Mazda 5 gas mileage

[DKaz]

So in the Happy Thread I mentioned that I got my PCM reflashed and thought that I could get better gas mileage as a result. Most of you poopooed that idea lol. In the past, I've averaged 8.5L/100km on the highway. I've done 7.9 L/100km from Kamloops to Edson, not too hard to do with its lower speed limit and relatively flat terrain.

Since the PCM reflash... 8.0L /100km Abbotsford to Kamloops, 7.9L/100km Kamloops to Banff including 100km of driving 20-60km/h due to heavy traffic, 7.9L/100km Banff to Calgary and back including some aggressive city driving in Calgary to keep up with traffic.

I just did a round trip from Banff to Golden and back... 281km in 18.9L of gas. That's 6.7L/100km!!! On a car that's rated 8.1L/100km. I drove there going about 10 above the speed limit, my wife drove back going about the speed limit. Considering I'm on winter tires and using winter gas, I would not expect numbers this low. I thought maybe the gas pump stopped early so I attempted to put a bit more and a tiny bit of gasoline dribbled out, whoops.

I have a lot more highway driving to do before I get back to Vancouver and see how much an improvement I get over my typical 10.9L/100km city figures.

[tonyzoomzoom]

i want the same reflash on my 3

[hatchattack3]

this reflash a requirment? what is it

[down_hill_dog]

Wow! Id be interested in having that update done on our 07.... But have nothing to go to tje dealer for yet.

[DKaz]

The reflash was to deal with engine stumble during light acceleration, but it hasn't been available in Canada until recently. Midway Mazda did the reflash for me when I brought my car in to check a CEL.

[zoomerboomer]

I've posted this before:  Good Alberta gas, Esso and Shell, and clean high mountain air!  Not flat terrain but lower speed 90-100 km/hr.  3 hatch GT wA/C and lux pkg. 2.3 w/ATX 5spd.
Jasper to Banff return: 39.223 litres/579 km with 215/50R17 tires so my odometer reads a little low.  6.774 litres/100 km.
Jasper to Banff 288 km 17.698 litres via Icefields Parkway and Bow Valley Parkway 6.145 litres/100km.  
Speed does make a big difference in consumption.  I've especially noticed as soon as I start driving 115-120.

[DKaz]

How is Alberta gas different from BC gas?

Oh trust me I never drive over 110. On the Coquihalla even I prefer to cruise at 100-105 if it's level ground, I drift back to 90 on uphills and drift up to 120 on downhills. I find this is the most efficient way of driving.

[zoomerboomer]

They don't have as much ethanol in the gas which I've found affects my car.  Once I gas around Little Fort/Kamloops my car starts idling rougher and my mileage decreases.  I think because of different refineries as a supplier.

From Lex in Re: CBE and SRI !!! by Lex (Mazdaspeed3) thread:
In the lower mainland - I kid you not - we have some of the worse gas compared to anywhere in the US or Canada. The car will knock when running both a stock tune as well as an off the shelf map. Anyone who monitors KR in the lower mainland knows this ... unfortunately.

[DKaz]

I never get good mileage going home though. Well once back in 2008, Edmonton to Kamloops on less than 38L of gas = 4.7 L/100km in my Corolla.

[DKaz]

63.9L of gas for 906km from Banff to Port Coqutilam then to Bellingham including waiting 10 minutes at the border and dealing with traffic in Bellingham.... 7.1L/100km. Boom. We both drove about the speed limit, although with my turn past Kamloops I let the speed drift back to 80-90 km/h going uphill on the Coquihalla.

[down_hill_dog]

Donald,

 You have my as a friend on Fuelly... I have a feeling that we are doing it wrong!

Do you update by the odo, or by the trip meter?

[DKaz]

Odometer. I have an Ultra Gauge on order to give me real time L/100km information but will probably continue to use the odometer method for Fuelly.

How long do you have to warm up your car? Because of stupid ice in Banff I would often have to warm up for 5-10 minutes and that just completely kills the fuel economy. I used 19.3L/100km on that tank. The worst I get in Vancouver is 12L/100km, pure city. Keep in mind the 06s and 07s just had a 4 speed automatic vs. 5 speed manual (and 5 speed automatics in the 08+) which probably doesn't help much.

[down_hill_dog]

I know based upon how many km to a tank we are getting, that it is better than 14.

We too are doing the odo method... But some of them have been partial fuel ups. I think this may be differing our numbers. We often get 400-450 to a tank.

[MZRL5]