jimyoung

If you can you might get it to operating temp and run it inside a few minutes where it is warm with the oil filler cap off. Shut it down and let it stay inside warm with the cap off and you might get rid of some of the moisture you seem to be building up in the engine. Had the same problem in the cold with mine at first when I just got it did that acouple of times and boom the milky oil dissappeared. Believe it has alot to do with engine temp and outside air and how humid it is and of course cold weather condensation. THeir is numerous posts on the same condition thats where the idea of venting thru the oil filler cap came from.

gixxer2go

All, the one thing I don't see much mention of is what gear you end up at for most of your driving. I have a 25 mile back road (winding, curvy, fun!) commute, and typically shift anywhere from 4K to 6K, but often go from 1st to 2nd, then 4th, then 6th. When I'm not passing someone, then I'm always trying to get to the top gear as soon as possible. I've not taken any long rides yet, and have just under 3K on the car, but I am averaging 20 miles per gallon with just about each fill up, give or take a few tenths.

Leaving it in a lower gear will increase the RPM's at which the engine runs at a given speed, and increase fuel consumption...at least, that's what I've always understood. Even in city driving, I'll try to get it into 6th gear if there's a reasonable flow of traffic. Perhaps there's more shifting involved, and not quite as much readily available pick-up until you shift, but hey, it seems like an OK trade-off.

zipdrive

I've got about 2200 miles on my 8 and drive much like gixxer2go. And I'm average around 20 miles per gallon. I live in a rural area with some city type driving. From time to time I like to bang it through the gears.

Most times I look at traffic flow and determine what gears I'm going to need to get up to speed of the traffic flow and to maintain it.

I'll go 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th or just 1st , 3rd, 5th, 6th and sometimes 1st , 3rd, 6th. I keep RPM's from 2200 to 2500 in city driving. The rotary engines doesn't seem lug in 6th gear and above 2000 RPM's. I was unable to that with my 10 AE six speed.

The great thing about the RX8 is it's fantastic any way you want to drive it!

Rotary Nut

Bumped for an update

JD32

Just went to Dallas (Grapevine) and back (95% highway). 260 miles driving mainly between 75-80 mph. Filled up with 12.54 gallons. Looks like 20.7 mpg. Best I've ever had. Guess you have to Granny drive to see 24 mpg. Now have 2960 miles on car. Oil change coming Monday.

jimyoung

Took a trip on Sat filled, topped off with chevron premium 91 oct.
Left station never shifting over 3500 rpm sat it down on cruise control at 3000rpm and at 60 mph all highway. Topped off again at 110 miles with exactly 5 gal even. Came with 22 mpg the best I have been able to get. Have consistantly been getting 16 mpg driving in city, stoplights etc and rpm once in awhile to redline.

Microbe Hunter

One more statistic - except as noted all was city with less than 5% freeway. Looking at this and other post I wonder why there is so much variation, certainly more than can be explained by driving style. I know that gas blends vary from season to season and region but still seems odd. These numbers span 290 to 2390 miles from Oct 03 to Jan 04.

MPG Brand Octane
13.17------Chevron------93
19.36------Chevron------93 100% freeway
13.62------Chevron------93
14.77------BP-------------93
14.61------BP-------------93
13.86------Chevron------93
15.00------Texaco-------93
14.98------Shell----------93
15.63------Chevron------89
13.55------BP-------------89 * oil change
13.75------Shell----------89
13.95------BP-------------93

I find it strange that the mpg went down after my oil change. Unfortunately did not ask about the oil grade and nothing noted on the window sticker or paperwork as to the rating (5-20w??)

Rotary Nut

Well sorry for waiting so long but for some unknown reason I could not locate the receipt for the tank I put in on Feb 8th.

I also changed the oil at 3140 miles. Like some one posted the oil filter was a tad bit shorter than the one from the factory. I used Castrol 5W20 GTX and an OEM filter. Nothing new to report, Just 3500 trouble free miles, not like my W8!

No flooding or cracked switches and no oil in the intake like some are finding. Also there was no foamy-frothy condensate in the oil at all. Only up in the dipstick tube. Damn I thought the airbox in my '02 Passat W8 was a PITA but this one takes the cake!

