Rotary Nut

I drove from Newport News VA to Aberdeen, MD on 9.5 gallons of gas and pulled a whopping 26 mpg!

I crused at between 65 and 75 mph while on the cruise control the whole way.

Finally things are lookin' a wee bit rosier!

Everett

How many miles in your car?

87 or 93?

Thanks,

Everett

rx8cited

Great! Let us know what you get on the return trip .

rx8cited

Wurmfist

I don't believe it...

Maybe cause yours is automatic?? There's no way in hell I think I could get even 20 out of mine. I wonder what I'm doing wrong?

rx8cited

I bet cruise control and his cruising speed was a large factor in getting 26mph.

I have a MT, run 87 octane Shell, and get close to 20 mpg in 50 hiway/50 city driving.

Also if you don't have the M-flash, get it. Make sure your tires are at 32 psi cold too.

rx8cited

TODreamer

I don't mean to rain on anyones parade but..... you guys bought a rotary powered sports car; rotary cars are known for having higher fuel consumption than piston driven cars. Don't you think its kinda contradictory to buy a car like an RX8 and then turn around and complain about mileage???

Silver04RX8

I think its great that your getting that mileage, however I drive my 8 like I stole it which means about 16mpg for me and Im perfectly fine with that, I bought a sports car because I wanted to go Zoom Zoom.

TRZ750

TODreamer and others are RIGHT ON! Forget the gas mileage. The 8 is a great car and nothing else is like it on the road.

Kagero

Yes the Zoom-Zoom is why we bought it but look how much the rotary has improved! My first two rotarys (RX-2) got at best 21mpg and had 100hp. Now with more then twice the power I have on three occations been able to get 27.5mpg with cruz at 65mph still useing 87oct gas. My RX-2 got 12mpg in town and the RX-8 get 17mpg. I love the rotary its like driving an electric smooth motor!!!

Rotary Nut

Well yes I use 87 octane Exxon regular, used the cruise at 10 mph over the limit the whole way and yes I have an automatic.

Miles driven: 248.00
Gallons used: 9.54
Odo reading: 7267.00
MPG: 25.99

JimW

I think he was able to get the improved mileage based on the fact he had just shy of 10 gallons of fuel. This makes the car lighter and more economical. A warning to those who use 87 octane. Be careful and monitor what's going on because when I put some in the other day it was pinging at 6000 RPM. Granted that it was hella hot and humid and I'm at sea level, plus it was probably bad gas. I'm not saying you will have problems, just be cognizant of what's going on. RX8's rule.

rx8cited

Did I miss something?

He used 9.54 gallons, but never said how much he started with .... I'd assume a full tank if one was going on a trip.

I doubt starting with 10 gallons vs a full tank (15.9 gals) has any measurable impact on gas mileage.

rx8cited

Mat

Hm... I have yet to break 200 miles before the light comes off (usually when about 3 galons are left) which gives me a sweet MPG of 15 (but more around 12 or 13 usually) in city driving.

Oh well, this is not going to make me like my car any less.

stickman

I use premium because I rather spend a little more on gas than compromise performance and/or knock the seals off my rotors so to speak. I usually shift at around 4500 to 6000 rpm and get just under 18mpg combined city/highway (mostly city). I have 6800 miles on the car and have the m flash. No doubt I could do better on mileage by shifting at 2500 to 3000 rpm, I could also probably live longer if I never ate another cookie. Not likely to do either.:D :D

Xyntax

Congrats! I use all 91 now coz I just noticed that driving all city gives me bad MPG on 87 octane. 91 gives me the best city MPG. If I am planning on driving a lot of highways, I fill up with 87 coz its the best combo in my experience.

RenoIV

Nut,
I've followed your other thread about mpg.

great you got 26. wondered if you are using AC?

do you have the vent system set with AC off and air at your feet for that stealth AC. I wish we could set the vent on our feet without the AC coming on.

just passed 5k and I'm at 19.1 overall since the m-flash. 93 octane.

Dlrosie

I have always believe there is no such thing as a dumb question so....

Just bought my 8 a couple of days ago. Tell me what this "M flash" is.

Thanks.

rotarygod

The "M" flash is simply a new ecu program that is loaded into the car by the dealer that retunes the fuel and ignition maps in the ecu to give better mileage/power/responsiveness. Not necessarily all of those at once but that is what it can entail. This only applies to cars that were tuned prior to the "M" flash. Every time Mazda releases a new ecu program, they give it a letter designation. We are currently at M.

I don't buy the "it gets bad gas mileage because it's a rotary" crap. A well tuned rotary can actually do quite well. My old nonturbo '88 RX-7 got about 18/22 when I got it. Remember that car only made 146 hp stock and had a terribly restrictive air flow meter which the RX-8 does not have. With some ecu tuning (Haltech) and a different exhaust that car ended up getting me about 23/29 mpg!!! I actually think it is possible to do a little better than that. Hurley Engineering in England has some 2 rotor cars with nice exhausts and SU carburators that can get 30 mpg hwy and the 3 rotor can get 25 mpg hwy. It is all about tuning.

Dlrosie

Is there a way for me to see if I have this on mine? Or just call the dealer and ask?

Rotary Nut

In answer to those questions.........

WTF! Yes of course I started off with a full tank. The 9.54 was the fuel used or replaced since the start of the trip. You would be stupid not to!

Yes the AC was on the entire trip, upper vents were used only, and no, the recirculate was not on so it was sucking in fresh air from outside, except of course when I was traveling up the BQE on my way through the city.

I have been getting better MPG since I have been using 87 oct. and yes I do get the occasional pinging but that is very rare.

RenoIV

Dlrosie go to this thread in the tech garage good info about the m-flash try the brake tap test ...

M-flash info/questions

Rotarygod ... I still have my 88 GXL 5-speed It's bullet proof ...Guess I will have to sell it now that I have my 8.

rotarygod

Why sell it? I love the 2nd gens. They are esy to modify and damn fun.

EatMyBanana

I get 25 on the highway easy.My automatic gets great MPG compared to manual.I did not buy this car to save money

RenoIV

I'm off topic ... No doubt they are fun, light weight and very tossable (sp), I bought it new in Va. one with the car ... lived in Chicago for a while started in the bitter cold every time. never flooded GREAT CAR if I win Mega Millions tonight It stays

like your "..."s

Dlrosie

Thanks Reno!