Technical Diesel mpg

[Tipo Jack]

My TD SX has a drink problem. I'm only managing about 40mpg, even though there is no black smoke to indicate over fuelling and the car runs fine (once started).

What sort of mpg are others getting from diesels? 40mpg seems very low. I used to get 53mpg from a Maestro TD and it would not drop below 51mpg even if you thrashed it.

At this rate I may as well have gone for a petrol car!

 

[sumplug]

My TD SX has a drink problem. I'm only managing about 40mpg, even though there is no black smoke to indicate over fuelling and the car runs fine (once started).

What sort of mpg are others getting from diesels? 40mpg seems very low. I used to get 53mpg from a Maestro TD and it would not drop below 51mpg even if you thrashed it.

At this rate I may as well have gone for a petrol car!

My TD used to get mid 30's -40mpg around town. I did drive it a bit hard though. What type of driving are you doing mostly?
The injectors should be ultra sonic cleaned every 50k. The difference in performance and economy is amazing once done. Every diesel ive had done as shown at least one injector to be not spraying correctly, causing poor fuel consumption and performance. The injector tips can wear also causing similar problems. If you can, get the injectors cleaned. Someone like a Lucas Service or Bosch Centre can do it for you.

Andy.

 

[Hellcat]

For a less invasive improvement.. Have you changed oil/air/fuel filters?

I didn't see much improvement with throwing a bottle of redex in, but then it always ran on Shell Extra diesel.

 

[Tipo Jack]

It's fully serviced, all filters changed. Seems that 40mpg is the norm. Really negates the point in having a diesel and I must admit I would have thought twice about buying it had I known it would be so poor. Then again, the handling is quite fun.

 

[jonti]

I can get 45 mpg or maybe more driving v steady - minimum turbo. Driving a new Nissan 1.8 petrol lately I don't think its that bad plus it has more power. In slow congested traffic DEFFO uses alot less.

Talk about air filters I changed mine myself for the 1st time and the casing had a large hole in the bottom - air has bypassed the air filter all these years The bizzare things people do to your car but don't tell you eh? :shakehead .

 

[Hellcat]

It doesn't negate having a diesel.. To get 40mpg you would need to be driving a sub 1.4 petrol. They won't be anywhere near as powerful, and will be quite noisey on motorways.

 

[Tipo Jack]

It doesn't negate having a diesel.. To get 40mpg you would need to be driving a sub 1.4 petrol. They won't be anywhere near as powerful, and will be quite noisey on motorways.

Yeah I suppose. Just makes the old Maestro all the more impressive when I used to get 53mpg and even 51mpg when doing a 90mph run down to Monte Carlo. Then again, that was direct injection (more efficient if a bit less refined!).

 

[Hellcat]

Tipo TD SX... First performance diesel...

 

[Tipo Jack]

Talking of performance, has anyone uprated theirs? On the Maestro, which also had a Bosch injector pump, it was quite a simple operation to up the fuelling and boost. I reckon the Tipo might well be the same. Maybe I'll give it a go and do a "how to" article. At least I don't need to fit a boost gauge as it already has one!

 

[Hellcat]

I didn't uprate the power but a bit of lowering makes it handle like its on rails.

 

[sumplug]

Talking of performance, has anyone uprated theirs? On the Maestro, which also had a Bosch injector pump, it was quite a simple operation to up the fuelling and boost. I reckon the Tipo might well be the same. Maybe I'll give it a go and do a "how to" article. At least I don't need to fit a boost gauge as it already has one!

You can alter the governer to come in later, but i wouldn't alter it much as it can knacker the pump up if you take it too far.
The perkins diesel in the maestro/montego was a direct injection engine but because it was not common rail [fiat invention], it was very very noisey. But very economical.

Andy.