1.2 brava low mpg???

[shaun]

i have a brava 1.2 (16 valve) but i dont seem to be getting many miles to the gallon round the doors.
the other week the petrol gauge was right in the bottom of the red so i stuck £10 in and pressed the trip and only got 60 mpg around the doors, done the same this week and got 70 mpg round the doors,only had the odd little mad moment with the accelerator.is this normal for a 1.2

 

[stephen01]

do you mean 60 miles to the tenner or 60 mpg? if its 60mpg then you have one of the best cars for mpg!! if it's 60 to the 10 quid thats still not that bad? depends how much you pay per litre and what style of driving you are doing

 

[RR]

It does seem quite low, but the gauge's aren't terribly reliable.

The most accurate way to do it is to run it dry (not so good for pump and injectors etc), then put a measure amount in and set the trip.

 

[Anonymous]

yes thats £10 of fuel for about 70 mile and thats driving slightly above average with the odd moment of madness if you know what i mean lol.
have also noticed the petrol gauge reading is a bit iffy.

just thought it should do more mpg.

 

[Brian]

You can get around £36 into the tank of a 1.2 Bravo and you should get 400-450 miles out of that provided you don't go mad. You're getting around 250 miles per tank (3.5 x 70 miles) so that smacks of Oxygen sensor up the creek to me provided other stuff like air filter is clean etc

Once you've changed the oxygen sensor and given it a few tankfulls to settle in you should be get around 40mpg

 

[Anonymous]

how will i know if the oxygen sensor is shot, and where is it located and how much is a new one.
upto now the last £10 petrol has done 83 mile and gauge is right at the end of the red.

 

[RR]

What is an oxygen sensor? Do you mean the lambda probe?

If that's the case, and you will only be able to tell once it's been on the diagnostics don't buy one from Fiat....get an aftermarket, you'll save about £60 - asuming that's the problem. Also, male sure your air-filter is clean.

 

[Anonymous]

how much is a after market lambda probe.
is there any tell tale signs that it has gone.
also just done my 3rd test on £10 and it has done 90 mpg which is better than before but is that still low or ok.

 

[shaun]

now i know what the lambda probe is, i had a problem with a lambda probe on my fiesta, if i remember it fits into the downpipe and has something to do with the mixtures.

 

[Brian]

The big sign that your oxygen sensor is kaput with the 1.2 is getting around 280 miles only out of a tankful as that's chronic.
You can get a oxygen sensor (ambda sensor, O2 sensor- they're all the same thing) for about £20 from here

http://www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk/lambda-sensors.php
You want the 4 wire one

It's situated in the exhaust downpipe from the engine and is dead easy to get at on the 1.2

Instructions are supplied with the kit

 

[shaun]

was going to get a universal Lambda Sensor but the guy at a lambda dealer doesnt recomend the universal ones after a 1998 plate , he says it may or may not work.
is this true or will a universal one work ok.
dont fancy pulling out 90 quid.

 

[Brian]

Yes a universal 4 wire type will work on a 1.2 Brava
The two grey wires are the lambda heater wires. It's all explained in the instructions

 

[AndyS]

400-450 miles on £36.. you must drive like a granny, or have access to really cheap fuel.

I've had my 80SX for 6 years and have never got 450 miles to a full tank. Since october last year the best 416 off a tankfull (next fillup had 49 litres)I average 34mpg - mostly commuting with an occasional 100 mile motorway trip.

Anyway your 60 miles to a tenner sounds pretty low, as I average about 84.

 

[Brian]

Ooooo Young mannnn!
34 mpg is crap. I get that out of my Stilo 1.6 and that's a thirsty bugger (but goes like stink and I can't resist)
In the 1.2 Bravo it's 350miles per tank if I'm feeling mean- 400 miles on average- 450 miles on a long run.

The red line is not compulsory

 

[justin]

Lol.....sorry to thread hijack but my 1.8 has simalar probs (220 miles per tank "normal driving") the only other symtom is wiff of fuel/engine smell in the car when queing /accellerating any idea if the lamda might this??

 

[Buzz]

check your sparks to see if they are fouled up. you might be running with too much fuel. or light a match at your exhaust while someone blips the gas, and if a flamethrower takes out your hair, your wasting fuel. lol

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4, and owner of a Bravo 1.8

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