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Mazda5 Owners MPG-Real World Numbers

378 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 1:42 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA5, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Van


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#342 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [5_more] by vg33e power
Feb 24, 2009 (8:13 am)
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Replying to: 5_more (Feb 24, 2009 5:34 am)

Just kind of dawnned on me, but by any chance are you running a different tire size then what it came with stock? Can it be that your odometer is not functioning correctly or not calibrated correctly? .....Just a thought.
#343 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [athenasius] by sbsteggs
Feb 24, 2009 (2:24 pm)
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Replying to: athenasius (Feb 24, 2009 4:13 am)

The tires are the tires from the dealer. Hopefully they check the calibration to the odometer.
 I got a feeling the problem is in the brakes. They often squeak, and are extremely touchy. They may be dragging. I'm not a rocket scientist, and can hardly even speeel rocket scientist, but if the brakes are grabbing that probably would have a heavy impact on MPG.
 I take it in Wednesday (tomorrow) morning. I'll keep you all posted and thanks muck for your thoughts and input.
#344 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [sbsteggs] by sbsteggs
Feb 24, 2009 (2:25 pm)
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Replying to: sbsteggs (Feb 24, 2009 2:24 pm)

Thanks MUCH, not muck
#345 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [5_more] by bobw3
Feb 24, 2009 (4:42 pm)
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Replying to: 5_more (Feb 23, 2009 4:15 pm)

Any time the brakes are used (wheel or engine braking), energy is lost in the form of heat. The source of that energy is in the gas tank.
 
HMMM...so if you press the brake going downhill you're wasting gas too
#346 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [bobw3] by 5_more
Feb 24, 2009 (5:29 pm)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Feb 24, 2009 4:42 pm)

Yes. It applies to downhill travel too.
 
Even though it may be necessary for safe travel, or to maintain speed, energy is wasted each time the brakes are used. Unless you pushed the car up the hill, the energy that got the car up the hill came out of the gas tank. In the absence of braking, you'd have traveled further on the way down. That's the miles part of miles per gallon.
 
The exception to this is applying the brakes on a stationary car whose engine is not running. That will not effect gas mileage.
 
What is so hard to understand about this?
#347 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [5_more] by vg33e power
Feb 25, 2009 (7:37 am)
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Replying to: 5_more (Feb 24, 2009 5:29 pm)

Yes yes we get it! As long as an engine is on and the vehicle is not moving or not moving freely without the restrictions of brake whether it is going downhill or uphill, it is energy lost and decrease of MPGs, because the engine is still burning gas and either not moving at all or being restricted by the brakes.
#348 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [5_more] by athenasius
Feb 25, 2009 (7:45 am)
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Replying to: 5_more (Feb 24, 2009 5:34 am)

Cool, can I ask where you got the fan that heats the car up that does not draw any power to run lol
#349 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [sbsteggs] by sbsteggs
Feb 25, 2009 (11:09 am)
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Replying to: sbsteggs (Feb 24, 2009 2:25 pm)

According to the technical mechanic guys and computer at the Mazda dealer...........................there is nothing wrong my Mazda5. What a suprise . The finger valve things, or whatever he called them, that inject or control fuel are working fine. The brakes are perfect.
 Here is the possible Problems:
1. The actual average mileage according to Mazda is 23 MPG combined.
2. With "only" 1300 miles on the car, it's not "broke in" yet.
3. Driving style.
4. This is the most probable cause to them for the MPG being off "slightly", the gasoline companies blend the gas differently from summer to winter. The "winter" gas mix fires differently, faster. This makes the cars start faster and get warmer faster. The "winter mix" also results in lower MPG for everybody.
 
So there it is. Keep the tire pressure up, they documented the issue, and see if the MPG improves in the spring.
 
A " song and a dance " or " legit "??
#350 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [sbsteggs] by 5_more
Feb 25, 2009 (7:12 pm)
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Replying to: sbsteggs (Feb 25, 2009 11:09 am)

You never mentioned what kind of mileage you got on your Venture in the month or so before selling it -- on the same roads.
#351 of 378
Re: MPG expectations not there yet. [athenasius] by 5_more
Feb 25, 2009 (7:27 pm)
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Replying to: athenasius (Feb 25, 2009 7:45 am)

Cool, can I ask where you got the fan that heats the car up that does not draw any power to run
 
I said the heat was free, not the air.
 
The air is almost free. Unless you open a window in the winter, you need the fan for fresh air to keep the windows from fogging. If it's above freezing the a/c helps too, but you have to pay for that.
 
Cheers

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