EDIT - 1: My latest tank of gas has lasted around 190 miles. I refilled it one notch to the bottom, so around 200 miles/tank. I have been shifting earlier and braking with the engine when possible.

I've had my 8 for a few weeks now and I'm finding that I have to fill it up every weekend. I restarted the odometer last time I filled it up. Today the empty light was on and I was driving on vapors, while the odometer read 178.

I do live in the city and go through traffic every day but the majority of my trip is highway. I accelerate fairly quickly and shift around 3500RPM. While I am on the highway I usually run the engine in 5th at 3000-3500RPM. I also have the nasty habit of not putting the car fully in first when I'm not moving far, I just balance the clutch and gas which I've heard wears out the clutch very fast...but I simply haven't practiced manual enough to be able to put it in first at low RPMs without nearly stalling it.

As far as I know there are no serious problems with the car although I do hear a very high pitched whine whenever I accelerate and sometimes when I brake, the sound is the same as if a truck with really bad brakes stops right next to you.

Am I doing anything particularly wrong? If I'm not, what could be wrong with the car?

 

I live in the city and I'm getting 170 or so to a tank about 14 mpg so thats prob ok but if ur driving highway and keeping the rpm's below 3750 u mights have somethng wrong I'd keep driving it keeping an eye on the rpm's and how much city dring u do and how much u sit in traffic....

 

Not to worry, last week I had a 160 mile tank (11.5 mpg) .. that was about 50% city driving.

Just Friday though I put in a K&N air filter and I want to say it helped . This last tank I got a bit over 230 miles but that was 80% highway driving.

Just check your plugs, replace/clean your air filter, turn off the AC when you really don't need it.. etc. Check the normal things..

Unfortunately MPG is just one of our shortcomings.

 

14 to 15 mpg. All I ever get.

 

Ah, as long as I'm not the only one I'm not worried. After all, who buys an 8 for actual practicality? I'll endure the pain of gas I just wanted to make sure I didn't have a leak or something. Damn, it's not the 16 city that was advertised but than again I shouldn't really have expected it to be...

 

I really want to say the K&N helped somewhat, you should get one (if you don't already) and try it out yourself. I know I'm not the only one who feels they got a MPG increase because of it.

 

I can get like 1000 miles on a tank, just let the bolts let it drag on the ground. I don't know how long the gas will last though =]

 

ive gotten 21 hwy on long trips and i usally get 17-18 city....and i have fun when i drive....

 

I find the people with higher mileage do hover around 20mpg, coincidence?

 

Link?? I can dish out 500 or so right now. Will I gain any HP or just gas mileage??

 

hes talking about the drop in filter....go to pepboys.....or ebay here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/K-N-A...spagenameZWDVW

 

It's a direct replacement for your stock air filter and should run you ~$50. It increases airflow and allows your engine to breath easier.. and if it breaths easier you should theoretically make it work less and therefore spare some gas. I'm sure other people can give you many more specifics on it.

http://www.knfilters.com/search/prod...x?Prod=33-2284

I got mine at my local Autozone, they had to order it but it was still cheaper then getting it shipped.

edit: chancejat got a better link

 

Perfect. thanks! Is this a snap in or do I have to get it installed professionally?

 

It's a drop in, the hardest part will be getting that freaking airbox loose. It has 4 clips that are a pain to get loose. There is a good DIY on it in the guides section. Once you get it out though it should take no more than 5 minutes to replace and re secure.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6Gk0Z8IrA

 

I got 17.4 mpg the last time I calculated it. Mileage went up after installing the AP.

 

wow and i get 260 with 70% city

 

What, WITH your turbo??

 

how many miles on your 8?

 

I ran 390 km on 52.6 litres of 91 ... $65.50 !!!!

For the 'merkins
240 miles 13.9 gallons of premium... roughly $65 !!! (yes, $4.70 per gallon)

 

yeah, with around 320 whp. and that's approx 60% city, and I do not drive like grandma.

before with int-x, I usually got around 14-15 mpg. I think it's a lot to do with the tune for idle and cruising afrs.

 

I was under the impression turbochargers decreased gas mileage.

 

Don't waste your money. I get the same mileage you do in my city driving. I also tried the K&N and saw no difference at all. The OEM filter that Mazda uses is excellent so if it does not need replacement let it be.

 

when you stomp on the gas, sure. But think about it - I can only stomp on the gas for about 3 seconds before I'm past the legal limits. So assuming 4-6 mpg during acceleration for 3 seconds, that's really not going to hurt me a whole lot overall.

I'd say overall with turbo my mpg went down about 1 mpg over the stock setup. The AccessPort map however has increased it 2-3 mpg! So I'm doing better than I did stock now. I managed just under 19 mpg when I was first breaking in the car, but that was nothing over 3500 rpm. It was PAINFUL.

 

Sorry to be that guy but...

AcessPort Map??