Thirsty 2.3

[Steve P]

We've had our gal from 9 months old in 2000, about 7 years. It's always been thirsty - averages about 20mpg knocking about.

 

I think that this is a bit thirsty and 23/24 mpg would be better. On a run it does shoot up to about 30 mpg.

 

It seems to run OK - although the idle looks a bit high if the rev counter is anything to go by - its about 950/975 rpm.

 

What faults could cause low mpg but you not really notice?

 

I have just changed the thermostat as it has run cold for as long as I can remember. This has worked a treat and the temperature comes up to the middle of normal very quickly and stays there. This will have improved the mpg - but my initial testing is that the change has not been much.

 

What about the MAF? I see on the TDI's you can really notice when this is failed but not so much on the petrols. Is there anyway of testing it?

 

Has anybody any experience with the flyweel speed / TDC sensor on these engines? Years ago we had a montego that seemed to run fine but it turned out that the ignition timing was all over the shop. This was a faulty speed / TDC sensor. The gal must have one. Anybody had one fail!

 

Any other ideas?

 

Cheers

Steve

 

PS. Yes we do service it.

PPS. Have done a search - couldn't really find much but did get the impression that 20 mpg is just a little bit too low.

PPPS. When running on LPG the mpg falls to 18, which is about right for a petrol mpg of 20.

PPPPS. Have already changed Lambda probe.

[seatkid]

PPPPPS Have you changed the engine? Perhaps for a 1.9Tdi?

 

:angry2: Sorry....couldn't resist..... :P

[gregers]

:angry2: classic seatkid :P

[sparky Paul]

Hey, that's not fair! Some of us a stuck with our nippy petrols!

 

I can't really help diagnose, but if it helps for comparison ours does about 28mpg on petrol with a mixture of short and medium distance runs, and about 37mpg on a holiday run, reducing to about 35 with the top box on. Lots of cold, short journeys does knock the mpg down however, and I wouldn't be surprised by 20mpg in the winter if was regularly doing 3 mile journeys.

 

Idle speed sounds about the same as ours.

 

After sorting the aircon (which is the current task in hand), my next task may be a LPG conversion... :angry2:

Edited July 19, 2007 by sparky Paul

[Ska]

Mines a 97 2.3 zetec and I was getting the same sort of economy min 18mpg max 23mpg urban and this with the aircon not working!

[tim-spam]

I would agree that your mpg is probably about right - this is why diesels make so much sense (particularly in MPV's) and are therefore so much more popular.

[sparky Paul]

20mpg is a definite possibility if you are doing lots of short runs, but 30mpg on a run sounds below par to me. I've done quite a few holiday runs at 35mpg, a little higher if I don't clog the car, or the aircon. Edited July 20, 2007 by sparky Paul

[Steve P]

Well, from the replies so far it looks as though this is about as good as it gets. Good job that we had LPG fitted (and I've now mended it!!). With the price of LPG now genuinely less than half the price of petrol it brings our equivalent running cost to at least as good as a TDI (and we don't have to put up with the diesel clatter :rolleyes: ).

 

We're about to go on hols (great weather!) - so I will monitor it closely to see what it does this time on a run.

 

Whilst looking for a new MAF I did a google search and came across a site for Ford scorpio's - the 2.3 having the same engine. Anyway there was even scheduled maintenance for the MAF - cleaning and testing. Interesting that I've never seen that mentioned for the galaxy!

 

Any how - will report back later.

 

Cheers

[mikej]

LPG running costs as good as aTDI your avin a laugh ! :( :rolleyes: :D i have a 2001 2.3 twin cam running on a sequential gas system, show me a diesel that can match my mpg i think not. I laugh at them all at the pumps petrols and the smelly oil burners LPG can be had for as little as 33p/litre although it averages 40p . miles cheaper than the smelly diesel more reliable and far far less bloody trouble as far as i'm concerned you should all be running gas especially you dirty dirty diesel people.

[Steve P]

I was being kind :rolleyes: :( :D

LPG tends to be 45p round here - however our system was bust for nearly 2 years so have only just started looking around for it - don't think I'll get it for 33p.

