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is this normal?

OK...most readers here know that I got my very first Miata a week ago. Since that time I've been reading the discussions about gas milage. There has been more than one discussion that has caused me to scratch my head. Is it really needed to get so involved with friction coefficient and abient temperature, etc? FWIW...here are my results of the first full tank of gas in my 96 toy. A little background: The state of Maine outlawed the use of MTBE a few years back. Since the majority of Mainers use a drilled or dug well as there primary water source and MTBE had been proven to contaminate our ground water it was banned. Good news for all! My Miata is an automatic trans w/overdrive. I have learned to actually like the auto tranny but despise that overdrive function. I have read the comments stating that the Miata likes to run at high revs and have since turned off that O/D 90% of the time. I love the way it sounds and performs with that O/D turned off. OK...now to milage...and this is by no way scientific but here goes. 100% of the time the top was down, I was never on an interstate,

95% (guessing) I was on back winding roads, 87 octane gas, I was pushing (but careful) of the posted speeds and excited about the way the little car took every corner. In other words, I was NOT driving conservatively, but I DO believe I was driving safely. My milage for that tank ended up at 29.3 MPG. Just for the helluvit I got a new tankful of "plus" at 89 octane to see if that would make a difference. I'm very happy with that 29+ mpg and am wondering how others compare without gettin into very fine tech data.

Thanks for any input.

JV

Reply to
JV
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Well...I promise to try harder in the future! :)

Are you serious that high speeds (such as 80) actually produce higher milage? In other words...if I go out on the interstate and see what the rpm's are at 80 mph and then match those rpm's at lower speeds, my milage will increase?

I'l have to trust you folks here, as I'm still learning.

JV...dodging the rain

Reply to
JV

Pounding it pretty good, but too much of a pussy to hit the rev limiter ;-)

Reply to
Mike®

Good. We cannot have Miata owners goofing off here.

If you drive them at constant speed in the highest gear, they might.

No, your fuel consumption per hour will be roughly the same, but, going slower, your mileage will decrease correspondingly. Typically, you want to drive in the highest gear for the best fuel consumption since the engine tends to work most efficiently when you squeeze all possible power out of each engine cycle.

Aren't we all...

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

Apples and oranges. On the Interstate, I set the cruise control and...well...cruise. In 5th gear. 80 is not a "high speed." It's only a bit over 4000 rpm, just barely above the knee in the torque curve.

On Ozarks backroads, I hardly ever use 5th below 90, or 4th below 50. Some turns are taken in 2nd. I rarely exceed 110, though, which is approaching redline in 4th. It's very hilly, very twisty, and yellow "SAFE SPEED" signs are generally taken at approximately double the face value (that leaves me ~10 mph cushion for emergencies). The rev limiter is invoked regularly, as are the brakes. I bought the car to have fun, and gas is not a concern as long as I don't run out.

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

OK....I have yet to use that cruise control. My On Ozarks backroads,

Xcuse me but ain't the Ozarks a few hundred miles east of you? Oh hell, I was never that good at geography.

I'm just chuckling.....but I think I do the same!!!!!!!!! cept I think my auto tranny will get about 5 mph over your 5 speed.. Gotta question though... Which bugs do you find the most difficult to scrape off the windshield and do you think think that WD-40 is as great as it claims to be?

I could not agree more!

JV

Reply to
JV

w/overdrive.

Reply to
Slowpoke

My Miata averages 27-28 mpg in commuter driving. Almost all service consists of 2-8 mile runs, followed each time by parking the car long enough to seriously cool off the engine, then repeat- including winter duty. There is no driving pattern more apt to produce lousy mileage.

As far as running on Interstates, remember nothing screws up aerodynamics (and economy) like lowering the top (or opening windows) and small roadsters generally aren't great with the top up either. No matter, with a Miata, the Interstate is only used to reach good twisty two-lanes!

Joe Silver '99

Reply to
jchase

So true, the roads according to Miata are; highly improved (High curve to straight with low curve radii coefficient) like most mountain back country roads. Improved (Lower curve to straight ratio with higher curve radii coefficient) Like most back country highways. And Totally unimproved (and next to useless) (Low curve to straight and high curve radii coefficient) interstates. The latter to be used to connect the first to in a pinch! Robert

90A
Reply to
Slowpoke

Nope. The northern edge is about 5 miles south. Southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

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