Results of ECU reset and other for feul economy

[FlyinMSP]

I think it's just something about Montreal that's giving you bad mileage. When I drove up to Montreal this weekend I got about 75 miles per quarter tank - 300 miles per tank. When I drove back down to CT I got my usual 100ish per quarter tank - almost 400 miles per tank. (dunno)

Yep, I wouldn't be surprized if the oil companies have a special mix for us! They love to rip us off

In winter I NEVER get more than 400-420 Km with a tank

 

[Kansei]

Yeah I know there's "winter mix" gas but the northeastern CT gets it too.. I doubt it's any worse in Canada though

 

[newprot5fan]

It smoothed the idle as well as making it less jerky in reverse?

I can't find the thread for it right now but the long reach plugs (ZFR instead of BKR) are the plugs the car has from the factory when sold in Japan, I'm not really sure why they didn't in North America.

Did you notice any gains in fuel economy or any small gains in power?

 

[CTt3P5]

there's nothing other than a 2.0 Protege5. Yeah, I know the ZFR5F-11 isn't the OEM plug the mazda manual tells you to use but it works wonderfully and more smoothly than the BKR5F-11 stock plug. The only difference is that it is a long reach plug.

IIRC the long reach plugs require the use of premium fuel to prevent knocking? (dunno)

 

[Kansei]

IIRC the long reach plugs require the use of premium fuel to prevent knocking? (dunno)

nope, I ran them for the couple months after I sold my MP3 ECU and before I turboed my car on 87 octane no problem.

 

[CTt3P5]

^^^I might just go that route then. I remembered reading up on them but thought it was mentioned that premium fuel was required due to the long reach. Thanks

 

[Kansei]

Yeah people thought that maybe it was but like I said I had no issue for 4-5k miles that way. The long reach plugs are so slightly different anyway, side by side you can see that

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Nothin but 87 in mine with no problems. IIRC octane bump is for cams, ecu changes, turbo, etc

 

[newprot5fan]

Nothin but 87 in mine with no problems. IIRC octane bump is for cams, ecu changes, turbo, etc

So if I have no mods or anything, then I can use the ZFR5F-11 in my P5 without changing to 89 octane?

it seems people are really split on this. Some swear by these long reach plugs and others say just put the stock NGKs back in.....Since I know NOTHING about cars, I don;t want to screw anything up if I put these new plugs in..but it is tempting

 

[Kansei]

I don't know of a single person who has used the ZFR5F-11 and had problems. I know at least a dozen people who use them and swear by them, including Protege FAQ guru TheMAN, the guy who originally broached the topic of the ZFRs on here.

 

[JoshP5]

Here's the thread.

 

[GMalatrasi]

So what's the veridict on the poor milage thing?... cause I struggle to get 25mpg

 

[Kansei]

With an automatic 25 isn't that bad unless it's all highway cruising at 70 with windows closed and no air conditioning on. The original poster was getting like 16mpg on a non-turbo, manual transmission Protege5

 

[GMalatrasi]

I drive really short distances and go through lots of stop lights, it's really hard to get better than 21-23mpg. When I drive on the highway though, I normally get about 25-26mpg.

 

[newprot5fan]

I don't know of a single person who has used the ZFR5F-11 and had problems. I know at least a dozen people who use them and swear by them, including Protege FAQ guru TheMAN, the guy who originally broached the topic of the ZFRs on here.

OK Kansei, you convinced me

So just to be safe, I am going to use 89 octane. Now, if I put these long reach ones in, and "pinging" happens, do I just take them out and put the regular V-powers in? How bad is PINGING for your car and will I notcie it with the windows up?

ANything else I should know before picking these puppies up? I am new with cars mind you....SHould they be speicifially torqued or just tightened?

I am hoping this might help my s**ty gas mileage too....

So I need ZFR5F-11 right? Not the 6F

 

[clicknext]

I have the long reach plugs and the power is a little bit better I think, but it did nothing to the mileage.

 

[newprot5fan]

I have the long reach plugs and the power is a little bit better I think, but it did nothing to the mileage.

they didn't worsen your gas mileage did it?

 

[newprot5fan]

hey all

I know this is a dumb question, but when I change the sparkplugs, how tight do I tighten them? I don;t have a torque wrench or anything like that.....

Is it possible to over tighten them? I am putting in the long reach NGK ZFR5F-11...Keep your fingers crossed I will get an improvement (and god, I hope not worse gas mileage!)

Thanks! OH, and what is this anti-seize stuff I have been hearing about? Should I use that too?

 

[Kansei]

I've never used anti-seize on the plugs for this car, but yeah some people do I guess?

As for how far to tighten them, it says right on the box. We have an aluminum head so you basically just hand tighten them and just go a little bit farther (1/16th of a turn or so) with a wrench handle on the extension. To do the plugs on this car, since you haven't before, you need a spark plug socket with the rubber insert to get the stock plugs out, they are very deep in the holes. You also will of course need a decently long extension that fits on your spark plug socket.

 

[Weborific]

OK, I received the new V-Power plugs you've suggested and will be installing them this Saturday. As usual, I'll be posting results (initial and after a week or so). Thanks for all the help!
I love you.
(oh crap, that was weird!)