Ok... Before I get the "It's been stated before" messages and the "do a search you newb" I will let you know that I have, and thanks for the information I have read. And from that information gathered is why I am posting this statement/question.

My fuel consumption is down right horrid. I purchased (nov '03) my PR5 with 23,000miles on it already, so it is broken in. It is an automatic, with stock everything. Even the dunlops, which I checked and they are all at the right PSI. (mazda recommended)

I am getting a <sarcasm> awesome </sarcasm> 19mpg, this is mostly city driving short commutes no greater than 10miles each way. Los Angeles city driving. Some highway mile(s) in there also, but here that is still city. I use quality gas (Exxon, Mobil) and 87octane (mazda recommended). I drive normally, this car, to me, is not a race car (yet - still under warrenty) I was expecting to get better fuel economy, at least what is advertised by the manufacturer (25-30mpg w/auto), and at least what my old, 1993 Nissan Altima, got which was still in the 26-28mpg range. I am concerned that there is some kind of problem with this car, I feel that it is running much higher RPM's than it should for the speeds (ex: 4000rpms / 60mph). Not sure if thats just the automatic gearing or what, and if so, can that be adjusted?

I am about to take this car to the dealer to get it checked out. With the MPG that I am getting, do I even have a reason to? Are my concerns properly justified?

 

Have you done and I know it only has 23,000 on there, checked the air filter? also tire pressure is a key as to better mpg. I know it might be too soon but change the gas filter like every 20 thou or so (I just don't trust gas stations) and what lies beneith the tanks underground even though the pumps have filters in them, also do you run the A/C every time you drive? I do notice when I dont have it on in the wintertime here on cool weeks I notice a differance in mpg vs. hot weeks. hope this helps a little.

 

i've got auto trans too....gas mileage sucks. if i can get it to 25mpg on a tank, i'm happy. i think i've passed 25 mpg about 3 times. i have about 12,500 miles on my car. only way to get it up is to drive like an old lady and lay off the brakes. sad to see such a small car get such crappy gas mileage. if anyone can get their auto tranny car up to around 30 mpg, let me know how you do it too.

 

Can you take to someplace that test car emissions? Find out if you are burning rich and using more fuel. Actually if you look at your spark plugs that will probably tell you.

 

since we are living in california we are currently inthe "oxygenated gas" time of year. it makes you mileage go to crap. mine gets about 26 on the freeway right now. your's sounds like it needs to go to the dealer to get checked out.

 

Blades... what would I look for on my plugs?

I have schedualed an appt. with my local dealer to check into this problem, I will report back any news.

Thanks.

 

Remember that even with the A/C off, if your vent is set to blow on the "floor only" position the compressor runs, even with heat. Why, I have no idea. Pisses me off, you ought to be able to turn the damn compressor off if you don't want it. I have to leave the heater vent on "floor/dash" all the time. That's my biggest peeve with my P5.

 

I've got an '02 ES automatic, so it's the same drivetrain as yours. For very short daily commutes (6 miles round trip), plus weekend driving around (90% "city"), I can get around 24 mpg, but all "highway" driving, I can manage 32 or 33. So definitely, your mileage is worse than it should be, but there could be some factors other than something wrong with your vehicle that is affecting it:

- all the obvious, like tire pressure, hard acceleration, etc.
- AC use will affect it, like the others have stated (floor, windshield-floor, and windshield ALL turn on AC, regardless of the indicator light)
- "oxygenated" fuels or "gasohol" likely burns a lot quicker than ordinary gasoline. I've found this is usually, but not always the case. I find it hard to isolate if one brand of gas is better or worse for fuel economy, so I let the pump price dictate who I buy from (oil companies buy and sell gasoline wholesale among each other and supply independants, so it all really comes from a few refineries anyway - the "difference" is the marketing hype).
- elevation and ambient temperature also affect fuel consumption

If you cannot attribute it to these things, (a good test is a weekend road trip, since you will negate a lot of those effects with extended highway cruising), then it's likely one of your filters is clogged up, the engine is running too rich, or some sort of ignition problem (fouled plugs maybe).

Hope that helps.

 

I think 19mpg for city driving is about right for auto trans of our cars. My car (manual) gets about 20mpg around town (stop and go, uphill and downhill San Francisco traffic). I got 32 mpg one time with all freeway driving at 65mph steady. "Normal" freeway driving (~75mph) yields about 26mpg.

 

32 mpg hwy (with mods) running around 80-85mph

 

what mods do you have?

 

i copied/pasted this from another thread, so ignore the prices.

injen intake $225
j-spec cams $400
UR Crank Pulley $300
RM Header $400 (be here in 2 weeks)
MP3 ecu (be here monday)
1.8L Updated Coil/wires $100
Pivot Racing Grounding kit $80
Eibach Pro Kit $250
2001 626 Valve Cover $225 (helps to seat the plug wires from the 1.8L coils)
Pacesetter short shifter $100 (switching to the mazdaspeed)
Mazdaspeed P5 axle-back
Iridium plugs $40

 

i plan on adding:

AWR Motor Mounts
nology plug wires
UR Flywheel
ACT Street Performance clutch
Braided Clutch Line
FS-ZE intake manifold
FS-ZE 10.4:1 Pistons
Forged Rods
Auto-Exe Rare Earth Grounding Kit
Quaife ATD Ltd Slip Differential

 

I'm only getting about 275km per tank in the winter. I don't know what that is in mpg can someone do the calculation? Oh thats filling up at the 1/4 tank mark



Remember i'm doing CANADIAN winter driving with -30c-50c weather in 2-3 inches of snow and idling it for 5-10mins in the morning.

Im driving an Auto '03 ES-GT got it in the fall so I don't know how it will run in the summer.

 

I have 03 5spd. and my current avg. MPG is 25, thats with mildly agressive driving, and 85-90mph steady driving on highway for 20 miles daily. My MPG went down this winter, during summer it was 27-28 MPG. I went on a trip in November 80% highway three people and luggage, and I averaged 32 MPG.
It varies wildly, but it has never (for me) been below 24 MPG.
FYI I am in SOCAL too.