First mx5. 1993 mk1 import.

[importLNF]

Hi guys, just bought a really clean mk1, I've wanted one for years. I'm pretty new to working with cars though, set the alarm off a 6 or 7 times already and i think I've overfilled the oil. Hopefully getting it drained and changed at the garage today though. Seems to go through a lot of petrol too, anyone with a mk1 1.8 know how far i can get on a full tank?

[OldSpice]

Fuel consumption:
Hammer it: 200 miles.
Drive Ms Daisy: 280 miles.
30/32 MPG open road, around 25mpg urban stop/start.

You have no fuel warning light, so when it reads empty you'll be lucky to go another 30/40 miles max.
A proper service including plugs, filter, thermostat is Ok (?)

If thermostat is failing open as they generally do, it'll keep the mill cold longer and use more fuel.
They come off ECU-enrich around a mile & half from cold if OK.
There are other things like cold start sensors, but don't go there yet.

Allow for oil consumption of around a litre per 800/1000 miles, so check regularily.
(Unless the mill is really high miles/smoking a bit...then 500-ish miles per litre.)

[71NotOut Steven Hedley]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the fuel consumption.

When my fuel is low, I top it up and enjoy driving the car.

If I wanted something frugal, I would drive a diseasel

Stick some photos up!

[OldSpice]

He'll learn through time.

[joeytalent]

Fuel consumption:
Hammer it: 200 miles.
Drive Ms Daisy: 280 miles.
30/32 MPG open road, around 25mpg urban stop/start.

You have no fuel warning light, so when it reads empty you'll be lucky to go another 30/40 miles max.
A proper service including plugs, filter, thermostat is Ok (?)

If thermostat is failing open as they generally do, it'll keep the mill cold longer and use more fuel.
They come off ECU-enrich around a mile & half from cold if OK.
There are other things like cold start sensors, but don't go there yet.

Allow for oil consumption of around a litre per 800/1000 miles, so check regularily.
(Unless the mill is really high miles/smoking a bit...then 500-ish miles per litre.)

This whole post makes me feel a lot better about my self-mapped car and it's fuel consumption!

[OldSpice]

Wot you like? Spill the beans.

[bmv6197]

Allow for oil consumption of around a litre per 800/1000 miles, so check regularily.
(Unless the mill is really high miles/smoking a bit...then 500-ish miles per litre.)

Slightly off-topic, but just wondering about the oil consumption comment, OldSpice. Neither of my Mk1 1.8s have used any oil at all. Ever. Even after more "energetic" periods of usage, the level doesn't change at all. Both were lower miles (50k and 60k), but by no means brand new or zero milers! I always use fully synthetic oil - not that I thought that would affect consumption. Anyway I'd be curious to hear how much oil others' Mk1s are using...

Cheers
Brad.

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

The absolute last Mk1 1.8 cars had in some cases a similar problem to some early Mk2 1.8 cars in the oil control rings were sticking in their groves. This caused higher oil consumption but most I have serviced have not used any real usage between oil chages

[joeytalent]

Wot you like? Spill the beans.

I get about 22 around town and mid 30s (as high as 37 is my best) on motorways. The map is lean at motorway-ish speeds (around 4krpm / 10 - 30% throttle) which gives a solid 15 AFR.

The amount of fuel you have to lump in to compensate fully opening the throttle bodies is the real killer around town I think.

But then, I fitted them for the noise and instant response, not for the fuel economy.

[OldSpice]

Slightly off-topic, but just wondering about the oil consumption comment, OldSpice.
Cheers
Brad.

That's OK Brad, fair question.
I've had my '93 Mk1 1840cc for nigh on 9 years, and have covered some 50,000 miles in it now.
A large proportion of these (were) on the brutal side with the original mill, which stayed steady at around a litre per 1000-ish, sometimes a bit more.
Never the less, it always got/still gets a new OEM filter and top grade oil every 4,000 miles or so.
I eventually "killed" the mill at a Croft "Mission Motorsport" event ...perhaps 40/50 laps mostly on kick down ( it's an automatic) at Croft a couple of years ago.
As Eddie says, it seems the oil rings had had enough. At the time, it had clocked up around 186,000 kilometers, so fair play.
AK Automotive supplied a nice tight mill from a donor right-off, which was a "known" good 'un, and in it went.
Mk1.5 ( 1.5 series) 1840cc manual mills are identical to automatics, fortunately.
It uses, I'd wager, around a half litre per 1000 miles which to me from past experience is just sipping the stuff.
I'm equally aware that some use none, and some use a lot more. There seems to be a huge variance.
Also seems to me, from experience, that they can drink a bit for years with no big issue....until you kill it.
For a newbie like the OP, I felt it best to air on the side of caution as his car is an unkown example.
It's a lot cheaper to check the dipstick than run it dry!

[bmv6197]

Thanks OldSpice - makes sense and indeed it seems there is a variance of oil usage. I agree that being over-cautious on oil is always the best approach!

Cheers,
B.

[importLNF]

Cheers for the replies guys!
I think I'm getting 200 miles to a tank so that's good. A lot less than my previous car but the mazda is definitely worth the fuel (fallen in love with it already).
It's getting a full service just now so i should find out what the car's really like when I pick it up.
It's not had a proper clean yet because of the weather but I got a couple of photo's!

[OldSpice]

Just saw the registration. I'm only a "few cars" adrift of it. L-*** LNA
Good luck with it...and lots of positive "fettling"