Fuel Octane
 

Hello,

I recently just purchased a 2012 Mazda 3 iTouring with the Skyactiv tech. I know it's a higher compression engine, so has anyone ran with an octane higher than 87? I'm going to take a look through the owners manual to see what's recommended, but i'm assuming 87.

Right now i'm only averaging 30mpg, and while I do realize the car will probably improve after a break-in period, i'm not sure how much the average will come up.

the new 2012 direct-injected engine incorporates clever combustion chamber design, sophisticated fuel injectors, and lightweight parts to reduce internal friction and permit an ultra-high 12:1 compression ratio. This compression ratio is actually down from 14:1 in other applications and locations, because a “SKYACTIV” 4-2-1 exhaust header won’t fit in the Mazda3 and Americans prefer regular unleaded gas.
The pudding? Results in previous TTAC tests have been mixed. Brendan achieved 33 mpg. But Derek managed only 25 mpg in town in an automatic and 26 mpg with a healthy helping of highway miles in a manual.
I had an automatic car briefly from a dealer and a manual for a week from Mazda. Driving the automatic after the engine had warmed up with a light foot, I observed a trip computer average of 34.6 in suburban driving. Pretty good. But returning on the highway with the engine spinning a leisurely 2,100 rpm at 70 mph (the posted limit), the car managed only 33.5.
It turns out that the SKYACTIV Mazda3 is especially sensitive to driving style. Driving with a very light foot, shifting short of 2,000 rpm, and paying extreme attention to impending red lights (so as to get off the gas as soon as possible), I managed a high of 41.0 mpg on my standard drive from home to the kids’ school (with a trip computer reset after the engine had warmed up). Now this is more like it!

FROM: Mazda3 SKYACTIV: The Truth Behind The EPA Fuel Economy Numbers | The Truth About Cars

A car warmed up will have better mileage. Short city trips will yield poor mileage especially in winter. I never bother with mileage as there are too many factors that affect it. I like to enjoy my drive (Zoom Zoom). If i can't have fun while driving, then i would buy a small electric car. If you want mileage get an electric, if you want fun you don't get mileage.

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