Going far on a tank of gas

[flash75]

500 miles on 15 gallons of gas equals 33.3333 mpg. That isn't hard to do, however I wouldn't try to run my tank dry. We recently made a round trip from NC to CO and back to NC covering over 4,000 miles. The car is a 2008.5 Mazda 3 TR VE automatic with 2 liter engine. I kept records of my fuel purchases and and recorded the trip odometer readings for each fuel purchase, I totaled the miles driven and divided by total fuel purchased, we averaged around 34+ mpg for the entire trip. No special effort was made to conserve fuel other than not exceeding posted limits by more than 5 mph.

 

[ehidle]

500 miles on 15 gallons of gas equals 33.3333 mpg.

It is hard to do when 1/2 the tank is spent on in-town driving. Also, I am pretty sure I got more gas in it on this fillup since I have been 100 miles and the needle is just now at the F mark. I think it's probably I did 500 miles on something more like 14.5, but I won't ever know for sure. There is unfortunately no way to know exactly how much fuel was required for a particular interval.

 

[skylar2ups]

It is hard to do when 1/2 the tank is spent on in-town driving. Also, I am pretty sure I got more gas in it on this fillup since I have been 100 miles and the needle is just now at the F mark. I think it's probably I did 500 miles on something more like 14.5, but I won't ever know for sure. There is unfortunately no way to know exactly how much fuel was required for a particular interval.

The rest of us think you did a great job!

 

[pimped3]

That's it, you win! I got to about 380 miles and the neddle was already on the big "E" and I didn't want to risk it. you hear that, you win

 

[Casey Grubbs]

My MX3 get bad gas mileage and I dont know why and I have the 1.6

 

[skylar2ups]

My MX3 get bad gas mileage and I dont know why and I have the 1.6

My Turbo PT Cruiser got at the high end 19 MPG no matter how I drove and it took premium gas!

I about shot myself a couple times!

 

[ehidle]

That's it, you win! I got to about 380 miles and the neddle was already on the big "E" and I didn't want to risk it. you hear that, you win

Haha... ok.. How much did it hold? You only needed 70 more miles. If you had more than about 2.5 gallons left, I think you could have done it!

 

[pimped3]

I think it took about 13 gal so there was no way and I didn't want to replace the fuel filter or be stupid enough to run it out of gas and have to call one of my buddies because I forgot to put a can in the back. but, dammit, I tried

 

[blueamcat]

That's awesome. I'm not sure how much mine holds, but its probably close to 14 or 15.

On another note, probably don't wanna run it dry too much like that, doesn't it damage the fuel tank or something?

 

[pimped3]

What happens is there are small amounts of other molecules in gas that, over time collect and become larger molecules and sink to the bottom of the tank sentiment. As you use the gas, the concentration becomes greater and the sentiment starts to flow through the fuel filter and the filter cleans the gas but there is a possibility that the filter becomes clogged or at its worst, tear, causing damage to the engine. It’s not a good thing, and that's why I always fill up at 1/4 tank.

 

[aem421]

ehidle...that's awesome! I have gone 465 before filling it up. I was too scared to go any farther. I might have gotten to 500 but I would have definitely needed a gas can (yes)

 

[ehidle]

I was really sweating bullets for those last 20 or so

 

[jimp]

congrats on the 500 mile tank, I'm averaging 32+ on hwy at 65-70mph

 

[gettingspeedy]

please!

i got 590 on a tank once
2.0 5speed

from mooresville NC to Paducah KY on 12 gallons.

of couse i drove about 45mph the whole way drafting behind the u-haul my dad was pulling with my truck, he is one of the slowest drivers in the entire world.

and anyone wondering that's approx 49mpg

call me a liar, i left with a full tank, didnt fill up till i got to paducah, and put just over 12 gallons in it...12.2

 

[skylar2ups]

please!

i got 590 on a tank once
2.0 5speed

from mooresville NC to Paducah KY on 12 gallons.

of couse i drove about 45mph the whole way drafting behind the u-haul my dad was pulling with my truck, he is one of the slowest drivers in the entire world.

and anyone wondering that's approx 49mpg

call me a liar, i left with a full tank, didnt fill up till i got to paducah, and put just over 12 gallons in it...12.2

He wasn't just driving on the interstate though he was driving in his everyday life so all of you haters can stop trying to one up him and just see that he was trying to prove the 3 can get better millage then a Civic or Corola.

 

[Olestra]

Looks like drafting makes a big difference too.

 

[gettingspeedy]

im not trying to hate, he asked someone to try and better him....im not sayin im better, just sayin what i got.

im sure that the fact i have the amish version (no power anything) the weight reduction of not having power stuff helps too

 

[skylar2ups]

im not trying to hate, he asked someone to try and better him....im not sayin im better, just sayin what i got.

im sure that the fact i have the amish version (no power anything) the weight reduction of not having power stuff helps too

Yes but he meant in everyday driving not all highway and you sounded smug in your first post.

 

[terbow]

You can do it - you just have to get the gas all the way full, as in to the top of the filler. Then, you have to drive like grandma - accelerate as slowly as possible, as this is where cars waste most of their gas.

Update - the fuel light came on at 450 miles, and it's just one tick above E. I know I have about 50 miles left when the light comes on, so man is this ever going to be CLOSE!

I've been shifting at 1800-2000 RPM and just accelerating as slowly as the horn-honkers behind me will permit.

edit: If you have a vacuum gauge, you can set yourself a "do not exceed" point and that will save you a TON of money on gas.

Just a FYI. On newer cars, such as yours they have a vapor recovery system. If you top it off (e.g. fill it past where it clicks the first time) you can actually fill up the evap canister and cause problems with filling up (it will stop every few cents like its full).

Just something to consider if your topping it off.

on a side note, if your 1/4 tank and under is anyhting like mine you can almost watch the needle go down in real time lol

 

[xpretttyinpiink]

Ha. I live in Mass, and everyone drives like an asshole, and I must admit, I'm one of them. I only get about 300 miles to a tank.. Usually a lil over, but wtf.. You people must drive like saints!