When most people think about purchasing an intake, they want it for the performance increases. While an intake is probably the best bang-for-the-buck modification you can make to add power and torque to your Mazda, there is another huge but often overlooked benefit, which is the improved gas mileage.
How is that possible?
Most CorkSport intakes use a conical dry flow air filter with 3” outlet that is much less restrictive than the factory filter. This directly translates to better gas mileage. We have also calibrated our precision-machined MAF housings and intakes to exacting tolerances and have designed them to work better and more efficiently than the factory intake system.
Where’s the proof?
We were beginning to get feedback from customers stating that they were seeing improvements in their gas mileage with the addition of the intake.
I have a brand new 2012 Mazdaspeed3 that is stock apart from the intake. With this new intake I have seen my average mpg for the last 12,000 miles of normal break in driving go from 28.4 to 31 miles per gallon while now driving in a much more aggressive manner during the last 1,000 miles. I am thoroughly impressed and I hope that this information can be of use to your company and other customers. – Alex B.
To be sure we needed to control the test conditions and make our own conclusions.
After testing the Skyactiv CX-5 with the factory intake system, we showed an average of 34.0 MPG. After adding the CorkSport Short Ram Intake, we have been showing an average of 38.5 MPG. This is a 13% improvement in fuel mileage just by adding the intake system.
We then went a step further and did extensive in town gas mileage testing. Though the results were not as impressive, they were still substantial. The baseline with the stock intake was 29.3mpg and improved to 31.2 with the CorkSport Short Ram Intake. This is a 6.5% improvement in fuel mileage.
Of course the CX-5 SkyActiv was designed with fuel mileage in mind so getting great MPG’s in this car was not surprising. This is when we decided to take our testing to the next level and see what could be achieved on the Mazdaspeed3.
As it turns out, the Mazdaspeed3 showed similar improvements in gas mileage in the city, but significantly less on the highway. We had a 6.1% improvement in city driving and a 4.4% Improvement on the highway, with a peak of 33.2mpg with the CorkSport Mazdaspeed intake installed.
Some customers have seen additional increases, but the results are generally subject to how a person drives. Remember, with that increase in torque and horsepower, you will be more tempted to have a heavier right foot, too.
What’s the Payoff?
With gas prices yo-yoing over the last couple of years, too, at some points topping $4.00 a gallon here in the Pacific Northwest, we estimate that the intake will be able to pay for itself in around 13,000-16,000 miles. With a national average of around 15,000 miles driven per year, you can expect your intake purchase to pay off quickly and then start getting money back in your pocket from the fuel savings.
Not only does less gas mean more money in your pocket, but fewer emissions as well, so you can tell all your environmentalist friends that you are doing your part!
To recap, better mpg, more money in your pocket and you a decrease in your carbon foot print. This all sounds good to me.
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33.2 mpg for speed3? are you sure? because I’m averaged 38 ish with just your SRI 🙂
You guys talking about mid to high 30s for mpg on a speed3 are smoking crack . I average about 24 with mixed driving while occasionally getting into the boost. I’ve seen around 31 on the highway. That said, I have seen a nice increase with my CS SRI.
Was the MS3 tuned for the intake or just bolted on and driven?
^38mpg? Do you drive your speed3 at all with the peddle…. I get around 24mpg if I’m lucky
Just bolted down. No tuning was done when we did our testing.
Results will vary. As we noted, aggressive driving will have an impact on the results as will other environmental factors and what other aftermarket items you have on your vehicle including wheels and tires.
I do a lot of distance driving. I live in Co and drive to texas a lot. I just leave cruise control on and I get 38.
then again, I am going from a mile high altitude to sea level…
I’m lucky to get 17mpg with my 13′ speed3 with CS SIR/TIP
I agree on the crack smoking. 😉 I stayed between 23 and 24 mpg with stock everything for the first 3750 miles with my 2012 speed3. Just put the stageII on tonight. We’ll see what the averages are in a couple weeks. Have a 400 mile drive to the mountains and back this weekend.
I hope to get better MPG’s too! I just bought my MS3 and drive only city, and am averaging 16 mpg! I’m sure it’ll go up as i put more miles on it but DAMN! Cant wait to get this SRI
Installed the CS SRI on my 2013 MS3. Before install I was averaging between 24 – 26 mpg. Now with the SRI im getting between 25 – 27 mpg with sensible driving style. Sounds really nice on hard accelerations too. The MS3 can be OK on gas as long as you’re not always stomping on the turbo. However, anyone complaining about gas mileage on the MS3 should have bought a Toyota Prius.
hi,when do you expect to have a intake for the cx5 with the 2.5 engine.
I would like to see test results for the cx5 2.5 engine. I would like to purchase an intake for mine, but I would like to see proof before a purchase.
Uhm.. I don’t really know a lot about cars … but would this work on a Mazda 2??
I average between 32-38mpg as well. I have the same car.
When I use my cruise control, I can usually get about 38mpg. I don’t have the intake shown, but I would like to purchase it and see what kind of difference it can make.
I notice that my Mazda 3i, 2010 was running at 2500 RPM on 50 MPH with 28 miles per galons, It has 110,000 . I replace the spark plug, coils, Air filter K and R. Clean the air intake sensor, it was black, the idle car did bellow 900 rpm , now it going down to 650 RPM
It increase to 35 MPG, I drive 110 miles daily that why I need to fine tune the engine.
I will like to improve more the MPG,
What else coulf I do?