Ask the Car People.SM


Mazda3 Real World MPG

961 messages,  Last post on Jul 27, 2012 at 1:44 AM

You are in the Mazda3 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA3, Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA3, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 12 of 97

#102 of 961 Re: heelundtoe - [gly] by mdaffron

Sep 19, 2005 (6:24 am)

Replying to: gly (Sep 17, 2005 6:19 pm)
The two Mazda engines are derived from the Ford Duratec.
 
Maybe a little more research would've changed your mind. Here's the truth, from a Mazda tech website:
 
In 2004, Ford dropped the development of the 4-cylinder Zetec engine in favor of Mazda's MZR 4-cylinder. Thus, 2005+ Duratec 4 cylinder engines are Mazdas. This includes the 2.0 liter Duratec 20 and 2.3 liter Duratec 23.
 
Duratec 23
 
The Duratec 23 is a 2.3 L (2261 cc) version of the Mazda-designed Duratec 20. Bore is 87.4 mm and stroke is 94 mm. It has an aluminum engine block with cast iron cylinder liners and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. It uses SFI fuel injection, has 4 valves per cylinder with VCT and features fracture-split forged powder metal connecting rods and a one-piece cast camshaft.
 
The 2.0L and 2.3L Mazda3 engines are called Duratecs (in Ford products; they're called ZZRs in Mazda products) -- but they're designed and built by Mazda for Mazda and Ford applications.
 
Meade

#103 of 961 Re: heelundtoe - [mdaffron] by chacobleu

Sep 19, 2005 (7:19 am)

Replying to: mdaffron (Sep 19, 2005 6:24 am)
Right on the money again. The Duratec 23 was a joint collaboration between Mazda/Ford just as the Tribute/Escape. In other words, a Mazda team from Japan and a Ford team from Detroit butted heads. And just as in the Tribute/Escape, Mazda took the lead in the whole project to replace not only their own 2.0 (Protégé), but also the Ford Zetec with more environmentally friendly (if not more powerful) engines; in fact, they were solely in charge of setting up (charges were shared) the mfg. plant to produce these engines (range, if I remember correctly, was from 1.6 to 2.3 with the potential to go even higher to a 5 in-line).

#104 of 961 Re: sandman46 - Brake dust [z71bill] by mdaffron [z71bill] by kbinsb

Sep 22, 2005 (9:37 pm)

Replying to: z71bill (Sep 06, 2005 11:39 am)
Well, this is a late response to your question about the rear pads, but my 04 mazda 3 with only 3750 miles has thrown off a lot of brake dust in the rear. It is now at the dealer, who, unsurprisingly said that it met specs. But this is very unusual because we all know that the front pads are always the problem before the rear. He is keeping it overnight to see some more tomorrow. I saw some postings a while back from other owners about this.
BTW, I am lucky to get 25 MPG so far. Mostly hwy with an auto tranny. It is definitely a fun car, and I chose it for impractical reasons!

#105 of 961 Re: sandman46 - Brake dust [z71bill] by mdaffron [z71bill] [kbinsb] by mpg60

Sep 23, 2005 (10:21 am)

Replying to: kbinsb (Sep 22, 2005 9:37 pm)
I don't understand this obsession with the brake dust. I have a friend who owns a Infinity g-35 and the previous owner of the company i work for recently purchased one of the new beemers and both those cars have just as much or if not more brake dust on their alloy wheels than my 3s. I don't necessarily see this as a problem as other cars in a "premium class" exhibit the same?
 
the only problem i see is it is annoying to constantly have to clean the alloy wheels

#106 of 961 brake dust by z71bill

Sep 23, 2005 (10:43 am)

The dust on the rear wheels - although a pain to clean is not the problem - it is the rapid wear of the rear brake pads. I rotated my tires a few days ago - the rear pads are wearing out much faster than the front. I guess that my rear pads will need to be replaced (plus the rear rotors) by the time I hit 20K miles.
 
Does replacing rear pads at 20K seem normal?

#107 of 961 Brake Dust by sandman46

Sep 24, 2005 (7:50 am)

The wearing down of the rear pads is also a main concern for me to. We've never had a car with 4 whell discs before, so I don't know if this is normal or not. It would be nice to have all the brake pads wear at the similar pace or close to it.
It looks like I will be inheriting the car soon as the wife can't see to well on the right side of the car...she's already had 3 near misses and wants to go with me to the South Florida Auto Show next month to find another car. Any car with low head rests and compact size is what she's looking for. Any suggestions? I offered to swap my '03 Sentra with her, as the vision is great, but she wants a car with more power.
 
The Sandman

#108 of 961 Left in the dust [z71bill] by autonomous

Sep 24, 2005 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: z71bill (Sep 23, 2005 10:43 am)
Does replacing rear pads at 20K seem normal?
No and No. Firstly, 20K seems premature wear. Secondly, on a front wheel drive shouldn't most of the braking be happening with the front discs? I would expect the fronts to wear out first.
 
By way of comparison, my 2002 Mazda Protege5 (also equipped with 4 discs) has exceeded 37K miles (60K km) on the original brakes; I'm hoping they reach 45K miles. I was advised by a Mazda service rep to get brakes lubed annually to ensure they don't bind. I did had that service once but I likely won't do it annually.

#109 of 961 Re: Real World MPG [waygrabow] by aaykay

Sep 25, 2005 (8:27 pm)

Replying to: waygrabow (Sep 11, 2005 4:20 pm)
424 miles, 11.5 gallons, equals 37 mpg. Filled up yesterday. About what I expected from my Mazda3S MT.

 
Going by what others have been reporting, this mileage is incredible to say the least. Almost as if a 100 miles have been added to the true miles, with the gallons remaining constant. So if it were 324 miles (reducing the reported miles by 100) and 11.5 gallons, that would make it around 28-29mpg....sounds more like what everyone else gets...when they drive their 3s conservatively. Of course, you may be getting what you are claiming, even though I personally find it hard to believe....not simply because you have been reporting these incredible mileages (always in the 36+ range, even when driven in a spirited manner with AC) in quite a few of the discussions, repeatedly. JMHO.

#110 of 961 Real World MPG [waygrabow] by aaykay by z71bill

Sep 26, 2005 (6:33 am)

I think waygrabow lives up in the mountains -
 
I see the lowest MPG when the outside temps are high (95+) with humidity (always high in Houston) I get down to around 16 MPG in these conditions.
 
In the winter months - temps around 50 degrees - not as much humidity I will get a hair over 20 MPG.
 
Part of this is the increased AC usage - but I think the engine also runs more efficiently when the air is cooler & dryer - just what you would see up in the mountains.
 
BTW my MPG are based on 90+% city stop and go.

#111 of 961 Re: Left in the dust [autonomous] by KarenS HOST

Sep 26, 2005 (6:34 am)

Replying to: autonomous (Sep 24, 2005 5:11 pm)
I sent you an email a week or so ago and have not received a reply. Please send me an email at your earliest opportunity.
 
And no...you are not in trouble.

Messages Page 12 of 97

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement