General Mpg on new 1.4?

[Marsie]

Hi, a newbie here - please be gentle .

Had my 1.4 Lounge just over a month and the MPG is so much lower than I had expected. I am averaging around 32.4mpg - despite trying to drive as efficiently as I can. I reset the consumption monitor on the last fuel up and it's not made much difference. When I filled up Range showed 341 miles, but the car only managed 227 miles on a full tank.

I drive 6 miles to work, a mix of urban and dual carraigeway most days. I am not carrying any heavy loads. I don't thrash the car at all, all gentle driving. Don't use the AC, or the demister, which both drain fuel. Tyres are within the recommended range. I've read through the handbook and nothing new there. Could it just be the cold? Or is this usual MPG for a new 1.4?

Anyone else had this problem? I know that best fuel economy is with 1.2 or the diesel, so 1.4 will never achieve the same levels. Am I missing something? You all seem to have such great MPG !
Thanks for reading this far!!

 

[dave]

its should get a bit better after engine has loosened up, after about 5k

 

[Marsie]

That's good to know - was thinking I might have an extra hungry 500!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

My heavier 1.4 Stilo was returning average 34mpg when it was on petrol.

Oh, and A/C etc wouldn't affect MPG that much from experience

Jon.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Does seem pretty poor, even the Abarth manages more than that driving quick (ish) Like the others say, the more miles you do, the more miler per gallon you will get (eventually) And another thing, ignore the fuel warning light, there's loads left when that comes on!

 

[zanes]

Turbos generally improve fuel economy on comparable engines I thought?

 

[durukan]

Turbos generally improve fuel economy on comparable engines I thought?

no it doesn't actually. but you can have more power for less fuel rather than NA engines.

 

[zanes]

Be sure to tell Mr Hillier that ;

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...ient=firefox-a&cd=1#v=onepage&q=turbo&f=false

(Page 122)

 

[DraigFlag87]

I know people who have had a 1.4 and then bought an Abarth and claim the economy is better on the A500.

 

[306maxi]

Turbos generally improve fuel economy on comparable engines I thought?

IMHO you're right. The turbo is run with waste gases from the engine and the low down torque means you don't need to rev the tits off it for it to get going.

As for the OP, you need to run your engine in a bit more. Also, fuel economy suffers in winter as well.

 

[mariacallas]

Hi, a newbie here - please be gentle .

Had my 1.4 Lounge just over a month and the MPG is so much lower than I had expected. I am averaging around 32.4mpg - despite trying to drive as efficiently as I can.

Hi Marsie, I've had my 1.4 dualogic for just over two months. I've done about 950 miles and the average mpg is 34.7. I'm not thrilled with this either, but I note what others have said about waiting until the car has more miles on the clock. I really hope they're right.

 

[306maxi]

Hi Marsie, I've had my 1.4 dualogic for just over two months. I've done about 950 miles and the average mpg is 34.7. I'm not thrilled with this either, but I note what others have said about waiting until the car has more miles on the clock. I really hope they're right.

As gets mentioned all the time during winter your MPG will suffer. Come summer you'll be getting better MPG by about 10%

 

[Mark Elvin]

Turbos generally improve fuel economy on comparable engines I thought?

Depends on the pressures I thought. Some run low boost turbos to help with economy, others run a high boost intallation used for power. But hey, what do I know?

 

[Marsie]

Does seem pretty poor, even the Abarth manages more than that driving quick (ish) Like the others say, the more miles you do, the more miler per gallon you will get (eventually) And another thing, ignore the fuel warning light, there's loads left when that comes on!

I noticed that on the last fuel up - managed an extra few journeys before fuelling up

 

[Marsie]

Hi Marsie, I've had my 1.4 dualogic for just over two months. I've done about 950 miles and the average mpg is 34.7. I'm not thrilled with this either, but I note what others have said about waiting until the car has more miles on the clock. I really hope they're right.

Me too! Most of my journeys are short which won't help. Looks like I am doing similar mileage to you too.....roll on summer, warmer weather and more miles clocked up!

 

[eki]

Im getting about 50-55mpg average-best on my 1.4 and here in Australia since its summer we're hitting days that are 40 degrees which does put a little of a strain on the engine. Just try getting up to speed normally then attempt to cruise in top gear and if the engine is struggling pop it down to 5th and keep going down if need be. Tbh i find i have worse fuel efficiency when i attempt to keep it under like 1500rpms the whole time...

Although as others say expect it go up with kms and also, out of curiosity, which fuel do you use? Maybe try higher octane fuel at the bowser. Not regular unleaded...

 

[306maxi]

I noticed that on the last fuel up - managed an extra few journeys before fuelling up

Also, do note that the tank in the 500 holds 42 litres if you absolutely brim it till you can see fuel in the filler neck and it doesn't go down.

 

[petbal]

Dear All

I do hope that my wife's 1.2 does considerably better than this when it arrives. My all up mileage which includes a very high proportion of short journeys in my 2 litre Mondeo TDCii at 39.4 mpg considerably betters these figures this winter and again can be expected to improve markedly as it gets warmer.

Peter

 

[306maxi]

Depends on the pressures I thought. Some run low boost turbos to help with economy, others run a high boost intallation used for power. But hey, what do I know?

I think there's a lot of truth there. Our Subaru will get low 40's when driven gently which is pretty good for a 15 year old car with 4wd and I'd say that's down to the turbo which even when not spooled up and gving full boost just gives the car that extra bit of poke around town which means you don't need to rev it. Once it's properly on boost though, say goodbye to your fuel economy. Don't know what something with a big turbo say like an Escort Cossie or a Celica GT4 ST185 CS would be like though with their big turbos though....

 

[306maxi]

Dear All

I do hope that my wife's 1.2 does considerably better than this when it arrives. My all up mileage which includes a very high proportion of short journeys in my 2 litre Mondeo TDCii at 39.4 mpg considerably betters these figures this winter and again can be expected to improve markedly as it gets warmer.

Peter

No need to worry, these are 1.4's which are thirstier due to the extra power and also the extra gear in the gearbox.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/fiat/500

Here are some figures from 1.2's for you
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/islander500/500
My car
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/306maxi/500
Mark Elvin's car
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/nuova500/500

Tbh my figures are not the most representative because I've changed for narrower tyres in the winter, when my wife's had the car for work she drives just over a mile and tbh she brakes too much so economy suffers and very little of our driving is done one dual carriageways or motorways where the car would be most economical. If you are doing mainly short journeys then look at my figures, if you're going to be on motorways a lot then look at Mark Elvin's figures. Back in summer when I got the car and it was barely run in I was getting 56mpg on a motorway run till the wife took over the driving, so you can do well in the car if you drive it well