Volkswagen Polo Match 2008 - Big MPG issue giving me a migraine

pat95

Hi. I have a Volkswagen Polo match 58 model, and i'm a newly passed driver, therefore this MPG issue is giving me a real headache as I have no idea what is wrong.

Basically i've been told that I should be achieving a minimum of 40mpg per gallon

Well i'm achieving considerably less, so i decided enough is enough and i'm going to do a solid test once and for all. I went to shell the price was 104.9 pence, on the litre, so i filled up £35 odd which was about 33 litres, and that put the tank gauge to go to nearly full. (Now i know the tank takes about 45 litres yet the little indicator thing showed full so i said fair enough i'll work out miles based on the litres i put in)

Ok so my calculation tells me for 40mpg, before the petrol sign comes up I should be getting at least 230 miles in this petrol car, however the tank gauge just hit 1/2 from when i filled up and it's only says 95 miles on the dash so i'm getting extremely worried, it is obviously not going to reach 230, if it's only done 95 miles at half, therefore their is an issue.

I've only been passed 3 months, but hey ho can any of you experienced people give me an insight into what i can do? Thanks.

Marktheshark

First lesson of driving I am afraid.
The manufactures MPG figures are complete bumf.
Look on a site like honest John for real MPG figures.
You will see most do not even make half the claimed MPG.

pat95

Yes but isn't 40mpg the standard anyway? Surely everybody should be getting at least that? Because obviously i know the manufacturers MPG numbers of 70 are inflated, so realistically I was never expecting anything like that not even 45, i just want the bare minimum of 40.

BeenThroughItAll

Yes. Forget about trying to work anything out using the gauge.

Brim the tank, drive until 1/4 full, then brim tank again. Divide miles covered by fuel used and there's your real fuel consumption.

If you do a lot of short trips, drive with a heavy right foot, drive mostly in town, drive in very hilly countryside, drive with car heavily loaded, drive with a roof rack on, etc., your fuel consumption will suffer.

pat95

Someone told me maybe the fuel pump is clogged and told me to take it to a garage but i am reluctant to do that, being newly passed not having experience of garages etc. By brim i'm assuming you mean fill it to the maximum and let it get to a quarter. However i think the petrol sign in this car comes on at 1/8

Marktheshark

On a motorway at steady 65 mph the 1.4 petrol may scrape 40 MPG.
Around town and expect 23-27 mpg and combined about 30-32.

It is a very old design engine.

BeenThroughItAll

pat95 wrote: »

Someone told me maybe the fuel pump is clogged and told me to take it to a garage but i am reluctant to do that, being newly passed not having experience of garages etc. By brim i'm assuming you mean fill it to the maximum and let it get to a quarter. However i think the petrol sign in this car comes on at 1/8

You know you're allowed to fill the tank whenever you want, right? You don't need to wait for 'the petrol sign'.

You can also fill it at any time. Any day, rain or shine, light or Dark. Just make sure you fill when before you run out, that's all that Matters.

pat95

@Mark - Oh really only 30-32? So nothing is wrong with the car then i don't need to take it to a garage?

Yes it is a Volkswagen Polo Match 2008 petrol but i just bought it recently however it had 100k on the clock and I just got new timing belt put on it because the previous owner had not done it, hence why i am reluctant to sell it or anything

motorguy

pat95 wrote: »

Yes but isn't 40mpg the standard anyway? Surely everybody should be getting at least that? Because obviously i know the manufacturers MPG numbers of 70 are inflated, so realistically I was never expecting anything like that not even 45, i just want the bare minimum of 40.

My Clio does 21mpg....

As has been said, you need to brim it, and do your calcs based on that, not what the gauge looks like.

BeenThroughItAll

pat95 wrote: »

@Mark - Oh really only 30-32? So nothing is wrong with the car then i don't need to take it to a garage?

Yes it is a Volkswagen Polo Match 2008 petrol but i just bought it recently however it had 100k on the clock and I just got new timing belt put on it because the previous owner had not done it, hence why i am reluctant to sell it or anything

I'd be well happy to get 32MPG out of my car. 20+ is a result for me.

pat95

That's fair enough guys. Thank you for the quick replies btw, really appreciate it. Ok but i can reply on the trip meter and the miles it says on there right?