General Why is my fuel economy so poor?

[devon_guy]

I have a 1.2 lounge which I had from new. It's now done 3.5k and I am currently averaging 37.2mpg which I think is absolutely appalling. It's been back to the garage and been plugged into some computer which says it's running fine.
My driving is mostly town driving admittedly but I don't flog it so what am I doing wrong?
I gave it a long run on the motorway the other day kept at a steady 60-65mph and after 80 miles it was up to the grand mpg of 42. I'd love to know how you guys are getting such good figures!

 

[muttleysdad]

That is not very good - I get high 40's low 50's when i'm in town traffic to and from work, mid 50's to mid 60's on long runs at motorway speeds,
the best i've had is 72 mpg one sunday on clear roads when i was playing around to see what i could get it up to.

have you checked your tyre pressures - that can have a huge effect on fuel economy - also are you driving every where with the aircon on.

 

[devon_guy]

Well I do have climate control which I admit is nearly always on but surely that's not going to make a difference of about 15mpg++???

 

[muttleysdad]

Well I do have climate control which I admit is nearly always on but surely that's not going to make a difference of about 15mpg++???

You may be supprised what difference it can make to a small engine.

 

[mark_mcd]

It's not really the climate control feature as such - it's more the air conditioning so just run the climate control with the air conditioning switched off.

 

[Lloyd71]

I've got a 1.2 Lounge, and after 600 miles of general driving (motorway and various other roads, aswell as town driving) my average consumption is 42mpg. Not sure if that's good or bad or about right really...

 

[Ulpian]

I read in the Telegraph that the new Fista 1.6 petrol gets 45mpg mixed (Ford figures), which is fantastic. In fact the bhp is, I think, 105, and the fuel figures are slighty better than my '03 Doblo diesel with the same horsepower. New engines, when combined with proper gearing etc.,etc. seem to be getting more and more economical.

I think the 500 1.2 should give an average of 40-50, but it probably needs revving and not slogging, and driving properly (70mpg), on motorways. Give it welly, and do not to have the AC on all the time. And lots of short journeys (less than two miles) will wreck any fuel consumption figures.

I keep my AC on almost permanently summer and winter but diesels have more torque and so cope better with the added load.

There seems to be a convergence of fuel economy between a wide range of engines and cars towards an economy of around 40 mpg - or am I just mistaken?

Remember; welly, welly, welly - it's a Fiat and needs a good seeing to on a regular basis.

 

[pearce_jj]

The key to economic driving is to avoid the brakes (not at absolutely all costs!!!) and use the highest gear possible. Literally, 30mph=5th gear if flat or maybe slightly downhill, drop to 4th to avoid hammering the big-ends are soon as you get a slight incline.

Also on the motorway 60 uses a surpring amount less than 70. If in rush hour traffic, find a heavy lorry and stick behind that!

Driving this way in the diesel I'm getting 70mpg+ over a 29 mile daily commute (and thats with the climate on full auto)

Hope that helps.

 

[Ulpian]

As long as you don't labour the engine and it gets a good revving to clear its tubes now and again. How can you keep to 60 on a motorway when everything except the lorries moves at 70+?

Also on the motorway 60 uses a surprising amount less than 70. If in rush hour traffic, find a heavy lorry and stick behind that!

AS long as you are far enough back so he can see you in his mirrors...

these techniques kill driving enjoyment, which is the point of Fiats...

 

[NumanR]

You stay with the lorries!

Driving for economy is not fun, but its fun to spend the money youve saved

 

[Hellcat]

Why is my fuel economy so poor?

Handbrake is on.

 

[white 500]

That is not very good - I get high 40's low 50's when i'm in town traffic to and from work, mid 50's to mid 60's on long runs at motorway speeds,
the best i've had is 72 mpg one sunday on clear roads when i was playing around to see what i could get it up to.

quote]
from the 1.2 ?

 

[JimMagill]

.
My driving is mostly town driving admittedly but I don't flog it so what am I doing wrong!

Remember when your stationary the car is doing exactly 0 MPG so it depends on how much 'town' driving your doing.

What kills my MPG is that it's all hills round where I live and I'm constantly reving the engine and moving from 3rd to 4th and back again as there's no where that I can drop into 5th and cruise to work....

I'm getting about 40mpg from my 1.2

Jim

 

[The Sultan]

rev it harder

 

[brimbling]

I gave it a long run on the motorway the other day kept at a steady 60-65mph and after 80 miles it was up to the grand mpg of 42

If this is the average displayed by the car then an 80 mile trip would only increase the average by a few mpg, assuming you're part way through a tank. Filling the tank, noting mileage then using at least half the tank before refilling and noting how much you put in is the only way to be accurate.

Also, if you watch the readout in the car it's easy to knock the average figure down but somehow seems more difficult to increase it. This is based on my experience with my V50 as "my" 500 is sitting in the dealers until I find anther buyer for the Volvo. Unless chasing economy figures is fun, just relax and enjoy the car.

 

[JimMagill]

Filling the tank, noting mileage then using at least half the tank before refilling and noting how much you put in is the only way to be accurate.

I did actually do that between Sacramento and San Francisco in the 500 and at a leasurely 50-60MPH on a freeway that was mainly down hill to the Bay I did get 63.4MPG....

(and that's based on a gallon being 3.7 litres)

Jim

 

[brimbling]

I did actually do that between Sacramento and San Francisco in the 500 and at a leasurely 50-60MPH on a freeway that was mainly down hill to the Bay I did get 63.4MPG....

It's amazing what steady driving gains you, stop start stuff is a real fuel gobbler. I got a similar 63mpg out of my 2 litre diesel Volvo from Bristol to Brooklands and back just because the M4 was so bad I could only manage a steady 50mph. Hopefully I'll have the chance to find out what a 500 can do soon.

 

[spunky white]

one thing i find helps a lot (which i dnt think any1 has mentioned?) is when going down hills, leave in gear with no throttle. change down ie 4th-3rd depending on the incline and how much braking you need from the engine. as you are then using no fuel and saving on brake discs!

 

[pearce_jj]

that's certainly true - I managed 88,000 miles in a Saxo on the original discs + pads with this technique

 

[spunky white]

that's certainly true - I managed 88,000 miles in a Saxo on the original discs + pads with this technique

That is good going!