Hi guys!
Got my new Fiat 500x now (fiat punto 2002 previously) and already got question about fuel consumption.
No matter haw hard i try i can't get it better than 24m/g
I tried to shift gears as per computer but this was a disaster! consumption was even worst then. now I am driving as i alway use to with my cars and instant consumptions shows not to bad now but average is still about 14m/g and no less.

Even if i drive on motorway 60m/h on 6th gear my instant consumption is about 36m/h

Any ideas? tips? hints?

Pawelek said:

Hi guys!
Got my new Fiat 500x now (fiat punto 2002 previously) and already got question about fuel consumption.
No matter haw hard i try i can't get it better than 24m/g
I tried to shift gears as per computer but this was a disaster! consumption was even worst then. now I am driving as i alway use to with my cars and instant consumptions shows not to bad now but average is still about 14m/g and no less.

Even if i drive on motorway 60m/h on 6th gear my instant consumption is about 36m/h

Any ideas? tips? hints?

Click to expand...

What engine have you got, I'm guessing 1.4 Multiair...? Is it brand new as the engine will loosen up and should get more economical. My Multiair is on 7.5k and I can average 40 mpg on a mixture of roads. Is your start/stop working as 16 mph indicates you spend some time in traffic..?

Thank you for reply.
Yes, it is 1.4 multi air 140bhp manual.
I am not in trafic. When I had my punt it was between 14 and 17m/h average. this is mixed driving for me. little bit town and some motorway when go to work. but is only about 7 miles so no much distance to get some speed on clock

Don't worry it does get better with some miles on the car. The engine is a bit thirsty but that is a result of it being a bit sporty. Mine has 10000 miles on it now and I get about 35mpg around town set on auto and slightly less set on sport. On a run I get about 45 -48 mpg.

That sounds poor, mine is a 170 auto with 2500 miles and i dont drive very economicaly and most trips are rural lanes and stop start. My best says 33mpg and worst 29mpg and on motorway have never got into 9th gear.

Teflon said:

That sounds poor, mine is a 170 auto with 2500 miles and i dont drive very economicaly and most trips are rural lanes and stop start. My best says 33mpg and worst 29mpg and on motorway have never got into 9th gear.

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Don't worry about not being able to get it into 9th:

"When you look deeper at the numbers you’ll also notice that the 9HP is geared much taller at the top end with 7th gear being approximately equal to 8th in the Aisin or ZF 8-speed units. Many reviewers of the Cherokee noted they never experienced 9th gear during their test drive and I now know why. At 0.48:1 with the 3.2L V6 (3.251 final drive) you have to be going faster than 80 MPH to engage 9th because at 80 your engine loafs around at 1,460 RPM"

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/02/zfs-9-speed-9hp-transmission-puts-dog-clutches-on-the-leash/

damomca said:

Don't worry about not being able to get it into 9th:

"When you look deeper at the numbers you’ll also notice that the 9HP is geared much taller at the top end with 7th gear being approximately equal to 8th in the Aisin or ZF 8-speed units. Many reviewers of the Cherokee noted they never experienced 9th gear during their test drive and I now know why. At 0.48:1 with the 3.2L V6 (3.251 final drive) you have to be going faster than 80 MPH to engage 9th because at 80 your engine loafs around at 1,460 RPM"

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...-transmission-puts-dog-clutches-on-the-leash/

Click to expand...

Clearly the way to get better fuel consumption is to listen to Radio 4....

I would agree with the above comments about it improving over time. I expect it will get better before too long

But to be honest, if you do lots of short journeys combined with a low average speed and a relatively large turbo engine (compared to the Punto, haha!), then really you have all the ingredients for crap fuel consumption.

As for driving style, just trust your instinct and drive it how you feel comfortable. The shift indicators are there as a guide; don't know what they are like in the 500X, but we have had them in three of our cars (Panda, Punto and 500, all with either 1.2 or 1.4 8v engines) and they are utterly USELESS! I have lost count the amount of times they tell me to shift up to 4th or 5th when going uphill at about 30 or 40mph - no chance!

Regarding shift indicators, in the 1970's I had a Fiat 128 saloon with an 1100cc engine and four selection gearbox. The optimum gear change settings were shown on the speedometer dial. It said to change from first to second at 29 mph,second to third at 45, and third to fourth at 71, as shown on the attached photo ( if it works for me ). It was my first overhead cam engine and it really did like to be driven at high revs.

Regarding damomca reply, we're talking of a 1.4 turbo engine and not a 3.2 in a Cherokee. We've got to have like with like.

