Wanted to ask all FD RX-7 owners.

Have you done anything to your FD RX-7 to make it better on fuel economy?

With gas prices almost reaching $3.00 a gallon. It is almost not realistic to use the RX-7 as a daily driver.

So, to pose my question again: Have you done anything to your FD RX-7 to make it better on fuel economy?

What can I do to make the 1993 FD RX-7 better on fuel economy?

 

Inflate your tires to 40 psi, weight reduction, get a tune up, lose that ginormous wing. It's not rocket science.

 

buy another dd, not to mention that keeps the miles off of it.

 

LOL. I was gonna say something to the tune of don't drive it.

Goodfellas right though. Listen to him.

 

Spend $900 on a pfc, (and another $400 for a tune) to get 10% better gas mileage. If you don't drive the FD much, the fuel savings will pay off the pfc in 20 years.

 

Get some Volk TE37 wheels, that's gonna help!!!

lol

 

^+1

The drag from the wing will cause you to use more gas

 

Get a new o2 sensor.

http://rx7.com/store/rx7/fdengine_maintenance.html

Rich isn't joking about the wing either. Yours must add a ton of drag.

 

Don't use the RX7 as a daily driver.

Plan your needs for the week and try and pick everything up in one shot. Ie groceries, movies etc. If you don't have to drive out of the way for something every day you'll save gas, time and money.

Don't speed up just to hit the brakes in city traffic.

Also most places have a website you can check showing the lowest advertised gas prices in your area. Use the cheapest place that isn't too far out of the way. And fill your tank with as much as you need for the week, or until you'll be in the area again anyway. More then that and your carrying extra weight you don't need to be.

Buy gasoline during coolest time of day - early morning or late evening is best. During these times gasoline is densest. Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement".

Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage. And suck for your car.

clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste

Air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, pumping stereo systems, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less miles per gallon

 

Standalone. And not a PowerFC.

 

moped. good on gas! lol

 

Ls1 (puts on flame suit)

 

*New plugs
*AI
*Clean injectors or at least some good fuel system cleaner
*make sure your exhaust system/cat is in good shape and flows well
*Stay out of boost when possible/practical...I know it sounds "obvious" but I watch how some drive and amazed when they gripe about mileage.

 

A good tune is the most critcal, then stay off the gas pedal. The secondaries do not come on until 3700rpm. The bad part about puttering around trying to save fuel is that you cause so much carbon build up in the engine that it will lead to early engine failure.

Nobody buys a rotary for its fuel economy, pick up a Honda and get 30+ MPG

 

Another reason the AI might help.

 

Most people set up their AI to come on in positive pressure, constantly puttering around in vacuum under 3700 rpm will never allow the AI system to be activated.

Honestly this is not how an RX7 was intended to be driven.

 

Going a bit off-topic, but I doubt you'd need constant AI to more than off-set any carbon build-up from "puttering". For those with just a pressure switch set at even 5 or 6 psi, it would be plenty overtime IMO.

And I actually realize some semblance of fuel economy once I start driving the FD in warm weather. My old 4X4 winter-beater makes it seem like a Honda.

 

Whatever..... No one ever said "constant" AI, but who really cares?

You are never going to get 30+ MPG out of a rotary, doesn't matter how you drive it. If fuel economy is a concern then this not the correct vehicle choice.

 

Yes to both of these guys

 

Haltech and tune

 

Never saw anyone " constantly puttering around" either. AI would help the OP and avoid your carbon issue on a streeted car being driven like an adult. Some suggest it keeps the plugs cleaner too.
Don't recall anyone saying they were looking for 30 mpg either. Just better mileage. But I agree, the FD isn't a Prius.

 

Biggest change you can make is to your head. Change your driving style, plan your trips. Your mileage will get a little better and you will use less gas driving fewer miles on smarter trips.

It goes without saying however that, if you are going to drive your seven like this you may as well get another car for a DD.

 

I've cut my fuel consumption by 75%. I parked it.

 

Shell V-Power fuel.
The V-Power (93-octane) alone is worth about 5-10% better gas mileage compared to Sunoco 94. I went from 16-17 mpg to 18-19 mpg in combined local and freeway driving with the gas switch. I also had similar % mileage increase results on a long (5000+ miles) vacation trip with my wife's Audi A4 (2wd) comparing V-Power to other various 93-octane fuels.

 

Dude you bought the wrong car if you're looking for fuel economy.

I removed my a/c motor and radiator, installed a main underdrive pulley, a lightweight flywheel and replaced the 40-lbs cat with a 10-lb Magnaflow. << I have to be smog legal, cops in SF and Daly City think they have nothing better to do than pull over imports. (Sorry, I've had very bad experiences with them. No I'm not sorry.)

These all made my the car faster, and helped me get a 1% increase in economy.

Gas costs what it costs, save money elsewhere.