Fuel consumption

Alz · Post by **Alz** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:52 pm

Just bought a 96 MX5 1800 Auto. What a lovely little car.
Can you guys tell me what sort of mileage you get out of a tank of gas and how far does the fuel needle go down before the warning light comes on.
I realise the auto will probably be a bit more thirsty thatn a manual but just an idea on the average k's you get from a full tank would be of interest.
Ran the first tank of fuel to just below the empty line and no sign of the warning light and didn't want to risk finding out the hard way that the bulb wasn't working.
Once the light starts to glow how many k's could you stretch it before you had to fill up.
Great list - well done to those that have set it up.

russellsmithies · Post by **russellsmithies** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:56 pm

Are you sure there's a warning light? I'm 99% sure there's not one on my NA.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:09 pm

My 1998NB 1800 auto will easily achieve more than 500km on a tankful. I use
BP 98 octane as the car runs better and is more economical as well, more
than compensating for the higher cost per litre. It depends a lot on your
driving and whether it's commuting, open road etc. Most of my driving is on
the open road so that will help. No commuting here as I work from home. It's
further to the garage than it is to the workshop!

Grant.

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XPECTD · Post by **XPECTD** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:27 pm

I get about 400KM from a $75 tank of BP '98.

Get less from 91 and even less from 96

This is about half on motorway, half around-town driving in my '92 NA

mx5mike · Post by **mx5mike** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:19 am

I'm 100% sure there isn't one

I found out the hard way on the Northern motorway when I bought my first MX5 in 1995.

I'm not sure if the Mk2's do but the Mark 1's definitely don't have a warning light.

Mike.

From: russellsmithies [mailto:mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 22 June 2006 10:56 p.m.
To: mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz
Subject: [MX5] Re: Fuel consumption

Are you sure there's a warning light? I'm 99% sure there's not one on my NA.

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Alz · Post by **Alz** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:41 am

Opps!

Took it for granted that there was a light. Just as well we didn't keep going.
Thank goodness I asked you guys before we got to the bottom of this tank.
Can anyone tell me the capacity of the tank.
We got 500k out of that first tank but that was mostly a cruise out in the countryside. Used 98 and have advanced the timing. Runs real sweet.
Thanks guys

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:07 am

I think the earlier cars had a capacity of around 44 litres and with the
introduction of the 1.8 engine, capacity increased slightly to about 48
litres.

Grant.

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PeterH · Post by **PeterH** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:56 am

[quote="mx5mike"]I'm 100% sure there isn't one

I found out the hard way on the Northern motorway when I bought my first MX5 in 1995.
[quote]

HOWEVER, for those who want one, Kevin Scrimgeour who wrote the post below:

http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/viewtopic.php?t=2849

...also has detailed notes on building a circuit to add one.

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:32 pm

Although the one-quarter and three-quarter marks on the gauge seem poorly calibrated, and the "empty" and "full" ones are a complete joke... the half-full one seems pretty good to me.

From a topped-off fil and zero'd trip-meterl... you can safely double however many k's are showing at half-full (assuming equivalent driving style/traffic conditions).

The "empty" mark on the scale is rediculous.... you dont actually run out of fuel untill the needle's down well past half-way through the letter E, nearly even leaving the E behind. (I've twice confirmed this on purpose, with spare fuel-can on board).

And the full mark... hah! A filled tank goes right past it and you can get 50km or more before you are "down to full"

Fletch.

KSCRIM · Post by **KSCRIM** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:26 pm

I have found that the NB (98+) fuel gauge is about right at the "F" mark but the gauge is nonlinear. 1/2 = about 3/8. "E" = about 10 liters left to go.
Typically the "E" calibration leaves enough for about 80 t0 90 KM running.
The low fuel light CCT I have installed, I set up to come on at the "E" mark.
Anyone who wants the info can email me. (temp gauge linearization, dash light dimmer, wiper variable delay, interior light delay, ignition keyhole light etc).
(Maybe I should see Nigel about getting some of this info into Topdown??)

Kevin

Post by **zorruno** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:51 pm

Fletch wrote:And the full mark... hah! A filled tank goes right past it and you can get 50km or more before you are "down to full"

My commodore tells me that I am running low... when there is 60kms to go (and it has the trip meter thingy to back it up...). Maybe it because in Australia there are many places with fuel stations 50+kms away?!

Incidentally, a lot of people get confused as there is a small light above the fuel gauge - I think on 93+ roadster models (and poss earlier NZ models)? This is not a fuel warning light - it is a light to tell you the demister is switched on on your hard top.

MN · Post by MN » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:23 pm

My fuel guage is not linear at all. It takes an age to go to half empty then next to no time its reading empty. At quarter full I need to look for a petrol station or pray.

So what is the worst consumption anyone has got?

It may be quite economical when you're puddling around but what about when its being caned??[/u]

mx5mike · Post by **mx5mike** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:43 pm

Worst consumption ever for me was around the Donnington racetrack in the UK.

I got 72 miles from a full tank.

