Focus high petrol usage

Pete · 2011-10-02T13:50:01+00:00

I'm getting a bit concerned about my focus and its petrol consumption. I put £20 of sainsburys unleaded in and I got only 120 miles urban driving a mix of 30/40/60 roads. I drive smoothly and change up in time and am gentle on the left foot yet this seems a bit rubbish.I did a bit og googling and it says the AFM may be at fault. I only have a maxiscan ms509 (autel) it shows live data and shows the AFM (air flow meter) at 0.0077 no idea if this is a good or bad reading ?Could this extreme heat cause more petrol consumption. I am not using anything else in the car like air con etc its just basic driving, although all windows are open so I guess that doesn't help.Correct tyre pressure aswell. I guess super market fuel is not the best but to be fair I use it usually and get 370 out of a 55litre tank if I'm lucky more than likely 350 urban and 200 miles motorway driving.Any ideas what else I could have a look at or do ?thanksHope you all enjoying this heat, its a bit much for me so I'm hiding inside :)

Oct 02, 2011 41 Replies

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A few very informative posts tim, I had always thought high rpm meant high fuel use and more wear on the engine as oposed to the oposite

I did feel it a bit sluggish in 5th at 1.2k rpm but it become so habitual after driving a mk4 golf 1.6 petrol I changed up at feel as oposed to checked a rev counter as I drove it for nearly a decade, could be why I find driving anything else weird at the moment, but I'm getting the hang of it :)

I've been driving at 30 in 3rd and its a lot more pokey and revs sit at 2k rpm, and 40/45 in 4th and over 50 in 5th seems to be much better like this. Although it sounds like I should be pushing higher on the revs for better rpg. I guess playing around a bit and recording figures to find optimum settings as it were will prove helpful.

I got tremendous insight from the instant economy gauge of the 53 Almera

1.8 petrol. It completely changed the way I drive. Amongst other findings already covered in the thread, travel in the throttle that does not cause acceleration still causes consumption to increase. There is a point where one presses on the accelerator very gently, retains speed on the flat and does not cause the consumption to increase, but it's a point, more than a range.

As for the Focus 1.8 at 5k RPM, it had a fatal flaw in my case: I liked the driving effect and the sound of the engine so much that I did not bother to change up, just pressed further. I kept consumption records for the first couple of years and got between 27 (snow) and 35 MPG (before I got the Almera and adjusted). For comparison, I now get between 27.5 and 38 on the 2.0 Accord, still staying at the same place and making similar runs.

I still think the Mk I Focus was one of the best all-rounders ever designed. Yes, I see quite a few of them looking run-down and rusty these days, but I don't think the newer designs are a patch aesthetically on the Mk I. Same story as I would have told you about the Sierra, aesthetically I repeat.

Kostas

Focus high petrol usage

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