Pawelek

to be honest your journey doesn't sound great , my Punto TA was mega tight when new @7MPG,
but now it's returning low 50's MPG , on a 8 mile @27MPH average commute.

however it's well run-in @24,000 miles = 3 oil changes.
Charlie - Oxford

Thank you all for replies.
I am on my second tank and just over 200miles on tank sounds rather crap :/
So i thought i will ask. I am not great with cars so i don't understand how engine will work better after doing higher milage (???)
Give me computer and i can strip it down and back with my eyes shut but cars.... no chance

So please, please say there is nothing wrong with my car

Pawelek said:

Thank you all for replies.
I am on my second tank and just over 200miles on tank sounds rather crap :/
So i thought i will ask. I am not great with cars so i don't understand how engine will work better after doing higher milage (???)
Give me computer and i can strip it down and back with my eyes shut but cars.... no chance

So please, please say there is nothing wrong with my car

Click to expand...

Hi,
basically the piston and crankshaft are made REALLY tight fits, and a lot of HEAT CYCLES and other "bedding-in" will make things just that little bit looser,
that's why its important to get the oil changed at correct intervals in the 1st year ..as the tiny metal particles from the minor WEAR of the bedding-in will be carried around in the oil..,
and if left TOO LONG will act as an abrasive.. actually causing too much wear

the car's engine will work best ( most efficiently) once up to full operating temperature.. I suspect on a 7 mile commute this may only be for the last 30% of the journey

Charlie

twobigdogs said:

Don't worry it does get better with some miles on the car. The engine is a bit thirsty but that is a result of it being a bit sporty. Mine has 10000 miles on it now and I get about 35mpg around town set on auto and slightly less set on sport. On a run I get about 45 -48 mpg.View attachment 169524View attachment 169525

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:idea:
perhaps Pawelek could do a week or so in "sport" - as the lower gear ratios may actually make the engine have an easier life whilst it's still TIGHT.

my TA was so tight it wouldn't pull 6th gear when it was new,
now copes fine down to @1200 rpm.

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Hi,
basically the piston and crankshaft are made REALLY tight fits, and a lot of HEAT CYCLES and other "bedding-in" will make things just that little bit looser,
that's why its important to get the oil changed at correct intervals in the 1st year ..as the tiny metal particles from the minor WEAR of the bedding-in will be carried around in the oil..,
and if left TOO LONG will act as an abrasive.. actually causing too much wear

the car's engine will work best ( most efficiently) once up to full operating temperature.. I suspect on a 7 mile commute this may only be for the last 30% of the journey

Charlie

Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong but the 1st year service is no more than visual checks and possibly a software upgrade if required. Costs around £60 so no oil change for that price! Given people's experience with the MA engine in other models, and the added importance of the oil to the MA function, some owners do change their oil annually.

I've just had my first service and they did not change the oil. It's not needed till second service. If it was needed Fiat would specify it. The services are all part of the warranty so nothing to be concerned about.

twobigdogs said:

I've just had my first service and they did not change the oil. It's not needed till second service. If it was needed Fiat would specify it. The services are all part of the warranty so nothing to be concerned about.

Click to expand...

what mileage is this limited to..??

manufacturers keep meddling with service intervals..(marketing strategies)

it'd be interesting to compare this with the engine in other models over the last 8 years,

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

what mileage is this limited to..??

manufacturers keep meddling with service intervals..(marketing strategies)

it'd be interesting to compare this with the engine in other models over the last 8 years,

Charlie

Click to expand...

If you do a search on Multiair problems it shows they are very sensitive to oil levels. Coming from 2 Alfa's, (which are not renowned for low oil consumption), I have always had my oil changed annually, be it diesel or petrol powered.


A slight digression but whilst mentioning Marketing Strategies, some may know of the Twin Spark Cambelt issue which affected the 147 and 156 models. Alfa set a 72k replacement interval on the cambelt ( primarily to keep costs down for business lease users) but the water pumps on the same belt run started to leak around 40k and then seize shedding the cambelt and lunching the engine! Pretty quickly Alfa made the advice on cambelt replacement down to 3 years or 36k!

we had a 1800cc TS 156 and - along with the FIAT coupe - are well aware of these NECESSARY changes to service schedules.

My TA was my 1st NEW engine to run-in..,

the early TA's appeared to have an issue with VERY HIGH oil consumption .. so I used the "hard-breakin" method used in racing engines..and my level never moves

with the cost of our "specialist oils" it's a real balance of financial concerns = but with my "Fiat fleet" I've not had any OIL BURNERS.. , so would rather cosset the thing in it's early life.. and hopefully reap the benefits in later years.

TBH - I'd be wary of buying an ex-lease / PCP car that's just been DRIVEN for 2 years.. with only the basics covered.

Charlie

Back to topic ;
Pawelek , the on board display isn't generally super reliable.. it's maybe worthwhile logging fuel bought against mileage covered for a while.

advice about planning routes to avoid traffic, and letting vehicle "coast" in gears will aid a better MPG figure..,
but until it's starts to free off internally the MPG figure will not be great,
Charlie