Gas mileage expectations for a GSL-SE?
 

I'm buying a stock GSL-SE with 82K miles. What kind of gas mileage should I expect to get (MPG). Do I need to use premium fuel?

I searched, but could find no definitive answer to those two questions.

87 octane is just right and recommended....I average 19-21 mpg on my SE.

16mpg city to 23mpg highway is the EPA rating and in practice is what you get typically. Fast driving/revving will obviously get you less .

Use standard fuel, premium is unnecessary.

Yes, tune it properly with no power mods......except maybe a free flow cat, can get an avg of 17 city, 23 hwy depending on your right foot. Keep it off the gas and drive like granny then it will do better I am sure.

21/26 Stock setup other than RB exhaust and I do drive like a granny.

how much are they asking for the SE?

Brandon, are you asking how much money?

If I told you, I'd have to kill you. :)

No, but seriously, I found mine in the 1st gen forum under "RX7's for sale." Unless you're not willing to drive a little, it shouldn't be hard to find a decent GSL-SE in there.

I routinely get 17.5-18.5mpg in city driving, as high as 22-23 for highway driving long distances. This mileage actually went down a bit when I installed all of my aerodynamic parts, but it was worth it. Got much better gas mileage about 2 weeks ago when I figured out that my '6'-ports weren't opening due to a backpressure leak to the actuators. Fixed the leak and mileage dropped by 1mpg, but power is up considerably!

To keep mileage at peak performance, make sure that you change your plugs from time to time, change your oil on a regular basis, check your brakes for 'dragging', and pump your tires up to proper pressure. With these things in mind, you can actually add about 2-3 mpg in some cases if you've let maintenance slip.

On the fuel issue - make sure that you use ONLY low-test fuel (octane <=87). High octane fuels are designed NOT to burn immediately, which is required in high compression piston engines with very long burning durations. The rotary engine has a comparatively short burn duration, and if you use high-octane fuel, you won't be burning it in your combustion chambers where it develops power, but in your exhaust where it develops high emissions output.

The SCCA Pro RX-7 cars in the 80's were all run on 87 octane pump gas - no kidding. Save yourself some cash on fuel and put it into new plugs, air filter, and time at the airpumps! HTH,

inconclusive right now as to why/how...
but i got 29.6hwy and 20cty with my 85 gsl-se.
this was from phoenix, az to las vegas, nv.

longsduck is totally baffled with how it happened as am i but just my 2 cents.

Maybe a good tailwind? :)

Don't laugh too hard, but a 20-30 mph tailwind can impact cars as well as airplanes. Any idea about the winds during your trip.

i just recently dialed in 22 and that was 1/4 of the tank with my foot in the floor. it's usually around 26-27ish. i noticed a huge increase in gas milage when i put intake, exhaust and e-fan on.

I think the '6'-ports being seized on your car is certainly a factor in that high fuel mileage. I'm still trying to figure out the 29mpg on the freeway, however - that is outstanding mileage!

Even in stock trim, my car would routinely see 18mpg city, and no higher than 22mpg, highway. Once I added the aero parts and started modifying the exhaust and intake systems, it has dropped consistently to where it is right now; 17-18 city, 20 highway. Hasn't fluctuated since I fixed that pressure leak and got my front '6'-port turning again.

I was thinking last night that I may start a new thread on UIM/LIM removal and rebuild for '6'-port cleaning - I have some interesting pictures that I think would help others determine if this is a job they need to do.

Keep in mind that having your ports working will certainly reduce fuel mileage because you'll be taking advantage of that additional power...

You shouldn't get less than 16 in the city unless you live at redline, I can't get much better than 22 on the highway but I drive really fast, I could probably get 24 if I tried. My average gas mileage mostly city driving is about 18.

thanks LongDuck...way to bring my ego down :P

as for wind...mainly cross winds 5-10 mph.

How are you doing on the fuel pump search? (I'll check back on the original thread...)

So I am guesssing that my about 10 mpg in the city is a problem huh? lol I sure hope my MAF sensor is broken cuz I just bought a used one and will throw it in this weekend.

I see over 20 mpg mixed driving in my gslse. I have a k&n panel filter, rb exhaust and keep everything in tune. I don't drive her terribly hard either. My aux ports function flawlessly (smooth power curve, no rush of power or drop off either).

I add fuel injection cleaner on a regular occasion to keep things clean and I also add some premix regularly as well since i only trust the omp so much.

Dude, this thread is over 6 years old!

I guess for posterity's sake, I'll report that I just checked my mileage again the other day and managed 17.7mpg for city driving, which is right in line with what it's always gotten.

6 years later, and 213k miles on the original engine, and still getting about 18mpg city and as much as 22-24 highway.

Just for the sake of knowledge, is it bad(For fuel, and maybe technical sake) to ALWAYS shift at 5,000 RPM? That isn't in the redline, but kinda close.

On my 82GSL, I get significantly better fuel economy running in the 3000-5000 band than 2000-3500 where I would normally try to run a 4 banger or 5 banger. (What, I've got a Volvo!)

I usually don't shift all the way at 5000 though, usually 4000-4500.

I usually drive in the sweet spot, rotaries don't like to be lugged, especially those poor little 12a's

Exactly the same numbers for me. RB header and pre-silencer, rest is new but stock exhaust parts.

Terrible and Acceptable

I'm in huachuca city AZ, closest actual city is sierra vista. But anywho, do you know anyone who will take a look at my wiring for an affordable price? I have an 85 RX7 12a carburated and none of my Guage lights, guages, dome light or blinkers work. So I shift by ear