Raevik

Just wanted to append...

First fillup was 233 miles, 12.45 gallons, 18.71 mpg.

That was with my shifting out at 3-4k rpm with a few "fun run" accelerations up to 7500rpm.

90% city driving

Pavehawk

Similar results and conditions for me. 19.126 MPG

Lufa

Well Rotary Nut your results are almost exactly what my results look like.

The only time I ever break the magical 17MPG barrier is when I take a long road trip. Otherwise my short, stop and go, sit at a light commute nets me 15-16MPG. If I really get lucky and hit little to no traffic and all the lights turn green for me while I shift like my grandma for a week straight I will get 16.5 MPG... My wife wants to buy a hybrid to compensate.

Also I fill up anytime I get under 1/4 tank which is usually around 160-190 miles, it makes the calculations at the pump pretty easy .

Rotary Nut

Same here. Although I have not had the oppurtunity take a decent road trip I will be taking it to a model (building) contest in Richmond next Sat. The most highway driving, in a single stretch is from Newport News to VA Beach and back. Speaking of which on the trip I took last night was 100 miles round trip and used just over 1/4 of a tank. The gauge is right about between the 2/3rds and 3/4 of a tank mark. So I think I MIGHT be able to squeeze 300 miles on a tank in straight highway driving.

Wishfull thinking if you ask me!

Mitch Strickler

I'm talking about the theory that mileage will improve after a bit of use. I'm around 6,000 miles, and my usual 15-16 for city use (driving with a light foot and low revs) went down to a lowest-ever 14- at today's refill: 13.5 gal for 186 miles.

Of course, there are the fables about automatic reprogramming at 20,000k or 20,000 miles or whatever the rumor mill generates. I'll believe it when I see it.

skagen

I totally agree, wake up and smell the bs. there's obviously something wrong with the mpg that's stated. I haven't even heard of anyone saying they get 18 mpg just straight up on streets, and no one anyone getting 24 mpg on highway. It isn't going to change, whether its new or broken in, its obvious they mis-stated the mpg.

MEGAREDS

I'm coming very close...

Elara

I get both on a regular basis. I've gotten better on the highway (almost 26mpg) and I have a very hard time getting less than 17mpg in city driving, and that's trying to drive badly.

klegg

That is exactly the pattern I am seeing...you could have copied that from my log..

skagen

Is there any particular gas station you're sticking too? or just any gas station with 93 octane? Gonna try an experiment and use exactly what you're using and see what happens. I'm currently driving about 40% highway and 60% streets with shifting around 2.5k granny.

skagen

What gas are you using, driving style? 26 off highway? dang, maintaining what speeds?

D MENAC 7

I finally broke the 20 mpg barrier with my last tank. Of course, it was 98% highway driving with the cruise control set to 72-75 varrying depending upon what traffic was like. I got a 20.45 mpg on 87 octane.

Since 1/10 04 I have had this car and have not done a large percentage of highway driving alone on a tank of gas. Even this was not a good measurement because at least 45 miles was done on a two lane road where I averaged around 60 with periods going through small communities. Most times in town here I get around 13 - 14 mpg.

This tank full I am keeping it under 3500 rpm and will see what driving like a granma feels like. As others have said trying this method, it was very hard to do this and almost to the point of being painful.

I did find out that in 6th gear at 3500 rpms it is going 70 mph. So, this will be ineresting to see if it does what others have said.

MEGAREDS

All my gas has been Mobil or Citgo simply because it's convenient. Its all got Ethynol in it... yech.

Elara

Exxon premium. And if you read carefully, I said I've gotten 26 ON the highway, NOT off. Normally it's about 22-23 highway. And I really do have a hard time getting less than 17mpg in city.

Rotary Nut

Well just posted my best tank to date. I only made one trip to Virginia Beach and back (around 75 miles round trip) and the rest was short around town trips with the biggest being 4 trips back and forth between my house and Ft. Eustis in one day! It does seem that the mpg's are getting better with age so only time will tell.

Tomorrow I will be taking my 8 out of town for it's first roadtrip. I will be driving to Richmond for a contest and I will finally be able to see what the highway milage will be!

:D

racerdave

Nut... do you have the latest ECU flash?

Rotary Nut

Nope!