Woeful fuel economy - why ?

loanranger_4

Hi

I've calculated that I am getting less than 20 mpg on my ford focus 1.8lx over the last couple of weeks (which is when I started measuring). I drive around 10 miles to work with the air conditioning on morning and evening. I really expected to be getting over 30 but is this to do with the cold weather, the car or my driving ?! I have been trying to drive more economically but the economy does not increase by much !

(e.g. This is how I worked out the numbers, for 11.1 liters of fuel I completed 41 miles which gives me 16.7 mpg !? Is that right?)

Thanks

chrisw

The calculations right but there's either something wrong with your numbers or your car. I've got a 1.8 petrol Peugeot 406, which isn't the world's most economical car in the first place, but with a 7 mile journey to work with the air con on (climate control) I get around 30-32mpg.

headcovers

I once saw an item on Top Gear that said that everything on a car affected the fuel consumption. About the only thing you can operate that doesn't drain the fuel is the radio and even that does a little.

Could it be that you are going in early and coming come late and you are having to use your lights, heated seats, heating, blower to defrost the frozen windscreen?

Here's some fuel saving tips from another website:

Driving at 55mph can drop your fuel consumption by up to 21%

Open car windows cause air drag and can cause 10% loss in fuel consumption.
Keep your tyres at the correct air pressure to reduce drag.

Maintain your engine in good repair, this ensures fuel economy.

Don't idle your car for more than 1 or 2 minutes, turn the engine off to save fuel.

Avoid extra weight on your vehicle, unload items that can add extra weight, keep your vehicle ice and snow free.

Take alternate routes that are shorter, safer and straighter. High speeds, corners and lane changes use extra fuel.

Speed up before reaching a hill, not when you are on it.

loanranger_4

Thanks chrisw. I reckon the calculations are correct, I just needed a sanity check as the numbers were so low !( I have figures for the last couple of weeks that work out just as bad ) and it is showing in my wallet!

So it is the car. Thinking back even my BMW did the same journey in around 24 mpg (on the computer) and I always drove that hard albeit in the summer months.

'headcovers' thanks for the fuel saving tips, I can't say that I have tried them all ( I do recall clarkson driving the Audi 800 miles to edinburgh and back on single tank of fuel !) My full tank (£40) only gets me about 180 miles ! I blame Nick Ferrari !

Thanks

Z

zeberdy

Although ther is an up front payment I use a Citroen C1 for work trips 13 miles each way and around town great car 2 people with spce for luggage of 4 people no luggage.

Recommend the 5 door 3 door a pain if you have kids 55MPG + and only £78 to tax plus cheapest insurance group around.

If you shop about should be able to pick up a new Ci Vibe 5 door for £6500 or even less if you get a demonstrator with a few miles.

Makes you smile when you fill it up and if you fund it on a 0% credit card deal preferable tecos as you get the points its a win win.


Zeberdy

check out http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1793764,00.html

tonys_3

Your figures are correct but how can you tell that you used exactly 11.1 litres.Fuel
guages are pretty unreliable and you really need to check the consumption over a much longer period in order to achieve more accurate data.
If you are driving in heavy rush hour traffic with lots of stop go driving,and driving in low gears also messes up consumption figures.
If the figures don't change much,even when driving at the weekends in light traffic for example,then you could have a problem or a leak somewhere.Then it might be worth getting the engine tuned to see if everything is ok under the bonnet.