Robbed gas mileage!

[FLSilverP5]

I have been reading over forums of gas mileage and i am not getting close to that. I have an '02 manual with 34 k. I have after market rims, but i just checked the air pressure and its at 38 psi. It seems like recently the gas mileage has been dropping alot. I have not been driving more aggressively then normal. Do i need a tune up or something. Or is someone stealing my gas at nite? anyone have any ideas why i my gas mileage is being robbed? Anything i can do to get better gas mileage.

 

[Poseur]

Might be a good time to either change or re-gap and clean your plugs..

 

[bonesmp5]

how big of a change are you talking -- like he said -- plugs and also maybe air filter ?? many options --

 

[FLSilverP5]

i drop about 5-8 miles per tank consistently

 

[Mr. Win]

agreed time for new plugs and oil change and an air filiter maybe a KN drop in cone.

 

[scorch70]

Air conditioning maybe? My mileage has went from 28.8 to 26.8 this last time. Only thing different is I have been running A/C constantly.


scorch70

 

[LTD-Scott]

I'm with ya. I bought my P5 a month ago (48K miles) and I haven't been able to pull more than 25 mpg out of a tank with probably 75% highway driving.

Then again I pretty much always shift at 4K and many mornings I'm running late to work and have to go 90 the whole way.

I'm driving to Vegas next weekend, so I just got some new stock Denso plugs to put in and I'm gonna document the gas mileage there. Plus I recently removed my roof rack. I'm hoping constant 80 mph will get me over 30 mpg.

 

[aceP5]

I got an auto P5.

Found that I consistently got 26.x mpg.

I took off the intake resonators. Went from one tank (during removal) of 26.2 and then got 27.2 on the first full tank of gas. Seemed to help more too. And on the second tank I accelerated much harder as well.

 

[Mazda P5 driver]

I have been reading over forums of gas mileage and i am not getting close to that. I have an '02 manual with 34 k. I have after market rims, but i just checked the air pressure and its at 38 psi. It seems like recently the gas mileage has been dropping alot. I have not been driving more aggressively then normal. Do i need a tune up or something. Or is someone stealing my gas at nite? anyone have any ideas why i my gas mileage is being robbed? Anything i can do to get better gas mileage.

Brand new or not, a tune-up should be done every 30k.

 

[FLSilverP5]

but a tune up seems to be nothing more then just changeing spark plugs, inspections, and chassis lube. All BS except spark plugs. I will change the spark plugs, any suggestions for a dumbass who hasnt done this b4. I heard something about torqueing and spacing. Can you expain further?

 

[osudewd]

There is a specified torque that the spark plugs should be tightened to. This requires a torque wrench. If you don't have one, there are normally directions for hand tightening as well. There is also a specified gap for the spark plug. Some come pre-gapped and may fit but others require you to adjust them yourself.

 

[Mr. Win]

just get some pre gapped iriduims and dont worrk about em. jsut hand tighten last thnig you want is to snapped a bolt there. change your air filiter. dont go to mazda your absolutly right thats all they do it change oil and sparks and air filiter im sure youll see an increase right why. like i said before get a n KN drop in cone filiter.

 

[tttP5]

yup... i've been getting crap gas milage too... 23-24mpg max. on freeway at 85mph with A/C on

my dealer says there is something that i'm overdue for service, which is cleaning the fuel injector plugs... he says that will improve gas mileage... i know it isn't listed in the manual... and he says that it isn't either... like its not gonna be life threatening if i don't do it he said....

so do you think this will improve gas mileage? the injector cleaning costs about 150 i think

 

[ottawaP5]

Maybe your rear calipers are seizing against the rotors? (you might not notice it if it's doing it slightly)

 

[FLSilverP5]

i never thought about that. I am actually in the stage of considering to almost order new brake pads and rotors.

 

[Mazda P5 driver]

but a tune up seems to be nothing more then just changeing spark plugs, inspections, and chassis lube. All BS except spark plugs. I will change the spark plugs, any suggestions for a dumbass who hasnt done this b4. I heard something about torqueing and spacing. Can you expain further?

Cap and rotor, oil change, check the timing, brake inspections...There is a reason why a tune up can hit the 1k range.

yes yes, they do start at 250 for a basic no nonsense one.

 

[rookie]

Some STP non-alcohol fuel injector cleaner (or some other good quality brand) - might help...

Not sure what you guys think of fuel injector cleaners... I know a lot people think they are not necessary, but - I used some on my 02 Altima at 20000 miles and it made a big difference in mileage - went from 26 to 30 MPG and it staid there...

I used some on my P5 too but it was still under 10K miles so it did not make a diff, but that did not surprise me.

 

[LTD-Scott]

Um yeah, I'll be sure to change the cap and rotor on my car. (uhm)

 

[+ friction]

agreed time for new plugs and oil change and an air filiter maybe a KN drop in cone.

What is a k&n drop-in cone?

j/c

 

[adc0642]

Cap and rotor, oil change, check the timing, brake inspections...There is a reason why a tune up can hit the 1k range.

yes yes, they do start at 250 for a basic no nonsense one.

Ain't no cap and rotor on these cars!! caps, rotors, and plug wires imply a distributor! they're archaic! i am not aware of newer cars being sold with a distributor. change the plugs, run some fuel injector cleaner, and use name-brand gas. Use a tire pressure that feels good and is within recommended range. check the alignment if it's been over 1year. Dino oil thins as it ages, so in theory might get BETTER mileage as it gets older, but change it every 3k with the manual's recommended oil for your climate to be safe anyway.