My ES-GT Fuel Economy Doesn't Seem Right..
 

Ok so this is my first post here and would like to say hello to everyone. :D

I just switched up my car from a 2002 Silver LX 5spd to a 2003 Blue ES-GT 4spd (Manumatic)

Sources report that I would be able to get the same mileage as I did with the Silver one. 25city/31highway. (I didn't beleive this as I know you won't get the same economy as stick).

So I had my car for about 3 months now and I notice that I'm only getting about 300km per tank or even lower than that. In my Silver LX I got high 300's.

Is it supposed to be that low? Is it right that i'm getting robbed nearly 100km per tank on gas? (BTW I use the same company gas as I did with the Silver LX) What could be wrong? I think something is wrong here...

I have about 2500km on it right now.

300 km/tank? That seems really low...what kind of driving are you doing? City? Highway? Either way, unless you're idling for hours, that's low, IMHO.

are you using more AC? defrost?

Err, well, check your manual, see what kind of octane it says to use? And which are you using?

300 k per tank ,that 1/2 of what I am getting ,I usually get between 600 and 650 k per tank I do have a 5 speed but that shouldn't make that much of a differance in fuel economy .

Ya I noticed the same thing before when I got my ES; after a few experiments and hours of internal tuning, I concluded that the,

A) The Spacing for the Auto Tranny could be more effecient when (Final Drive especially) I mean Reving 3000RPM at like 105 - 110 Kph lol my god damn Auto Tranny Honda only does 2500 at those speeds.

B) If you keep your speed under 105 kph you will notice your range per tank of gas increase by 60km, also utilizing the cruise control will yeild another 40km that you can recover.

C) Utilize the Gear number 2 as much as you can during stop and go traffic, I utilize it all the time and it has helped me recover even more gas, and I use it in my regular driving. I personally dislike the first gear on my Auto Tranny, at low speeds it shifts funny and based on what I can see uses up alot of gas. (too much)

Currently my Mazda is getting as much KM distance as my Civic but it took a long time of figuring it out so in some ways its a pain in the ass.
So the gas consumption is correct, but it just seems that the mazda Protege is not efficent during stop and go stop and go in gear one.

Pure city driving. Heat and Defrost is only used initially but then turned off.



So just start in 2nd? I did that a couple times, I don't like the loss of acceleration but i'll try it. Still man my ES shouldn't have to be driven like that...it should be automatic and should be getting near the stick version of the car.

What model Pro do you have? Do you drive on the highway? That's higher than Echo's economy already

I use regular unleaded gasoline.

u can actually start the car off in second gear? the trans seems weakly designed from the factory, i feel for u guys, i love the way my max 5 speed shifts, and i get anywhere from 20-24MPG city and 27-31MPG high way, my bro's auto max gets 22-23MPG city and 28-32MPG highway.

You drive stick and you didn't know you can start in 2nd gear? lol

bizump....

If you are brave and trust your your Mechanic, you should install a Intake System and an Exhaust System, then as you add 10 - 15 HP to your car, you can also play with the Air/Gas Ratio's and reduce the fuel input, if you do it correct and do not rob the engine of to much gas, you will see a 10 - 15 % in gas economy and only 5% performance hit, this is been Dynotested so I can vouch for it.

And did it for a while in my car.

Give it a shot, but i warn you, do not do ratio mods unless you actually boost your HP, Doing this on a stock car can actually damage your engine hardcore.

After a top to bottom look at the Intake / Powertrain-engine / Exhaust, I find that a big performance bottle neck is the Intake, the car breaths so much better even with just a simple K&N Air Filter for pete sake...

anyways... let me know what you think.

Well I did the n00bie thing and I inflated my tires and they were REALLY deflated, so ill see how that runs first. I was always thinkin of putting a K&N Filter before..how much would they run for an ESGT in Canadian?

Air Filter should run you 70 - 80, don't quote me, it might be a little cheaper, and its reusable, all you do is take it out, oil it clean it and install again. Saves you money in the long run, instead of the stock one..

I might invest, im assuming it will add 5hp or so? How much better percentage of fuel economy will i save?

You will save on fuel but it won't be by much with just that, and I do not thing just an KN Airfilter will add 5 hp, I would say 2 lol

It just allows your car to breath alittle easier, if you want to open up on horse power then you should upgrade to a true Air Intake Kit. This will give you the horse power your seeking, but don't confused Horse power with translating into better economy.

