How do you get 30mpg or better with the MZR DISI?

[dwc]

I realize the MS3 is a performance car. I wouldn't care about MPG except people keep throwing out high numbers that I can't even approach. Even driving grannystyle, I haven't been able to break 25mpg after six months of trying.

Generally, smaller throttle openings are the key -- but this is my first turbo car. Maybe different techniques are required for all turbos in general, or this turbo in particular. Maybe the trick is short and squirty throttle stabbing instead of long and light throttle cracking. Maybe break-in has something/everything to do with it.

If you can get 30mpg or better, please share your tips! I'd also be curious about location to the extent that it may have any bearing on your results (i.e. colder intake temps, ethanol content, etc.).

 

[MikeHTally]

Many of those high numbers are wishful thinking. It's possible to get that on the interstate running the speed limit or a pinch less. Mine got a bit over 31 mpg on a trip to Baton Rouge (Interstate 10 & 12 all the way) during break-in. Very little speed, a lot spent under 60 mph with an occasional run to 80 or so. Coming back (with break-in deemed complete), it got about 28 mpg. Anyway, set the cruise on 75 or so and just let it lope. Mine spends all its time since that trip on my daily commute. The longest interstate run since has been about 30 miles.

 

[solidtrance]

A tune should help. It may not beworth 5+ MPG but it will be a start. I have never notice getting better than 27 MPG and that was all HWY and 90% cruise control (65-70 MPH). I can say that my RX8 with a proper tune was able to get 25-26 MPG on the way to the OCC meet this summer. Chicago to CT, all HWY. I did have my mother in the car, so I was taking it easy. I was very happy with that since that's a 5-7 MPG improvment for that car. I would think the MS3 should not have any problem getting 30+ with a tune.

 

[Darth Vader]

On the stock tune, I could get hit 7 litres per 100 k on cruise control, on the flat, legal highway speed, with an intake as the only relevant mod at the time. This is using the imperial gallon we use up here. That's busting 40 mpg on our gallon and about 34 on yours.

ALOT depends on the roads you're on and how you're on them. Concrete has lower rolling resistance than tarmac, for example.

This is what's amazing about these cars. Auto Motor und Sport in Germany tested the mpg of these machines versus the competition and this car was able to get amazingly low usage numbers compared to the others, even though it had the most outright power.

 

[dwc]

I'm ignorant on tuning this thing. Can the MS3 be tuned without installing aftermarket parts like an Accessport? My knowledge is limited to older cars that require piggyback or aftermarket ECU, or bikes that respond to things like the PowerCommander.

If I was considering an intake, presumably the car should be tuned after installation rather than before?

 

[solidtrance]

The AP is plug and play, you just plug it into the OBD II port, install it and you are done. There are decent off the shelf maps for any mild mods. The HyperTech Sport tuner would be a good option to. The AP can be tuned further buy an Authorized Cobb Protuner or you can use ATR to tune yourself. With the HT you have to use their maps, but they have done a good job of providing tunes for most popular tuning options including many of the afftermarket intakes. The Cobb is more expensive, and gives you almost full control of the ECU. There a bit more to it, but this is just the basics.

 

[eprx799]

I don't get 30mpg. I get somewhere between 24.8 and 28.5 mpg . I drive 50 miles round trip to and from work with 90% of it highway miles. I usually get about 27.5mpg. I always use the cruise and set it for 10mph over the speed limit. I also coast on exit ramps and steep down hill runs. I have a stock 07 speed3 sport, no tune , no performance mods. I didn't do any mods for 2 reasons 1) its my daily driver and have amodded car for a toy and 2) I have an extended warranty and don't want to give the dealer a reason to deny any warranty calms.

 

[blue-sun]

I've seen 31-32MPG on the few long roadtrips that the MS3 has been on (from IL to MI). I have a MS CAI and that's it. Those roadtips were 70-80 MPH most of the way and saw 100+ on those long, downhills where you can see for miles (READ: No cops)

Oh, and they were in the summer with the AC on too.

Pic from those roadtrips:

 

[meicalnissyen]

Consistently 24~25 max ever
freeway in FL at 78mph

 

[mrcardio79]

If all you do is cruise on the HWY 30+MPG is no problem.

 

[Z-Indy]

If all you do is cruise on the HWY 30+MPG is no problem.

I would disagree with that. Best I get is about 25 highway.

Normal driving, 20-21. By Normal I mean city, highway, country road mix. But "spirited" driving.

 

[Doodlespeed3]

Consistently 24~25 max ever
freeway in FL at 78mph

Thats even better than me in FL, granted i do have a roof rack and 2 bike racks on 24/7 so i average 22 and maxed out at 24 once.

 

[meicalnissyen]

Thats even better than me in FL, granted i do have a roof rack and 2 bike racks on 24/7 so i average 22 and maxed out at 24 once.

Id say its essentially Identical
I got that 25 on the stock tune, filled up, reset the ECU, eased onto I75 without getting into boost, drove the 180 mile round trip to moms house and used 7.3 gal

I really think the peeps that claim to have gotten 30+ are high, nearly all the real measurements I've seen reported are 24 or so

 

[b e z]

I recently put on a cobb sri i got for xmas and before that i averaged by my calculations 20-21. I also got a ultraguage and i calibrated it yesterday after filling up so so far after one day doing some city driving and a little highway to work it is sitting at 25.2 mpg.

 

[eg6motion]

I have done a lot of attempts to get high MPG in the MS3 and have achieved 37mpg on the MS3 computer. Real world numbers, calculated at tank fill-ups, have been as high as 33. All this has been around town though, with lots of opportunities to coast. On the highway though, it's easy to get an average of 28-30 depending on speed. Doing 55 mph for any sort of stretch will easily get you 30mpg. The hard part is getting 28-30mpg by calculating at the pump... which requires you drive gingerly for an entire tank. It's cool to get 400+ miles on a tank though.

 

[sick_role]

I get mid-high 20's (26-29) with regularity in the summer. Mix of city/hwy. I have hit 30+ on hwy trips. I'll get low to mid 400 miles per tank. Winter I'm stuck around 22mpg. I have cobb SRI with AP OTS tune (Stage 1 SF+93)

 

[Domino81]

Lay off the throttle.

 

[Z-Indy]

I can't imagine driving that gingerly. I just can't do it. I like the car because it has powa. If I wanted to drive gingerly I would have bought a prius or at least a regular 3.

I drive hard.

 

[b e z]

I wouldnt say i drive hard but with just getting a new intake i stay on the throttle more to hear the intake and bov so that doesnt help the ol mpgs

 

[Domino81]

Honestly, though, when I bought this car it had averaged 31-32mpg. I drive normally most of the time. Laying off the throttle. I enjoy the car enough where I don't need to boost through every gear. Though I enjoy when I do. 73 or so on the highway usually yields some pretty good gas mileage. And it helps when it's warmer. Because I barely see 30mpg on the highway when it's below 50 degrees.