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        General >> Problems >> heavy fuel consumption.
        
(Message started by: emptypockets on Nov 12^th, 2009, 11:53am)

Title: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Nov 12^th, 2009, 11:53am

???

Hello from a new boy, man, quite old man really.

After years driving Granadas I now have my first Scorpio, a 2.3 Ultima saloon. I am seriously impressed. Have a few odds and ends to sort out but there is one massive problem which was not evident on the test drive.
Would you believe 54miles covered on 20 litres!
No leaks anywhere, so before delving into anything I would be extremely grateful if anyone can point me in the best direction, (apart from sell it again quickly) to find the most likely culprit or culprits.

Cheers

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Jonnycab on Nov 12^th, 2009, 12:13pm

Have you checked out this page ?......http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/faultfinds.htm :)

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by gozz on Nov 12^th, 2009, 4:11pm

emptypockets.
You need to get an OBD scan done really,it will tell you which unit or sensor is faulty so that you can change it.Obviously don't go to a Ford dealer,a small sensible garage or diagnostic man should do it for £25 in the hand.
12 mpg is not good,you should get about 28.
GOZZ.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by 10mpg on Nov 12^th, 2009, 4:13pm

Whats that in mpg...?

my 2.3 gets high 20's mpg is driven by my missus and low twenties occasionally dipping into the teens if i drive it ::)

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Tekno on Nov 12^th, 2009, 4:51pm

I get usually 24 mpg. 28 mpg only once when I drove highway at constant slow speed for many hours

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Highlander on Nov 12^th, 2009, 5:36pm

on 11/12/09 at 11:53:59, emptypockets wrote:

Hello, I'm assuming its a new car to you and this is your first 54 miles??

have you used the readings from the fuel computer to work this out? they can be way out depending on the recent settings and how its been driven.

Best way is to fill the tank then do a lot of miles then refill it to get a good reading of the actual mpg

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Nov 12^th, 2009, 5:44pm

Many thanks.

Computer and trip, together with a rough idea of the actual distance all point to something way out. I shall try and locate a local garage with suitable diagnostic gear. I know it would make sense to go to a Ford dealership but I would need one of those lottery wins to even contemplate it.

Cheers.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by tonyboy on Nov 12^th, 2009, 8:55pm

On average i get about 68 miles for 20 litres. And thats a 2.9 24V.............

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Highlander on Nov 12^th, 2009, 9:02pm

I wouldnt go spending money on a diagnostic check on the basis of 54 miles,

there is no way you can get an accurate mpg reading from that, you may well have 10 litres left in the tank, dont go by the fuel computer just now

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by homer2themax on Nov 12^th, 2009, 9:44pm

I agree with Highlander.
54 miles on a run or in heavy traffic?
Also, is it manual or auto, the difference can mean a couple of mpg.
And if it's auto, is it changing gear correctly?
I only really use my car for nipping to the shops and I've seen the computer show an average of 13mpg in the past, depending how hard I drive it.
Best to get a proper reading by resetting the computer and taking it for a cruise.
HTH
Mark

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Nov 12^th, 2009, 11:05pm

Hi.

20lts of fuel returned 54 miles in mostly traffic free conditions.
The car is a 2.3 auto.
Forgetting about the computer, the guage was on empty, the odometer was set to zero, it recorded 54 miles and the guage was back to almost zero.

Since my first post The above has been repeated over a distance I know to be 55 miles with the same result.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Highlander on Nov 12^th, 2009, 11:44pm

Dont trust the gauge, you tank may be sitting 3/4 full and showing empty...

too many variables, ifs and buts when you've only used 40 litres, you still have no real guide as to the mpg.

There may well be something amiss but I wouldnt be looking at anything else before I had a definite mpg figure worked out by filling the tank then refilling it and using the fuel used and the mileage covered.

Is the car running ok?
plenty power and responsive?

I have limped home in a 2.0 16v 300 miles on two cylinders and still returned 20mpg so I would very much doubt an engine fault would be giving you the 12mpg figure you mention.

There is either a fuel leak you havent found or the mpg is incorrect.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Nov 13^th, 2009, 3:31pm

Many thanks.

