I recently bought a petrol uk previa 97. It failed mot on emmissions and cost me 980 in garage costs to replave exhaust, catalyzer and o2 sensor.
It is used for two short school runs a day , am and pm,10 miles in total. The heater blows hot in process so I guess the engine is warmed up.
Big problem 12 mpg!!!!
Is this because of short runs? Anything I can check..passed emissions test so guess no problem with air filter etc. Runs ok very powerful.
Do I need to shoot myself?
Help
Yes, do you mind ? :o)
You ought to be getting at least 10mph more than that so its badly in need of a tune or a mass air flow fault or something - these electronic units mostly control all the flow of stuff through the car, so its likely one of the sensors like this is out. You need someone to diagnose and fix it.
My own advice: Dump the Previa (do you really need something that big and nasty to the environment?) and take the kids in a supermini or small diesel hatchback. (My car returns 40-60+mpg but is still a superfast diesel turbo hatch). You will return closer to 40mpg on urban and even more on m/ways (Fiat Sciecento sized car would be ideal). You could obtain a car like that for the 980 you have wasted on this vehicle already!!
Best advice though: Buy the kids a bike!!!, save a fortune on the car expenses or just save for something you can enjoy in your own time, and save them being on obesity programmes later in life and being bitterly dissappointed and unsatisfied adults (if we still have a planet that is).
Square wheels can restrict road-speed...
Also, the bike idea is a good one, depending on the age of the kids. If it's
10 miles to the school that's a bit OTT mind you.
Unfortunately yes as we need 8 seats and nothing comes close.With current stupid child seat laws you cannot get three accoss any other car.Walking not an option.
Did think of buying diesel Estima but the warnings of head problems put me off.
Yes. All that time sat there at traffic lights and running around trying to find somewhere to park then having to sit there when you've dropped them off whilst others get out of the way so you can crawl up the road at 10MPH.
On Top Gear they ran a Range Rover on urban cycle and got 9MPG.
You're getting what you deserve.
To be expected, given the extreme short journeys, from cold each time. Is it an Auto?
Try blowing the tyres up to minimise rolling resistance, and fit a hotstart unit on a timer so the engine is always at near running temp- all engines drink fuel on the warm up.
Neighbour has a MK2 Disco TD5 which she uses for the school run, about 8 to
10miles total per day, and thats doing about 16-18mpg.Tim..
Personally I'd check the coolent temp sensor - even if it did pass the emmissions with the brand new cat.
As it's running well I guess that would rule out and MAF/timing/air leaks.
But as others have said, perhaps you can't expect much more on an heavy Urban cycle. Take it for a good run and see what you get.
"Tim.." wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@bt.com:
One of my mates had a Previa auto, I forget the engine size, but over two litres, I think. He got an average of 17 mpg and it ate front disks. He reckoned his old Silver Shadow was cheaper to run!. He queried the consumption with the dealer and was told it was within the limits. He sold it for a V8 LWB Shogun.
The message from "Capt T" contains these words:
You've misread the rules then. If you need to put three children across the back then the one in the middle need not have a booster seat if one cannot be fitted because of lack of width.
yes , your journeys are too short to get decent consumption
Yes it is auto :-(
. He sold
Was that an 8 seater?
"Capt T" wrote in news:458190f1$1_1@mk-nntp-
2.news.uk.tiscali.com:
Can't honestly remember, but I think it may have been a 7 seater. He has five kids so could well be. :-)
About right for that sort of run. Brilliant cars, but economy is not a strong point, especially on short runs. We have generally averaged around 18mpg with round-town driving and some slightly longer runs. Give it the chance of a motorway run and you'll be in the high 20s, but lucky to scrape over 30. If we want economy we use our Merc 220 (! -- economy?!). I tend to take my classic Mini to work...
Typical of old technology I guess, my 2.5 X-trail is averaging nearly 30mpg on short runs, mid 30's on a run, but alot less if you use the performance.
Strangely the family S70 2.5 has been paper checked (against the slightly optimistic computer) at 33mpg over the same journeys.
Tim..
Tim.. ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
No, not really.
My 10yo XM (2.0 petrol turbo auto, ton and a half) gets 24ish around town and short runs from cold, anything up to 40 on a long slow run. but low 30s at "cruise altitude" on a run. 27-30ish is about average for a typical mix, living about a mile from the M25.
Hell, my late 80s CX (2.5 petrol auto) used to do 23mpg, even when I was trawling in on the A3 to Putney every day. Mind you, it did 23mpg no matter
*what* you did...How lardy IS a Previa, anyway?
And that's diesel, ffs!
No, no, its a petrolium.
(X-Trail diseaseals are 2.2's)
Tim..
Tim.. ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
They do petrol X-trails...? Blimey!
That's not unimpressive, then.
Very. Kerb weight is 1800kg. Imagine what you add with a full 8 seats-worth of passengers. My main reason for buying one in the first place was that it was one of few non 4x4s with a high enough kerbweight to handle my caravan. FWIW it's also a much better towcar than any of the 4x4s I've owned (LandCruiser, Disco, Shogun, 4runner) - but you pay for it in the fuel bills and it won't get you off a muddy field.
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.