How to get more MPG out of a Ford Fiesta Ecoboost

Cupumber1

Hi all,
I have just bought a Ford Fiesta Ecoboost 1.0l. I've discovered since that the real MPG on these is actually much lower than claimed (no surprise I guess!), however I like the car and would like to know how to maximise the MPG on it. When to use Autostop/start feature? When best to change gears? Is it worth using superior petrol grades? Economy is a massive deal to me so I would be happy to change my driving habits to make it work. I can't avoid city driving and short trips, unfortunately, as that's what I have to do for work. Thanks in advance

Scrapit

Turn of stop/start firstly.

forgotmyname

Change gears to keep it at peak torque for the required road speed.

If economy is the biggest deal for you sell it and buy a diesel.

daveyjp

If you are doing short trips and city work you will get quite low mpg.

A Yaris hybrid would probably have been a more sensible choice for your type of trips.

Aylesbury_Duck

Some general tips:

Don't carry excess weight, so clear out the boot of stuff you don't need.
Anticipate better so you aren't having to keep accelerating/braking.
Accelerate gently. No need to be doing drag starts.
Try and keep moving in queues if you can, even only slightly. Overcoming the inertia of a stationary car costs fuel.
Keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressures and check them weekly.
Carry out regular checks on fluid levels and stick to the service schedule. Give you're doing a lot of short journeys, consider shortening the service intervals because a lot of stop-start mileage is worse for an engine than "normal" driving.

AdrianC

Cupumber1 wrote: »

I have just bought a Ford Fiesta Ecoboost 1.0l. I've discovered since that the real MPG on these is actually much lower than claimed (no surprise I guess!), however I like the car and would like to know how to maximise the MPG on it.

It's entirely about your driving style, and the driving conditions. The official figure is generated from a strictly defined driving pattern.

When to use Autostop/start feature?

All the time, to give the best economy.
This may differ from the lowest long-term costs.

When best to change gears?

That's basic driving lesson territory...

Is it worth using superior petrol grades?

Very unlikely, assuming your priority is reducing costs. If premium fuel is 10% more expensive, you would need 10%+ more economy to "break even".

Economy is a massive deal to me

Why? You are throwing thousands away in depreciation and probably interest and finance costs - so why is a fraction of a penny per mile more important than that?

I can't avoid city driving and short trips

That's EXACTLY the kind of use that gives minimum economy. Change that, and you'll make the single biggest difference possible.

unfortunately, as that's what I have to do for work.

Can't you use public transport? Or a bicycle?

agrinnall

Scrapit wrote: »

Turn of stop/start firstly.

Please explain your logic for this (mine is, as Adrian suggests, turned on all the time).

Tiexen

Press the "eco" mode button


"Press to turn it on and a series of systems and settings adjust to help you save fuel. For example, the rate of acceleration can be reduced, the idle speed can be lowered and the fan speed of the climate control can be lowered. Combined, all these little things can make a big difference."


Or you could have bought a "non" turbo 1.1 Fiesta and saved a few bob.

Scrapit

agrinnall wrote: »

Please explain your logic for this (mine is, as Adrian suggests, turned on all the time).

Because it reduces mpg. Real world experience.

AdrianC

How on earth does switching the engine off when it's not needed INCREASE the amount of fuel used, over leaving it running?

Scrapit

AdrianC wrote: »

How on earth does switching the engine off when it's not needed INCREASE the amount of fuel used, over leaving it running?

It reduces emissions the whole time an engine is off however restarting the engine uses more fuel. True stop start situations found in London have proven this to be the case. Stopping for decent durations, let's say >2minutes, it makes sense, crawling city driving with shorter duration stops it doesn't. My findings in real world applications mirrored by others across my firm, extensively tested by replicated situations, ie my daily driving experience.
That's how.