Poor fuel efficiency - diesel Xsara

[dave_xsara]

Hi guys,

I've got a 2001 Xsara 2.0HSI (90HP) and I'm currently getting only 40mpg out of it which I think is a bit poor.

I only drive it a few times per week - usually a 50 mile motorway journey. I cruise for most of the journey ar 2250rpm (~65mph) down the motorway - should the car not be more efficient that 40mpg?

What should I be looking at in order to get a better return? I have smoothed out my driving - I'm an advanced driver so I am aware of driving techniques. What car I do to the car to improve the situation?

I'm considering getting the fuel and air filters changed what else is there?

Also, what should I be expecting as a return from the car on fuel efficiceny?

Thanks.

[Chlorate]

Is a little bit low perhaps, I usually push 10 miles per litre (about 45 mpg) in my ZX (essentially a Xsara underneath, similar engine, little bit smaller and lighter).
From what you've said about your driving, a good service would probably help, change of oil and filters etc.
Although French fuel gauges do tend to be a little on the iffy side at the best of times, it's hard to be accurate with this sort of thing. What I started doing was putting exact amounts of fuel in the tank and resetting the trip counter when I filled up, I worry a lot of people when I'm driving all week with the fuel light on

-Alex

[dave_xsara]

Well, that how I'm getting my mpg calculations - based on litres put in at the pump and the trip reading.

A bit irritated though at the poor performance.

[craigbooth]

again a good service is what the car needs also make sure there is nothing in the car you dont need (heavy tool boxs, boot full of childrens toys etc etc), i am assuming the car is in good repair, no holes in the exhust etc, remove any roof bars not in use, when driving dont get to close to the car in front (sounds daft but the turbulant air car make a big difference, tyres pumped up to the correct level and again in good condition preferabley matching (left to right not front to back)
if all this fails the find some one doing the same route and car share.

[Citroenmad]

A good service will be the place to start, i assume you check tyre pressures and condition regularly?

A electrical sensor such as the MAF can send MPG figures way out without it putting up a fault light. You could try having its fault codes read to see if there is any problems.

Id expect at least 45MPG, i get around that with my C5 110, a much heavier car. 50 should be very achievable in a Xsara HDi.

[Paul-R]

50 is the norm in our Xsara Estate. It sometimes drops to 48 - 49 if there've been lots of shopping trips about town. Can get over 50 without too much problem.

I've just pulled my fuel receipts out and the last several fillings-up have given readings of 49.1, 50.3, 52.8, 48.9, 49.0, 49.0, 49.1, 51.8, 54.3, 54.0, 52.5, 54.1. The last four figures came from touring around France and Spain over summer.

[Peter.N.]

I managed 60 mpg from my 110 Hdi 406 when I went to Cornwall on Tuesday but only about 55 mpg on the return journey, I discovered when nearly home that I had inadvertantly switched the aircon on!

I think the Xzara has a larger body and therefore more wind resistance, I take it it is manual, that's worth another 5 mpg.

I do drive very gently though, I can get well over 50 mpg from my XM estate on the Scotland run.

Peter

[Paul-R]

I should have mentioned that the touring round France and Spain figures included aircon full time!

[Citroenmad]

I managed 60 mpg from my 110 Hdi 406 when I went to Cornwall on Tuesday but only about 55 mpg on the return journey, I discovered when nearly home that I had inadvertantly switched the aircon on!

I think the Xzara has a larger body and therefore more wind resistance, I take it it is manual, that's worth another 5 mpg.

I do drive very gently though, I can get well over 50 mpg from my XM estate on the Scotland run.

Peter

Peter, you have a 406, when did that happen? I knew you were looking but didnt know you had found one. I guess yours is the 110bhp model? How many miles?

How are you finding the HDi engine? Obviously economical!

A Xsara is a much smaller car than a 406 and C5, lighter too, so MPG should really better both bigger cars. Though the 90s gearing is not the same and obviously has less power, so maybe similar MPG should be expected.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Chris

Sorry about that - its not a Citroen I got it a couple of weeks ago after extensive research into their reliability, this one has done nearly 180k and runs beautifully, yes it is the 110 hp one and qualifies for the cheap tax rate the ride is not a patch on the XM but on most other fronts its very good.

I looked at quite a number, several with leaking head gaskets, but this one is OK, looks much easier to work on than the XM. I am still sticking with the XM I have so am not forsaking them

Peter

[Citroenmad]

Hi Peter,

Not a Citroen, but it is French and I do like Peugeots. I looked at getting a 406 between C5s, I looked at and drove a few, they are nice cars.

So the 406 will be £125 a year to tax, same as my C5. Certainly beats the £215 of the Xm! They dont match a Citroen for ride but they are not too uncomfortable.

Glad to hear your sticking with Xms, the 406 will be a backup then?

Whats happened to your BMW? Its gone from your sig.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Chris

The BMW was not my kind of car, I'm pleased I tried it but its built more for speed than comfort, although I can't say it was uncomfortable but compared with the XM it had a hard ride, very little space, very little low down torque and not as good fuel economy, I sold it to a friend of mine in Derbyshire, he is delighted with it.

Apart from the ride I have no real criticism of the Peugeot, I wondered if I should have had a Xantia but didn't think that the additional complication of the hydraulics warranted it, on the XM, yes, but it has quite a lot more to offer.

One of the things I did like about the BMW was the fact that it was rear wheel drive, meaning that you could get to everything but the 406 looks easier to work on than the Xantia/XM. When I have my first problem I will pass judgment.

The 406 was supposed to be my wifes car but at 50+ mpg I'm tending to use it quite a lot myself

Peter

[dave_xsara]

Thanks for the replies.

I've spoken to someone else who has heard the car idling and thinks that there may be parafin in the diesel. He said he could smell it when started from cold. Could this be the cause?

I usually get my diesel from Tesco or Sainsburys.

The car is in good repair with good tyres and pressures regulary checked.

[Citroenmad]

AH, tesco fuel, i wouldnt and dont use that, especially on a HDI.

Fuel is not just fuel, despite some people saying it is. Shell and BP is the best, its not usually more expensive than supermarket fuel, but it is better. Obviously supermarkets dont have their own fuel brand, but it will be more than likely one of the cheaper fuel brands, Imperial etc.

I only ever go to Shell, or BP if im not near a Shell.

I used to use tesco fuel with my AX, though at the time it was cheaper than Shell so i got more fuel for the same money, but the car went for longer on Shell fuel despite getting less fuel for the money.

There are articles on the web and diesel specialists will tell you the same, that cheap fuel brands have less lubricating factors in the fuel than high quality fuels. Lubricating factors is something HDI and all high pressure fuel systems require to be maintained. My local diesel injector specialist says supermarket fuel keeps him in business!

There is no reason not to use a high quality fuel stations.

You would be best filling up with Shell or BP a few times and seeing if you notice a difference to economy, possibly performance too.

[CitroJim]

I've spoken to someone else who has heard the car idling and thinks that there may be parafin in the diesel.

For a diesel engine to smell a bit "paraffinny" in the cold and when cold is quite normal but it does tend to indicate that combustion is not quite perfect, which is to be expected in the prevailing Arctic conditions of late.

Remember that diesel fuel is not so far removed from paraffin (Kerosene) anyway. The someone else who smelt the paraffin odour must be like me, quite old! Paraffin heaters are so rare these days that few know the smell. For me it brings back many childhood memories of paraffin pressure heaters, paraffin blowlamps, Primus stoves and paraffin Tilley lamps...

If it continues to smell like this when hot or has a tendency to emit white smoke on occasion then you do have a small combustion issue.