High fuel consumption issues

Hey Pigs

First time in many, many years that I have owned a car with a fuel gauge that could be described in any way, shape or form as "accurate". And the bloody thing is deadly accurate in Roo2!

"Whimsical", or perhaps "allegorical" maybe, but I suspect that "pernicious" or "fictional" would be a more apt and accurate description of what the one in Roo1 indicated.
After around 200 kms, it was almost showing empty, and would then do another 300 kms or so around town before its first 'cough'. Best ever after that first cough was just on 10 kms before it snuffed it while gliding up to a bowser ...
 
My gauge is pretty accurate...I get ~70-80 kms once the light comes on but once its sputters I only have bout 1km before it cuts out
 
I would like the fuel gauge to show the reserve level as well!

But everything about my car dash is fake! :shake:

The fuel gauge, temp gauge and speedo are there just to spin me a 'feel good' line should my eye accidentally glance their way. :huh:

I know the Japanese don't like to offend but this is ridiculous! :lol:
 
The best fuel consumption I got was when I bought my Foz in '02, full stock, 7,8 l/100km

And the worse was in Morocco driving in the sand 12,1 l/100km

The annual average fuel consumption is around 9,3 l/100km
 
PigSti said:
I would like the fuel gauge to show the reserve level as well!

But everything about my car dash is fake! :shake:

The fuel gauge, temp gauge and speedo are there just to spin me a 'feel good' line should my eye accidentally glance their way. :huh:

I know the Japanese don't like to offend but this is ridiculous! :lol:
Click to expand...

^ :rotfl:

But what did you expect?
Swiss watch making in the instruments?
Jaeger le Coutre individually calibrated gauges?
Even Smith's Instruments?

On a bit more serious note, when I fixed the tachometer in Roo1 (i.e. replaced the one in the replacement instrument nacelle that Subaru bought me at about 10 y.o. and 160,000 kms (warranty replacement - can't grizzle about that!) that had become dodgy with the -functional- and accurate one from the original instrument nacelle), the fuel gauge went from giving highly allegorical readings to being spot on the same way it is in Roo2 - go figure!

Just shows I should have done that about 6-7 years earlier, rather than a couple of weeks before I traded it in on Roo2 ...

I could never work out the rat's nest wiring in my '68 LC, even though it should have been as simple as hell - it wasn't! I had the OEM workshop manual for it (I have had these for all my cars until I bought Subarus ... ), and still couldn't make head or tail of it. Easier for me to follow the wiring diagram for my fancy stereo amplifier :lol:.

I am more than just happy that when the needle bisects the empty marking, I have exactly 12L in the tank, and the fuel warning light comes on at this exact same moment. I like predictable fuel gauges ... :poke: :biggrin: :cool:.
 
Gidday JF

jf1sf5 said:
The best fuel consumption I got was when I bought my Foz in '02, full stock, 7,8 l/100km

And the worse was in Morocco driving in the sand 12,1 l/100km

The annual average fuel consumption is around 9,3 l/100km
Click to expand...

Is your '02 model a 2.0L or a 2.5L?

That's flaming good fuel economy, in any event :ebiggrin: :biggrin:.

I do get well under 8.0L/100 kms on the open road in Roo2 (about 7.5 ... ), which I reckon is doing bloody well for a pretty heavy car with a pretty large and (relatively) powerful 4 cylinder engine. That's around 34 to 37 miles per UK gallon. The last car I had that was as fuel efficient as that was a '64 850cc Mini ... :iconwink:.
 
Ratbag said:
First time in many, many years that I have owned a car with a fuel gauge that could be described in any way, shape or form as "accurate". And the bloody thing is deadly accurate in Roo2!
Click to expand...
I remember the fuel gauge in an old Kingswood I once owned.
It worked in reverse :twisted:

When the needle pointed to empty I was fine, but when it showed as full, then I knew it was time to fill up.
And not once did I never ever ran out of petrol :iconwink:
Worked a treat for me :ebiggrin:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
My old toyota used to say full only when i was driving up hill
 
Ratbag said:
Gidday JF



Is your '02 model a 2.0L or a 2.5L?

