excessive fuel consumption

Krupa · Post by **Krupa** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:21 pm

My Polo GT has developed a drink problem, and it's burning a hole in my pocket.

Back in February I started losing a whole tank of petrol every 250 miles. I hadn't changed my driving style, nor had I modified the car in any way. Yet suddenly it was unable to get beyond 250 miles without hitting the red mark on the fuel guage.

Anyway, during the summer I followed instructions left on the Club Polo e-group regarding an extra earth for the lambda probe. I did so, and it worked. My fuel consumption went back to normal.

Recently though, I've found I'm getting the old problems back. 200 motorway miles glugs down 36 of the 43 litres my tank holds.

Now I've racked my brains and I'm thinking:

1. I could add another earth cable?
2. I live next to a building site and the road is very dusty, so maybe my K&N is clogged up?
3. I've recently started using SuperUnleaded. I've heard this affects fueling, does it affect fuel consumption?

Any other suggestions would be very much appreciated. I can't really afford a full tank every 250 miles, especially not now petrol prices have gone up 5p per litre.

Alex

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 10:25 pm

Hi mate

I only get 250 from 40 litres, but then again mines a 1.6 16v...

However, the general concensus is that I should be able to get much more than that!

So yours really has a drink problem!

Let me know if you solve the problem... I would like better economy too!

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 10:30 pm

i have absolutely no idea how many miles I get to a tank.

I really should pay more attention. It's not as if I can afford petrol either.

All I know is, I prolly spend about 30 quid a week on fuel... I used to spend about double that in my golf.

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:07 pm

best thing to do would be to go to Halfords and pick up some 10K Boost (Â£25) and some decent fuel additives (approx Â£30). because of the age of the engine its probably gunked up with carbon deposits and other rubbish. This wtuff will clean it out and hopefully have it running sweetly again

PS sometimes you may pick up a few extra bhp

hardhitter · Post by **hardhitter** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:17 pm

All these 10k boost and fuel additive/injector cleaners are just a gimmick. I would suggest to get some aerosol carb cleaner and remove the throttle body, intake pipes and inlet manifold and clean them out. This will remove any oil deposits from the breather, unlike any of the additives.

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:21 pm

hardhitter wrote:get some aerosol carb cleaner and remove the throttle body, intake pipes and inlet manifold and clean them out.

Thats what 10k boost is

i'm talking about fuel cleaners, not octane boosters

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 11:58 am

Check if the plug that clips onto the lambda probe is still ok, and that the wire going down there is ok too. Best I can think of right now.