Hell--p! I have over 5,000-miles and I'm still getting about 13-15 miles to the gallon highway. What the hell is wrong with this car?
Am I past the break in period? This is starting to hurt the wallet a little. Any insite would be appreciated, folks!

Oh ya, one more thing. I feel like I'm getting no HP or Torque in the higher RPMS like everyone say you should? What's the deal?

KANO

 

I can suggest:

- Get a reflash to level "M" from your dealership.
- Make sure your oil level is good. After filling my oil up to full (coming from 1/4) my MPG improved.
- Do not carry too much weight around your car.
- Make sure you have the right pressure on all your tires
- Don't cruise above 3750 rpm unless you need to accelerate.
- Try shifting below 3500 rpm.
- Let dealership service check your ignition coils to see if you have faults there.
- Check finishlineperformance.com for some TSB's that might apply to your car based on your VIN number.
- Do a search on what others have done to improve their RX8.


good luck!

 

Before we start - just how is it that you calculate your mileage - EXACTLY? Maybe give us a couple examples of your recent mileage calculations.

If you are doing this correctly, we'll we can go on from there. But 1st things 1st. Thanks.

ps we dealing with an auto or manual?

 

Thanks guys! What exactly is an M flash. My buddy tells me it's similar to a fix-it-patch for your car. Anyone know exactly what it does?

I calcualted the gas mileage by filling up all the way and driving until empty. I babied it, not going above 5K on the RPM's. I got 215 total miles. I'm putting in Mobil 1 synthetic next.

I know you guys are going to say use the MPG calculator but I couldn't find that electronically. Right now, mine is getting fixed. $4,000 in damage. A 75 yr. old man with oxygen tubes backed up into me in a parking lot-------OUCH!

Oh ya, Velocity Red, Grand Touring Package, M/T 6 Speed, Navigation, THE WHOLE NINE!

Please advise!


KANO

 

Still not enough detail for Spin9K's request! Do you:
- fill the car, reset trip odometer
- drive car till gas gauge is near empty
- refill car, note amount of gas filled, note miles on trip odometer
- take number of miles, divide by amount of gas filled to get miles per gallon

If you aren't dividing the trip miles by the gallons consumed, then you aren't calculating mileage properly. Apologies if you are, but your answer doesn't make that clear. A 'tank' is NOT an accurate unit of measure, and miles per 'tank' is useless information!

Regards,
Gordon

 

I have been getting the distinct feeling that some RX-8's are "cursed" and cannot get good mileage no matter what the owner does.

Either that or a few dozen people on these boards are beyond hope of driving properly, and do so without being aware of how poorly they drive.

 

I am not sure how some guys get that low mileage. I can't get it below 17. I guess I might be able to get that low if I drive in 2nd gear only or something.

 

I've never gotten below 17 mpg either. I average about 20. My last tank (80% highway) I got 22.5 mpg.
BTW I've had no flashes.
Build date was 11-03

 

Try driving 90% city, you'll get it.

 

The gas mileage is variable for each vehicle--> they're a littel temperamental. Still likely to get better.

 

Do not use Synthetic!!!

 

 

Mobil 1? My dealer had me sign a form that said I understand that synthetic oil could damage my engine and that I will not use it or it will void my warrenty.

 

get


the


prius

 

Well I fueled up for the first time and got 17.76 MPG.
This is with me driving all over the place trying to get my first 600 miles on the car, so a lot of the miles are city.

 

i couldnt break 15 mpg if i drove highway the entire time. with the windows up, the a/c off, granny shifting, cruising @ 60 on a downhill.... i mean seriously, this sucks! I sit here in absolute awe and disbelief when i see some people posting 20+ mpg. and getting over 300 miles out of a tank of gas, Im lucky to break 200 miles on a tank. I have 3600 miles on the car. and have owned it since birth. gas has had absolutely no improvement from day one to now. Mazda says 18/24 mpg. we get 13/15 mpg. I pay friggin $28-$30 ever 3 days. thats $250-$300 a month. screw that. I WANT A SOLUTION. I WANT A FIX. I WANT AN EXPLANATION. FROM MAZDA. IF EVERYONE CALLS / E MAILS MAZDA... THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS I AM. OUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD. AND MAZDA WILL BE FULLY AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. AND A FIX COULD BE AROUND THE CORNER.. OR ATLEAST SOME FORM OF REISBURSEMENT.. WHO KNOWS..www.mazda.com... e mail them. I DID!

 

That's a load of crap, but this has been discussed to death and no one will EVER EVER change their mind. Its like a freakin' religion.

As for the comment above yours to not use synthetic, presumably in order to improve gas mileage...huh???

jds

 

Amen brother!

 

I've had my car for about 3 weeks now, and I'm averaging about 12 mpg (calculated correctly per the method posted above :-D

Now...I've been on a highway MAYBE twice so far, and for no more than five miles at a time. Its all 'round town for me. And even though I've been "babying" it during the break-in period...or trying to...I cruise in the 4K-6K range a lot, and accelerate briskly as often as possible. I can't help it, its just too damn fun!

One other thing....my flash was at K or older until two days ago, when I presumably got the M. So we'll see if that changes it. I must say though that I've passed 600 miles, and the M definitely seems to improve midrange power and overall feel (possibly at the expense of the very top end) so I don't see my driving getting any more mileage friendly.

jds

 

Why not? What's wrong with synthetic?


Do not use Synthetic!!! [/QUOTE]

 

The synthetic debate has raged almost as deep as the mileage issue. Mazda says no synthetic, but also makes a synthetic for rotaries in Australia. Strange. Search for that for more info, as people like rotarygod know a lot more about it than me. As for mileage, I get 16 if I drive it like I stole it, and 17 if I baby it on the freeway. I'd love to get 20+, as some people here have, but I don't think it'll happen. I can always hope, especially with gas at $2.60 out here....

 

I haven't yet gotten to drive for a long period on highway, overwhelming majority of my driving is city.

I have always gotten ~17 mpg, and my car now has 2400 miles on it.