Uneconomical AU3

boodek · 27-01-2006, 03:51 PM

I've just filled up the Futura sedan again, and managed to get only 375km for 58 litres - that's 18mpg or 15.5 l/100km. My wife drives the car and she is very sedate and cautious, and much of her driving is around town (Albury). Any ideas what may be wrong with the car?

tex · 27-01-2006, 03:55 PM

If it was an auto, and the 375 km was all stop - start, slow driving then there's probably nothing wrong with the vehicle.

buickman · 27-01-2006, 04:15 PM

I get over the 400kms out of a tank in a VCT AU ghia with stop start.
My average now is about 13.5-13.8L/100Km around town & 8.5-9.5l/100km on H /ways at around the 90/100Kph speed.
Try a air filter change as mine was running in the high 14's/100km with a blocked air filter.

SIKSIX · 27-01-2006, 04:22 PM

also try spark plugs and leads, that helps. my brother got about 760 km on one tank (on the trip melb to syd) all freeway driving with four people also running AC on and off. ps before we left for the trip the car just got serviced at ford....

**FTE217** · 27-01-2006, 04:44 PM

It seems traffic at the border is worse than Sydney !
Mate I get that out of my XR8 or less if I push it even harder in Sydney traffic !
When was the last tune ? Air and fuel filters changed ?

boodek · 27-01-2006, 05:03 PM

We've had the car for about 6000km now, it had it's 75,000km service just before we bought it. It was done at the local Ford dealer (who I find particularly useless when servicing our work vehicles) so I imagine filters would have been changed then. I'm thinking of booking it into the local fuel injection specialist for him to go over, I imagine there may be a dud sensor somewhere in the system.

Baboon_AU · 27-01-2006, 05:46 PM

if you have excessive fuel consumption there are a possible number of things you can check out:-
1-check that there is no external leak in the fuel supply system-check all components for signs of leakage
2-check the air cleaner to see if it is blocked, if blocked clean or replace with new element
3-engine may be running too cold due to a faulty thermostat
4-you may have high fuel pressure. test pressure, if high check fuel return line and fuel pressure regulator
5-you could also have an exhuast system blockage-check system for blockage

XR6Stu · 27-01-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boodek

We've had the car for about 6000km now, it had it's 75,000km service just before we bought it. It was done at the local Ford dealer (who I find particularly useless when servicing our work vehicles) so I imagine filters would have been changed then. I'm thinking of booking it into the local fuel injection specialist for him to go over, I imagine there may be a dud sensor somewhere in the system.

It must be consistency Ford strive for in their service department, as my local dealer in Bendigo is also particularly useless. I no longer take my VCT there, as they continually stuff me around, and usually require a follow up visit once i drive the car, and discover whatever the issue is, has not been fixed!

Voodoo65 · 27-01-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boodek

I've just filled up the Futura sedan again, and managed to get only 375km for 58 litres - that's 18mpg or 15.5 l/100km. My wife drives the car and she is very sedate and cautious, and much of her driving is around town (Albury). Any ideas what may be wrong with the car?

I had a similar problem and reset the EEC, takes about an Hour and a half and its free.

And put bottle of Injector Cleaner in the tank, I've been told about 3 - 6 tank fulls to add one, someone could shed more light on that though....

The proceedure is on the AUfalcon web site go to www.aufalcon.com.au "workshop", then "Correct procedures after battery reconnection (by LG)"

I was getting around 400 - 450 kms out of a 68 Lt tank and after reseting 550 kms.

Can't hurt to try it

boodek · 28-01-2006, 02:34 PM

Thanks for your replies. I've tried the resetting of the ECU a couple of times to no avail. All I want is another 100km per tank...

Baboon_AU · 29-01-2006, 07:43 PM

get some economical saving mods, such as CAI, cam and headers! hahahahahaha

Hitman · 29-01-2006, 09:49 PM

Seeing as its only done 80,000 k's it probably won't be the catalytic converter, however it's worth checking it out. My dad's car (AU1) was doing the same thing, incredibly poor fuel economy and sluggish performance, turned out to be a stuffed cat. Changed it, and now it's back to normal.

TwistedEL · 29-01-2006, 11:41 PM

As Baboon_AU suggested check the thermostat - i.e make sure it gets up to normal temp when driving. My EL had incredibly bad economy for a while and it was because the thermostat was jammed open so the ECU pumped fuel into the engine to try and bring the temp up.

sbcb · 30-01-2006, 10:09 AM

Poor economy, my AU2 XR8 auto gets 430km town driving on a 68lt tank. Keep searching for an answer as I had a AU1 futura six and was getting 480ks town driving with the wife at the wheel.