1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Stupid Newbie MPG question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-23-06, 03:00 PM
  #1  
DSM + RX7 = Bus

Thread Starter
 
DSMPOWERED's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Collinwood, Cleveland, OH
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stupid Newbie MPG question

I'm getting 14 MPG in mostly highway commuting. I have a 1983 GS with a RB header-back exhaust, accel plug wires, and a K&N drop-in. The car has 113K miles on it, idles correctly, and runs reliably. Is this gas mileage normal?
Old 07-23-06, 03:05 PM
  #2  
Old Fart Young at Heart

iTrader: (6)
 
trochoid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: St Joe MO
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
In town, highway, no.
Old 07-23-06, 03:28 PM
  #3  
Famous Taillights

iTrader: (3)
 
FirebirdSlayer666's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yeah you should be anywhere from 20-25mpg on the highway. Make sure your carb is working properly. Mine wasn't really so I had one rebuilt and it instantly gave me a hell of a difference
Old 07-24-06, 08:36 AM
  #4  
Censored

iTrader: (14)
 
ray green's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 11,368
Received 176 Likes on 137 Posts
Check for vacuum leaks and be sure everything is adjusted right, you should be getting better than 20 mpg on the highway. Nice looking car!

Ray
Old 07-24-06, 09:10 AM
  #5  
blown up motors

iTrader: (1)
 
81gsl12a's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: morganton, NC
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i wish i got that good of MPG.. i burned a 1/4 tank sitting in the drive way for 20 min lol damn holleys woot..

if you have an extra $300 laying around get a wide band the take all the guess work out of it.. and pullin plugs sucks was the best 300 i spent

cheers PaTricK
Old 07-24-06, 11:24 AM
  #6  
Wankle Waffles

iTrader: (1)
 
Tranquil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: un. k
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yeah, that is not good at all, Jack. Pete gets 25mpg on average, and hell we did an 840 mile road trip this weekend in his RX-7.
Old 07-24-06, 11:31 AM
  #7  
Respecognize!

 
Whizbang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Anchor Bay, CA
Posts: 4,106
Received 71 Likes on 42 Posts
....with 4.78 gears!
Old 07-24-06, 11:31 AM
  #8  
Terrified.

 
Naegleria_Fowleri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Muncie, IN
Posts: 3,463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was getting 25 miles per gallon with mostly city driving back before I went Holley Carb. That isn't good at all. Get a carb rebuild kit or new carb. At the bare minimum check for vacuum leaks and those sorts of things. You should be getting better than that.
Old 07-24-06, 12:24 PM
  #9  
Too old to act my age

 
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tulsa, Ok.
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One thing to check, that is often overlooked, is the front brake calipers. If they are not fully releasing, you will get crappy fuel mileage, and shorter pad life.
If the car shown in your sig is the car in question, you are either very hard on the brakes, or the fronts are dragging. The front wheels having that much brake dust is usually a dead give away....................
Old 07-24-06, 04:11 PM
  #10  
Administrator

iTrader: (8)
 
mar3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: So. Arlington, TX!!!
Posts: 12,974
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes on 36 Posts
16 mpg is a normal low for hard, hard city driving...the carb is not tuned correctly, though it seems to be....
Old 07-24-06, 04:38 PM
  #11  
Old Fart Young at Heart

iTrader: (6)
 
trochoid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: St Joe MO
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Let's see, my in town mileage, cold weather, long warmups and hard driving, I have gotten less than 9 mpg. Suppose the bridgeport and Mikunki have anything to do with it? hmmmm.

Driving like a sane, normal, person, I usually get 14 in town and 24 on the highway.
Old 07-24-06, 07:04 PM
  #12  
Censored

iTrader: (14)
 
ray green's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 11,368
Received 176 Likes on 137 Posts
Good numbers Troch, I've got to give the in town part a try.

Ray
Old 07-24-06, 11:25 PM
  #13  
GOT WANKEL?

 
kgray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
23/32 anyone?
Old 07-24-06, 11:43 PM
  #14  
Reno Rotary.

 
DriftFB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Reno
Posts: 1,036
Received 10 Likes on 8 Posts
I regularly get 27ish, with a good mix of highway, city.
Old 07-24-06, 11:55 PM
  #15  
Old Fart Young at Heart

iTrader: (6)
 
trochoid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: St Joe MO
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by kgray
23/32 anyone?
As high as gas has gotten, I should have charged you more for your carb rebuild. Look how much I've saved you. lol
Old 07-26-06, 09:59 AM
  #16  
DSM + RX7 = Bus

Thread Starter
 
DSMPOWERED's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Collinwood, Cleveland, OH
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Tranquil
Yeah, that is not good at all, Jack. Pete gets 25mpg on average, and hell we did an 840 mile road trip this weekend in his RX-7.
You know how to work on these. I don't. Wanna have a look at the thing and see what's not right?

And Mentor Alex, I got a ticket for my headlight being out. I'm gonna send Parma Alex after you with a tub of vaseline if you don't give me a time to come get my bezels.
Old 07-26-06, 10:06 AM
  #17  
Respecognize!

 
Whizbang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Anchor Bay, CA
Posts: 4,106
Received 71 Likes on 42 Posts
do you need the headlight too?

umm can you do it today?
Old 07-26-06, 10:11 AM
  #18  
ERIC

 
Yellow '79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southern CT
Posts: 964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
when my dad had his running he did something to it and was getting 25/30 but it went back to 19/21 when he brought it in for a tune up. one of the techs messed with the carb and he lost his great mpg
Old 07-26-06, 07:43 PM
  #19  
Censored

iTrader: (14)
 
ray green's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 11,368
Received 176 Likes on 137 Posts
Yep it's all about tune up and fixing all the vacuum leaks and everything else. I got a good one now on my Nikki (thanks neighbor Bobby) and I've hit 391 miles on a tank twice in the last month or two (I drive it about 550 miles a week, so good data here). Anybody every get 400 miles out of a tank?

Ray
Old 07-26-06, 08:13 PM
  #20  
Lives on the Forum

iTrader: (13)
 
Rx-7Doctor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 10,584
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
I've been getting 360 miles out of a tank on My Se with City and highway combined.

To the thread starter, make sure your secondaries are hooked up. If it seems you have low power and are getting crappy mileage the secondary spring that activates the secondaries is infamous for popping off.
Old 07-26-06, 08:38 PM
  #21  
Wankle Waffles

iTrader: (1)
 
Tranquil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: un. k
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by DSMPOWERED
You know how to work on these. I don't. Wanna have a look at the thing and see what's not right?

And Mentor Alex, I got a ticket for my headlight being out. I'm gonna send Parma Alex after you with a tub of vaseline if you don't give me a time to come get my bezels.
hahahahaha, that was actually an original gay joke, unlike wonners.

yeah, we'll make burgers at my place sometime. Just give me a call.
Old 07-26-06, 10:55 PM
  #22  
GOT WANKEL?

 
kgray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by trochoid
As high as gas has gotten, I should have charged you more for your carb rebuild. Look how much I've saved you. lol
no ****! and the carb is tuned for snow!
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
_Tones_
Adaptronic Engine Mgmt - AUS
10
05-25-21 05:37 AM
stickmantijuana
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
13
01-09-18 11:19 AM
msilvia
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
15
09-11-15 12:13 PM



Quick Reply: Stupid Newbie MPG question



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:08 PM.