bob teatow

Krazy: 400km/45L = 8.88 k/l = about 21mpg(US) is not good! Are you driving it as hard as Big Fish?

Hitman Hart

I do about between 465-475 on 45 litres. Mine is a 2.3 GT, with automatic transmission. I expected it to be a little better than that, but judging from what I see here, it's about average.

As I mentionned in another thread, the only problem I have with mine is that the car is difficult to start cold - takes about 3 seconds of cranking before it starts. It's likely a problem with the fuel delivery system (either the pump, line, sensor or whatever). Maybe fixing that would improve the mileage a little - but then again, I was driving a 93 Lumina before that, so regardless, the mileage is quite an improvement. And my Lumina had a 60 litre tank with it to boot! Hopefully, that'll be taken care of tomorrow when I drop my car off at the dealer.

A friend of mine has a 1.8 PRotege, and he does 500 to 550kms in the summer , and only 400-450 in the winter (since he uses the starter a lot to warm up the car). So, with a 2.3 litre engine, and about 50 more horsepower with the MAzda 3, there's definitely a difference.

So how much you drive in actual miles in only one indicator of consumption. Where you drive, how you drive, what kind of tires you have (winter tires affects this) impacts on fuel consumption.

BIG FISH

Hey Bob. yeah I know i need to get a tad more mellow.I fill up my tank with every intention to try to be more conservative but it's like getting a new girlfriend in the sack . you need to get all of the "newness" out of it before you settle down to what really works. I will keep you informed. thanks

Fobby_Monkey

as you can refer to the chart above. 12km/l would be 33.89 gallons in the UK.

I live in Canada, so I don't use miles and gallons, but I used Goggle to convert. So it gives me 28.68 for 12km/l which is what I got from my last tank of gas. So no. it's the US gallon that I was reporting. :P

Many others are even getting better mileage then I am on a different forum.

Hitman Hart

So I guess that means I'm getting about 10-10.5 kms/litre. It's lower than 12, but maybe it's because mine is automatic.

Krazychemist

No not at all, I am still breaking in so haven't even reach 4500rpm yet. oh well it does matter anyway like i said earlier fun factor when driving the 3 is everything

Krazychemist

Oh I just filled up two hour ago ...
404km/46L (that when the light showed up)

mikeg

I have been averaging 19 mpg around the city (with some highway miles). I shift no higher than 3500-4000 RPMs. My 04 Hatchback has 5500 miles on it (Manual). I've had it in a bunch of times already for CELs and for the mileage, nothing has helped. From what I have seen on this site, 19 is WAY lower than it should be. What can/should i do? The most I have goten is 27, and that was all highway. I have been between 18 and 20 MPG on every tank since I got the car in June when driving around the city. WTF?

bob teatow

Mikeg, all's you can do is double check the tire inflation - use a couple of different guages to make sure you have the tires at 32psi - Those low profile tires don't hold much air - so you have to be careful to make sure you have them just right. And check that your brakes aren't dragging - see that the car rolls smoothly and straight on a level smooth city street - that the car doesn't pull at all as you apply the brakes. And then take it for a ride up out of the Bronx on one of the parkways into my neighborhood (Westchester) and see how you do. 27, maybe 28mpg on a good day with the wind behind is what I'm getting on the Westchester parkways - driving pretty conservatively in 5th gear at 55 to 65 mph.

TGH

I’ve had my 3 Sp. GT for a year now and I find that I can easily get over 500km out of a full tank and I drive the **** out of it on a daily basis. Usually About 50/50 between hwy and city.

I also have been reading noticing a lot of you have new cars and are trying to break them in by taking it easy with the rpm's. Check this site out; it might let you have some fun with your 3 sooner than you think!!


http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

ballen024

I've had my 3 for about 7 months. The second day I bought my car I had to take it in because the fuel pump was jacked up and it took about three tries to get her to turn over. Even now with just about 7,000m I'll still only get under 300m per tank. Highways though, avg 85-100 mph I'll get about 410-428 per tank. Can't complain there I guess.

igator210

averaging around 27 miles per gallon.. automatic with 3000 miles

micdmac

ballen024, that's great to know that at 85-100 mph you get good mileage. Usually gas mileage decreases with high speeds.

I've been getting 29-31 mpg every tank in my 5spd 3s 5-door since I bought the car (now at 11,000 miles). Most of my driving is commuting to work 20 miles freeway, 6 miles city. For normal driving, I bring the rpm's to 4000, higher if there is no one in front of me. If I'm cruising above 40 mph, I put the car in 5th gear. For getting on the freeway, to the red line in 1st and 2nd. However, it only takes about 7 seconds to get to 60 mph. For on/off ramps, I'm in 3rd anywhere from 50 - 80 mph. Once I'm on the freeway, I go about 68mph if the road is clear. In stop and go traffic, I'm only at 1500 to 2000 rpm's most of the time. I don't see the point of reving the car just to stop again a few feet later.

For those with manual transmissions, I suggest leaving the car in gear as long as possible rather than going to neutral. When the wheels are turning the engine, the car is basically not using any gas. However, I don't suggest downshifting when approaching a red light as breaks are cheaper than clutches.

bob teatow

Micdmac,
I wonder if your car is running the same fuel system software?
Are yo uin California.

My commute is similar in miles and speeds and I drive a bit easier as far as the revving. But I get a consistent 27mpg.

I agree with your downshifting philosophy - except that on a windy downhill - I'd rather downshift once or twice than ride the brakes. But when coasting to a stop on a light - I'll just leave it in gear (4th or 5th) until the Tach drops down towards 1000 or so - then just punch in the clutch so the engine doesn't lug, applying brakes as necessary to slow to a stop.

micdmac

Bob,

I do live in California, which means my car probably has some slight modifications to reduce smog. On the base Mazda 3 engine, horsepower is reduced in CA according to the brochure. However, on the 2.3 L engine, the power is listed as the same.

The dealer said they upgraded my chip software when I took the car in for a CEL due to some smog sensor. I didn't notice a change in performance or mpg though.

Downshifting for driving downhill is a good idea, especially when there is someone in front of you and you can't maximize the great handling of the car!