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Fuel consumption problem
- fedbeast
- Newbie
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2022 9:40 pm
- Location: Virginia
Fuel consumption problem
I’m burning through a lot of gas quick, went empty in 2 days is that normal? When I switch my dash cluster to the mileage left from a full tank it displays 392 miles every time i fill the car up with premium gas and always use shell premium gas. So after i leave the gas station i and drive home about 3 miles away, the mileage drops drastically like by time i got home it showed 372 miles meaning I’m literally getting like 5-10mpg has anyone had this same issue? And I’m not flooring the car or high revving it either, max 3-4k rpm per shift.
- Rockhopper
- Senior Member
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- Location: Mansfield
Fuel consumption problem
So how many actual miles driven are you getting to a tankful?
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- Lifer
- Posts: 12714
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Fuel consumption problem
Short distance consumption/calculations are very unreliable...as is consumption when cold as the car will naturally use more to get up to temp.
- Smartbear
- Lifer
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Fuel consumption problem
You’re not going to get great economy by revving the car to 4000rpm, have you checked tyre pressures & had the tracking checked recently? These things all make a difference.fedbeast wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 1:09 am I’m burning through a lot of gas quick, went empty in 2 days is that normal? When I switch my dash cluster to the mileage left from a full tank it displays 392 miles every time i fill the car up with premium gas and always use shell premium gas. So after i leave the gas station i and drive home about 3 miles away, the mileage drops drastically like by time i got home it showed 372 miles meaning I’m literally getting like 5-10mpg has anyone had this same issue? And I’m not flooring the car or high revving it either, max 3-4k rpm per shift.
Rob
Last edited by Smartbear on Sat Dec 03, 2022 5:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
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- Member
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Fuel consumption problem
Bear in mind these are Colonial gallons so will be lower mpg figures.
First thing I'd check is to see if anything is binding - Get the car to 20mph on a quiet road and put it into neutral and see if it freewheels as normal, generally a binding brake cn cause these issues. Also feel th wheels when you stop as one will be ht if a brake is sticking.
MPG display is based on the last x miles driven, and is used along with fuel level to estimate distance left in the tank. So if you are on a long trip at 35mpg then fill up and start driving around town (especially if you reset the mpg when you fill up) then the estimate will drop pretty quickly. Similarly around town we get 20mpg or less, and if I fill up to go on a run I can find the distance to empty actually goes up for the first 40 miles or so.
As for "is emptying the tank in 2 days normal?" For us, a tank can last anything from 2 days to 6 months.
First thing I'd check is to see if anything is binding - Get the car to 20mph on a quiet road and put it into neutral and see if it freewheels as normal, generally a binding brake cn cause these issues. Also feel th wheels when you stop as one will be ht if a brake is sticking.
MPG display is based on the last x miles driven, and is used along with fuel level to estimate distance left in the tank. So if you are on a long trip at 35mpg then fill up and start driving around town (especially if you reset the mpg when you fill up) then the estimate will drop pretty quickly. Similarly around town we get 20mpg or less, and if I fill up to go on a run I can find the distance to empty actually goes up for the first 40 miles or so.
As for "is emptying the tank in 2 days normal?" For us, a tank can last anything from 2 days to 6 months.
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1990 Toyota Carina (Started as a free family heirloom, now apparently a Classic)
2016 Toyota Avensis 1.6D (yup, the *really* slow one).
2011 TDM900
1997 VFR750 project. 95% complete. Only 30% left to do.
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- Lifer
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Fuel consumption problem
Less than a couple of hours on the Nurburgring for meDevonPaul wrote: ↑Sat Dec 03, 2022 2:42 pm Bear in mind these are Colonial gallons so will be lower mpg figures.
First thing I'd check is to see if anything is binding - Get the car to 20mph on a quiet road and put it into neutral and see if it freewheels as normal, generally a binding brake cn cause these issues. Also feel th wheels when you stop as one will be ht if a brake is sticking.