The engine runs fine and is very responsive for a 2.3lt. It is a bit tappety first thing in the morning but I intend to change the oil and filter after flushing to see if there is any improvement.
I will fill the tank to the gills and check the refill after the weekend.

Cheers

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by gozz on Nov 13^th, 2009, 4:19pm

Yes,that's the only true way of doing it.Keep us posted on the result.
GOZZ.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Stixy on Nov 13^th, 2009, 9:20pm

As said above fill the tank & zero the trip and drive it until it beeps 50 miles to go then fill it again and note down how many litres it took to fill it then work your litres into gallons then divide your miles by the gallons etc

My 2.3 auto estate averages 25-29 mpg and thats with a duff autobox that only uses the first 3 gears

Somthing else that might be worth a mention is i havent had a Scorpio yet with an acurate speedo most seem about 7 mph under actual speed

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by gozz on Nov 13^th, 2009, 10:14pm

Stixy.
Do you mean over actual speed ? If you follow a large lorry on the open road it appears to be doing 60mph,but they are limited to 56mph by speed limiter.
GOZZ.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Stixy on Nov 13^th, 2009, 10:19pm

on 11/13/09 at 22:14:26, gozz wrote:

Stixy.
Do you mean over actual speed ? .

Yes over reading sorry :-[ its been a long day

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by tlundkvi on Nov 14^th, 2009, 7:05am

on 11/13/09 at 21:20:34, Stixy wrote:

Somthing else that might be worth a mention is i havent had a Scorpio yet with an acurate speedo most seem about 7 mph under actual speed

The VSS is quite correct IMHO, the meter error is introduced to the needle, internally the car knows it's exact speed (e.g. compare ODB reading with satnav).

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Highlander on Nov 18^th, 2009, 2:59pm

on 11/13/09 at 15:31:36, emptypockets wrote:

Any luck?

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Nov 18^th, 2009, 3:12pm

Hi again.

Still haven't reached the refill stage. I am trying to get a complete mix of driving conditions to return a truer mpg figure.
Don't know how accurate the computer is but after filling to the neck a few days ago, I drove in very light traffic/dual carriageway mode for about 15 miles and it was showing 31mpg. If that is anywhere nearly true I would be well pleased.

Many thanks.

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Highlander on Nov 18^th, 2009, 3:15pm

They're not USUALLY too far away once you reset it and give it ten minutes or so to settle down, 31 sounds more like it though.

If the computer hasnt been reset for a while it can give some funny looking results

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Nov 26^th, 2009, 5:01pm

Hi Folks.

I posted the results of the empty to full tank mpg equation in the wrong place.

It works out at 20mpg in going to work type conditions. No motorway stuff. I can live with this and if her indoors turns off the aircon in the mornings, (she has claimed the Scorpio as her own) then this figure should rise. Also a short service tomorrow re oil, filters and plugs should help as well.

Many thanks for all you kind help.

l

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Tons_of_fun on Nov 26^th, 2009, 10:28pm

Fuel consumption is always a bit of a shock to new scorpio owners ;). Im still having to adjust my driving style to get the best out of my weekly £30 worth of fuel. Trying to keep the engine under 2500 rpm takes a fair bit of consentration believe me ::). Then the wife spoils it all with a trip to Asda ( she averages 14 mpg ) :o :o...Girl racer >:( ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by Tekno on Nov 26^th, 2009, 10:58pm

http://tankkaus.com/graph_yearcons.php?car=32280

8.4 litres/100km = 28 miles / gallon
9.9 litres/100km = 23.759 miles / gallon

Btw, has anyone noticed if driving with Winter mode in urban decreases consumption? (lower rpm = lower comsumption, if not driving pedal floored)

Title: Re: heavy fuel consumption.
Post by emptypockets on Dec 7^th, 2009, 9:30pm

Hi Folks.

A final update on this topic and excellent news. Due to a family illness, her indoors had to travel from Belfast to the Wexford area, a return trip of some 455 miles, mainly new motorways.
I am delighted to report a trouble free journey and a splendid 31mpg achieved.
The bad news is that I have almost certainly lost any chance of retaining this Scorpio for myself as she has now claimed squatters rights.

Cheers