wtf 24.6mpg :S

[jamie128]

Hi everyone, Ive recently bought a 08 clio campus 1.2 8v (cheap to fix if it goes wrong as im buying a house)


Ive just checked the trip computer of my average MPG and its 24.6? wtf ive not been thrashing it at all, ive been doing 60mph on the motorway etc etc? why the hell is it so low??

[JamesNotJim]

when was the last time you reset your trip comp?

[J4CKO]

Handbrake on ?

[RobCrezz]

When did it last have a service?

Lambda sensor is usually worth checking if you are getting poor economy on part throttle.

[jamie128]

JamesNotJim said:

when was the last time you reset your trip comp?

i havent but i mean how could the mpg be that low anyway? it was a mature gentlemen driver before me and its only got 20,000 miles on the clock

[BoRED S2upid]

Its French?

[jamie128]

RobCrezz said:

When did it last have a service?

Lambda sensor is usually worth checking if you are getting poor economy on part throttle.

When i bought it they only changed the oil, and its only had one service since new apart from that

Could a lack of air filter/spark plugs etc affect the fuel economy that much?

What do i need to get serviced at this stage? air filter? fuel filter? spark plugs? anything else?

[Mr2Mike]

jamie128 said:

i havent but i mean how could the mpg be that low anyway? it was a mature gentlemen driver before me and its only got 20,000 miles on the clock

Start/stop driving in heavy city traffic will easily pull MPG that low, even in a supermini.

[Nedzilla]

jamie128 said:

JamesNotJim said:

when was the last time you reset your trip comp?

i havent but i mean how could the mpg be that low anyway? it was a mature gentlemen driver before me and its only got 20,000 miles on the clock

Have you ever seen/heard a mature gentleman or woman drive?? Sometimes i think they are afraid to change gear!!

[jamie128]

doogz said:

Wasn't it a garage that had it before you?

So it could have been a 20 year old mechanic/salesman, kicking its arse for the weeks preceding you buying it?

a garage yes

[jamie128]

Mr2Mike said:

Start/stop driving in heavy city traffic will easily pull MPG that low, even in a supermini.

i dont live in the city, im never really stuck in traffic

[Johnboy Mac]

jamie128 said:

it was a mature gentlemen driver before me and its only got 20,000 miles on the clock

First off give it a good old blast, with some injection cleaner added and check the a/filter is o.k., do that first before you spend any money on it.

[busta]

Manual or automatic?

[stewjohnst]

jamie128 said:

i havent but i mean how could the mpg be that low anyway? it was a mature gentlemen driver before me and its only got 20,000 miles on the clock

It's 5pm so time to grossly stereotype the previous owner...

Lots of short journeys from cold so the engine is hardly up to operating temp before he reaches the post office/bookies and stops again. Lots of idling about in traffic, chugging around labouring the engine instead of changing to appropriate gear, taking twice as long to parallel park or manouevre in supermarkets...idling whilst being unduly hesitant at junctions, etc.

Or, he could just have been a petrol head and thrashed the poor little blighter to death for those 20,000 miles, Stirling Moss is a pensioner these days you know...

[jamie128]

busta said:

Manual or automatic?

manual

[Superhoop]

jamie128 said:

i havent but i mean how could the mpg be that low anyway? it was a mature gentlemen driver before me and its only got 20,000 miles on the clock

And that's exactly why it's got such a low reading.

20k in 3/12 years works out at what, 6ish k per annum? That sort of mileage tends to be lots of short journeys, and probably all local too - Both of which combine to give poor economy

The TC average reading, is at the moment and average of 3 years + of driving - No matter how economically you drive it now, it'll take forever to make a dent in the current average

Reset the TC and then see what reading you're getting in a week or so. It's likely to be a damn sight better than the 24.6 you're seeing now, if you're doing mainly motorway at 60 mph

[missing the VR6]

If you're using it daily surely you'd have noticed it doing 24mpg, maybe it's the computer that is faulty?

[jamie128]

stewjohnst said:

It's 5pm so time to grossly stereotype the previous owner...

Lots of short journeys from cold so the engine is hardly up to operating temp before he reaches the post office/bookies and stops again. Lots of idling about in traffic, chugging around labouring the engine instead of changing to appropriate gear, taking twice as long to parallel park or manouevre in supermarkets...idling whilst being unduly hesitant at junctions, etc.

Or, he could just have been a petrol head and thrashed the poor little blighter to death for those 20,000 miles, Stirling Moss is a pensioner these days you know...

if the car has been abused for 20,000 miles do you still think if i service it and look after it it should go for a while? i mean he only give it one service

[Torquey]

jamie128 said:

When i bought it they only changed the oil, and its only had one service since new apart from that

Try resetting the computer, drive on a clear road in 5th at 40-50 mph for 2 or 3 minutes and you should have 35-45mpg.
If not i'd guess at a mechanical issue.

[VR6 Turbo]

reset the trip old chap, then get back to us.

VR