2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

I recently purchased a Protege 5 and was expecting upper 20s for gas mileage. It's listed at 31 mpg highway, but I kind of figured that that was at optimum performance. My car has 60k on it and this past weekend I drove mainly highway miles on a short trip and only got 23 mpg!!

Has anyone had this same issue....it probably needs a good tuneup (I imagine the last time anything was done was 30k) and a few minor tweaks, but 23 mpg is sad and I would be extremely disappointed if this was what I end up with. I have been driving it like I stole it lately (because it's so fun to drive) so I'm trying to settle that down and see what happens.

Does anyone have any advice or had a similar problem with this type of engine or with the same car?? I have the automatic.

I am also looking at getting the windows tinted.......what should I expect to pay for that???

I am also looking to install a cold air intake....is it worth it??

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

Is your car stick or automatic? What size engine is it (if various on P5)?
I have a 2000 Protege LX 1.6 automatic and it gets around 29/33mpg.
You might need servicing for your car, maybe like a tune-up. Check with the previous owner to see when was the car last serviced, if so, what was done to it (major or minor tune-up or any other additional work).
The two major things that can improve gas mileage are: Air Filter and new Spark Plugs (Platinum). If you think the last tune-up was done at 30K, then it's time to also change the Transmission fluid and a Radiator flush.
I'm pretty sure you car will run a lot more efficient afterwards.

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

i bought the same 03 protege5 w/auto in August. Vehicle had 50k, with mostly highway driving, im averaging 30mpg. If I drive with the pedal to the metal that number drops to 25mpg.

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

Thanks for the info guys. I hope to get it tuned in the next week or so and hopefully the mpg improves thereafter. I will be going with the Bosch Platinum spark plugs. I hear those are quality.

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

Hi Guys, I’ve just registered to this forum cz I need some help….
I have a Mazda protege 5, 2003, 80K Autom.
It’s in very good shape but the only problem is GAS CONSUMPTION , which is incredible: 17mpg
usually it should be around 25 up to 33mpg
I’ve already changed the air-filter, cleaned the injector, changed the Spark Plugs, I even took the car to the Mazda company, and they told me that the car is perfectly clean….. No check engine…..

Any ideas guys….

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

i get about 20ish in town, but im pretty hard on the peddal. its lightly modified and very rev happy. i drive to its full potential. pretty hard on the car. but i see my car as a very big, expensive toy. lol

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

I've got one and with the pedal squished I get aroud 25avrg. and stock they come with iridium and don't use less that can cause misfire I know from experince get the Denso Plugs and you will see the imporvement. 5spd p5 with everything.:D

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

i don't even know what my mileage is. i put $35 in premium about every two weeks. i never drive the car though.

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

Hey, I've got an '02 Protege 5, 5spd. I've found that on the highway I usually do average around 30-31mpg. On occasion I've gotten slightly better.

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

I have posted the gas mileage question in several Protege 5 forums. I bought a '03 automatic, with 13,000 original miles, in October'07 for $8,900 (to replace my 1998 Altima with 178,000 miles). Ihave put about 11,000 miles on it since. Iamonly getting 25 mpg. Mostly highwayto and from work. I drive 26 miles to work and then 26 back (this includes approximately 5 milescity). On the highway I average 80mph and I know this is not helping my gas mileage, but anticipated low 30mpg's when I bought the car.

The answers I got from the other forums are consistant with what I am seeing, but there are people that have calculated low-mid 30'mpgs. Guess I should try to slow it down a bit.

I like the car but Ihate the automatic. My first automatic in 22 years (since my 1968 Camaro), there is no feeling to it and it shifts horribly.
Oh yeah, car needs new tires any suggestions, nothing aggressive, something good on highway??????

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

I have a 2003 Protege DX, 2.0 Automatic (not the 5). What is the difference between the regular Protege and the Protege 5? I get 22 to 27 depending on the type of driving I do, the weather and other variables. I too have been a little disappointed in the mileage

I've tried an additive, CA-40, that is supposed to improve mileage about 10% or so. I've kept a log of mileage with and without this additive, but it has been hard to draw any conclusions, since my driving is highly variable (city/highway, traffic, ambient temperature, ac/not, topography and load). Also, I lost my trip meter data a couple of times when installing a new battery. I think the only way to know whether this stuff works would be with a dynamometer, where they can control and measure how much work is actually being done by the engine. [align=left] [/align]

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

I have a 2002 Protege5, 2.0L automatic, 104,000 miles on the odo. In normal driving, a mix of mostly commuting at 65mph and driving around town, I average 25-27mpg. The BEST I have ever gotten is 30mpg, all highway 65-70mpg. I have found it to be a couple mpg worse in the winter.

But I've never had a tank less than the low 20's no matter what I did. My car is bone stock with no modifications. The only thing I do to get better mileage is to keep the tires at 35psi.

Speaking of tires, someone asked and here are my two cents:
1. AVOID the Kumho Ecsta ASX like the neighborhood pit bull that is trying to kill your children. While they are chear and drive and handle nicely at first, I had 2 of them disintegrate on the highway, once when my daughter was driving. Another third tire was wearing abnormally after only 15k miles and would have suffered the same fate. They are crap and should be taken off the street. 'Nuff said.
2. The OE Dunlop SP5000s were OK but overpriced.
3. I am currently running Yokohama YK520s and could not be happier with them. They are a great blend of responsiveness, grip, and wear. It does not come in the standard 195/50-16, but I put on the upsized 205/50-16, and they work just fine.

I would say if you are getting sub-20mpg, you definitely have something wrong.

I will also say, this has been an utterly, completely reliable car. With 104k on the clock, it drives like the day I bought it and has ZERO rattles, no holes in the upholstery, no repairs other than cosmetic. The ONLY thing that has failed on this car is the #6 preset button on the radio, and even that works if I push it hard enough. Thank you Mazda, and I look forward to replacing it soon with a Mazda3 GT once I decide which of my 3 driving kids deserves to get my Protege5.

Matt

RE: 2003 Protege 5 Gas Mileage??....other questions
 

Hello Again,
I don't know the differences between the two models DX/5, I know my 5 is a wagon is the DX a sedan? Go to Edmunds.com and look them both up under used vehicles. I believe you can even do a side by side comparison. I made a mistake by the way, got the car with 18,000 original.

I personally don't believe any of those additives are going to improve your mpg's. I am going to do a tune up (plugs, filters.....)now that it is a little nicer out. Seems that there are alot of owners saying this helps a little.

Had a slow leak and was at Town Fair so I just bought what I thought looked best for tires. I bought (4)TOYOProxes TPTs @ $110.00 each, OUCH!!!!!!!!!for that muchthey should haveused a little lube for me. Okay for the first 75-80miles, I will post any negatives.

McReprog (or anyone else with an AUTOMATIC), I have seen a lot of post with auto tranny problems, yours been okay?
Also wondering about my rpm ranges. Car seems to really rev from sixty up. I added a couple of pics showing my rpms just over 3000 for 70 mph and about 3400-3500 for 80 mph. Just a touch of the peddle or a slight incline automatically adds 2-300 more rpms and then it seems to "slip" back down into a normal rev.
Really not use to autos, especially foreign.
I used cruise control and was on flat highway when I took the photos.

See Ya,
JJBroc

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