MPG display is based on the last x miles driven, and is used along with fuel level to estimate distance left in the tank. So if you are on a long trip at 35mpg then fill up and start driving around town (especially if you reset the mpg when you fill up) then the estimate will drop pretty quickly. Similarly around town we get 20mpg or less, and if I fill up to go on a run I can find the distance to empty actually goes up for the first 40 miles or so.
As for "is emptying the tank in 2 days normal?" For us, a tank can last anything from 2 days to 6 months.
- Mr Tidy
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Fuel consumption problem
The most recent use of the car is what affects the range.
My car would show plenty of range driving on Motorways and main roads over to my sister's, but doing a few miles in London Borough traffic the range would plummet. Then when I set off home it would keep dropping until I got onto clear roads and then it would start to climb!
I think the Average mpg on the OBC gives a clearer picture of actual consumption.
My car would show plenty of range driving on Motorways and main roads over to my sister's, but doing a few miles in London Borough traffic the range would plummet. Then when I set off home it would keep dropping until I got onto clear roads and then it would start to climb!
I think the Average mpg on the OBC gives a clearer picture of actual consumption.
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- enuff_zed
- Lifer
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Fuel consumption problem
Does it matter what the fancy digital stuff tells you? How many actual, physical miles you cover before you run out of fuel is the only thing that matters surely?
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Online
- Lifer
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Fuel consumption problem
Indeed, yes.
OP, it is very easy to work out real mileage. Fill the tank to the brim, reset the trip meter, drive a decent distance then refill it to the brim. Log the amount of fuel, divide that by the miles you've covered. Viola! Real MPG.
"two days to empty" means absolutely nothing.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
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F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- Nanu
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Fuel consumption problem
As previously mentioned by DevonPaul, the digital read out in calculated on the amount of fuel left in the tank based on the consumption over the last 10 / 20 miles driven. If you drive 5 miles per day with the engine cold the mpg read out will be drastically low. Drive 50 miles per day all motorway at 50 mph you will get great mpg
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Onlinecolb
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Fuel consumption problem
Take a peek at the fuel trims using a diagnostic scanner that can view the fuel trims in live data. Elevated fuel trims will have a dramatic effect on mpg. Usual cause is air leaks in the vaccum system across the engine that lets unmetered air and confuses the exhaust sensor seeing a weak burnt mixture in the exaust from the unmetered air, the mismatch from what the Maf has reported and what its seeing in the exhaust will cause the engine management to demand more fuel to be injected to richen the mixture up. Usually get bad running and idle if its down to air leaks. The fuel trims when viewed should be around the zero mark with little fluctuation upwards depending on the demand on the engine. High fixed readings may well be due to air leaks, checks on all the rubber vaccum hoses and pipes for cracks and holes should be made, replace any defective items you find. If you have a dipstick check for a duff O ring in the tube. Best method of checking the whole system is a smoke test as air leaks can be quite hard to find, smoke will always find them. Another place to check is the rear edge of the intake manifold, there are a couple of rubber blanking caps on some stubs that are not used, these perish, crack and either leak air in or fall off completely. Smoke will usually find these if visual checks fail to.
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1999 1.8 Z3
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- fedbeast
- Newbie
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2022 9:40 pm
- Location: Virginia
Fuel consumption problem
Wow, very impressed by everyone’s in-depth and detailed explanations and tips. Highly appreciate everyone’s response and definitely agree with everyone and will do a proper mileage check soon. I understand it is a 18 year old car and has been garaged in New York for quite some time so yes the hoses might be cracking or worn out and need to replace all rubber hoses, from vacuum hoses, to radiator hoses, and most likely break lines as well. Again thank you everyone. Btw do any of you order parts from rocksauto? I find their prices to be very cheap same brand as my local auto shops but much cheaper.
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- Senior Member
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Fuel consumption problem
I am surprised no one has mentioned that you should check your air filter as a clogged one will certainly affect fuel consumption. When I got my zed it had a main dealer service history but I am certain judging by the stata of the air filter that it had never been changed.
- BumpyZ4
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Fuel consumption problem
I do occasionally. You have to be careful as they will ship items in your order from different warehouses and charge you shipping from each warehouse. Plus you have to pay for return shipping even if it is a warranty claim. For some parts it's better to pay a little more and get it at the local parts store.
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