Heavy Drinker Polo... £20 = 100miles?!?!

[polomad]

My polo seems to be drinking petrol like its water…
I get 100 miles to £20, which I think is too rich.
I have so far changed the back box, and temperature sensor switch, which controls the fuel input, however it still seems to be drinking a lot of petrol?
Any ideas people because it’s costing me too much to run now and am only a student.
Cheers
Mitz

P.S. (its a 1.4 N reg just hit 90000 miles)

[Blackone]

I was thinking about this the other day as my mum is always moaning about her car using too much fuel.

So i'm thinking is it the car, or is it just life!!

Petrol is now expensive, some places £5 a gallon. If your doing lots of stop start town driving then you'll probably be lucky to get 20-25 mpg.

So if thats the case, £20 would get you like 80-100 miles

Gone are the days when petrol is cheap (well cheaper) I used to always get in any car 100 miles for £10.

[laura_fairy_22]

petty is 85.9p per litre down here (shell regular).... altho in some places its still high 90's!! im surprised they get any business!!

[BenMMellor]

There isn't a smell of petrol when you get out of the car is there ?

Check the fuel filter, it's about the size of a coke can and is on the petrol tank - you can see it it you kneel down and look under the car.

These are made out of aluminium and do corrode - thus letting fuel out - especially when the fuel system is pressurised !

I went through a full tank of fuel going from liverpool to leads one day - approx 100 miles - as mine was just pumping half the fuel onto the road !

[KITT]

Could be the Lamba sensor. If this fails the engine looses track of the mixure and will go rich to avoid overheating, thus increasing fuel consumption. You've definatly got a problem as those fuel figures are similar to my 2lt twin carb kit car!

[polomad]

I just got a quote from VW for a lambda sensor and they said its £85:71!!! WTF?
Should I get it from a scrappy or stick to a new part?
Cheers
Mitz

[Essex6N]

Why don’t u try eurocarparts
or gfs

http://www.eurocarparts.com


http://www.gsfcarparts.com/

[david burton]

agreed, sounds like a lamda sensor.

[stevie007]

It really does depend on how you are driving and where are you driving to....

if you are just doing the daily shopping run then £20.00 for 100 miles isnt too bad.

I know as much as £10.00 can get me to London to Leicester with no problems. Thats more like 113 miles as I go through Central London.

I would probably say get the Air pressure of the tyres checked, Use a Fuel clearner such as Redex, Laugh if you must but get a Eco Tek Fitted. If you don't get improved fuel consumption you are guaranteed to get the performance.

Full Tank of petrol means higher fuel consumption. If you are driving around town all the time leave it on half tank rather than full. Fuel equals weight. Weight equals more consumption.

Check the grade of fuel you use. I've found that Sainsbury's Unleaded is the worst grade of petrol. A good kind of petrol and has been highly recommended by some places is Tesco's 99ron Fuel. It's a new type of fuel designed to rival Shell Optimax and Bp Ultimate. It's done its justice in my fuel tank and has certainly helped with motorway miles and performance. We should thank ourselves lucky we do not get American Fuel their octane is only 91.8 Ron.

and finally.... if all else has failed... and the car is still drinking petrol.... like us Brits drink alcohol...... SELL IT and buy another one. Sometimes it can be simpler and cheaper than sorting out the car.

[david burton]

sell it and buy another one?! that'd cost you more than a lamda sensor!

ok, if it's not the lamda sensor then fair enough - but that economy equates to 20mpg, I'm sorry but even going around a track in a 1.4 8v would get you that.

I have never, ever got below 30mpg in the 1.4 8v. let alone 20mpg

something pretty obvious must be wrong - I'd say if you like the car - have it looked at. it must be chucking out unburnt fuel or running like a pig to consume that much fuel.

[stevie007]

Depends if it is the lambda sensor....... little costs can amount to big. You know that, I know that. Everyone knows that.

It's no surprise that cars come off the production line as lemons.

There is no quick answer to the question.

[polomad]

I have been driving the car very carefully believe it or not … I want to build up my no claims but the way this car drinks petrol is really annoying me.
I am fed up of trying to find out what wrong with it now and have decided it’s cheaper to sell the car and get another one . I love my polo just don’t like the fact it’s a petrol-oholic
Thanks for all your help any way
Mitz

[david burton]

it just seems a silly reason for selling the car, if you could get an opinion and see what's up.

selling it on is hassle, you know it's a legit car, and nothing else is wrong with it?

so easy to sell a car when things start to play up - but that in itself is a false economy. believe me, I've been there done that.

[polomad]

I do see your point mate but the fact that am a student and cash is a major issue at the moment the way this car is costing me am not going to have any money to run the bloody thing.
I did get it checked and was told it could be the lambda sensor however could be a lot of other things and my mechanic told me its better off selling it and getting a newer one
I have no other problems with the car just the fact that it drinks more then it should.
Mitz

[stevie007]

Hey Mitz,

Selling the car is just a suggestion. Yes the car is lovely but if you are only getting the mpg of a Mazda RX8 then I would put serious Question marks on the car.

My first polo wasnt as hungry as my current polo. But I've had to do some minor engine modifications to balance fuel and performance.

I've tried it all

K&N Filter
Eco tek
Fuel Magnetiser

some other stuff

Using Slick 50 as the oil.

Running car on

Tesco 99 RON petrol has helped the car. London to Leicester on less than a quarter of a tank of petrol. For some strange reason my car seems to be allergic to BP fuel I'm finding it drinks it way too fast. Leaving me with sometimes 1/2 tank. I suppose this would be better improved if I drove at 70mph all the way.... but it would take a very long time to reach Leicester.

All this counts for nothing considering I've got a Sub in my boot..... oh well.

There are plenty of polos on the market. Yes it can be a hassle to sell off and buy again. 100 mpg is that on a good day?????