Xantia 1.8i high fuel consumption

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Andrew1967
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Xantia 1.8i high fuel consumption

Post by Andrew1967 »

Used to have a Citroen BX TD, recently got a Xantia 1.8i 16V N reg. Runs wonderfully, suspension if fine, but it is really eating the fuel, nowhere near the fuel consumption the specs say....
Would be really grateful for any ideas, I only know the basics abouts cars, so please fire away!
Regards
Andrew
Edited by - Andrew1967 on 04 Sep 2002 17:19:49
Edited by - Andrew1967 on 04 Sep 2002 17:33:02
shaunthesheep
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Post by shaunthesheep »

andrew,
have you checked the air filter?, also any idea if the fuel filter has been changed? as both of these can affect fuel consumption.
dom
alan s
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Post by alan s »

Andrew,
I can only judge on my BX 16V as a comparison.
I wouldn't put too much credence on the 'sales brochure' figures. I'm in Australia, and out here if the sales brochures were correct some of our gas guzzling V8s would be producing figures you guys get out of diesels.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I believe that these are a combination of computer calculations with wind tunnel test data thrown in for realism. I'm not saying they're dishonest, just inpractical. The famous 54MPG at 42MPH type of figures would work perhaps on a test track where they don't have things like grannys in Volvos and kids on bikes getting under your feet coupled with hills & dales and the odd animal darting across the road you have to brake to avoid.
Before getting too excited about the consumption, could I suggest a couple of tests so that the figures can be compared?
My BX 16V goes around 7.5 litres per 100 klms on the open road, remembering that we have a 110KPH speed limit and around 9.5 litres per 100 klm around town in a country town where we don't normally have what you could call heavy traffic. Roughly that's about 38 & 30 MPG respectively. Faster driving and heavier traffic will cause those figures to fall. Hope that at least gives you a starting point.
Alan S
Andrew1967
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Post by Andrew1967 »

Thanks Dom, I am not sure when these were last changed, but there is no reason why I cannot change these. In fact even with my limited skills, no reason why I can't do them tomorrow and will let you know how it turns out.
Cheers Alan, I know that official figures always are slightly on the optomistic side! I seem to be only getting an average of 20 miles to the gallon at best (not good) even though as a test I drove 100 miles at a sedate 70 miles an hour, still the same result....
I was also wondering even though I can see no holes in my exhaust, if the front box is worn as it seems a little on the noisy side...
Wee shall see....
Anyway will try the air filter and fuel filter, then maybe get a friendly, helpful and honest mechanic to put the car on a ramp and have a look at the exhaust as well. (is there such thing as a friendly helpful & honest mechanic??????!!)
Andrew
gjb02
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Post by gjb02 »

Yes...I'm fairly sure I saw a pig flying the other day, there was a friendly, honest mechanic strapped to it's back.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
But seriously, although a clogged air filter can decrease fuel economy, 20 MPG sounds a little bit too decreased. Are you partial to a little overtake here and there, the odd turn of speed on a straight road, if you are that could be your problem. If not, you couldn't go too far wrong having the timing checked, an incorrectly fitted timing belt sometime in the past could cause high consumption, and the car might run perfectly fine. It probably has electronic ignition, does the engine warning light(engine symbol with lightning bolt through it) illuminate on the dash when you first put on the ignition. If it doesn't someone may have removed the bulb. THe engine management system would detect a problem with the timing and light the fault on the dash. Try getting the fault memory read, there may be a few stored problems/faults. Does it feel nippy enough for a 1.8 16v? Under-performance would be a sure sign of the timing being out. My last car was a BXgti (1.9 8v) and that was returning 30-40mpg, even with the occasional turn of speed<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.
Gareth
alan s
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Post by alan s »

[quote/]
"I was also wondering even though I can see no holes in my exhaust, if the front box is worn as it seems a little on the noisy side..."
BINGO!!! That could be your problem. Is it possible that the "front box" is your Catalytic converter?
Any blockage in the exhaust system will cause problems with both performance & fuel consumption, but it the 'cat' is either blocked or partially so or the insides are starting to fall to bits, then that is where it could lie.
Normally intake blockages as have been suggested are the main culprits but the exhaust end can also be a major factor. I recently read where a guy in Europe had a car that was running badly and while he was driving there was this great bang, a cloud of black smoke out the back & the car ran perfectly from then on; that appears to be a case of a partially blocked 'cat' - don't hold your breath waiting to be as lucky as him though.
Alan S
marco1
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Post by marco1 »

hi ive a 2.0 16v im getting at lease 30mpg plus a bit more on a good day ive had 430 miles out of 1 tank of fuel ..you have a prob some where get it cheaked by a diagnostic car mechanic mine i had a couple of years ago was £50,spent a good hour and half checking all the cars technical bits..
Andrew1967
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Post by Andrew1967 »

Gareth, I was wondering did the mechanic strapped to the back of the pig have a pilots licence (or piglets licence for that matter!)
Will have to wait till the weekend and also have to find somewhere to check the engine management system round here in north wales..
Alan, will also be checking out the exhaust, though the light does come on and go out as it should.
Thanks everyone for the advice, will let you know how it all turns out....
Andrew
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