That's flaming good fuel economy, in any event :ebiggrin: :biggrin:.

I do get well under 8.0L/100 kms on the open road in Roo2 (about 7.5 ... ), which I reckon is doing bloody well for a pretty heavy car with a pretty large and (relatively) powerful 4 cylinder engine. That's around 34 to 37 miles per UK gallon. The last car I had that was as fuel efficient as that was a '64 850cc Mini ... :iconwink:.
Click to expand...

Its actually a '97 2.0L NA I bought 2nd hand in '02 with 90'000 km.

As my tires have a bigger circumference, I think it even drinks less fuel...
 
Filled ...

Ratbag said:
I have just had the needle bisect the E mark on Roo2 - i.e. used exactly 48L (but I haven't filled it - just an estimate).

450 kms on the trip meter.

Therefore approx 10.7L/100 kms, all around town, but varied trip lengths - i.e. not all short trips to the shops, some on 80 km/h roads, but none on the freeway/s. Mostly driving gently, but have sunk the slipper into it more than a few times during this tank.
WOW, it will do about 90 km/h in second ... :iconwink: :lol: :lildevil:.

I am happy with that sort of consumption.
Click to expand...

It appears that Roo2 has exactly (approximately, around about ... ) 9L left when the needle bisects the empty mark. This seems to vary a little, but it is always going to be a fairly rough estimate, as it is impossible to judge this in exactly the same way at each and every observation.

I just filled (to the second click of the pump). Took 52.26L to the first click, and 52.67L to the second click. That's for 459 kms, so about 11.47L/100 kms around town.

I am sure that as I get more used to the car, that will improve slightly, but I'm happy with that as it stands.
I just have to train my right foot better ... :iconwink: :lol:.
 
I have heard that the in tank sender is coated with silver oxide over time which makes it less accurate. Techron seems to be the only feul additive that is specifically designed to dissolve it! Know of any other sure-fire ways of cleaning the fuel tank level sender of deposits?
 
Just a little update:

Last two fillups (following that terrible 16.7L/100km, and after I've removed the roof basket) are both exactly 13.4L/100km. Still bad. Not as bad... but bad anyway...!

I've gone through my maintenance papers, including the ones given by the previous owner, and I can't seem to find anything about the front O2 sensor getting replaced. That means that if it was done, it has been over 60 000km since. I'll get that done within the next couple weeks.
 
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Gidday Fly

That's a whole lot better than that horror tank, mate!!

Maybe it is time for a full checkup at the car doctor ... ?

The worst I seem to be able to get out of Roo2 is the mid-twelves.
 
I'd definitely get that checked. My car with its JDM WRX engine has never had a tank worse than ~12.5-13 and I drive it HARD.
 
12.5 is the worst for Scooby2, but that's towing the shack. Our original Scooby never has her roof basket off at all and always gets at least 400kms/tank ... even round town on short trips. Listen to your Scubaroo Fly. It's telling you something!

Best regards
 
I've had 13L/100km when towing a heavy load up steep hills on a stinky hot day with the AC on. When sand crawling at Robe it wasnt that bad lol
 
I need to do my O2 sensor as I'm getting about 12L per 100km on average. My worst was probably 13-14L per 100km but that was towing a boat with a semi-loaded car on the highway and doing 120-130km/hr the whole way...
 
My 'Guzzler' gets poor economy but the tail pipe tip shows no sign on black at all, nothing on the tissue paper rub test! Strangely it gets better economy with a trailer on!

How does a new O2 sensor help?
 
The Oxygen sensor measure how rich or lean the exhaust gases are. After awhile(150k+ km) they can wear out. False readings will be given to the computer and therefor it usually means the vehicle uses more fuel. Anywhere upto 50% more fuel is quite normal.
The next thing to look at would be the Map/Maf sensor. That in conjunction also manages the fuel consumption with the TPS(throttle position sensor).
 
The worst i have had over an 800km trip was an average of 20L per 100 when towing a massive trailer.

Interestingly I once accidently forgot to reconnect my o2 sensor after taking the exhaust off and I got no change in fuel economy or check engine light... No idea what that means. Normally I get 10l/100 almost without exception.
 
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