Mazda 3 Petrol Range

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#1338397 7-Jul-2015 12:04

jonb: What does the trip computer show for average fuel consumption when you are driving? In my new Polo it also shows average fuel consumption since last refuel.

Do you have an efficient driving style?

Trip Computers shows since it was last reset; which was never
I should have reset it when I purchased the car but didn't.

And efficient - probably not.
I like to charge up the big hill from Mosgiel each morning - while the car is cold and I am still getting used to not changing gears and being at 120km/hr before I even know it

Jase2985

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#1338561 7-Jul-2015 14:34

does it not have a trip A and B?

nzkiwiman

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#1338571 7-Jul-2015 14:47

Jase2985: does it not have a trip A and B?

It does, but only Trip A is linked to the range/average figures.
If I am reading the owners manual correctly

Jase2985

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#1338572 7-Jul-2015 14:48

thats silly

my accord has it linked to both. different manufactures different ways of saving costs i guess

BruceHamilton

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#1338738 7-Jul-2015 17:14

mattwnz:
alasta:
lxsw20: What ever crap ends up in the fuel from it's original refining to the tank. Clearly a lot here think it isn't a big deal, but I personally would not run it under quarter if you can avoid it.

I've heard that petrol can become stale and lose efficiency over time, although I'm not sure how much truth there is in that.

That sounds like one of those urban myths. Has Mythbusters done a story on it?

Actually, it's very true. Petrol is a mixture of hydrocarbons, and some of them keep degrading over time. Most fuel specifications have a gum or oxidation stability specification, especially aviation gasolines.
The most damaging hydrocarbons are the olefins ( alkenes ) that will polymerise and form gums, consequently there are industry agreed maximum concentrations in NZ - because we have industry storage tanks at ports, and extra additives may be added by oil company brands as "their" fuel is transferred to road tankers for delivery.

Various additives ( anti-oxidants, detergents, stabilizers, metal scavengers ) are added to gasoline to make it last longer, and six months ( when stored out of direct sun in NZ ) is fairly typical. Of course engines will still run, but varnish can form on inlet ports, hence the extra additives to prevent/clean systems in premium quality fuels. One problem is that the varnish may cause fuel check valves and needle ports to stick after sitting in a hot engine for a while.

These days gums are seldom a problem, as the base gasoline is typically low in olefins, and also when oxygenates are used they, and aromatics, mop up the polar molecules and gunk by dissolving it back into the fuel. That includes water that can be picked up in the traditional distribution system, especially if service stations don't embargo recently-filled underground tanks to ensure free water has settled out.
When alcohol is added to fuels, the fuel distribution system has to be kept dry to ensure phase separation can't occur in vehicle tanks.

Fine rust in fuel tanks can catalyse gum formation, but modern storage tanks and vehicle fuel systems don't have that problem. " Stale " petrol often develops an acrid smell due to volatile degradation products. Petrol will go stale over time, even when sealed in a can, but the colder it is held, the longer the induction period will be before it degrades.

When worrying about mileage, ensure you're not using an oxygenated fuel, as the automatic engine adjustment will compensate for any oxygen present in the fuel, thereby using more fuel.

nzkiwiman

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#1341914 13-Jul-2015 08:41

Well, I went for my drive on Friday - Mosgiel to Timaru return - 215km each way

I already had around 200km out of the tank of petrol I had in the car and the range left estimated at 330km (enough to get to Timaru and back to Oamaru)
By the time I got to Timaru, my range was still just over 200km and the trip computer told me my average for the drive was 5.7l per 100km

Heading back to Oamaru, my range was down to 140km and my average for the drive was 5.7l per 100km

By the time I had got to Palmerston my range was now showing as 38km - it had dropped significantly from Oamaru to Palmerston (roughly 60km) and I still have 50km to get to Dunedin

Rather than pulling over to get petrol, I carried on towards Dunedin - at this point I should mention I did have a 5l container of petrol with me!
I got to Waikouaiti with a range of 37km and Waitati/Blueskin Bay with a range of 10km.
I lost range and my final bar of petrol going up the next hill but carried onto Dunedin - filling up with petrol 15km later

My last fill was 41.xx litres, while this fill was 44.01 litres so I suspect I could have pushed the car a little further (maybe another 15km to Mosgiel)

During the trip my total overall average fuel consumption since last trip A reset (8100km) went from 8.6l per 100km to 7.6l per 100km
As a result, the estimated range went from 600km to 745km however over the weekend that estimated range went down a lot

TLDR - uses more fuel in town, uses less on highway driving, can go a bit further when petrol tank reports empty

Inphinity

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#1341927 13-Jul-2015 09:09

nzkiwiman:

TLDR - uses more fuel in town, uses less on highway driving, can go a bit further when petrol tank reports empty

This is exactly why most/all fuel consumption standards provide city/high/combined values ;)

