Just bought a pre-owned 2021 CX-5 CE Turbo with 19,xxx miles on it. Assuming it was filled with regular unleaded gas before I bought it. It got down to 15 miles today and I was advised to fill up with gas. When I filled up with regular unleaded, it only needed to add 12 gallons to fill the tank, so theoretically I should have had 60 or so more miles before needing to refill the 15 gallon tank. Gas mileage should be in the 22-23 mpg range for city (around town) driving, which is what I do for the most part but I don't feel like I got that in the first week of driving. Is premium gas required for the turbo engine to achieve the right gas mileage or is something amiss with the fuel gauge?
2021 CX-5 CE Turbo - Premium gas required?
- Thread starter jm3122@gmai
- Start date
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- CX-5 Sport 16.5 6M
The turbo gets a higher horsepower rating with 93 octane.
I saw this interesting article about how gas mileage at any speed can be 'inferred' by the EPA rating and this formula they derived from a study...
getpocket.com
I saw this interesting article about how gas mileage at any speed can be 'inferred' by the EPA rating and this formula they derived from a study...
Is There an Optimal Driving Speed that Saves Gas—and Money?
If you want to save some cash on your commute, maybe you need to slow down.
gtbigup
24 CX-5 SIG
Premium gas is required if you want to get all 256hp, regular gas will net you 227hp. Whether or not MPG fluctuates between premium and regular i am not sure.
I've only had my Sig for 1 month and have only used premium so far. I don't plan on using regular. I'm used to paying for premium considering I traded a 22 Challenger Scat Pack for this ute
I've only had my Sig for 1 month and have only used premium so far. I don't plan on using regular. I'm used to paying for premium considering I traded a 22 Challenger Scat Pack for this ute
N7turbo
2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
You're going to get answers that are not related to the question you're asking, so the answer to your specific question about fuel economy is: no.
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- 2022 CX-5 Turbo
I got a '22 Turbo since new. I put in 87.
Two months ago, I started to put in 91 ( highest in CA) to check MPG.
I did not find better MPG after a few tanks of commuting (same routes).
However, I did feel better acceleration from red light (i.e. >4k RPMs).
More than static torque/horsepower curve can show (which shows higher torque >4k, hence more horsepower), but also the dynamic response of engine is better.
I have been using 91 ever since.... cost 10% more at gas pump.
Two months ago, I started to put in 91 ( highest in CA) to check MPG.
I did not find better MPG after a few tanks of commuting (same routes).
However, I did feel better acceleration from red light (i.e. >4k RPMs).
More than static torque/horsepower curve can show (which shows higher torque >4k, hence more horsepower), but also the dynamic response of engine is better.
I have been using 91 ever since.... cost 10% more at gas pump.
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- 2014 & 2019 CX-5 Touring(s)
I wish that were true. Around here (MD) it's more like 30% more (90c to 1$ increase/gal).
Ouch, local Costco in eastern PA $2.97 for 87 octane, $3.59 for 93 octane.
In the 5 years I've had our 19 GTR I have put nothing but 87 octane ExxonMobil fuel.
Car runs fine. Truth of the matter is premium runs about $1.20 more than regular in my area.
That's crazy because it only used to be about .20 to .30 more per gallon.
Car runs fine. Truth of the matter is premium runs about $1.20 more than regular in my area.
That's crazy because it only used to be about .20 to .30 more per gallon.
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- 2023 CX-5 2.5 Turbo AWD Auto
RIP 8/23:2013 CX-5 Sport FWD Auto 120k
Great video! It’s a little unclear how “basic” and “premium” fuels are defined though. After watching through it all I think the “premium” definition of the fuel is it having a friction modifier added. With that in mind I find it important to choose a top tier branded fuel, not necessarily a 87 vs 91 or 93 octane for wear protection. This video seems to show an 87 octane top tier fuel (assuming it has a friction modifier) will result in less metal wear.
To OPs point though as a couple others have stated, no. 91 or 93 octane not required. 87 is fine.
Personal experience: I ran 93 octane for the first 5k miles on my 23 Turbo. Noticeably better pickup and go over 4k rpm’s going up our mountain (as expected). Been running 87 octane for the last 7500 miles. Still hauls ass, and I rarely thump the throttle above 4k rpm’s. Always choose Marathon or Chevron top tier fuels in my area.
EDIT: I fell down a rabbit hole. Top tier branding is not synonymous with added friction modifier. You’re right, it appears you’d have to track down brand specific premium gasoline like Shell and ExxonMobil who add friction modifiers to only their highest octane gasoline. Not all “premium” fuels will have a friction modifier added.
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- 2022 CX-5 Turbo
I was about to raise that.... some premium fuel only contains detergents as additives.
The turbo gets a higher horsepower rating with 93 octane.
I saw this interesting article about how gas mileage at any speed can be 'inferred' by the EPA rating and this formula they derived from a study...
Is There an Optimal Driving Speed that Saves Gas—and Money?
If you want to save some cash on your commute, maybe you need to slow down.
Am I reading it wrong, or this illustration suggests that a car reaches EPA mpg at speeds 75-80mph?
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- CX-5 Sport 16.5 6M
You are reading it wrong.
2
200955
I was amazed to discover fuel prices are directly related to the amount of ethanol in the fuel and the octane rating. I have seen pumps that dispense 85, 87 and 91 octane fuel and are priced accordingly. I can say without hesitation that 87 is just fine for a non turbo engine but a turbo might be best fueled with 91, I say best but only the long term would tell the truth. I do know that a tank of 91 will yield more mileage than 87 as I have done this several times to verify. Don't kid yourself, this car knows what it's burning and adjust engine settings accordingly. Plus 91 burns much cleaner. So what I do is run my Mazda to half tank and alternate between octanes to fill. Once every 6 months I add Berrymans B12 cleaner to the tank (it's the perfect amount per tank of fuel) and fill completely. Now I've heard and read all about "snake oil" but I would challenge anyone to tell when my engine is idling. No vibration, no sound and zero fluctuation on the tack. I have 142,000Km on this car. Furthermore, I am told by Berrymans that any blow-by past the rings of their product will remove carbon deposits on said rings and stop the combustion leakage. Oil control rings are very susceptible to clogging from extended oil changes. This I do directly before the next scheduled oil change. The stuff's not cheap, Amazon lists it. This is also the product I use for manual valve cleaning. I'm not a salesman by any means for their products, but, holy hell, this decarboniser eats carbon like you wouldn't believe. It has for four years become part of my preventative maintenance.
