Hello ff , iv got a 'r' 98 marea weekend 2.0 20v with full history and 105 on the clock i drive to and from work each day-30miles in total, i dont give it wellie all the time i drive within the limits and change gears when around 2000rpm,i know that the 20v version can drink if its poked, iv done 125miles on almost 30litres of juice, can antone tell me if this about right please , thanks Joker

That means you're averaging around 18 / 19 mpg. I've got a 97 Marea 2.0 20v saloon with 105,000 on the clock that averages 31 - 33 mpg depending on the weather and my left foot. I usually get between 310 and 340 miles from about 45 litres.
Your figures are definately on the low side, get it checked out.

likewise, my 1999 2.0 20v which has 144000 on the clock, thats 2 cambelt changes ! , and I average 300 miles to a tankful. Mostly quite sedate driving, but just occasionally the right foot gets heavy !

I have a 1998 marea 2.0 20v with 144k on it and I get about 25/30ish mpg or about 60/70 miles to a tenner,but if i get right footed then it can get down to 18mpg very easy!

Thanks to alfarea79,werdna+fiatdrivingfan , for the replies,now heres the stupid bit-
as im trying to save money where/what would you suggest i get checked out?
iv cleaned/regapped the plugs and basically serviced the car myself but i dont know how to 'reset' the ecu like the dealers would do , can anyone tell me how to do this please or any other suggestions that could help the running of the car/mpg?
p.s. -how easy/expecsive is it to replace the lambda sensor or can it be 'cleaned' in some way so it can read better
Many thanks guys
Joker

I cant help with your queries as I have a Diesel but if you put it in the search Im sure there will be lots there to check out

johnson550 , cheers mate.
as you have a diesel have you tried 10k that wonderful green crap i used it on my citroen diesel and it worked wonders,thanks again
Joker

Hello,

Just a thought but, from what I know, all engines are thirsty if thrashed but petrol engines (and diesels to a lesser extent) can also be thirsty if they are laboured (used at very low revs). Changing up at 2000 rpm works on a diesel but is pushing it for a petrol. If I tell you that the maximum torque on the 2.0 20V occurs at 4500rpm as opposed to the 1.9 JTD at 1500 rpm you should get the idea. My suggestion is that you look at changing up gears at 3000 rpm or thereabouts. This will mean that the engine will not be labouring in the higher gear (and hence exerting less effort to move the car) and should improve your economy.

It begs the question though: If you are that concerned about fuel economy, why the hell have you bought the 2.0 litre petrol version?

Regards

GS

Greyhound_ thanks for that il give it a try , and the reason i got it was iv always had 2.0ltr+ cars and after i crashed my last 2.0 4months ago the idea of a small engine family estate didnt wash as iv tried small/mid size engined cars and they always seem to be thrashing themselves to get the desired responce, as for fuel economy the 2.0 estate carlton i crashed was giving back 32mpg-ish and that was around town!!

The 1-6 and 1-8 Mareas are a lot better than you would expect for a medium size car with a modest engine. We have had our 1.8 for 8 years now and it never gives less than 30 mpg and will give 40+ easily given the chance. It also goes well if you rev it to the red line. If your cat has collapsed internally it will give you bad performance, also state of lamba sensor worth a check. I agree about 2l Carltons, I had an Opel Rekord (same car different badge)then a Vauxhall and they are great cars ,and RWD

Renegade_8 , thanks for the info and the bonus you agree about carltons(lully motors iv had 4 of em) , im hoping its not a cat issue , iv found my air hose split after the air flow meter thats suckin in -local fiat guy says that'l give the same symptons as iv got ,got one on order from Glyn hopkins at chadwell heath-got discount too , thanks to ff , less then 30quid - thanks FF
Joker

Hi imthejoker when i first put mine back on the road it had been standing with a flat battery for about 3months and i started driving it carefully so the ecu learned your driving style and i just worked it out again and im gettin more like 30/35 mpg so try disconnecting the battery for an hour or so then take it for a slow steady drive,i did this last week aswell on my mates dads 20v because he was only getting about 20mpg and hes now getting about 30mpg.

alfarea79 - thanks for that mate,here's the stupid question - do i take it for a steady drive around town-lots of stap/start or a steady plod 55/60mph on the north circ pls , any more tips on extra mpg or running great woukld be gratefully received.
Joker

If you keep it about the same revs in all gears as you have in top gear doing 55-60mph hope that makes sense. Do this for about 300mile, this is what I was told- recomended I cant remember who by but it seems to work.

When I do it I dont go past 3000rpm in each gear but the less the better and as johnson550 says keep it around 60mph I dfidnt do 300miles but I did take it for agood run about 100ish mile round trip.But at the end of the day you might just have a marea with a petrol addiction,my bro sells alot of pug 306Xsi and you wouldnt believe the difference some have with mpg.

Thanks for that guys , il ditch the batt again on weds when im off, il have the plugs out too n give em a birthday , and that sensor.
Joker

We just got back from a trip around relatives in Scotland and then seeing friends in Lincs on the way back, I put the Marea back on the drive at home today after clocking 890 miles. I did a consumption check and thought you guys might be interested in the numbers. I brimmed the car here and then once in Scotland and again on The A1 in Lincs on the way back. Results were 373 miles and 43.16 litres and a cumulative 765 miles 45.5 litres (so 392 miles in the second stage.) I make this 38.89 and 38.77 mpg for the two checks and 38.83 for both. There was a lot of motorway/A road but also some local short runs some idling in jams at road works and smashes and a diversion through little villages along B roads to bypass a blown over truck.
The best I have ever got with this car was in 2001, 44 mpg London York London, but that was in the summer with only me in the car. The above results with me, Mrs R plus tons of luggage including stuff being delivered both ways and in cold weather stacks up well. Load and weather affect mpg, more load and colder weather both bring it down. Fuel use also give a clue to engine condition so the Marea is still in fair nick with almost 110K on the clock.
Odometers always read a bit long to flatter mpg figures but since all cars do it comparisons still stand.
I do use economy driving techniques, but not where safety would be compromised. I did all legs of the trip in the time I expected to and in what would be considered par for the course. We have had economy driving threads here in Leisure Lounge if anyone wants to look into this.
The car went like a sewing machine the whole way and used no oil or water. I have owned it from 1 year old/1200 miles it's ex daily rental and had been nailed then, I put new pads and discs on the front as soon as I got it home so I know it was driven hard, this does mean the bores are not glazed of course.

Renegade_8 that does make good reading mate, specially the 44mpg !!! was you driving down hill a lot , but the 38/39 mpg is not bad to say the least , iv not had a chance to hit the motorway but we're up to peterboro hopefully in a few weeks (me,Mrs Joker, 2 kids+the usual load of crap that gets ferried to/from)so that'l be a good indicator as to how my driving+the marea goes - be a damn good excuse to change my oil and dunk in a bottle of proven ZX1!!
Joker