Guys - A weird one that doesn't bother me much but..So recently still based/stuck at home I decided on all new filters and oil change by my own hand.. Parts from Autodoc and the same oil as before. Didn't touch the plugs which are 10K kms old and inspected the mini oil filter which was spotless (car done 70K kms). Anyway the previous consumption over 4K was 5.9LP100 kms and resetting after the service and after 250kms I noticed 6.9 being c.15% increase - same journeys, traffic etc - a further 250kms in and having been driving like Miss Daisies chauffeur still 6.9. Tyres like new and pressures done weekly. A head scratcher that makes me wonder if the heat of the (Spanish) summer could be the culprit. (40 mpg is not what we should expect from these great motors) Thanks

I live near Gandia in Valencia, in a mountain valley, so from my point of view there is always a little more consumption once the drive home (350metres above sea level) is included. I owned a TwinAir 85bhp Dualogic for 5 years.. Using my own calculations not the car´s computer, I would average 43-45mpg (my 1.2 500c gets 40mpg)
My only other observation is - I would change the oil every 10000kms and the filter every 20000kms (all less than the recommendations) - but they are not for inspection, once the cover is off, you are supposed to replace it!

The heat of the Spanish summer, makes the turbo less efficient and on a small engine I guess you have noticed this too.... The hotter the summer day, the less the acceleration urge.. Hot air can be compressed (by the turbo) less than cooler air.

In UK temperatures.. we think the hotter the better..

But we are only talking 30/34'C

Did you disturb any hoses..or sensors ..during the service?

Baseunit is getting +/- what I used to get being 45mpg but dropping to 40 is a mystery. No sensors touched (2 replaced last year by FIAT searching for a problem in the wrong place). I will remove the air filter again to see if it is possible to fit incorrectly (can't see it but..) or has something interfering with the flow - certainly no performance issues - Thinking temperature could the aircon, which is on call to a lesser extent all year, be working so hard it causes this fairly massive increase??

Have there been any changes in fuel specification in your country recently?

A change to E10 fuel would explain a 10% drop in economy.

Bear in mind what is delivered to the pump may not necessarily contain the same amount of ethanol as is stated on the label. E10 can contain up to 10% ethanol; but it could contain less, or even none at all.

In the UK, we're just changing to E10. It'll be interesting to see how the cars cope with it.

Good thought... I use BP (no reason) and Google tells me that BP Spain are one of the slowest in introducing E10 which has been around a while. Apparently BP are going to be bringing 95-E10 into full use over time. We have serviced fuel here so I still just ask for 95 but next visit I will check the pump handle which is apparently going to have a small E10 placed below the 95. Reports say 3-5% reduction in consumption - I will keep you posted

More like 10% compared to E0 .

You can still get ethanol-free super unleaded in most parts of the UK, if you do your homework - though it's likely to be labelled E5.

The cheapest places at the bottom end of the market, (ASDA, Morrisons) are phasing out the sale of super unleaded; you'll only be able to buy E10 there.

Any prizes for guessing what's likely to be happening to the price of super over the next few weeks?

This could be a good time to research testing the ethanol content of petrol - some of the ways you can do this cost (almost) nothing.

jrkitching said:

A change to E10 fuel would explain a 10% drop in economy.

Click to expand...

That seems a lot, I wouldn't think they could get away with that after the diesel scandals.

Chopin said:

Good thought... I use BP (no reason) and Google tells me that BP Spain are one of the slowest in introducing E10 which has been around a while. Apparently BP are going to be bringing 95-E10 into full use over time. We have serviced fuel here so I still just ask for 95 but next visit I will check the pump handle which is apparently going to have a small E10 placed below the 95. Reports say 3-5% reduction in consumption - I will keep you posted

Click to expand...

This reminds me, the TwinAir used to respond really well with 98ron Super unleaded - try giving it a few tanks.
The mileage I quoted was with running 98ron
The 500C 1.2 snail that I have, doesn´t care what fuel goes in it