 

Our system is single point injection - I know that is not recommended for plastic inlet manifolds - but hey it works. What sort of mpg are you getting on LPG.

 

Am holidaying in the Gower for the next two weeks so will get to sample some of your local LPG :)

 

Cheers

Steve

[seatkid]

Here they go again. These gas leaks turns them into babbling sniffers. :rolleyes: :(

 

show me a diesel that can match my mpg i think not.

 

Yep, he's right! I don't think mines capable of 18mpg no matter how hard I push it.... :D

[NikpV]

Here they go again. These gas leaks turns them into babbling sniffers. :rolleyes: :(

 

show me a diesel that can match my mpg i think not.

 

Yep, he's right! I don't think mines capable of 18mpg no matter how hard I push it.... :D

 

oh I dont know - 10mph flooring the accelerator up a hill I can get the mpg down to 12mpg on the computer but I cant maintain it whatever I do it climbs inexorably up to 40/45mpg :) :P :P :P

[Guest Rockdoctor]

My 02 Gal gets 15mpg tootling around local streets when cold, and 20-25mpg once warmed up.

Best on a long run is 28-31mpg (but my long runs are usually on autobahns, and I'm driving over 90mph most of the time).

I had 35mpg travelling through Paris recently, at a steady 50mph - so that's probably the top limit.

 

My previous car was a Mondeo with 2.5l engine, and that had similar economy.

Considering the Gal weighs substantially more than the Mondeo it isn't doing badly.

 

I looked at buying a diesel, but with the low mileage I do, it wasn't worth paying the premium to get an oil burner.

 

 

However, if anyone comes up with a fuel-saving tune-up I'm, all ears!

[wonkydog]

What's your driving style? My 2.3 trip computer says I get up to 34 MPG (down to 24 depending on driving style)

Change up gears early and coast when downhill. Check out the AA or RAC advanced driver forums for tips and save money.

 

How much stuff do you have in the rear? :lol:

 

Don't accelerate too quick out of a bend, there will always be a car in front just out of you view. Look ahead and use the brakes as a minimum.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited July 20, 2007 by wonkydog

[MadBaz]

This week I've done 422 miles on 33 litres and I think thats really good going :lol:

[seatkid]

:lol: Edited July 20, 2007 by seatkid

[seatkid]

This week I've done 422 miles on 33 litres and I think thats really good going :lol:

58mpg....Being recovered by a breakdown truck doesn't count BAZ! :lol:

[mumof4]

I see this thread has turned into yet another MPG Ego contest :lol:

[MadBaz]

Oh I forgot to mention thats in my 3.5 tdi LDV van, you didn't seriously think I meant in a Gal did you? :lol: :lol:

[Steve P]

And to get back to the original question - are there any parts that would fail, pull the mpg down a bit but not make the car feel so bad that we would think it needs fixing - nor fail on emissions?

 

Cheers

Steve

[mikej]

:lol: Sorry i couldn't resist trying it lol , i knew as soon as i slagged off the diesels that would be it and yep i was right it happens on every bloddy forum! anyhow for those who asked i am well happy with the gas system and i really don't know why more people don't do it apart from those who don't do the miles . To be honest i have no idea what a tdi can achieve so i can't really comment , for me i initially didn'y buy a diesel as i thought i would not be doing the miles and couldn't justify the difference in price however i was wrong and do more miles than ever hence the decision to gas it . I fill every week at the Asda at cardiff gate junction 31 M4 for those visiting wales @39.9p/litre , i can never get anymore than 58litres in the tank and it never costs me more than

[mumof4]

Around 600 miles.

[mikej]

What :lol: ok i'll say nothing in the future , that is some serious miles from a bus. Edited July 20, 2007 by mikej

[mumof4]

I could get 52mpg out of her on average..

[gregers]

I could get 52mpg out of her on average..

 

 

bloody hell the most ive got out of mine is 44mpg but that was around the town(average 37mpg),havnt gone on a long trip yet

or are you lot going to tell me summits up with mine,hope the dealer wont read this(fear of a heart attack if i turn up again).