Poor Gas Mileage in Millenias

walsc1walsc1 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Mazda
I just bought a used 95 mazda millenia and the gas mileage is horrendous almost nearing the gas mileage on my wrangler. I checked the air filter and it is brand new. I was thinking of moving to getting a tune up and handing it over to the mazda dealership to investigate as well. However, before I do that was hoping could get some advice here.
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  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    What is the exact mileage you're getting now, and tell us about your driving conditions....that is:

    short trips/long trips??
    lots of traffic with a/c on
    hills/mountains
  • walsc1walsc1 Member Posts: 2
    Currently it is short trips with the AC on. I also should mention i drive hard and accelerate fast. However, I just filled up with 15 gallons and the car made it around 200 miles on that tank. That is less than 14 miles per gallon. It is all flat driving no traffic. This seems way out of line with what I would expect. Also, I will mention that this tank came from the dealer so it may be regular gas and I noticed the S asks for supreme. I filled with sumpreme and hoping that will account for some of the difference. I got the car for a steal $4200 on a 95 S with 100K on it and the car is in great shape body wise.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Okay, I don't think your fuel mileage is too much out of line given what you've told me. Here's why.

    First of all, a/c eats gas, we all know this, so that a 10% drop right there. Then of course short trips put us at the bottom of the EPA fuel mileage cycle. Then, you have the S model with the optional 3.81 differential gearing, which is also less economical. And you have a heavy foot, which hurts some. Last of all, if you use regular, your engine will retard timing automatically to accept the lower octane and you will get poorer performance.

    Your car is supposed to get around 20 mpg in city driving. I could see this knocked down to near 14 mpg by all the other factors you mentioned.

    So what I'm saying is that I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with the car. You are currently driving under conditions which are the absolute worst possible for fuel mileage....short of idling, which of course gives you zero miles per gallon.
  • tommyboisxty9tommyboisxty9 Member Posts: 8
    Ya but -- LoL
    I've a 94 TBird, 4.6L V8 --- I drive with a very heavy foot, A/C on MAX, stop and go -- and never get worse then 17MPG.... generally I get 20 though... highway about 26.....
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    A magic foot!
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