Miata mpg

[bikin' Ed]

The miata has been out of the garage since May when I installed E3 spark plugs and switched to synthetic oil 0W-30. Of course I have no ABA tests, but I have (what I consider unusual) results.

My mpg has been increasing about 1 mpg per tank. The first was 39+, then 40+, 41+, and the last one was 42+. The conditions are about as equal as possible--same route, barndoor headlights open to work top down home. There are no other mods except I pumped up the tires and removed the cold air intake snorkel, but these were done before the season.

I'm afraid the oil and plugs made no difference, and I'm just becoming a better adjusted driver......any thoughts?

[bestclimb]

Plugs not adding much mileage does not surprise me. I think most snazzy spark plugs with some scheme for multiple paths of spark miss an important fact about electricity. That the spark takes the path of least resistance. That means the closest bit to the center gets the spark. On the plus side with multiple paths for spark when one gets fouled in such a way that it no longer can make spark (but is not shorting) the spark still happens.

[autoteach]

When I was involved in spec miata racing we got 17mpg racing the cars all out. I love those little cars, hope you are enjoying yours.

[VegasDude]

Mileage steadily gaining; same driver, same exact route at the same times of day? Sounds perfectly normal. You are getting well attuned to the route.

[bikin' Ed]

Originally Posted by autoteach

When I was involved in spec miata racing we got 17mpg racing the cars all out. I love those little cars, hope you are enjoying yours.

yes, I love my little go cart. The inherant nature of the car makes me want to take it out and abuse it, rather than hypermile. I originally bought it with a v-8 conversion in mind

[cujet]

If you drive much highway, the Miata can use taller gearing for more MPG.

Many of the turbo guys install 3.63 rear gears out of Australia. That's a minor change from the stock 4.10's. But, it will net you a few MPG's.

[AJI]

You must have the patience of a saint to get 36-odd MPG out of a Miata! I thought I was doing fairly well getting over 30mpg from my 1991 car, considering it tends to be driven around town most of the time. The most I've ever got from it was just over 35mpg, and your averaging more than that!

That said, mine needs a service and I might see general improvements with new plugs, filters and some fully synthetic oil. It's probably not in the best of health though it's certainly not bad.

I do enjoy the good economy I can get from it when I'm driving normally but at the end of the day it also gets driven in the manner for which it was designed from time to time. I'm afraid I don't have the self control to manage a full tank without a little hooning around

Partly why I'm considering getting a more frugal daily driver to go with it, so that the Miata can be used exclusively for fun and the DD exclusively for economy...

[bikin' Ed]

Originally Posted by cujet

If you drive much highway, the Miata can use taller gearing for more MPG.

Many of the turbo guys install 3.63 rear gears out of Australia. That's a minor change from the stock 4.10's. But, it will net you a few MPG's.

While this car is seldom on the highway, I've always thought that even at speeds over 30 mph this car would benefit from "longer legs". As time and money allow that will surely be one mod I'll be looking into.