Sign In Join 



Mazda RX-8 Gas Mileage Reports

91 messages,  Last post on Feb 13, 2009 at 9:37 AM

You are in the Mazda RX-8 Forum. Your Host is claires

What is this discussion about? Mazda RX-8, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)


Messages Page 5 of 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
...
10
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#32 of 91
Re: RX8 Mileage [carfanatic007] by trispec
May 11, 2006 (4:29 am)
Reply

Replying to: carfanatic007 (May 10, 2006 10:31 pm)

There are not really any "kinks" in the rotary engine. Rotary's are designed to burn oil. Point of the rotary design has little to do with MPG. If high MPG is the goal, then buy a Hybrid that only a NASA scientist can fix.
 
The following are the points to the rotary engine design:
 
1) Simple design engine design with few moving parts raises overall reliability over time. A design life of 200K miles on the old rotary designs, a sports car engine, was unheard of in the complicated multi-value piston world of the past. The Renesis Rotary's design life is 500K miles. Racing a rotary engines means one re-build per season, where as racing a piston engines means re-builds after every race.
 
2) Much lower torque at low RPMs is a wear and tear saver on the entire drivetrain.
 
3) The drag racing mentality of torque heavy engine design, based on a NASCAR formula in the USA is just dumb. Go watch any VOD Car video as torque heavy monster cars drag off screeching burn tires, only to crash half a block down the road as they simply loose control of the poorly torque balanced car.
 
4) Engine weight and size eliminate frontend steer compared to the high center of gravity weight of any piston designed engines. Acions might go to the flat four and flat six piston designs of Porche and Subaru.
#33 of 91
Re: RX8 Mileage [carfanatic007] by trispec
May 11, 2006 (4:29 am)
Reply

Replying to: carfanatic007 (May 10, 2006 10:31 pm)

There are not really any "kinks" in the rotary engine. Rotary's are designed to burn oil. Point of the rotary design has little to do with MPG. If high MPG is the goal, then buy a Hybrid that only a NASA scientist can fix.
 
The following are the points to the rotary engine design:
 
1) Simple design engine design with few moving parts raises overall reliability over time. A design life of 200K miles on the old rotary designs, a sports car engine, was unheard of in the complicated multi-value piston world of the past. The Renesis Rotary's design life is 500K miles. Racing a rotary engines means one re-build per season, where as racing a piston engines means re-builds after every race.
 
2) Much lower torque at low RPMs is a wear and tear saver on the entire drivetrain.
 
3) The drag racing mentality of torque heavy engine design, based on a NASCAR formula in the USA is just dumb. Go watch any VOD Car video as torque heavy monster cars drag off screeching burn tires, only to crash half a block down the road as they simply loose control of the poorly torque balanced car.
 
4) Engine weight and size eliminate frontend steer compared to the high center of gravity weight of any piston designed engines. Exceptions might go to the flat four and flat six piston designs of Porsche and Subaru.
#34 of 91
Re: Paddle shifting vs. Full Auto on the RX-8 AT 4 sp. [dwynne] by mstrickler
May 11, 2006 (3:08 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dwynne (Nov 17, 2005 10:09 am)

About half of the AT's revs/hp deficit was eliminated for 2006. The old Mazda 4-speed forced the drastic cutback in engine speed and output.
Mitch
#35 of 91
Re: Paddle shifting vs. Full Auto on the RX-8 AT 4 sp. [mstrickler] by trispec
May 12, 2006 (1:41 am)
Reply

Replying to: mstrickler (May 11, 2006 3:08 pm)

The 2004-5 RX-8 AT only has 4 ports for intake rather than the 6 ports on the MT. Also, 1st gear on the 4sp AT matches 2nd gear on the MT. The 2006 RX-8 AT 6sp has 6 ports, but the AT tranny still can't handle 9000 RPM, so rev/hp are limited at 7500 RPM.
#36 of 91
Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [KarenS] by paul_in_dc
May 12, 2006 (4:39 am)
Reply

Replying to: KarenS (Jun 02, 2005 10:38 am)

'05 RX-8, bought in Dec '04
 
17 around town
23 highway
11 track
 
My worst "around town" mpg was 15, but that was mostly due to a heavy foot and high revs.
 
Why do people b*tch about the mileage? This is a sports car, not an econ-o-box. Our mileage is similar to other comparable sports cars.
#37 of 91
Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [paul_in_dc] by from_fl
May 12, 2006 (5:07 am)
Reply

Replying to: paul_in_dc (May 12, 2006 4:39 am)

RX-8 is a sports GT(4 seats).
It is not a true sports car. RX-7 was a sports car.
I like RX-8 but couldn't get over its poor MPG issue.
Mazda has this engine for at least 10 years but yet they still couldn't improve its fuel consumption and motor oil issue. My IS250 can go 400 miles(75% freeway) per tank at 29/30+ MPG. Expect more from your sporty car.
#38 of 91
Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [from_fl] by from_fl
May 12, 2006 (5:13 am)
Reply

Replying to: from_fl (May 12, 2006 5:07 am)

Correction..
 
Mazda has this engine for at least 20 years but yet ..
#39 of 91
Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [from_fl] by trispec
May 12, 2006 (12:12 pm)
Reply

Replying to: from_fl (May 12, 2006 5:13 am)

When there's no more gas, the rotary engine be the only non-electric engine running and it'll be burning hydrogen. Piston's will go the way of steam engines.
#40 of 91
Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [from_fl] by paul_in_dc
May 12, 2006 (12:32 pm)
Reply

Replying to: from_fl (May 12, 2006 5:07 am)

Not a sports car? Ever seen one on the track? Check out the Grand Am series.
#41 of 91
Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [from_fl] by paul_in_dc
May 12, 2006 (12:33 pm)
Reply

Replying to: from_fl (May 12, 2006 5:13 am)

Where in the world do you get 20 years? The Renesis is only a couple years old. Ford has been making piston engines for almost 100 years, yet the Mustang gets worse gas mileage than the RX-8. What's their excuse?

Messages Page 5 of 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
...
10
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement