Cranks but won't start
 

Hey, I bought an 87 GXL yesterday and brought her home today. Everything went well, parked it about 5 hours ago and decided a few minutes ago that I'd drive it around the block (no plate yet). The guy I bought it from has about a dozen FCs in his yard and has apparently owned over 50, so I figure I can trust his judgment; when I saw the car in person, he tweaked the idle a bit and swapped the battery. I noticed that you sometimes have to give it a little gas when starting or the rpms will drop until it dies. On the way home I filled it up with 87 octane. I know there are a million of these threads but I figured my specific situation might give one of you a clue about what's going on. Also, sometimes it won't even crank. Thanks in advance.

Never mind, I had to unflood it. I'll probaly be doing that a lot!

My 86 N/A does the same thing. Usually I have to disconect the fuel pump plug, crank untill it starts and quickly plug it back in before it runs out of fuel. I've will be installing a fuel pump cut off switch on mine soon.

Your injectors could be leaking, easy fix with this Fuel Injection Pressure Bleed- Off Kit
https://www.mazdatrix.com/c-bleed.htm

Why bandaid the problem when simply having the injectors cleaned/serviced solves it?
I've used Witchhunters for mine and in eleven years of FC ownership, have never once had to deflood my engine.

Jus sayin.

Skill levels very from person to person if it's your only car sending the injectors off is not a option. The "bandaid" takes 10 mins max. Having them serviced is ideal the bleed off kit is fastest easiest cheapest way that fixes the problem

OK, I see your point...I wonder if the FC IS the OPs only car.
A set of spare injectors is easily obtained through the classifieds however, which sorta obviates your objection.

Also, the bleed off kit does not "fix" the problem, it treats the most obvious symptom, which is post-run flooding. The injector is still not working properly if it can't shut itself all the way closed and that will eventually show up in problems when running.

Before it flooded how warmed up was it when you shut it down?

Is it possible that low compression can cause flooding on a hot start? Same ammount of fuel but not sucking in enough air therefore flooding.

Not warmed up at all. To be completely honest this is my first manual and it happened when I stalled it reversing out of my parking lot early in the morning. lol.

You guys have got me thinking about my injectors though, can leaking injectors cause bad mpg? I feel like I also have poor performance but maybe that's just me shifting like a granny.

When these injectors leak its after shut off with residual pressure still in the lines, not a while driving thing. These engines are not terribly fuel efficient.