It worked out to be around 8 miles to the gallon.

Those big 550cc injectors on the FMII can suck huge amounts of petrol when they want to

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DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:36 am

I have a 1991 Na with the Sebrang supercharger fitted by MazdaSpeed. My average economy rate is around 380km per tank (23mpg or 8 litres per 100km). The type of friving is largely Auckland commuting.

Ben.Nakagawa · Post by **Ben.Nakagawa** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:58 am

My 89' runs about 400~500km in full for short/long trip.
I usually top up $20 when the needle goes about 1/4 in day yo day commute.

Most of Japanese made car is runs about 400km in full tank and more if the condition is right.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:49 pm

My late 93 NZ new 1.8 manual with intake and exhaust mods plus 14 degree timing bump, has just done a 1351k trip (ChCh/Nelson/ChCh etc)at 34.24MPG - 109kph cruise plus many 109kph++++ passing manoevers. I use BP98, fill the tank to overflow myself. Needle starts way past full..can do 100k on the open road before I get down to F!!
1.8NAs have 48 litre tank, so for me that equates to 577.9ks per tank. No warning light...have run down to .5l (whew, a close thing)
I suspect some owners with oversize wheels/tyres will have difficulty calculating their consumption !

Cheers, Ian

R LTD · Post by **R LTD** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:37 pm

Interested in the comments whether there is a fuel warning light. We have a 1995 R Ltd that does have a warning light It is integral with the other warning lights and situated above the fuel gauge.

----- Original Message -----
From: Ian (mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz)
To: mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz (mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz)
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 1:49 PM
Subject: [MX5] Re: Fuel consumption

My late 93 NZ new 1.8 manual with intake and exhaust mods plus 14 degree timing bump, has just done a 1351k trip (ChCh/Nelson/ChCh etc)at 34.24MPG - 109kph cruise plus many 109kph++++ passing manoevers. I use BP98, fill the tank to overflow myself. Needle starts way past full..can do 100k on the open road before I get down to F!!
1.8NAs have 48 litre tank, so for me that equates to 577.9ks per tank. No warning light...have run down to .5l (whew, a close thing)
I suspect some owners with oversize wheels/tyres will have difficulty calculating their consumption !

Cheers, Ian

93 1.8 NZ new, intake and exhaust mods.

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Ian · Post by **Ian** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:30 pm

My Graingers Workshop manual for the NA 1.8 makes no mention of any fuel level warning light....but as someone has already pointed out, the warning light above the fuel guage is shown as that for a hardtop rear screen heater....at first I also thought it was for low fuel, but both my owners handbook plus my workshop manual would suggest I was mistaken....

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:38 pm

DBM58 wrote:I have a 1991 Na with the Sebrang supercharger fitted by MazdaSpeed. My average economy rate is around 380km per tank (23mpg or 8 litres per 100km). The type of friving is largely Auckland commuting.

David...does 8l/100km not equate to 35.55mpg???

Ian

Post by **jif** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:01 am

I presume by the MPG that it's 8km/l

My '96 gets ~10km/l in the city, 15km/l on the open road ... it's has a modest hairdryer strapped to it which doesn't seem to have affected economy much :]

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MN · Post by MN » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:09 pm

mx5mike wrote:Worst consumption ever for me was around the Donnington racetrack in the UK.

I got 72 miles from a full tank.

It worked out to be around 8 miles to the gallon.

[Posted via External Email]

OK worse than me. On special stages I get around 11 mpg - obviously I'm not going hard enough!!

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:48 am

Yes you are correct. I did not do enough checking, it should be around 12 litres per 100km (but 8km per litre).

David Moughtin

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian [mailto:mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz]
Sent: Sunday, 25 June 2006 7:38 p.m.
To: mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz
Subject: [MX5] Re: Fuel consumption

DBM58 wrote:

I have a 1991 Na with the Sebrang supercharger fitted by MazdaSpeed. My average economy rate is around 380km per tank (23mpg or 8 litres per 100km). The type of friving is largely Auckland commuting.

David...does 8l/100km not equate to 35.55mpg???

Ian

93 1.8 NZ new, intake and exhaust mods.

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swtnss · Post by **swtnss** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:23 pm

so lucky i read this

i have never let my fuel tank get that low - too scared

its a '96 manual and i asssumed it had a fuel light

but it costs me $50 a week and i drive it everywhere

Shermio · Post by **Shermio** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:30 pm

Has anyone else noticed that in this cold dry weather the fuel consumption has gone up? The car also feels like it has a little more power (Ha! probably the cold weather acted like a cold air intake)

$50/week about ~250km

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:07 pm

thread revive!

Just to add my car is a 1997 1800cc 5 speed with exhaust, filter and timing bump and gets between 450 - 500 km from 40l of 96/98 RON (11-12 Km/L)

I find the most efficient way to drive it in urban areas seems to be by using quite a bit of throttle but keep the revs low (which is fairly hard to do as the engine doesn't really open up until 4k RPM)

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