mazdadude
ZOOOOOOOOOM ZOOOOOOOOOM
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- '16.5 Mazda CX-5 Touring
27.8 mpg I could see.... But 37mpg? Must be the "New Math" everyone is talking about. (flame)
(drive)
Mazda5 real-world Mileage numbers
- Thread starter perfecto
- Start date
27.8 mpg I could see.... But 37mpg? Must be the "New Math" everyone is talking about. (flame)
(drive)
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
LOL, too much for an "exact" science.
2008 Mazda5 (Sport, 5MT). First tank:
60/40 town/highway: 21.97MPG (too early to say anything.... and I hope the engine is just breaking in (nailbyt))
2006 Mazda5 (Sport, 5MT). Thanksgiving trip:
Getting there. Hilly Highway @75-80MPH: ~24MPG
Return. Hilly Highway @65-75MPH: ~27MPG
cprtrainer
Member
Well, believe what you want. We tend to get better mileage up at altitude. My 3 would average about 28 mpg in mixed driving at low altitude Phoenix, and I average about 30.5 in Denver with the same driving style and shift points. That is at approx 5200'.
Mileage figures are this for the trip- do your own division and see what you get...
219.7 miles
5.8 gallons
Fueling was done at approximately the same temperature ~25 F.
Current tank appears to be back to "normal" in town driving- should be at about 27-29 as usual.
Don't flame for that which you have not done yourself under similar conditions. I am reporting legit numbers...
mazdadude
ZOOOOOOOOOM ZOOOOOOOOOM
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- '16.5 Mazda CX-5 Touring
You are right, how silly of me...(spank)
Seriously though, 37 mpg out of a 2.3L, Those are awesome numbers, and I wish I could duplicate them, but I am stuck with CA fuel, plus I like to run 34 psi tire press, 70-75mph avg roads, and I enjoy using the throttle too much. (doh) IIRC our personal mpg best is almost 30mpg.
I would love to make a straight 55mph run for a tank full at 42psi and see what kind of mpg is possible.
When I attempt to get the most accurate calculations, I calibrate tire pressure, refill at the same fuel pump, and to the same "top-off" click on the fuel nozzle. In addition I try and go as many miles as possible on the tank in order to get a broader sample range. Not saying this is necessary, just wondering how others do it?
cprtrainer
Member
I use similar conditions as you for calculations. I stop at click #2, run tire pressures of 40 front and 38 rear (the blizzacks are really sloppy at "normal" pressures). I run Conoco fuel at one of 3 stations in my area.
I did do the long slow (50-60 mph) run test one time in my old Civic VX- acheived 58 mpg. It was neat to see but I was nearly run over by trucks and SUV's. D'oh!
Must be nice to pump "cold fuel".
I get 20-23 in "errand" mode and 28 straight highway on "hot fuel".
http://www.turndownhotfuel.com/myths.html
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
I heard about this some time ago, but this site has much more concise info, thanks.
Now, I understand this is critical for trucks and the distances they drive per day (large volumes matter), but Would it really make a "big" difference for a smaller car like the Mazda5?
Quick and dirty calculation, not a scientific study, yet I don't see a critical difference in any case.
Let's assume that the Mazda5 travels the same distance as the example posted in the web site but with a 16Gal tank (Mazda5 capacity) instead of a 20Gal one (I don't know which car they are talking about). Pardon my horrible comparison, but I only see a difference of less than 1 MPG in each case with this approach.
Temp/20Gal Tank/Distance/MPG
90 20 490 24.5
75 20 495 24.75
60 20 500 25
45 20 505 25.25
Temp/16Gal Tank/Distance/MPG
90 16 490 30.625
75 16 495 30.9375
60 16 500 31.25
45 16 505 31.5625
Feel free to throw the eggs and tomatoes in case I did something absurd here, serious (stooges)
cprtrainer
Member
Interesting comparison on the fuel temp... I have noticed that I can "shove" more fuel into my 3 on really cold days. The fuel guage tends to hold on full for 15-20 miles more. Just an observation...
I think what made (makes) the difference here is that we had really cold air temp and high altitude. Cold air (more dense) can be correlated to more power (if I remember enough from flight school). Higher altitude (less O2) requires less fuel to combust.
Using these two variables sounds like a vehicle would not use the same amount of fuel in cold thin air. Upside is good mileage, big downside is that the engine power is "wheezy" at best. Acceleration from a stop is gutless and passing takes plenty of planning.
FWIW, the previous best tank was this past summer on a similar mountain road trip with the A/C running- achieved 33 on that tank. The variable in that picture was altitude and some stop and go traffic on the return leg. Temps were in the 80's.
Curious if anyone else has heard or knows more about air density (altitude) and it's effect on mileage...
