You are here: Forums Sedans Mazda Protege Mazda Protege Real World MPG

Mazda Protege Real World MPG

57 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 8:11 AM

You are in the Mazda Protege Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Mazda Protege, Mazda Protege5, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 2 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#4 of 57 MPG - 91 Protege LX 1.8 Dohc 5 speed by lifeisrich1 Jun 11, 2005 (2:49 pm)
Just purchased this well-maintained Maz (112,000 miles) and kept records for first few thousand miles on gas and oil. Here's what it is so far: Averaging around 27, have gone to 26 with mostly city driving and over 29 with mostly freeway commuting. The dohc is peppy and I think that if I played "sports car" and did a lot of accelerating the mileage would decrease but I guess that would be true of any car. Oil consumption has been nil, maybe half a quart for 1,500 miles.
#5 of 57 My '99LX with AT averages 31-32mpg. by mazdafun Jun 16, 2005 (11:50 am)
Mostly local driving, which doesn't have many stops.   On the freeway, it gets about 34mpg at a near-constant 72mph. I can get 38mpg if I stay around 65mph.   When I drive in a more sprightly fashion, it gets 24mpg. Ouch.
#6 of 57 MPG 2002 Protege 5 by tadster Nov 21, 2005 (7:42 am)
I drive my 2002 Mazda Protege 5 (with standard 2.0 liter DOHC and 5 speed manual transmission) about 37 miles per day during my commute in Northern Delaware. The drive is about 65% highway/35% city driving. My driving habits are variable, depending upon my mood, or who is in the car with me--but I mostly drive for a mix of fuel economy and fun. If I'm driving for fuel economy, I shift around 2.5k to 3k rpm. If I'm driving sportily, I'll shift at about 4.5k rpm (at the torque limit). I almost never drive the engine beyond 5k except in rare acceleration stunts. I try to stick to using BP (Amoco) 87 octane, but I occasionally have to fill up at a convenience store. Anyway, I recently calculated my mileage over a 3000 mile time period, and was dissapointed to find that I am averaging only 27.7 miles per gallon.   Yes, I keep the tires properly inflated, filters clean, and all the other stuff one should be doing to maintain high fuel economy. I think, though, in the end, a 2.0 liter engine is a moderately large 4 cylinder, and you're gonna have to keep the rpms as low as possible to break the 30 mpg barrier. One thing that continuously annoys me about the transmission is that highway speeds are maintained only with high rpms. 60mph equals nearly exactly 3k rpm in my car. That's just too high--and too loud! I wish the overdrive gear was reconfigured for a lower engine speed at that rate. Anyway, I usually drive about 70mph on the highway, so the rpms are even higher.   I bought the manual tranny to save money on gas--I never thought that it'd have the opposite effect. You see, it's so much fun to drive the pro5 that I find myself driving hard when I shouldn't be.   My brother's 02 civic EX gets 40 mpg--but I think the driving pleasure attained behind the wheel of my Pro5 is the edge that keeps me addicted to this car--regardless of the poor fuel economy. Replies to this message: autonomous (Nov 21, 2005 8:29 am)
#7 of 57 2002 Protege 5 manual averaging 28 mpg [tadster] by autonomous Nov 21, 2005 (8:29 am)
Replying to: tadster (Nov 21, 2005 7:42 am) ... I recently calculated my mileage over a 3000 mile time period, and was dissapointed to find that I am averaging only 27.7 miles per gallon.   What mpg were you expecting? Several years back, Consumer Reports estimated the average for an automatic at 25mpg so I would imagine a 10% improvement for the manual would be about right. Considering the spirited driving you're doing 28 mpg is pretty good.   Regarding the comparison to the Honda Civic, doesn't it have a smaller motor and deliver lower hp? Wouldn't that partially explain better fuel economy?
#8 of 57 Well, tadster does admit it's partly self-inflicted. :) by mazdafun Nov 22, 2005 (6:18 am)
My wife just breaks 28mpg with her AT-equipped '03 P5.   Other than driving at high speeds on the freeway, she usually tries to keep the engine speed low.   On my '99 LX (1.6L engine, AT), I average 31.5mpg. It gets lower with cold temps, so I'm getting about 26-27mpg now. If I drive a in a more spirited fashion, I can get my economy down to 24-25mpg when I normally get 31-32mpg.
#9 of 57 mileage 2003 Mazda Protege DX automatic by boyce May 07, 2006 (10:14 am)
2003 Protege DX. My mileage around town short trips has been from 21 to 24 mpg. Only made two interstate trips of real distance (2000 miles round trip). Got from 25 to 27 on each tank full. I have the automatic for which I was thankful during a hour long traffic jam in Atlanta.
#10 of 57 Just my 27mpg by shrique Jun 05, 2006 (4:55 pm)
I've just done two tanks on my 2002 with 35k miles. I drive mostly city, no stop and go just stoplight commuting (4.2 miles) and I've been averaging 27mpg and change. Thats about 2.5 weeks or so with 90% low speed (45mph or lower) and the other 10% is highspeed (65mph plus) highway running. That's running Mobile1 (which I highly recomend, makes the engine quieter) no AC to speak of.   One thing I have noticed is that if you keep you heater set to any of the defrost settings or the heater setting it runs the AC at a low level. if you set it to vent or vent/heater it doesn't. I think it's for reducing moisture. Either way I find it annoying. You can tell by listening to the engine fan. If your sitting at a stop lighjt with the windows open and your engine fan comes on with it in defrost, the moment you switch to vent the fan quits. Odd that, seemed to help my MPG a little bit.
#11 of 57 bad pg '95 protege S 1.8L sohc by degraaf Sep 21, 2006 (9:39 am)
My 95 protege S 1.8L sohc auto with only 90,000 Km(55,000Miles) gets about 25 mpg Highway. This car had been meticulessly maintained by the previous owner, my father-in-law (ex navy) who is real picky about the condition of his cars. About 2 months ago the timing belt and all the hoses and external belts where replaced. The car starts, runs, idles and drives like new. Any suggestions why the bad mileage? None of the idiot lights have gone off, ever! Thanks for your assistance, Howie. Replies to this message: rustnot (Dec 30, 2006 11:28 am) autonomous (Jan 03, 2007 9:52 am)
#12 of 57 tadster by bottgers Sep 22, 2006 (11:40 am)
Something about your RPM claim at highway speeds just doesn't sound right. My '99 Corolla 5 speed doesn't turn 3K RPM until I hit 80 MPH, and its engine is only a 1.8 liter. At the most the Protege manual should be turning more like 2,000 to about 2,300 RPMs at 60 MPH.
#13 of 57 Gearing on Proteges more aggressive at lower speeds. by mazdafun Sep 22, 2006 (4:07 pm)
Which does wonders for low-speed acceleration and feel, but it means that the engine revs higher at highway speeds.   I think my '99LX with AT (1.6L engine) hits around 2700-2800rpm when I drive at 65mph.

Messages Page 2 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Mazda Protege Mazda Protege Real World MPG