E36 328is Crazy high fuel consumption

E36 328is Crazy high fuel consumption

Author
Discussion

Rollcage

11,327 posts

191 months

Monday 5th August 2013
quotequote all
Fault code readers will be next to useless in this situation.

IMHO it needs a lappy and someone in the passenger seat while you drive, while monitoring parameters like lambda readings, MAF readings, fuel pressure, throttle opening etc.

There is plenty of software that will chuck out the data, but interpreting it correctly is another matter.

OptiManc

Original Poster:

156 posts

237 months

Monday 5th August 2013
quotequote all
Rollcage said:
Fault code readers will be next to useless in this situation.

IMHO it needs a lappy and someone in the passenger seat while you drive, while monitoring parameters like lambda readings, MAF readings, fuel pressure, throttle opening etc.

There is plenty of software that will chuck out the data, but interpreting it correctly is another matter.
Thanks, I guess once I have the data I can ask the interweb to give me lowdown. Will seriously look into getting the cables and software, and a ye olde laptop with serial connection too.

GVK

805 posts

241 months

Friday 9th August 2013
quotequote all
Just to mention, when you re-set the ECU, it re-sets the fuelling adaptions (compensation) where the ECU monitors 'fuel-trims' and adds or removes fuel accordingly. This is why when you first reset it , you're getting better economy until the ECU adapts to the various sensor readings and it goes crap again.

As mentioned, the only way to really diagnose it is road testing datalogging the various sensors and live data and going from there.

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but do you ever monitor the oil level to see if it raises at all? A mate's E36 had a leaking injector and it was diluting the oil.

There has been some great advice all the way through this thread, it's a shame that the fault hasn't been found!

OptiManc

Original Poster:

156 posts

237 months

Friday 9th August 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for that, I am going to look for software and cables this weekend, I think there's a link in the thread for cables.

Yes oil level and oil are fine - almost new after >5000 miles.



jamesson

2,977 posts

220 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
Any update? It's been a while!

The Nur

9,168 posts

184 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
I would't blame him if he decided to save some money and poured a couple of gallons over the car hehe

OptiManc

Original Poster:

156 posts

237 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
Sorry for not updating, I didn't get the cables in the end but took it to a recommended garage near by who took the car in for three days and were able to diagnose and test a whole host of areas, it was a while back so cant remember the exact details now. Cost me a packet though! In the end they change a part on the fuel line which has a slight crack but didn't show signs of leakage but couldn't be sure as it may have evaporated under the conditions - it didn't make a difference.

I sold the in November a couple days before my birthday, it was sent to Poland for parts.

OptiManc

Original Poster:

156 posts

237 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
The Nur said:
I would't blame him if he decided to save some money and poured a couple of gallons over the car hehe
That or sell it, which I did but I couldn't sell it to someone else to drive - its my car! So when a buyer for parts came a long I let it go.

Ukhozi

1 posts

116 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
quotequote all
Had the same thing om my Corsa B sport (C14SE), changed everything under the bonnet and the ECU, turned out to be the LAMBDA sensor had broken up inside, fitted a new one and it's now better than it has ever been.
Also my 1987 E30 320i was bad starter, wouldn't clime a hill when cold and fuel was terrible, turned out to be tight valve clearances, not possible if you have hydraulics of course, unless they are sticking or the usual cam oil feed pipe is blocked and the cam is stuffed as my first one was, nearly 2mm of wear, ended up replacing the whole head!

Edited by Ukhozi on Sunday 13th July 13:42