car uses too much fuel

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 04 Jun 2004, 01:32

hi all
i have a 95' XLDT with 97k on the clock
i filled the tank up to half way, cost about £25, and the fuel needle seems to move down very quickly
i have only done 60 miles since and it already just above half a tank. i know i should get 250 - 300 miles from it
any ideas??
when i did service i replaced the oil and oil filter, and used the 10k boost.

Post by **philhoward** » 04 Jun 2004, 03:07

No.1...don't trust a French fuel gauge!
The only true way to know what your car does is from a brimmed fuel tank and down to less than a quarter of a tank, calculating the mpg from what it takes to refil upto the brim again. If you then know what it does, you can watch the mileometer go up, as the gauge goes down and make a mental note of what mileage you're at. My Xantia gets be every time by about 30 miles; me thinking it's doing good on fuel, then it goes down 1/8th of a tank in about 10 miles!

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 04 Jun 2004, 20:37

Do you also get starting problems ? If so, I would check the injector leak-off pipes !

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 05 Jun 2004, 03:16

hi
thanks for replies
i do get starting problems where its smokey and idles roughly
where are the injector leak-off pipes and what should i check for???

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 05 Jun 2004, 12:33

Your starting problems could be the glowplugs, but it could just as easily be air getting into the fuel system.
The leak-off pipes are little rubber pipes which link the injectors, and have a feed back to the pump / tank.
With time, they become hard and brittle. Check around the tops and base of the injectors for fresh diesel deposits !

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 05 Jun 2004, 15:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mbunting

Your starting problems could be the glowplugs, but it could just as easily be air getting into the fuel system.
The leak-off pipes are little rubber pipes which link the injectors, and have a feed back to the pump / tank.
With time, they become hard and brittle. Check around the tops and base of the injectors for fresh diesel deposits !
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
yeah i checked it today and around one injector it was wet so i suspect diesel. the spill off pipes are like rope not rubber. can i get new pipes???

woody-som · Post by **woody-som** » 05 Jun 2004, 18:04

Hi B21playa
Yes, its fairly easy to get replacement pipe. All diesel specialists will have it, thats where I got mine several years ago.
Or if you find halfords closer, you could try them, but not sure, as I don't use them very often.

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 05 Jun 2004, 18:14

do gsf stock them???
what is the rough cost??
is it posible that the injector is leaking and not the pipe?
are they meant to be ropey or rubber????

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 07 Jun 2004, 14:49

The cost was around £3 for me, cut it up yourself. Can't remember whether I got it from GSF or the Royal Mint.

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 08 Jun 2004, 01:40

could this be the reason 4 **** mpg???

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 08 Jun 2004, 16:39

Well, if the 'spare' fuel is not getting back to the tank, but is leaking all over the engine............
It's highly probably, with the usual proviso's that the air filter is clean, the oil is changed regularly, the mother in law's body is not in the boot, and you don't drive around with the handbrake on.

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 09 Jun 2004, 02:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mbunting

Well, if the 'spare' fuel is not getting back to the tank, but is leaking all over the engine............
It's highly probably, with the usual proviso's that the air filter is clean, the oil is changed regularly, the mother in law's body is not in the boot, and you don't drive around with the handbrake on.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
lol

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 14 Jun 2004, 00:34

finally got round to getting it done
will keep checking around the injector after some time also keep a track on fuel tank

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 14 Jun 2004, 14:55

Is the area on the back wing, next to the fuel filler a bit grubby ? You could have fuel spilling out of the breather pipe ( like I do ). I've bought a windscreen washer one-way valve, and will be putting it into the breather line to stop this !

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 14 Jun 2004, 17:11

how successful is this modification, as my car also has the same problem, plus the last few litres are painfully slow to go into the tank.