Hi

I have a Mazda Protégé automatic from 1992, I bought it just to go from point A to B, home and work, and I’m filling my tank every week, around 44 bucks per week which may sound reasonable to some of you but for me is too much money to be paying in gas.

So I have heard of people optimizing their cars to make it more gas efficient, and I also heard of alternative like some Taxi drivers here in Toronto use propane, which I think required a tank on the trunk.

Can some one give me some info about what is the best way to go to make my car more gas efficient and if any other alternative like propane or something else is worth to look into it?

Thanks

Alex

 

yeah, i drive to toronto from mississauga almost everyday, and i dont really find my protege that fuel efficient

on a full tank, i can do around 500km a bit less now, my brother who had this car for the last couple of years said he was able to do over 600!! in the summer most of his driving was on highway, max 120km, he drove/drives like a sissy now that he has to pay for the cars. good for me though, i got his car with 160,000, 170,000 now and still same clutch, pulls like new.

$44, that is alot, which gas do you buy? and for how much, these tanks are i think 45L,

also how long is your travel distance to and from? find out how much you can do on a tank (approx).
and how fast do you drive?

 

Well lukasz70 I drive everyday to Mississagua from Toronto, I live doowntown Toronto and work in Mississagua, around 50 kms each way, so I do in the week 500 km.

44 buck is because my mechanic told me to only put the more expensive gass because is better for the car, but people in internet forums are telling me is BS and any gas will do.
My tank give me around 500k km

 

I think your mechanic must own stock in oil companies

 

wow you guys get really crappy mileage. Either you all have a really heavy right foot or something's wrong.

I have no 5th gear and I drive alot of rush hour/city and short highway and still manage to get 29mpg (US gallons) in this weather.

Oh ya I have a '92 DX manual trans

 

i think your mechanic is a dumb ***,

yes more expensive gas is generally better for a car that requires the use of better gas, but not this car, these old proteges run great on cheap gas,

from personal experience, i found that buying the more expensive gas actually made my car run worse, it felt more sluggish, had no pep when i stepped on it.