MS3 and MPG

[Raider]

I have a CPE CAI, Turbosmart BOV in full recirc, and the muffler cut and replaced with straight pipe. I drive 5 over the limit on the streets, 80 pn the interstate, and am getting 20-21.5 MPG. I fill up with Exxon and Shell 93 octane, change the oil every 3K with full synth. I don't beat on the car either. I am hearing of guys modded like me, getting 26-30 mpg.

Anyone got ideas why my mpg is so low?

[Fourthmeal]

MPG and MS3 never went together in the same sentence for me, at all. Unless it was something like, "Goddamn MS3 gets shitty MPG!"

Seriously though, its all about how you drive. A turbo car, when in boost, is sucking gas. If you are in boost, you are wasting fuel.

There was only one single time my Speed got good gas mileage, and that was on the flat, straight highways of the midwest during a long cross-country road trip from Vegas to my parents house. On this, I averaged 27mpg when I got over the mountains, where I averaged 21mpg. In the city, with moderate driving aggression to mild aggression, I got 18-19 at MAX.

Turbo cars run rich, and waste gas big time, and the only thing you can do to stop it is stay out of boost, which means no dipping into the throttle, and try to keep the load down. If you hear it spool, its spending your money for you.

My advice, get a boost gauge that is accurate, and try to stay in vacuum. Without lugging the car, you ideally want to stay in as low a gear as possible that still keeps you out of boost when you accelerate. You also want to keep your tires inflated, your alignment carefully checked, your air cleaner as clean as possible, and anything else you can do that will help here and there. I'm a big windows-down kind of driver (probably from my motorcycling days), but I have to avoid that habit at higher speeds, where a low A/C level would actually be more efficient. I think the break-even point of A/C to windows is around 50 or so, from what I can tell.

[Raider]

Yeah, I do need to suck it up and get a boost gauge. I know Glenn at Prosport well, so I will give him a call. The air filter I cleaned a month ago. I have my Eagle F1's up over 40 psi (51 PSI Max on them) which has helped. I was driving at 35 PSI for a while.

The A/C is a must for me in FL. Humid and hot weather is dreadful.

I am not trying to be "that guy' bitching about shitty MPG, high gas prices making me want to sell, etc. I am not blaming the MS3 for anything at all. I have a CX-7 too, both drink 93 octane. Hell, our CX-7 gets 23 MPG religiously. If I wanted a shit-ton of MPG, I would be in a Prius being all smug. ;)

I am only asking because I get 20 or so, and others report 7-10 MPG better, with the same mods. The difference with my wife's CX-7 and my Speed 3, is she has a 3" ETS TMIC.

With your report of 18-19, I do feel a little better, though. I am just wondering what others are experiencing.

[drivebybiped]

The Cobb AP has an "Economy Mode" and I believe would double as a boost gauge (from the stock sensors). Or undergo a foot-lightening operation. :tongue:

[Fourthmeal]

If it makes you feel any better, my father (an inventor and a retired program director for Sprint), his band members (military engineers), and myself are all working on ways to get a car to run on water.

We aren't in it for the money, we're going to give it away when we figure it out, too.

Turbo cars, for me, seem the ultimate answer because the intense heat of the turbo would allow for a conduit to be made that could superheat water into superheated steam, which when electrically charged seems to BURN.

But I don't mean to derail your thread as this isn't quite built yet...


Oh in the meantime, you could consider water/methanol (aka windshield washer fluid) injection along with your normal fuel into the engine via "snow" kit, which makes a difference.


Yeah, I do need to suck it up and get a boost gauge. I know Glenn at Prosport well, so I will give him a call. The air filter I cleaned a month ago. I have my Eagle F1's up over 40 psi (51 PSI Max on them) which has helped. I was driving at 35 PSI for a while.

The A/C is a must for me in FL. Humid and hot weather is dreadful.

I am not trying to be "that guy' bitching about shitty MPG, high gas prices making me want to sell, etc. I am not blaming the MS3 for anything at all. I have a CX-7 too, both drink 93 octane. Hell, our CX-7 gets 23 MPG religiously. If I wanted a shit-ton of MPG, I would be in a Prius being all smug. ;)

I am only asking because I get 20 or so, and others report 7-10 MPG better, with the same mods. The difference with my wife's CX-7 and my Speed 3, is she has a 3" ETS TMIC.

With your report of 18-19, I do feel a little better, though. I am just wondering what others are experiencing.

[drivebybiped]

If it makes you feel any better, my father (an inventor and a retired program director for Sprint), his band members (military engineers), and myself are all working on ways to get a car to run on water.

We aren't in it for the money, we're going to give it away when we figure it out, too.


But if you succeed you'll have violated all kinds of laws of thermodynamics, so I'd say you should make a few paltry billion for that, and then give it away :-)

Back on topic: I got 32 mpg today at an average speed of 65 mph for 310 miles. No mods.

[Raider]

Wow, that is awesome. I do wish I got better MPG, even 25. I am going to try doing 75 on the interstate, not 80. It might make a good difference.

[Jims08Speed3]

My car is two weeks old, first tank I got 26 mpg with about 70% freeway miles, 2nd tank was 23.5 mpg with 70% city driving and both were pretty easy on the pedal. Ready to fill up again and I've gotten on it more on this tank, I'll report back when I fill up and let you know what I got.

Update:
Filled up today and got 21.4 mpg with 90% city driving. I don't think that's to bad with the Speed 3 rated at 18 city anb 26 hwy. My reg 3 with an auto and 2.3L only got 23 mpg and it was rated at 22 city and 28 hwy.
Jim

[MazPro]

I'm getting between 18-19mpg in city driving. that seems to be the average for everyone, so you are ok.

[Raider]

I just bought a Tornado on ebay to see if that will help. Getting it welded into my CPE intake, right before the MAF and the new chip I bought, too.

I am kidding.


Seriously, I am glad I am not the only one. I reset my ECU to see if that might help. Never know.

[Z]

i never knew MS3 and MPG went together =|

[Fourthmeal]

On the highway its a beautiful thing, but in the city, it sucks.

My current Tribute gets far, far better mileage overall until the highway factor comes in.

[rotus]

If it makes you feel any better, my father (an inventor and a retired program director for Sprint), his band members (military engineers), and myself are all working on ways to get a car to run on water.

We aren't in it for the money, we're going to give it away when we figure it out, too.

Turbo cars, for me, seem the ultimate answer because the intense heat of the turbo would allow for a conduit to be made that could superheat water into superheated steam, which when electrically charged seems to BURN.

But I don't mean to derail your thread as this isn't quite built yet...


Oh in the meantime, you could consider water/methanol (aka windshield washer fluid) injection along with your normal fuel into the engine via "snow" kit, which makes a difference.

There's that guy in the Phillipines that has a Camry set up to run on water. Check out his Youtube videos.

[Fourthmeal]

There's that guy in the Phillipines that has a Camry set up to run on water. Check out his Youtube videos.

way ahead of you my friend.

That's Dr. Dingel. I've been studying his work for years.


Come visit my HHO thread and discuss.
http://www.themazdaforum.com/showthread.php?t=1521

[rotus]

sub

not great with electronics, but interested in this none-the-less

[Mr.Pickles]

28mpg on average!