How can I get better mileage?
 

Okay, so here's the deal, my 87 RX7 died the other day, turns out, my gas gauge wasn't wrong after all and my low fuel light doesn't work (but that's another story all together), so I ran out of gas. I only got 297 miles on a full tank, and my car has absolutely no performance mods at all, with the exception of a header, and maybe a stripped cat (but I'm not sure). I've got a feeling that the mileage I got, about 21.5 MPG, is not right. I think I'm probably burning pretty rich.

So, anyway, how can I find help and fix this little problem? Should I get my injectors cleaned (maybe replaced)? Replace my fuel filter? Anything is better than nothing.

Thanks

21.5?????!!!!! That is great gas mileage!!! What did you do to achieve that good of mileage??


Seriously, welcome to the world of Rotaries. You would not be the first to think....

"I'll be saving gas with this small sports car"

I didn't think it would be great, I knew it wouldn't. If I wanted great mileage I would have bought my dad's Toyota. I was looking for better mileage, like 25-26. I know the rotary is a hungry little beast.

ditto
I'm lucky if I pull out 19mpg and have seen days of 15 and less mpg

haha that's what i said. it's just like driving my old e46 except using not so cheap 87octane (im getting around 20mpg).

Oh well, still money well spent if you ask me.

I've been getting around 23ish mpg in the summers with mostly highway-ish driving. With the exception of an onramp or two, I drive like an old man, though.. gas-pedal wise. My RX-7 is not for straight lines.

That mileage is for stock setup with an 86 gxl.

I've often wondered about whether the car might be running a little rich, and whether there may be "free mpg" by addressing that... but somehow I doubt that the payback period for any mpg investment in the car would be less than the expected remaining lifetime for the car.

21.5.....consider yourself lucky. Mine is more like 16-19 MPG.....well more on the 16. I drive my 4x4 Trooper to save gas!!

Don't get me wrong....th 7 is an incredible car and yes I too have not found a corner too sharp. But 21 mpg would be a good day for me.

If you're serious, the equation is quite simple. You know how there are laws against "displays of power"? Ignore them. You know those sissy little "speed limit" whatchamajiggers, don't ignore them (all the time). Since I've had the car for a week, and spent the first three days konking it out like a mother, I'd say konk it out a few times too, seems to help.

^^^ and I'm not bagging on you. Really... I'm just haveing a little fun.

I'd be having fun with me, too. I'm half a moron for asking the question and half a moron for not filling up, and waiting for the warning light.

Aside from the fuel nonissue, I love this car. I'm 18, it's my first car, we're a match made in heaven. I fully intend to hold onto it for awhile, too, and after graduating college, it's going to be tuned, then tuned some more, and then tuned on top of that, and finally be made for the track. I'm thinking about killing me some Neons today, though, you gotta start somewhere, right?

16 MPG here :wave: as soon as my fiancee registers hers we'll have a 21 mpg NA.....better if we tune the SAFC right i imagine.

Stock Factory EPA mileage is 17 city, 24 highway... anything above 20 MPG combined is exceptional.

is that for NA and TII? or just NA?

Both, except for the Turbo it was 17/23 (extra weight I guess at highway speeds)

297 miles??? or Kms, b/.c thats insane unless it was all hwy

since HE asked the question: I have 16 (not bad) but what could be done (besides driving it like a grandma) to improve the MPG on the FC? tune up, O2 sensor.......SAFC? anything else?

Drive safe on the street. ;)

Find a local autocross club. Autocross >> on-street jack-assery.. Track driving is another good driving thrill that doesn't cause the same legal/ethical problems.

I usually do around 17-18 myself in my tweaked vert.

O2 is only good for increasing gas mileage at idle.

SAFC pretty much only increases gas mileage above 4000 RPM (and on a non turbo).

Good (and often replaced) sparkplugs, regular oil changes, keeping RPMs under 4000, clean air filter, clean cats, proper tune (you'd be surprised at what a bad BAC, idle mixture set, and timing and TPS off can do to mess up mileage), clean fuel filters (both tank and in-line), clean injectors, all can help increase mileage.

21.5mpg, huh? The other day I filled up and figured a little over 19mpg and I was ecstatic. I suppose that means I've grown to accept to rotary fuel economy. I wish I could get over 20, but my right foot won't allow it. :)

hah, on 60litres of gas i get 320km's too a tank....

feel my pain, LOL!...

haha the other day I calculated my gas mileage. Came out to be 19.5'ish and I autocrossed on that tank I was like YES!!! better than my winter MPG of around 16'ish thanks to a bad thermostat.

WOW!!! I seriously doubt I'm getting that kind of mileage after my autocross this Friday. But, we'll see I suppose. :D I had the same deal with the bad thermostat. Except, I pop open the housing to replace it and found no T-stat at all. I was like :mad:

Hm, 20+ is average for me. ('87 n/a) I really don't know how I managed to get 25+ for two tanks last summer though. That was crazy!

:bigthumb:.....i just bought a new fuel filter, my TPS is off, my idle mixture is off slightly too...I dunno bout the BAC.....I know they are bad because I was messing with them and I haven't fixed brought them back to spec(no time)........thanks for the info...will work on those things.