Petrol being eaten

[Mr Mayoh]

Hi guys, have a 1.2 8v mk2 punto. This question has probably been asked a thousand times before but I need help fast. My car has burned through £60 worth of fuel in a week, literally driving 2 miles down the road and back a night. just passed my test and used to motorbikes so i havn't been ragging her. Did a full service on her on the weekend, tyre pressures all correct. Put £20 in on sunday, with 77970 ish on the clock, got just under half a tank, cars now just coming up to 78000 miles and i have less than a qaurter of a tank, 30 miles for 20 quid, dont seem right :s heard the lamba sensor could be the cause, how could i check this, please help cant afford this much longer lol!!!!

 

[fingers99]

I'd expect a lambda that bad to throw an ECU fault.

You'll find tests on the Internet, generally just requiring a multimeter.

Do check that the brakes are not binding -- that's a prime cause.

Also, check that the thermostat isn't jammed open (or missing altogether!) and test the air temperature and water temperature sensors.

Do bear in mind that the fuel guage is only accurate when full and empty -- anything else is a best guess!

 

[Dcthebear]

Also avoid supermarket fuel! Stick to BP or Shell if you can, contrary to what others may say, it does make a difference and their fuel additives will help the engine. Check the exhaust for leaks too, suprising what that can do to fuel consumption. Agree totally with binding brakes, do a simple free wheel test on level ground, car shouldn't slow down quickly, also touch all four wheels after a short run. They shouldn't be hot. Also try doing the egg test! Sounds bizarre but it does aid fuel consumption. Imagine an egg is under the accelerator pedal and you have to drive without breaking it. Never any need to put the pedal to the metal in normal driving, smooth gradual acceleration and gear changes in the green on the rev counter. Hard to go from a bike to a car, unless its high performance you just can't match the acceleration.

 

[Mr Mayoh]

thanks a lot for replies, hand brake was sticking but that was fixed on the weekend, driving today more aggressively than usual had surprising results my petrol went up :S to a point where the fuel light wasn't on, i think shes just temperamental tbh she is italian afterall.