Any reason my car would suddenly start consuming at loynmore diesel?

mmcg

Hi all

I have a 62 plate Peugeot 308 1.4 diesel which I've had for almost 5 years so I know it pretty well. Recently I've started to notice I'm having to fill up a bit more regularly. Today I noticed that the fuel tank is only half full despite only being filled up last weekend (for comparison I should only have used a quarter tank at most).

I suppose the obvious explanation is a small leak, I haven't noticed one but haven't really been looking in fairness. I'm just wondering if there's any other likely causes of this? I don't mind something relatively small needing fixed or replaced but I'm a little concerned this could be a sign of something major like the engine not operating correctly (timing belt?).

I am going to book it into Peugeot next week to get looked at, I suspect they'll be closed for Easter so totally may be a week or so before it gets looked at. I would assume connecting the diagnostic tool would be able to tell of the engine was not operating correctly?

Thanks in advance

custardy

leaked or burned
dragging brakes?

societys_child

(timing belt?).

Timing belt using more diesel :huh:

z1a

societys_child wrote: »

Timing belt using more diesel :huh:

Yes, if it's slipped a tooth or 2 and valve timing is out.

mmcg

societys_child wrote: »

Timing belt using more diesel :huh:

As you can no doubt tell I know nothing about engines /mechanics. I was just guessing worst case scenario is the timing could be out, causing the engine to use more fuel.

As. I said though it's a completely uneducated guess

mmcg

custardy wrote: »

leaked or burned
dragging brakes?

Hi, Yeah I suppose if the brakes weren't releasing properly it would it would take more power to move the car. Pads and discs were replaced by Peugeot roughly last August or September.

When you say leaked or burned, what exactly are you meaning?

custardy

mmcg wrote: »

Hi, Yeah I suppose if the brakes weren't releasing properly it would it would take more power to move the car. Pads and discs were replaced by Peugeot roughly last August or September.

When you say leaked or burned, what exactly are you meaning?

Fuel can only really go two ways.
Leaks out or the engine burns it.
does the car stay parked in the same bit?

mmcg

custardy wrote: »

Fuel can only really go two ways.
Leaks out or the engine burns it.
does the car stay parked in the same bit?

Yeah generally parks in the same spot sonic should be able to check for leaks fairly easily.

Leaks I understand, what would cause burning?

z1a

Possibly an urban myth, but I've heard tales about people holing plastic tanks and draining a few litres off, then using a plug to re-seal. Then returning every now and then to repeat.

Norman_Castle

mmcg wrote: »

Leaks I understand, what would cause burning?

Being burnt during combustion. Normal for combustion engines but excessive consumption suggests a fault.

societys_child

societys_child wrote: »

Timing belt using more diesel :huh:

Yes, if it's slipped a tooth or 2 and valve timing is out.

If the belt slips a couple of teeth, there's usually more tell-tale signs than burning a bit more fuel . .

z1a wrote: »

Possibly an urban myth, but I've heard tales about people holing plastic tanks and draining a few litres off, then using a plug to re-seal. Then returning every now and then to repeat.

That's more like it