1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

14.8 Mpg?

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Old 06-06-06 | 12:49 PM
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vxturboxv's Avatar
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From: Wichita KS
14.8 Mpg?

Is this around normal for city driving. I'm no light foot but damn! I thought this light littel car coudl do better than 14.8 mpg. Any tricks to up the MPG a good amount? Running all factory stuff. Emissions equip/cats removed. Electric fan. Other than that she's stock. Only 75k on the clock as well.

I have a carb rebuild kit but the car starts and drives great. I was thinking an inline fuel press regulator? Or some sort of electric fuel pump control to turn down press at cruise?
Old 06-06-06 | 12:54 PM
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From: un. k
Tune up, and relearn to drive and you *might* get another 5 mpg.
Old 06-06-06 | 12:58 PM
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Lower your shift points to 2000-2500 rpm around town for a tank or 2 and see what your mileage is. If your engine is in good tune, it shoud do this with no problem.
Old 06-06-06 | 12:59 PM
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If you drive in the city a lot, the mileage plummets. The 7's eat gas at stop lights. I get right around 15 in town with all stock stuff but almost 30 on the highway. Kinda strange.

Kev
Old 06-06-06 | 01:08 PM
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Hmm, strange. I managed 19mpg around town and that was hardly driving easily, shifting at 3000rpm most of the time. That engine had 275K km on it too, but the carb was rebuilt and new ignition components were put in. But 15mpg is lower than what it should be. Do a full tune up and rebuild that carb. You should gain at least 3 or 4 mpg.
Old 06-06-06 | 01:12 PM
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I'm not talking crusing around the suburbs. How about gridlock, not moving for 10 minutes at a time, 45 minutes to go 6 miles kinda traffic. It's a mileage killer

Kev
Old 06-06-06 | 03:01 PM
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Move to the country
I was getting roughly 15mpg spirited hwy driving, then did the 2gcdfis w/TT/IC mod and now Im getting over 23mpg.... gained a good amount of power too!
Old 06-06-06 | 03:32 PM
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definitly upgrade your ignition.....that will help with your economy
Old 06-06-06 | 04:11 PM
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on the window sticker they only claimed 18 in the city, & 24 highway for the 85 12a
Old 06-06-06 | 04:30 PM
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I gained 5 mpg in each of my 12a with the 2GCDFIS
Old 06-06-06 | 10:24 PM
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GOT WANKEL?
 
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19/30-32... trochoid can rebuild carbs too!
Old 06-06-06 | 11:01 PM
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The claimed 18mpg is theory only using a set driving pattern. It is about the best you can get in a city surburban situation. Once you snarl up in cbd driving then it can easily drop down to 12mpg.

Part of my life is spent in a capital city with good roads and light traffic. I get around 20mpg. However driving in a major metropolitan city with heavy slow traffic it drops down to 12mpg. At low speeds consumption seems to be just as dependent on time as distance!

Driving styles make a difference. My wife gets 10% better consumption than I do on a three hour trip and is only 5 minutes slower. A tune up will help but unless it was way out off tune to start with ,it will only make marginal difference to consumption. So 15mpg if you live and drive in a large city could be reasonable.
Old 06-06-06 | 11:32 PM
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Originally Posted by kgray
19/30-32... trochoid can rebuild carbs too!
I can't take all the credit for Kevin's excellent fuel milage. He treat his car exceptionally well and drives conservetivly. You should have seen the look on his face when he first brought his car to me and I test drove it. Then he recieved a ride in the widebody. First time I've seen a passenger look for the 'Oh ****' handle in the car. lol Just funnin you Kev.
Old 06-06-06 | 11:57 PM
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I get 21 mpg and i drive the **** out of my car... hell that was with me going to the drag strip... im pretty much stock with my smog removed and a 2nd gen radiator and oil cooler... but i don't think that makes much of a difference on the mpg though
Old 06-07-06 | 09:22 AM
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GOT WANKEL?
 
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no it's definately the truth! i was scared shitless, i saw 6k come up and no shift yet. i was used to granny shifting, yes i admit that i do, well then you have the fact that half of my driving is in neutral with all the hills we have here. bottom line, i thought the engine was gonna blow. Now i know better!
Old 06-07-06 | 09:36 AM
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hehe i love it

the oh **** handle
iv ripped handles off!! sittin in my mates car hes a crazy rally driver dude and im serious i was holding/pulling it came right offi fell on the shifter and we spun out


when i first got my 7 i was getttin 13mpg in town stock car but my mechanic back home said i allways had a cast iron foot...
Old 06-07-06 | 10:17 AM
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I'm doing the 2GCDFIS non T/T swap on the beater FB next weekend. We'll see if I can improve from the 14.2 mpg on this last tank. Also replacing the seriously leaking gas tank will probably help a little lol.

My first rotary mod, how cute.

Kev (Gotta make sure I don't pop the RB catalog open and I'll be okay)
Old 06-07-06 | 01:12 PM
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way to go trochoid show him how to bounce that thing off the red line
oh yeah did he look back as if someone was honking at you when you hit 7k thats my fav of all time i get an average of low 20's in my se but that sucks when gas is 3.10 a gallon but what can you do for the love of a 7
Old 06-07-06 | 01:27 PM
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GOT WANKEL?
 
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From: Kansas City, MO
i knew what the buzzer was... just damn that scared me (my car doesnt have a buzzer... 79 sa)
i cant wait till i get my plans done- elec. dizzy and coils, new exhaust, 2nd gen direct fire, and MSD blaster coil. I'll love to see my numbers then...
could i break 30? hopefully seeing how my fpr is still tuned a bit high...3.5psi
Old 06-07-06 | 01:28 PM
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When Kgray bought his car to me, it took forever to get to 6k in 1st, the exhaust was plugged and the carb needed rebuilt. When I took him out in the bp, I was topping 2nd in the same distance his covered in 1st.

My biggest concern was his Dad. Here he is left standing in front of my house, while someone he doesn't even know, that is older than he is, takes his son out for a ride and can hear my car 6 blocks away, taching 8k. Wasn't sure if would have anything to say when we got back. lol
Old 06-07-06 | 01:31 PM
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GOT WANKEL?
 
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ehh my dad had his days with horsepower, i was concerned with my mom lol
she wanted to know if my car "was supposed to smell like that, isnt that bad?"
Old 06-07-06 | 01:36 PM
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I like your mom, she's funny.
Old 06-07-06 | 03:04 PM
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Im getting roughly 25 on my commute. thats bone stock and new ngk plugs. its 1 hour of straight freeway to work for me so i averaGE 65-80 MPH to work. i shift at 3-4 normal driving and i need a tune up. also i live at ~9000' above sea level and work is 10.5k above sl. well the speedos broke actually so im guessing here. the tank is steady at 4000 rpm in 5th gear. how fast is that any way
Old 06-07-06 | 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by trochoid
I like your mom, she's funny.
All Mums have their moment. In my mis-spent youth I drove a Mini Cooper S 1305 rally car, showing off I went airbourne over a hump bridge at 110 mph. Her comment "You have impressed me, now take me home so I can get dinner"

The car was not equipped with a Oh **** Handle, is it a Racing Beat part?
Old 06-07-06 | 03:30 PM
  #25  
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GOT WANKEL?
 
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From: Kansas City, MO
yes, custom modification actually. took almost 95 man hours to get these installed.


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