using too much petrol

dlm

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Yeah, I get the distinct impression the OP is going to be able to do all of those things.

I do not assume that the OP has or has not any mechanical knowledge. They could have mechanical knowledge and ask the same question before checking themselves on the off-chance they may be reknown for drinking fuel.

I did not tell the OP to fix it themselves - just what is likely to need doing - I credit the OP with the intelligence to decide what to do, and if that means using a garage or completing themselves that is their choice to make - they may not want to get their hands dirty for all I know. I do not know them.

BeenThroughItAll

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

That's basic, you're showing your age.

Did you have a ZX81 or Spectrum?

I had a ZX80 first, then a Spec, then a Model B. Had an ST and an Amiga 500+ before trading both of them in for an Archimedes in 1988. By 1990 I'd moved onto PCs, with a i386, then an Am386DX-40, then a 486DX2-80 in 1994, then a Pentium 100, then started getting kit supplied from employers, and lost interest.

maninthestreet

dlm wrote: »

Clean maf sensor, egr and check CAT for blockages. Fords never were economical cars even when new - where some makes were cracking 50-60mpg, fords were still stuck on 35-45mpg.

How do you check a CAT for blockages?

Clive_Woody

maninthestreet wrote: »

How do you check a CAT for blockages?

Get a vet to do it or it could get very messy when the cat gets angry.

Belloubec

Thanks for the responses - I guess I need to get it looked at. I've not done any motorway driving at all since I have had it and been getting the train to meeting as I don't really trust it. I bought it because it had one previous owner from new who was an elderly man and it's only done 5.5k miles. It has full service history etc. I'm just baffled

20aday

I had a 2002 Ford Fiesta LX that encountered a Lambda Sensor issue a few years ago; it drank fuel like nobody's business.

Two things I found helped (until I had it repaired): Cat-a-Clean and Redex.

BeenThroughItAll

Belloubec wrote: »

Thanks for the responses - I guess I need to get it looked at. I've not done any motorway driving at all since I have had it and been getting the train to meeting as I don't really trust it. I bought it because it had one previous owner from new who was an elderly man and it's only done 5.5k miles. It has full service history etc. I'm just baffled

Right there's probably a big part of the reason it's not running right. It'll be clogged up to !!!!!!y with all sorts of grot.


Bung a dose of Cat-a-Clean in it, and give it a damn good thrashing for a tankful of fuel. That won't do any harm.

Belloubec

Thanks BeenThroughItAll you may have a point! What is Cat A Clean? Where can I buy it and where do I put it? As you can see I'm very knowledgeable when it comes to cars!!

WobblyDog

I get about 47mpg on average from my 2011 1.25 Fiesta, I drive mostly on motorways at between 60 and 70mph. When I'm doing lots of short urban journeys, it can go as low as 30mpg, anything less than that would worry me. It would be worthwhile making more careful mpg measurements before spending money on garage tests though.

Strider590

There's a good chance that in going from a Diesel to a Petrol your changing up too early and labouring the engine, this wastes stupid amounts of fuel.