another MPG question

[stuart bowes]

my last 4 weekly MPG's are:

17.6 (using kickdown a lot)
18.8 (slow / gentle acceleration)
18.7 (slow / gentle acceleration)
17.4 (using kickdown a lot)

i tried mixing up driving styles a bit to see what differences are made

it is a 140bhp, petrol, 2.4 N/A auto
All urban, traffic tends to be quite start/stoppy on my journeys

is that about right or should I be looking for answers

it runs perfectly smooth, not smokey, oil stayed at same level since changed nearly 3000miles ago, not losing any other fluids, no other known reasons for concern. I seem to have a slight vacuum at the oil filler cap (what I think is the usual PCV test?) and no smoke from dipstick hole, Idles around 1000, reaches temp quick and stays there. Tyres pumped up, windows always closed, no roof rack. I do have a slightly weighty sub box (twin 12's) permanently over the back axle. and some not very weighty other permanent stuff in boot, work bag, spare clothing and so on

just checking

ta

[T5R92011]

My 2000 (P80 V70) 2.4 170 auto was showing low MPG like this.

Gave the MAF sensor a good clean with electrical contact cleaner and with mixed driving my mpg has gone up and is now just touching 22mpg, wheres before it was at 17.

I think offical MPG is 22.6mpg urban.

[stuart bowes]

cheers, I'll be giving that a go then

[Georgeandkira]

My last 13 monthly (Feb. 20 through Feb. 21) MPG's are (note-US gallon):

23.73 ----snow tires/local
24.40 ----snow tires/local
24.54 ----corona hits
29.65 ----corona highway
26.21 ----corona mixed
25.62 ----corona mixed
24.64 ----corona mixed
26.23 ----corona mixed
27.20 ----corona mixed
19.29 ----token driving, (moved car to allow snow plow passage)
32.93 ----slow highway driving experiment + switch to premium
28.20 ----corona mixed
23.47 ----token driving, very cold,

I'm a very consistent driver. Forcing downshifts around town is something I'd never do.
Even if I wanted to sense a downshift, I'd do it on a highway so I could let the old girl clear her bowels.
You might have a heavy right shoe.

Mine's a 167bhp, gasoline, 2.4 N/A auto.
My "local" is all suburban where I can pick my times to drive

Your mileage doesn't seem right to me given the Imperial gallon is "20% larger" than the US gallon.
We use the 5,280 foot mile (ha-ha)

Make sure your electrical cleaner leaves no residue (lube).
I use real MAF sensor cleaner for that reason.

My N/A requires the 3-pronged Volvo spark plugs. Substitutes cause problems.
Does your 140 have the same requirement?
Have you been messing with your sparkypoos?

Have you changed tire/wheel sizes thus confusing your odometer?

I'd dose two consecutive tankfuls of fuel with a good cleaner. Chevron's Techron concentrate is lauded here.
The PEA is said to clean the injector nozzles upon shutdown. The product is used during local driving for that reason.

[stuart bowes]

thanks for that, I do have a heavy right foot this is true, part of the reason I didn't want a turbo because I like not having points on my license. I knew if I had boost I would definitely use it. lots.

no change to sparks. new ones are on my to do list

no change to wheels or tyres

have been thinking about additives, so thanks for the recomendation.

I just put some high octane in, im not sure if that will help to clear anything out, or literally just cost me more money lol

[old onions]

Mine is a manual with 120k miles and regular maintenance.

My best mpg was 34.1 measured over a 3 month period with lots of longer trips and cruising at no more than the legal limit.

Around town I get 26 to 28 averaged over 12 months since the virus struck

Running fully laden with 5 kayaks on the roof , and 5 paddlers, I still get 29 mog over a 600 mile weekend trip with about 450 to 550 miles of motorway.

Your figures seem low to me.

[stuart bowes]

thanks, I havent tried any long journeys since I started noting the mileage..

I did a run down to camber sands before the 2nd wave which is a long highway trip but that was also the journey where i realised I was leaking petrol from my filler tube (now sorted) so there was no accurate way to know how much I'd actually put in and how much I'd poured on the floor of the garage

i can only compare urban/around town mpgs at the moment, but I agree it still sounds like mine are low. ordered the cleaner spray and some new sparks though so lets see what difference that makes

[oragex]

19mpg is on the high side. Urban driving with short distances between stops gets about the worst mpg. I still find it on the high side. When I got my 2.4 na automatic I was getting around 15 mpg mostly busy city driving. I'm now rather close to 23 mpg in summer time. When you drive on motorway at 60mph, how does the power feel in the 5th gear (without downshifting) ? When my car had bad mpg, the 5th at 60mph felt like it was completely gutless, that was an indicator something wasn't right. I did a lot of maintenance so not sure which helped the most. PCV, injector cleaning with ultrasound, fixed the intake air thermostat, 4 prong spark plugs, NGK front oxygen sensor, transmission fluid. I also tried cleaning the piston rings believing they may get stuck when the PCV is old and neglected, from sludge build up on the ring lands. When I first got the car the engine would scream a lot when revving to 3000 rpm, now it's much smoother and quieter. On 2001-2004 the SMI steering rack may also get clogged and cause engine power loss and heavy dull steering feeling

[old onions]

Originally Posted by stuart bowes

I did a run down to camber sands before the 2nd wave which is a long highway trip but that was also the journey where i realised I was leaking petrol from my filler tube (now sorted) so there was no accurate way to know how much I'd actually put in and how much I'd poured on the floor of the garage

Been there too. I smelt petrol whenever I brimmed the tank when filling up, but no signs of a physical leak. It turns out the fuel filler hose had perished.

Simple job they said , 4 hours of labour to replace a £20 part, at least it is now fixed for the next 100k miles I hope.

[stuart bowes]

Originally Posted by old onions

Simple job they said.

lol i thought the same, it's only a little rubber tube how hard can it be? 4 hours on my driveway, nowhere closer, knuckles all skinned, sod it I'll give that to the garage. at least I already had the part ready for them

they gave it back swearing and muttering at me under their breath.. only charged me £120 quid though I thought that was a bargain. gave him an extra tenner for a beer or two, he earned it