Any racer will tell you anything that you change on you car will have to be balanced thru out the rest of your parts, if you want to save fuel you will raise your horse power and also make adjustments to your Ratios.

Or in other words, if you dropped in a Monster engine upgrade into a car, you only as good as your weakest link. If you don't upgrade things around it or make adjustments your wasting all that power...

Actually it brings up a interesting story, ran into a guy that had big big tires on his protege, and although it increased his distance, speed, and lowered his Km count on his car, things like that hurt the internals of your car, Transmission, Differentials, blah blah blah...

so if your doing major upgrades, be sure to make tweaks and adjustments when warrented lol :P

Thats my 2 cents

Ill take a look at it, but I do'nt think ill be doing mods like that yet, don't have the flow..but its good to know though. I really doubt id have to install and intake and exaust system just to make up the extra 100km that I should ALREADY be getting..you know what I mean? Like I said before my tires were seriously underflated, so we'll see how much this will help, as well as I tried out cleaner burning fuel this time around.

I'll try the small things first then well go from there. Thanks for your help :D

And if anyone else has any other suggestions im all ears :D

Hahahah guys did you hear that ? cleaner burning fuel lol

jokin,, but ya the quality of gas has little very little to do with that. Usually that is more for the health of your engine in the long run.

your better off with the gear two idea, beleive me it saves on gas, give it a try..

Since I got my catback I've noticed worse fuel consumption....now it's anywhere between 500-550km, i was getting 600-650 before.
I think it's cos I rev the engine too high to enjoy that extra power gained by my mods...oh well, less mileage but more fun :)

wtf how you guys getting so high mileage? what kinda driving do you do city or highway?

Plus my mileage has gone up by inflating my tires :D

I do both but it's about 70% highway driving.
Maybe check your filter? Talk to your dealership, see what they tell you...

You guys not have O2 sensors ?? once they start to go your mileage will drop no matter what you try :)

No now I think i'm gonna be reaching the right amount of mileage that I was getting before 350-400km. It was the tires.

what were you running before? I still have my stock dunlops and yeah, I get around the standard 300kms per half-tank.
That's on an 5spd ES

Read my first post.

sorry, I meant what tires were you running before?

Oh..whatever the factory ones are..I think they are dunlops like you said

Ur doggin the car man , jackrabbit starts are the worst for any fuel engine. I get over 400 miles to my tank on the highway and in the city well its a might less couse I have a lead-foot BUT I can get a little over 300 if I drive like we are suppose to.

Omron you are WRONG , fuel quality makes a big deference on ur mileage none the less the way ur car performs , thats why they have this stuff called TOP-FUEL



OH ! ! ! And the mileage was with the air on full ! Aug. in Texas

Sylvestre: Are you doing mostly highway or city driving?

hate to fight ya on this one, but for this car and this situation I have to disagree, quality of fuel has very little impact, unless your fortunate to pull up to a Sunoco and put in 94 Octane, but even then, for this 1.6 or 2.0 4 Cyl engine I disagree.

Even adding in a K&N air filter will have a better benefit of Fuel economy then adding in 94 Octane fuel for a mazda Pro 2.0 ES Auto.

We have a shop, we have done the tests, but one thing it did do is drain our wallets fast by topping up the tank and dyno testing :S Jesus. 85cents a litter :S Jesus


Higher Octane is better off for the health for your engine and also if your car is Designed to use higher octanes. (also equals cleaner injectors overtime)

Check your Mazda book it will state that all it expects is 87 or is it 89, which is the lowest of the low, but hell gas is gas bro.


So yes I am wrong but there is to much hype around higher octane fuels, using Spit fire additives are good but in some cases they can be harmful as well.

My 2 cents


:(

Here is mine
 

Here is mine

http://members.rogers.com/cetheringt...DA/mileage.jpg

4th and 5th column filled-in after fill-up (usually when lite goes on)

1 and 2 and 3 calculated mileage

7 and 8 and 9 calculated mileage on tank if I completely used whole tank.

Ok well after inflating the tires and on a full tank, I got 320km. I could have squeezed out another 15-20km before the light went on..barely though.