, this time with the AC on for about 90% of the trip. I know, I know, big friggin deal. Well I’ve been back now for 4 weeks and have gone through 2 tanks with the same driving behavior as before when I got 180. On the two tanks since the trip I’ve gone to around 250 both times. I’m thinking that after a few months I’ll be back to 180 MPT, but anyway there it is.

 

You know what I haven't had in a while....?


Big League Chew

 

How many miles do you have on your car? Maybe the Renesis has a certain break in point where the ECU changes the fuel maps.

 

oh boy! another mileage thread!

 

seasonal change in fuel formulations?

 

At least theres no bitching and moaning yet

 

what is YOUR point

 

there is no point to this thread. just like all the mileage threads.

 

city miles vs. highway miles?

 

just be glad you don't drive a bentley. those things get 11/18. and everyone knows that most people tend to get below epa ratings. i tend to hover in the 17.xx range for city driving, and i've only had 1 mostly highway tank since buying the car, and it was 23.56 i think.

whats my point? um...i hate bentleys?

 

yes, I understand how that is like. I was terrified when I first brought the car and see how much fuel it use just ideling in the garage. A half hour drive would at times result in 1/4 tank of gas gone. But somehow after the 3000 miles oil change it gets better. I used to see the oil gauge drop as I drive but now it does not do that. The car feels the same but the gas mileage has improved. During break in I never rev it over 6 or 7K RPM until almost 2000 miles or so. But, yes, I agree with you on this one.

 

Wow, people got negative real quick. I don't see why it's such a big deal that this guy posts about gas mileage. If something weird like that fluctuating mileage happened to me I'd share it too, and not expect to be attacked by saying there's no point to my thread. If you're sick of reading about gas mileage threads, then don't read them. Some people don't spend as much time on these forums and don't know the multitude of threads already out there about mileage. That having said, I wish I got up anywhere near 320. My best tank was 270 and that was scraping bottom...I almost gassed up 15 gallons that time.

 

Maybe you've gotten more used to driving it and are shifting better? As you learn the car, perhaps you're 1) not shifting as high as you used to or 2) cruising in lower gears more often and 3) just getting used to it, so you don't wring it out so much. I only say this because although my mileage has not changed from when I bought it(250+ a tank), when my husband drives the car, his HAS (180 to 230+). And the only thing I can figure out is that he is less agressive about it than he was when I first bought it and let him drive. It only takes a few small driving adjustments to make a big difference in the gas mileage.

And guys, come on. Be nice. If you have nothing useful to contribute to the thread, don't act like jerks just because you can. As so many people on here always yell, if you don't like it, don't read it. And don't be so darn obnoxious about it.

 

The guy is providing another data point to consider in trying to figure out what's going on with the poor gas mileage on some cars. Every bit of new information/experience can add to the overall knowledge base and perhaps help us gain a better understanding of the reasons for this "issue". So chill out and quit overreacting to the guy's good faith attempt to help other owners.

 

We all have to remember this is a FORUM he can ask or post how ever he chooses. It's for the moderators to decide weather it needs to be here or not. If you don't like the topic, don't post. Forum trolling just so you can type "there is no point to this thread", is just as bad as starting a topic that's been played over and over again. And I agree with Go48, every bit of info counts. Don't like it, don't post.

 

I just thought I'd bring some Family Guy humor into the thread since I had nothing else to add. Sorry y'all.

 

well perhaps your car had one plug messed up and running it for 250 miles cleaned it up. it's also possible that you could have had a non fatal ( no engine light ) that short driving would never clear from the ecu and it had adjusted for it, and you finally drove enough to reset it.

 

In my opinion, some of the problem can be attributed to driving style, some to gas formulation, and some to city vs. highway, BUT... I also think that the MAF sensor/O2 sensors/plugs/cat contribute to variance as well. It could be that the highway run affected sensors/plugs/cat which led to different fuel metering.

 

what do you mean the rx-8 doesnt get good gas mileage?!?!?

 

How many miles do you have on your car?
9085

what is YOUR point
No point just an observation as the title of the thread suggests.

Maybe you've gotten more used to driving it and are shifting better?
as best as I can determine I have not changed my driving style. I typacli shift at 3500RPMs and always have.

Also, I fully expected to get better gas milage on my trip, what I didn't expect was better gas milage on my day to day driving.

 

Here is my strange observation:

Have you ever noticed that if you drive over 110 mph (say in 4th gear) or so with less than 1/4 of a tank of gas, your engine starts to cut out on you because you are starving the engine? This can even generate a CEL. The fuel pump/line must be connected towards the front of the tank.

 

I was grateful for this observation being shared. This is where we are supposed to share our knowledge and experiences. You may not like or agree with them all, but we all have the right to post what we think might be of interest to others. Take what you like and leave the rest.

 

I've never had the problem.

 

i get 30mpg....city driving

 

180mpt has been my avg since I've had the car too. 30K miles later that's still my avg. On long enough trips I can get to about 240mi before the fear of running her dry prompts me to find a fuel stop. I think 6th gear cruising contributes alot to the extended miles. (and a stiff tailwind when I once got 260) A few months before going back to your past avg???... I'll say a prayer. Mine goes back to "normal" (bottled water STILL costs more than Premium fuel!) after a couple of tankfuls.