How to get better gas mileage?
- Thread starter assman
- Start date
happy and angry
Member
A vehicle running 7.5 PSI will get better fuel economy than a vehicle running 15 PSI AT FULL BOOST. So, yes, you can get better economy, but only when you're in boost. When you're in boost, you're obviously not really concerned with economy.
The point of a turbo is to force more air into each cylinder, so that more fuel can be burned. When you up the amount of air in the cylinder, you can up the amount of fuel and still maintain the ideal air/fuel ratio (something like 11.7 or whatever). The very point of a turbo is to burn MORE fuel and thus get MORE power out of every cycle. Lowering boost is only going to improve economy in boost, but why do you want to be more fuel efficient in boost? That's why I called it a stupid question, although I could have phrased it better. Sorry about that.
Most people say they get 2-3 more mpg. (I ain't got no CAI so I can't speak for meself.)
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- 07 Speed3, Cosmic Blue
Not trying to flame at all here but some of the numbers people are posting has me flabbergasted (just needed to use that word today).
I do use the trip computer on the car and I do agree that it is probably is 2-3 mpg off. That being said, I routinely get 30-31.5 mpg on the hiway. Cruise control set, when I can, anywhere from 75-80 (regular trip on I-95 from Stafford to Petersburg, Va). Average speed buy trip comp. anywhere from 65-71 mph. I do reset the trip computer average speed and mpg once I get on the Interstate and sometimes when I fill up.
Want to see how much gas goes away? Use that current mpg avg setting and stomp on it. My son and I where trying to see how low we could get the mpg reading. How does zero sound. I do understand that the accuracy of the TC is questionable. Also, I see the biggest boost in 6th, stomp on it and watch that needle go to 17 psi. Although cruising on the hiway is normally more than 10 in of vacuum.
City driving I have seen 22-26 mpg. And yes, I do like to get in the gas (its unfair to the car not to) more often than not.
I do use Shell almost exclusively and have seen MPG gains from it (I think SwampAss was the one that did the research on that).
Just wondering the methods in determining MPG's.
Not flaming, just curious.
I do use the trip computer on the car and I do agree that it is probably is 2-3 mpg off. That being said, I routinely get 30-31.5 mpg on the hiway. Cruise control set, when I can, anywhere from 75-80 (regular trip on I-95 from Stafford to Petersburg, Va). Average speed buy trip comp. anywhere from 65-71 mph. I do reset the trip computer average speed and mpg once I get on the Interstate and sometimes when I fill up.
Want to see how much gas goes away? Use that current mpg avg setting and stomp on it. My son and I where trying to see how low we could get the mpg reading. How does zero sound. I do understand that the accuracy of the TC is questionable. Also, I see the biggest boost in 6th, stomp on it and watch that needle go to 17 psi. Although cruising on the hiway is normally more than 10 in of vacuum.
City driving I have seen 22-26 mpg. And yes, I do like to get in the gas (its unfair to the car not to) more often than not.
I do use Shell almost exclusively and have seen MPG gains from it (I think SwampAss was the one that did the research on that).
Just wondering the methods in determining MPG's.
Not flaming, just curious.
Well ive seen HUGE fuel economy improvement with the CAI. I mean a real noticeable difference. I would recommend it to anyone that owns this car. If i drive conservatively a tank of gas can last me almost two weeks, as where before (of course this is driving hard alot) i was filling up 3-4 times every two weeks.
What kind did you get? Did you reset your CPU?
CamelFilters
Member
People shouldnt worry about mileage in the first place when buying this car, let alone it uses premium gas only.
The best solution is get a second car that's designed for good mileage.
A good example would be a prius
I drive mine on those days where i just want to get around and not have to worry about gas costs. Avg range 750 km on 39L(regular) of gas or 46.6MPG.
my mazdaspeed3 avg range 380km on 40L or 22MPG.
And yes, i do have heavy foot regardless of which car i drive.
The best solution is get a second car that's designed for good mileage.
A good example would be a prius
I drive mine on those days where i just want to get around and not have to worry about gas costs. Avg range 750 km on 39L(regular) of gas or 46.6MPG.
my mazdaspeed3 avg range 380km on 40L or 22MPG.
And yes, i do have heavy foot regardless of which car i drive.
happy and angry
Member
Sounds entirely reasonable to me. Off throttle and in gear, the injectors shut off completely, meaning you are burning zero fuel.
The trip computer is exact mileage and the fuel consumption monitor show averages. Fill your tank. Run for the entire tank as far as you dare. Fill up again. Subtract what you put in from what the capacity of the tank is. The number you get is what you had left after the first run. This lets you figure out how much fuel you burned. Calculate your average fuel consumption from that. Compare it to the fuel consumption average for that tank of gas. Your numbers are going to be very, very, very similar.
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happy and angry
Member
Why not? I bet over the life of my car I spend less on the MS3, insurance and fuel consumed than you do on the MS3, Prius, insurance and fuel consumed.
Besides that, not everyone can afford two cars. Some people bought the car because it's a pretty powerful little package that can still be a sedate daily driver for grocery runs and long highway cruises. It's not a damn sports car, it's a practical performance car. That it still puts up pretty good mpg numbers is a selling point. Of course people care about it.
CamelFilters
Member
Thanks, i aggree. i should have mentioned what i said to only for those who can afford more than one car. As for mileage though, i'm reading other people here are even willing to modify their cars to boost mileage. With all the news now about analysts predicting maybe even $1.30/L - $1.50/L for regular gas in the spring and summer. That's a scary thought for some of us who cant afford that.
wolverine_man
Member
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- 2008 Mazda3 S GT Sedan
Would you suggest the same for a regular 2.3 S? I am currently shifting at about 3 grand each time based on your post. Occasionally, I wind it out more than that, but she's still pretty new.
happy and angry
Member
You'll always get better mileage with slower acceleration. As for shift points and ideal cruising RPMs, check the manual. It gives you shift points, and it picks them based on economy over anything else. Also, don't speed.
wolverine_man
Member
- :
- 2008 Mazda3 S GT Sedan
Thanks. I read the manual cover to cover but somehow don't remember the shift point stuff. I'll check it out. As for speeding, I try hard not to, but it's so hard. You guys (and gals) with Speeds must ... well, there's a reason why they call it the Speed3. 
georgecastaneda
Member
- :
- 2000 Mazda Protege ES 1.8L
Sometimes i try to follow the shift point and i get up to 300 miles per thank in city and around 375 miles per thank in highway
