Fuel consumption problem

1. Kiwistar L-plater Joined: Feb 2011 Colchester Posts: 92 Saxo West Coast

   #1 12th February 2011, 11:24

   Hi all,
   
   I've got a 1.4i Westcoast that should have an average fuel consumption of 40mpg. But I've averaged my last use of about £25 worth of petrol for 120 miles. I'm pretty sure that makes my average consumption 20mpg
   
   I do unfortunately spend about a third of my weekly driving time coasting along in 1st or stationary because I work in a town centre, but I really wouldn't have thought it would lower my average consumption quite that much. I've also noticed the average idle revs stay at pretty much 1000 most of the time.
   
   I wondering if I have some kind of issue, and I'm not particularly brilliant and diagnosing engine issues. Am I running rich? Any idea what might be wrong?
   
   Thanks for any advice.
2. user_44477 Established Member Joined: May 2010 rotherham Posts: 1813 2001 Citroen saxo furio.

   #2 12th February 2011, 11:28

   http://www.torquecars.com/tools/uk-mpg-calculator.php
   
   good site to use to keep track of mpg
   
   1st question would be, when did it last have a service?
   
   my mpg shot up after doing a full service.
3. jayhull22 Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 telford Posts: 117 saxo vtr

   #3 12th February 2011, 11:30

   if ur o2 sensor is dodgy ur emmisions will be out and you will be using more petrol, also if u have a blow on the exhust, i had the same with my old saxo vtr and that fixed it, thats all the advice i can giv on the topic as thats rei all i know, the only other thing i can think of is its an ecu problem and your not geting the correct miture of feul air and whatever else goes in the mixture lol
4. Kiwistar L-plater Joined: Feb 2011 Colchester Posts: 92 Saxo West Coast

   #4 12th February 2011, 11:37

   @ leeham - thanks for the site. I added up the amount of miles I've covered on £25 and it's actually about 180. Still gives me a mpg figure of 26 tho which isn't great.
   
   @jayhull - it last had a service a week ago, but I get the feeling my exhaust might be blowing - I didn't realise that could affect fuel consumption. Guess I'll have to get on the floor and test it lol.
5. jayhull22 Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 telford Posts: 117 saxo vtr

   #5 12th February 2011, 11:45

   it afected my corsa and my saxo, mite be the gasket, engine-manafold gasket, manafold-downpipe and downpipe-cat
6. rey Saxperience Post Whore Joined: May 2006 Kent Posts: 8205 :(s)rac

   #6 12th February 2011, 11:55

   Stop-start, coasting and general town driving is terrible for fuel consumption, especially in cold weather.
   
   Also, 40mpg will be a extra urban figure(motorway)
7. jambo18 Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2010 fife Posts: 429 gold mk2 vtr

   #7 12th February 2011, 11:58

   Don't think a blow in your exhaust will affect your mpg that much tbh. However it isnt helping it, so get that sorted.
   
   Your driving around town in low gears and always stoping and starting so your mpg is going to be at it's worse.
8. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

   #8 12th February 2011, 12:00

   Will depend how bad your exhaust is blowing tbh, Mines blowing like crazy and i get like 105 miles from £20
9. LScottBell Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 822 Citroen Saxo Vtr 2001

   #9 12th February 2011, 12:17

   25 pound at 125.9p (Cheapest in my area) would be around 27mpg or so for you just now... I reckon if your kicking just around town you should be seeing around 32 - 34 mixed around the 40ish mark and motorway the 50ish mark.. But how do you drive?
   
   Also check your tyre pressures also
   
   I use to have this problem and mine was driving style and not planning ahead.. Take your car out of gear coming up to junctions etc and let the car slow down itself it will be very minor gains but still its a GAIN
   
   And also have the o2 sensors checked to make sure thier reading proper
   
   Good Luck Mate
10. Kiwistar L-plater Joined: Feb 2011 Colchester Posts: 92 Saxo West Coast

    #10 12th February 2011, 12:25

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by LScottBell 25 pound at 125.9p (Cheapest in my area) would be around 27mpg or so for you just now... I reckon if your kicking just around town you should be seeing around 32 - 34 mixed around the 40ish mark and motorway the 50ish mark.. But how do you drive? Also check your tyre pressures also I use to have this problem and mine was driving style and not planning ahead.. Take your car out of gear coming up to junctions etc and let the car slow down itself And also have the o2 sensors checked to make sure thier reading proper Good Luck Mate

    My driving style has always been pretty good I think, engine braking etc, and in my '91 Ax I was getting an average of 38mpg out of it.
    
    I've only had the car for a week, and in the Ax I was used to hard acceleration and high clutch bite. The Saxo has a pretty low clutch bite and doesn't need the rev's to pick up speed so I know I'm over revving at times, especially climbing hills in 1st gear teasing the clutch lol. I'm hoping that's most of the problem which will fix itself when I'm used to driving it
11. mogwaimarshall Newbie Joined: May 2009 Posts: 21

    #11 12th February 2011, 23:23

    hi i have a west coast as well, it really should be having a service done on it but i have the same problem fuel consumption, i was looking at my exhaust today as it has been banging against the bottom of the car so have replaced some of the rubbers its there that i noticed a small hole the size of two 50 ps on rear silencer, so i repaired this today which is a shame as the car had a nice noise to it, can anyone else reccomend a way to stop the exhaust banging. but the real issue is that it does need servicing its a 2001 model and has only done 75000 but its been the worst car i have ever had for keeping it running, ive never had a car so bad.
12. JoeExpose Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 Wirral Posts: 383 Saxo 2001 VTR 98 bhp

    #12 13th February 2011, 08:41

    i put £20 in my vtr and have 150 miles, dont go on the motorways, only use a dual carriage way for 2 mile, and thats 40 zone,
13. jambo18 Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2010 fife Posts: 429 gold mk2 vtr

    #13 13th February 2011, 10:11

    Full tank normally gets me about the 300 miles mark, and thats me driving sensibly
14. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #14 13th February 2011, 12:30

    If your car is overfuelling then the tip of the lambda sensor will be a black sooty colour,doesn`t take long to undo the sensor/s & check the tip.
    
    
    Steve.