Hellbreed

It seems that after I hit 7500kms on my car my mileage suddenly increased 20-30kms per tank. I was averaging about 360kms per tank (except for a 340km during a snow week, guess there was alot of DCS usage or something) then the first fill up after 7500kms I got 390kms then a 382kms on the next fillup (did drive harder though). This is with the same driving style that I've always had since I finished my break in. I drive mixed city highway, shift between 3500-4500 rpm and I do a number of 9000rpm pulls (not as many as Shamblerock I'm sure). Has anyone elses mileage improved after 7500kms?

jenkins-crew

Mine seems to be getting better...have 10500 miles now.

citizen_zero

funny thing my 8's mileage improved so much after 7K too... but I never avg 350km/tank and I drive like you, 3-4krmp regularly w/ the rare redline blasts. before I hit 7K, my 8 was doing 250km/tank, but after 7K I can actually see 300km+ on the trip meter, but nothing close to 390km still .
but I'm so glad for the improvement.

BlueFrenzy

You guys are giving me hope! I'm at 2000km and like citzen zero, I'm at 280km/tank or so. Well just recently I did an experiment with shifting before 3K and cruising under 3K rpm (basically trying to replicate the manual's recommendation). It was gruelling but I did get 40 km extra! I don't know if that extra bit is worth not having fun.

TRU681

My 8 is at 11k but still having low mileage.I mainly drive local to work that's a few miles away only.I usally get about 160-180's miles a tank when driving locally.When mainly drving freeway miles for travel hits about 220miles a tank.

ChrisP

I can't say that I have noticed any sudden improvement (I'm now at just over 12000Km) but I normally fill up at the 300Km mark (on the trip odometer) - when the needle is at the quarter tank mark. I would expect to get 400Km from the whole tank.

I drive a mix of highway and city (although rush hour highway around here is mostly stop and go) and generally keep the rpm in the 3000 - 4500 range with occasional pleasure breaks between 6000 and 9000.

dazygirl415

I'm just under 6k miles and although it's improved slightly, it still stinks. But I don't let it get me down cause I love the car!!!

SaugaBoy

I'm at around 13 000 km now, and I do mixed city/highway driving, shift around 4 000 RPMs, and I always get atleast 400 km/tank (400 - 430 km). Around the first 3 500 km that I had the car, I couldn't even hit 350, that was until I found out that my cat was shot completely, which apparently happened on delivery of the car, and never got the CEL light until 3 500km after it happened. After that, the car was up around 400. I managed to get almost 600 km out of a tank coming back from Montreal with a screwed up cat, having around 1 200 km on my odometer when I started my way from there.

jenkins-crew

Getting the newest flash help me out, was the M Flash then, now there is an N Flash. I am going to go get the new flash soon, supposed to help out even more.

BlueFrenzy

As far as I'm aware, I don't think the newest N flash has any effect on the fuel maps (assuming you already have M flash). But some people swear their cars act different after it.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/new-flash-available-50321/
http://www.finishlineperformance.com.../01-008-05.pdf

According to the TSB, it seems that it's applicable to people who are within a certain VIN range and build date AND haven't had M flash (through the MSP04 campaign) or those who had CEL errors (through recent bad flashes).

Hellbreed

After I picked up my car last Septemeber I always shifted between 3000 and 3500 rpm as I was breaking in my engine and I always got 400kms to 406Kms by the time the fuel warning came on. Are you sure you have the M flash? It's incredible how different these cars are.

BlueFrenzy

Ha ha Hellbreed ... it's funny how we got the car roughly the same time and you have so much more mileage than me. Mind you I haven't taken it out for long road trips or anything. I'm fairly certain I have the M flash because I made the dealer give me MSP04 when I picked it up (plus had them print out the info on my car). Yea, totally screwy how each car is different!

Hellbreed

Maybe the Silvers have better gas mileage then the Winning Blues.

Shamblerock

I would say that now a days where I do 80% city and 20% highway, I'm barely getting 310KM. Once I even got 270KM. But during the summer I was getting 360-380 with a 60/40 split city highway. As for the red lining of the car, it sees 9K routinely and acts grumpy if I don't push her.

jenkins-crew

yours back talkes too :D

Shamblerock

Back talks and how! You should see how she'll just stop communicating with me when I push her over 9500 RPM. What can I say, she is a real bitch with attitude. Its her way or the highway, fortunaltely. I just can't totally figure her out yet even though we've been dating for 7 months now. She always wants to strut her stuff even when I'm not in the mood. Over-confident bitch. Bad, naughty girl ! Just the way I like her.

jenkins-crew

yheeeeaya!

Road Runner

I just passed 7,000 km and haven't noticed any difference. I average approx 10.8 litres/100km (26 mpg) on the highway and approx 14.5 litres/100km (20 mpg) in the city. It's been that way since day 1, and doesn't vary much no matter how I drive. Maybe when we get to summer driving weather it will improve some.

Shamblerock

Same here. However, with the extra warming up in the winter and cold weather , my consumption got worse, naturally.

Jasper_the_2nd

Well having a silver definately doesn't guarentee better fuel economy. I've got 30,000+ km on mine, and the M flash, and was still only averaging about 300 km a tank before I put her away for the winter. Lowest was about 260 maybe, all short drives too and from work, which kills your mileage, highest ever was just over 400 going through Quebec/New Brunswick during a 12+ hour straight drive back from Ottawa.

Shamblerock

Jasper, I was getting over 500KM cruising @ 120-130kph from Toronto-Montreal.
If your doing the same kind of average, and getting 25% less from a tank, something is wrong. Tell the dealership. It could be a clogged (with oil) air filter or bad plugs.

kancho

How do you know you have the M flash. I just got the car today 2004 RX8 GT but I did a quarter tank and got like only 55km.

BlueFrenzy

congrats on the car kancho. What color?

Check under the hood for a sticker that says M flash or MSP04. The other thing you can do is do the brake stomp test (stomp on the brakes 20+ times in 10seconds). If you have at least L flash, you will see the oil needle sweep. I think the other way to tell (not sure about this one) is to watch what you idle at ... I think starting with M flash, idle is at 750-800.

BrilliantBlackEight

I picked up my 8 last night, and I'm at just over a half a tank left and the trip meter is at 210 KM's. So I'm not to displeased. I was expecting much worse to be honest. Hopefully the second half of the tank lasts another 150-200KM's. If it does I will be very happy!

kancho

Thanks. I got a black one. It looked sweet in the dealership. So I went with that. It is one fun car. I love it. Thanks Blue Frenzy will check it out. If it isn't how do I get it flashed? DO I go back to my dealer and will it cost me money?

Thanks again..