I think what made (makes) the difference here is that we had really cold air temp and high altitude. Cold air (more dense) can be correlated to more power (if I remember enough from flight school). Higher altitude (less O2) requires less fuel to combust.
Using these two variables sounds like a vehicle would not use the same amount of fuel in cold thin air. Upside is good mileage, big downside is that the engine power is "wheezy" at best. Acceleration from a stop is gutless and passing takes plenty of planning.
FWIW, the previous best tank was this past summer on a similar mountain road trip with the A/C running- achieved 33 on that tank. The variable in that picture was altitude and some stop and go traffic on the return leg. Temps were in the 80's.
Curious if anyone else has heard or knows more about air density (altitude) and it's effect on mileage...
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- 2006 Mazda 5 GT 5spd
What are the housing prices like in the mountains... maybe I need to move.
I struggle to get 20-21mpg in city driving... needless to say I'm disappointed with the numbers. I didn't think altitude would have such a significant effect.
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
True. My first student cars had carburetors (Do the boxy VW Rabbit and Nissan Sentra Hatchback sound familiar?) and yes, they had to be adjusted according to the altitude where you lived so a) they could have the right combination of O2/Gas for combustion and b) they could reach certain fuel economy. I used to live about 1825mts over the sea level so when going to the beach with my friends on vacation I could feel a moderate difference in power plus I could hear the engine cackle 
almost at every stop or quick acceleration.
But IMO today's cars automatically and quickly adjust to altitude changes automatically so I think the change cannot be perceived as dramatic anymore. I drove once from Colorado Springs to Vail (through Denver) on a rental but I don't remember the gas outcome
(sssh) Now, between you and I, I think the Carbon Gray Mazda5 gives you more MPG than any other color (plus looks great). Just keep it low profile
almost at every stop or quick acceleration. But IMO today's cars automatically and quickly adjust to altitude changes automatically so I think the change cannot be perceived as dramatic anymore. I drove once from Colorado Springs to Vail (through Denver) on a rental but I don't remember the gas outcome
(sssh) Now, between you and I, I think the Carbon Gray Mazda5 gives you more MPG than any other color (plus looks great). Just keep it low profile
Now it sucks...
It's been a few weeks that cold temperature and snow came back and I'm getting worse and worse fuel economy.
I have no idea how you achieve such things as 36mpg, but I'm barely getting 14mpg nowadays! Is that normal?!? Really, I'm fueling 55 liters and I only drive about 300-350 km. That is aweful! It's only city driving in the snow with snow tire (35PSI each). Of course, the tires do spin more in the snow, but that shouldn't be so bad!
Can it be a problem with the car?
In the summer, I could barely get 19-20mpg in city and 26-28mpg on the highway.
Anyone from Ottawa (or in the whereabouts) can tell me what mileage they can do in this weather?
PS: And I *never* start the car more than one minute before using it.
It's been a few weeks that cold temperature and snow came back and I'm getting worse and worse fuel economy.
I have no idea how you achieve such things as 36mpg, but I'm barely getting 14mpg nowadays! Is that normal?!? Really, I'm fueling 55 liters and I only drive about 300-350 km. That is aweful! It's only city driving in the snow with snow tire (35PSI each). Of course, the tires do spin more in the snow, but that shouldn't be so bad!
Can it be a problem with the car?
In the summer, I could barely get 19-20mpg in city and 26-28mpg on the highway.
Anyone from Ottawa (or in the whereabouts) can tell me what mileage they can do in this weather?
PS: And I *never* start the car more than one minute before using it.
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I warm my car up all the time, drive it like its stolen, take lunch naps in my car for up to an hour with it on, drive 80mph(5600 kph for you canadians) and do parking brake donuts in the icy part of my parking lot daily and i average 23-24 on a tank. I know it will do 30 on a long trip.
SparkyBhoy
Member
Mrs Sparkybhoy has just filled up the tank for the 1st time (she's had it for 3 weeks!) 2008 GT 5SP Auto
The 1st tank did her for 400kms before the light came on. The car is used for 'around the doors driving'.
The 1st tank did her for 400kms before the light came on. The car is used for 'around the doors driving'.
Thanks for the "real-world" estimate. That's about what I'm getting in summer (450km on a tank). Maybe the snow of the last two weeks made it worse and it should go back to "normal" (350-400km in winter)? It may be the only car in its class, but it's pretty deceiving on fuel economy.
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Here is a site developed by a fellow Mazda owner where you can register your vehicles, keep track of your MPG and compare with others usage:
www.brianbauer.org
www.brianbauer.org
rweatherford
Member
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- Mazda 5
07 Sport Auto
First tank of fuel was 26 MPG in 15 degree temps. Mostly highway trips. I'll be keeping track over at www.CleanMPG.com
First tank of fuel was 26 MPG in 15 degree temps. Mostly highway trips. I'll be keeping track over at www.CleanMPG.com