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trig42

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#1341936 13-Jul-2015 09:14

nzkiwiman: snip

My last fill was 41.xx litres, while this fill was 44.01 litres so I suspect I could have pushed the car a little further (maybe another 15km to Mosgiel)

I thought the Mazda3/Axela had a 55 Litre tank? In which case you have got at least another 100km in there (in fact, quite a bit more at 5.7L/100km)

nzkiwiman

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#1341972 13-Jul-2015 09:57

trig42:
nzkiwiman: snip

My last fill was 41.xx litres, while this fill was 44.01 litres so I suspect I could have pushed the car a little further (maybe another 15km to Mosgiel)

I thought the Mazda3/Axela had a 55 Litre tank? In which case you have got at least another 100km in there (in fact, quite a bit more at 5.7L/100km)

51 litres according to the owners manual on this model
42 litres is when it reports it is empty
At some unknown point between 42 litres and 51 litres there is a danger that the fuel pump can't pick up any fuel

At city driving, fuel efficiency isn't as good so (around 8.5-9 litres) so I wouldn't want to go to far

Jase2985

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#1341986 13-Jul-2015 10:21

i would suspect the fuel pump will still pickup full right down to having 2-3L left in the tank. If you fill the tank so its got fuel up the fill spout then thats also another couple of L in the tank.

My old civic had a 42L tank, i did 150km on the fuel light and when i filled it up i put 44L into it, and it was still running, no cutouts or anything. a few of my other cars ive put 1L less than the stated capacity in them on fill up.

i suspect you could get to 47-48L if you fill the car up so you can see the fuel in the filler neck. so approximately 70-80km more per tank.

that city driving stats is horrible, i think both my cars do about 1L/100km more around town than on the open road. its either super efficient on the open road, or just horrible around town, or its due to your driving style.

alasta

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#1341995 13-Jul-2015 10:38

Jase2985: that city driving stats is horrible, i think both my cars do about 1L/100km more around town than on the open road. its either super efficient on the open road, or just horrible around town, or its due to your driving style.

It depends on the driving environment. For me there is at least a 3l/100km delta between open road vs city because the steeps hills in Wellington are a killer for fuel consumption. Fortunately I usually walk or catch the bus so it doesn't matter too much.

bazzer

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#1341998 13-Jul-2015 10:42

Jase2985: i would suspect the fuel pump will still pickup full right down to having 2-3L left in the tank. If you fill the tank so its got fuel up the fill spout then thats also another couple of L in the tank.

My old civic had a 42L tank, i did 150km on the fuel light and when i filled it up i put 44L into it, and it was still running, no cutouts or anything. a few of my other cars ive put 1L less than the stated capacity in them on fill up.

i suspect you could get to 47-48L if you fill the car up so you can see the fuel in the filler neck. so approximately 70-80km more per tank.

that city driving stats is horrible, i think both my cars do about 1L/100km more around town than on the open road. its either super efficient on the open road, or just horrible around town, or its due to your driving style.

My owner's (owners' ?) manual states not to overfill the tank. It suggests not continuing to fill after the pump first stops. Is this advice inaccurate?

I used to overfill in my old car, but I don't bother now. There's no real advantage anyway (unless you're desperate for more miles on a tank).

nzkiwiman

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#1342053 13-Jul-2015 11:26

I used to be able to get another 1/2 litre in my old car by trying to fill after the first automatic click
This Madza 3 however won't let me.

I suspect much like alasta, the steep hill just outside Mosgiel is a killer for my fuel consumption, I don't have much chance to warm up the engine before going up that hill each morning

Jase2985

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#1342171 13-Jul-2015 13:43

bazzer: My owner's (owners' ?) manual states not to overfill the tank. It suggests not continuing to fill after the pump first stops. Is this advice inaccurate?

I used to overfill in my old car, but I don't bother now. There's no real advantage anyway (unless you're desperate for more miles on a tank).

you generally drive your car after you fill it up so you end up using fuel thats in the tank creating space.

i fill my car up like that because it gives me accurate km/l and L/100km readings as i know the tank is filled to the same point every time. some pumps click off early some late so this can effect your figures.

Ive never had an issue with it. nor have i heard of any issues with it.

mattwnz

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#1342200 13-Jul-2015 14:00

alasta:
Jase2985: that city driving stats is horrible, i think both my cars do about 1L/100km more around town than on the open road. its either super efficient on the open road, or just horrible around town, or its due to your driving style.

It depends on the driving environment. For me there is at least a 3l/100km delta between open road vs city because the steeps hills in Wellington are a killer for fuel consumption. Fortunately I usually walk or catch the bus so it doesn't matter too much.

Also depends on how you drive it. I was told by the dealer, that if you drive it like a granny, you will likly get really good fuel economy, but the computers will adjust to that driving style. But it is a drivers car with a lot of pwer, so you do expect to drive it to enjoy it..

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