MPG misery

[Nimminz]

Please help!

Been looking at insurance quotes on more modern economic cars for the last few days :/
Why?
Because I'm finding it hard to find money in my pocket for the thirsty fuel tank, let alone any modifications. Starting to think maybe it was a bit of a mistake, this volvo.
I do really like the volvo, even if 9/10 people i know (or even people i dont) hate it and think i'm an idiot for changing from the Peugeot. Also i can't see myself being a D1 drifter any time soon .
So, to save me from a tempting Vauxhall Astra mk4 1.8 SXi..
Any cheap mods to save me fuel? without having to drive at 40mph on motorways. I am clued up on economic driving an unfortunately have been practicing the art for the last few weeks. My mate who's a BMW mechanic says he'll tune the car up to get better MPG if its not set up right. ATM i'm getting 70 mile for 30 quid of juice equating to 11.8MPG and just shy of 50p per mile. ('88 360 GLTi)

so yeah,
Any cheap mods to save me fuel?

Cheers,
Matt

[macplaxton]

ATM i'm getting 70 mile for 30 quid of juice equating to 11.8MPG and just shy of 50p per mile. ('88 360 GLTi)

Cor blimey! Is it pishing out all over the floor?

That mpg is Jag V12 territory!

I was under the impression that even driving like an arse, it would be possible to do 20mpg?

[Nimminz]

I really don't understand it. I write my milage on all my fuel receipts and tried it out with £30 of fuel from when the warning light came on and stayed on on flat ground with the car stopped. Then drove round till it came on cosnstant as before and seen the milage between : 69.5 miles.

Its not coming out the tank, i replaced the filler clamps that rot, checked them since -bone dry

[volvosneverdie]

11.8mpg is a bit short if youre being careful. I think the best I got from my GLT was about 20-25 ish.
Even the 17 tonne automatic 740 I was running was getting 15ish by my calculations.

Im guessing youve already done all the easy simple stuff, so I cant offer any advice, other than put an Isuzu 1.7 TD in it, turn up the fuel and boost and get a billion bhps and 50mpg.

[macplaxton]

I'd fill the tank to the first automatic shut-off click of the pump. Then when refilling, use the same pump and repeat.

Fuel lights are a bit hit and miss.

[volvosneverdie]

I'd fill the tank to the first automatic shut-off click of the pump. Then when refilling, use the same pump and repeat.

Fuel lights are a bit hit and miss.

Im with mac there. I was calculating from "half a tank" by the gauge.
But top up, to top up showed quite different figures.

You just need to have the money to fill up. Twice.

[Nimminz]

Yeah the best way to check would be to fill the tan like yous say, but i can't afford to fill the tank these days, let alone twice I'll see if i can scrounge some money together to try it.

I like the sound of the Isuzu TD engine would it fit easily? Not that i have the cash.

LPG has crossed my mind a few times but i'd never have the money for the initial set-up. I've heard 'wet injecting' the lpg can give more power and is usually de-tuned quite a lot

Found this thread
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=5&t=1088
Might try that, could save a penny of fuel or so and would probably make it start easier.

Removing the viscous coupling fan might help? its affording the fans though

[volvosneverdie]

I like the sound of the Isuzu TD engine would it fit easily? Not that i have the cash.

Dont think itd be easy. Be epic though.

Specially with the powers cranked up.

[jtbo]

Could be leaking petrol to box section too, mine does that, for some reason plastic pipe inside boxed section has failed as all the other lines are replaced with new stuff.

Also could be leaky startup injector, but that should lead to rich running motor.

Of course it is hard to beat turbo diesels, my daily is constantly hitting 5.0l/100km mark and at times even 4.5l/100km becomes reality. Saves quite a lot of money to be put into 360 project car, so having 360 insured as hobby classic and have some shitty daily might be a good choice if you have the space.

20l gives me 400-420km, which is 22€, sorry for not converting to your units, bit rush into sleep already, coming from work and again gettin early up to work. Anyways that is probably something like half the cost you are having now, even with our extra taxes for diesel, it still is quite economic driving + at summer time McDonalds is free petrol station as one can use used deep fry grease as diesel replacement.

4 banger diesel is just probably most annoying sound there is, right after 2 stroke 1cyl moped motors...

[Nimminz]

Are the valver engines any better on fuel? could just get a 1.7 and do that swap, or buy one pre-swaped

Would be different like but then i'd have to get ANOTHER car to drive while doing the swap and really dont have the room :/

I'll get it checked, it does smell of petrol quite a lot of the time, could be running rich or leaking.
And I'm looking in the 'green books' on how to check things in the engine.

A few of the cars i was looking at included:
Audi A3 mk1 1.6 - not cheap but JUST cheaper than the volvo
Golf 4 GTI - Quite cheap compared to the audi
Bora 2.0 - Nearly as cheap as the peugeot
Astra 1.8/6 rather cheap for what it is, and i really wanted one before the volvo
Mazda 323 2.0 TD - Cheap diesel i also wanted but insurance was too high when i was changing from the peugeot

Would much rather keep the Volvo although the 1.8 astra is tempting

[Speedy88]

The valvers are cool but I'd get a 1.8 if you're worried about fuel. There are fuel maps out there for the 1.8 that can get around 45mpg. What about Adam's old white car? I'm sure that's up for sale at the moment.

Does your car smell of petrol when its running? I doubt its leaking because you WOULD notice. I wonder if some amazing mechanic tried running a different renix?

[macplaxton]

You do the poor man's method and run it dry, add 5 litres and run it dry again! (plus suck all the crap and dregs from the bottom of the tank)

[filthyjohn]

That's definitely gone wrong somewhere if 11mpg is correct! Mine did 25-30 with a B200E, no PAS, no viscous fan, driven hard. Chris C renovated his injection setup and that produced a much nicer drive, maybe worth a PM to him, you'd only need some contact cleaner and a multimeter. Defo get rid of the viscous fan, can you imagine yourself spinning that up to 6000rpm? Nope, that shows it's sapping noticeable horsepower and efficiency. PAS is a killer too, take the belt off

[filthyjohn]

Also, failing all that, got a 1360cc 205 here on Gaz coilovers, runs on fresh air and slightly faster than a GLT, available for sale or swap.

[volvosneverdie]

Also, failing all that, got a 1360cc 205 here on Gaz coilovers, runs on fresh air and slightly faster than a GLT, available for sale or swap.

I can attest that this car described here is fooking awesome.
And fast. And thifty. And cool. And fast.