Gas Efficient

[QBA]

Hi

I have a Mazda Protégé automatic from 1992, I bought it just to go from point A to B, home and work, and I’m filling my tank every week, around 44 bucks per week which may sound reasonable to some of you but for me is too much money to be paying in gas.

So I have heard of people optimizing their cars to make it more gas efficient, and I also heard of alternative like some Taxi drivers here in Toronto use propane, which I think required a tank on the trunk.

Can some one give me some info about what is the best way to go to make my car more gas efficient and if any other alternative like propane or something else is worth to look into it?

Thanks

Alex

[rage2]

Don't floor it when you're driving, that's the best way to get more fuel economy :D. It's probably cheaper to sell the car and replace it with a diesel car of some sort than to retrofit it with a propane setup (if that's even possible on your car).

[GTS Jeff]

weight reduction, a good tune up, and a lighter foot

[three.eighteen.]

just dont drive around at WOT

on a side note: how do propane cars work?

[redec]

Originally posted by three.eighteen.
just dont drive around at WOT

on a side note: how do propane cars work?

same way as gas...

[three.eighteen.]

so like any EFI engine...wouldnt the fuel rail and other fuel delivery components have to be under extra high pressure all the time to keep the propane fluid?

[Maxt]

Hmm, how far do you drive to work, that seems like an aweful hefty fuel bill for a car like that..
Get a tune up, something is wrong with that car, or your driving habits..Maxt

[QBA]

Thanks Guys

I'm doing 50 km each way from home to work and back, so 100 in total, I'm putting the highger gas because people say is better for the car and it will save me on car repair in the long run
My transmission was rebuild last month so other than tune up I don't know what to do then.

Or change the car but that will cost me more since I won't be able to sell the car for what I pay for it, plus the diferences in to paying for a better car

[5.9 R/T]

don't run high ocatane gas in your car unless 1) the OM says so or 2) you've done something to the motor. Your just throwing away money, it's not helping the car, not helping mileage, and won't save you any money. And 44 bucks a week when your travelling over 500k in stop and go traffic is not that bad. How much is gas in toronto right now anyways, 80 cents? If you can't afford it take a bus!

[Maxt]

I'll bet dollars to doughnuts the O2 sensor is long dead in that car...
But I checked on the fuel efficiency of that car its rated at about 30 mpg highway, which is not that great really for a small motor.. I can squeeze that out of my TII rx-7, and I get 18 mpg with a big block on the highway... In the long term it may pay for you to buy something more fuel efficient..Maxt

[QBA]

Thanks Guys

Maxt I'm doing the 100 km per day driving on the highway between 100 to 120 km/h
Do you think the speed could be a factor of the gas that I'm consuming?

By the way what is the O2 sensor? How do I check that?

[szw]

If you drove at 80km/hr, I bet you would have a noticible increase in mileage.

Anything above that usually has much more drag to overcome.

And it doesn't seem that bad...500km is a lot for a week. (and thats not including weekends)

[mrmattyk]

Originally posted by szw
If you drove at 80km/hr, I bet you would have a noticible increase in mileage.

Anything above that usually has much more drag to overcome.

And it doesn't seem that bad...500km is a lot for a week. (and thats not including weekends)

Most cars only get 400-450km's per tank.

[szw]

Originally posted by mrmattyk


Most cars only get 400-450km's per tank.

So what is the point you are trying to make, I don't get it?

[Ben]

Move to Iraq, gas there is no word of a lie, about 2 cents CAD per liter.

[T5_X]

Originally posted by redec


same way as gas...


Are they like diesel? No spark plugs, they just reach a high compression till the combustion occurs on its own. Or do they waork the same way as octane?


Most cars only get 400-450km's per tank.

Well that largely depends on the capacity of the tank. I get about 650 km on a tank if I drive light, but it holds just over 70L


If you really want an efficient vehicle, not even hybrid electrics are as costly to run as diesel volkswagens.

Do you know when your O2 sensor was last replaced? If its been over 70-100K, then its likely a culprit of bad gas mileage On a 92, there's probably only one of them, but maybe two. Check your exhaust manifold and there should be on sticking out the side, they kinda look like a spark plug. Check down around the back of the cat as well as often there's another one there. I don't know how much an O2 sensor would be for that car, look and see if there are 2 or 3 wires coming out of it. If 2, it should be under or around 50 bucks to replace. three wire ones are usually 50-100 bucks, but they can get up over 200 bucks.
And 5.9 R/T is right. Running higher octane gas in your car is useless unless mazda speciefied it. I'm pretty sure that engine would take 87 octane.

[Ben]

hmmm, My moms GLS TDI Golf with every single option was 29 out the door, and she gets anywhere from 900-1100 per tank. Regular city driving. 55L tank, and 55.9/l for fuel, you do the math.

[mrmattyk]

Originally posted by szw


So what is the point you are trying to make, I don't get it?

For the amount he is driving how much he fills is pretty decent. I am trying to say by him getting ~500 miles out of his tank that's not as bad as he thinks. He may or may not have a bigger tank than the average car that gets 400-450 (ex. cavalier, civic, neon, sunfire, 626 etc.). That's what I mean. 500km's per tank :thumbsup:

[szw]

yah he has a pretty big tank though. $44

My tank costs $30 to fill, lasts avg 450km. (2.5L 4cyl)

[mrmattyk]

Originally posted by szw
yah he has a pretty big tank though. $44

My tank costs $30 to fill, lasts avg 450km. (2.5L 4cyl)

True enough. I like hearing Miles/Gallon, then it's atleast comparable.

I think my tank is 40L? I haven't drink my car for 6 months.

[KoukiS14]

I can get 550km a tank city.....

[GTS Jeff]

i get anywhere from 250-400km a tank...usually around 300.

[RiceCake]

Originally posted by szw

And it doesn't seem that bad...500km is a lot for a week. (and thats not including weekends)

Shit you think that's a lot... fack lately I'm doing about 5000Kms a month. :banghead:


Originally posted by NismoS14
I can get 550km a tank city.....

I thought the KA24de's ate quite a bit of gas :dunno:



Originally posted by GTS Jeff
i get anywhere from 250-400km a tank...usually around 300.

Hahaha... they way you drive, that doesn't seem to surprise me.

Personally I get about 500kms on a 50 L tank.