Six Cylinders Motoring Notes - Prize winning Mazda!

[Six-cylinder]

A bit disappointed with the Mazda 323 GLX 1.5 today as I filled it with petrol and checked the fuel consumption for the first time.  33.1 mpg, I was hoping for 35-40 mpg.

Maybe the fault is the engine bay is very dirty and it needs its air filter box painted.

The roads are like trails of water today so it has had a good under body wash.

[dozeydustman]

Should do 40 on a decent long run. Hopefully it’s just a case of needing a new air filter and a mixture tweak.

[puddlethumper]

I get 38/40 out of my 323 1.6.

[hairnet]

leadfoot

 

[AxWomble]

Is it running cool? That knocked our old AX down from 47mpg average to 32mpg. Worth checking the stat isn’t stuck open and using an IR thermometer to check that the coolant is getting up to temp properly 

[Six-cylinder]

21 hours ago, AxWomble said:

Is it running cool? That knocked our old AX down from 47mpg average to 32mpg. Worth checking the stat isn’t stuck open and using an IR thermometer to check that the coolant is getting up to temp properly 

It seems to warm up quick enough but reads just under half after 40 mins easy driving.

[hairnet]

seems ok

is the carb ok?

slightly worn but ok otherwise

[Six-cylinder]

53 minutes ago, hairnet said:

seems ok

is the carb ok?

slightly worn but ok otherwise

Idle is a bit erratic, sometimes 900 rpm, other time anything up to 1700 rpm.

[richardmorris]

Stuck Open thermostat?

[dozeydustman]

I wouldn’t say that’s running cool. It’s between the 2 marks albeit not central. I would be more concerned if it was nearer the bottom or above halfway. Take it for a proper long motorway run and if the temperature starts dropping at speed, especially now the cold is drawing in, it’s probably a thermostat - that’s how most of my previous cars with temp gauges have behaved when the stat has stuck open. If it stays rock solid it’s just how that engine runs and might just need a tune up.
 

Found some data online at https://www.automobile-catalog.com/performance/1986/1629980/mazda_323_1_5_glx.html

[ianbmw]

All I want to do is fix that one….

but Noooooo I have to fixed a Japanese/ Australian mongrel first.

[richardmorris]

41 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

All I want to do is fix that one….

but Noooooo I have to fixed a Japanese/ Australian mongrel first.

As his lordship commands.

[ianbmw]

8 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

As his lordship commands.

I think it’s shared stupidity really.

I see a car dead in the FOD, people say it’s a goner and never going to work again.

i tut and say something like…..peasants…..and just like that, the spanner’s appear.

I am abit slack on this though, lacking efficiency 

[Six-cylinder]

49 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

All I want to do is fix that one….

but Noooooo I have to fixed a Japanese/ Australian mongrel first.

 

Why would you want to fix an under nourished, poverty spec manual Carlton saloon!

Thank you for the forward progress on the luxury Australian car though.

I had a panic finding the keys for the Sigma that was not in where it was supposed to be. I found them when I put away the Mazda  with cars in use keys.

[loserone]

I used to get 26-28 from my 1.8 BG GTI, they were definitely thirstier than I expected.  Puts 22 from the 4.4 l322 into perspective 

[ianbmw]

Engine now timed up and rotating correctly, plugs in, battery on charge.

Just a few more hours graft and it will be running, fingers crossed.

Then focus can be moved to the superior car, that Carlton!

[Zelandeth]

Sounds a little on the low side for the MPG on the Mazda, but not catastrophic.  May be running a smidge cool or rich.  Both things I could check if I had three milliseconds of free time at the moment.  That's my own damned fault though!

[grogee]

FWIW my MG Maestro does about the same. Bigger engine but driven like Miss Daisy most of the time. 

I wouldn't worry about it, petrol was cheap when they were made so it's fine. 

[ianbmw]

After over 24 hours, it appears the battery is back alive , previously showing 4.7V.

 

I will leave it for a few days and check it again, see how far it drops

[ianbmw]

Hang on, photo corrected for Australian car use.

[Six-cylinder]

13 hours ago, ianbmw said:

After over 24 hours, it appears the battery is back alive , previously showing 4.7V.

 

I will leave it for a few days and check it again, see how far it drops

That's good news, the car has been off the road for more than a year.

[ianbmw]

On 18/11/2025 at 08:18, Six-cylinder said:

That's good news, the car has been off the road for more than a year.

Does that mean the Carlton has been reliable for a year? Let’s see what the weather does on Saturday.

[Six-cylinder]

11 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

Does that mean the Carlton has been reliable for a year? Let’s see what the weather does on Saturday.

Yes, apart from snapping a fan belt in April.

It is 4 years now since it dumped me on the side of the road.

 

[ianbmw]

But it works now!

[richardmorris]

17 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

But it works for now!

Slight edit.

[Six-cylinder]

The Milton Keynes Classic Car Club were asked to take a small selection of cars to visit the Lace Hill Care Home in Buckingham for the interest of the residents on "Men's Day". Our leader was hoping for 8 cars he got 19.

I was looking to my future needs, but no rooms came with a garage!

[High Jetter]

Farina estate looks interesting.

[richardmorris]

1 hour ago, Six-cylinder said:

The Milton Keynes Classic Car Club were asked to take a small selection of cars to visit the Lace Hill Care Home in Buckingham for the interest of the residents on "Men's Day". Our leader was hoping for 8 cars he got 19.

I was looking to my future needs, but no rooms came with a garage!

I can see a red maxi ( @Slowsilver?) . What did you go in?

[quicksilver]

55 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

I can see a red maxi ( @Slowsilver?) . What did you go in?

That was a very long journey for the red Maxi - all of half a mile and it never even got into the famous fifth gear.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, quicksilver said:

That was a very long journey for the red Maxi - all of half a mile and it never even got into the famous fifth gear.

Shame, they were a great cruiser