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Very Bad Economy, Any Advice?

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:43 pm
by hypojam
200 Miles to a full tank... mostly driving with a heavy right foot...

Is this about normal? Seems very bad too me?

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:49 pm
by Polo Paul
Sounds about right for a heavy right foot, got to bear in mind its an old motor and unless its been religously serviced wont be anywhere near what it should of been all those years ago.

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:08 pm
by hypojam
The ride quality is really poor with this stupid pierburg carb.. Its like Ive constantly got kangaroo petrol :x

I heard people fit weber carbs to these 1272cc Engines....what type do i need and how much do they cost?

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:14 pm
by Polo Paul
Had no experience with them on a Polo but fitted one to my mums Golf 1.8 Syncro. Made a hell of a difference, much smoother, but was a little worse on fuel too. A local place supplied and fitted it.

They dont seem to have a website from a quick google so i dont actually know where you would source one from these days.

The pieburg carbs are bad, but could just be dirty, give it some carb cleaner, might save you a few pennies on petrol here and there, also make sure plugs, and filters are all good as these make a difference in economy.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:33 am
by GroovyCarrot
If that's a genuine full tank then it's pretty poor.. if it's just full to the top of the reserve then it's not awful for a heavy right foot. Have you worked out what mpg it's doing? If not, reset the trip counter when you next fill up, and then record the amount of miles you do before the next fill up and the amount of petrol you put in, then do mileage divided by litres of petrol divided by 4.45, this will give you your MPG. Remember to fill right up to the top of the tank both times.
I can't remember which weber carb you need for a 1.3, but I'm sure someone will tell you the model. They'll probably be all over ebay as it's the same engine as the 1.3 golf and it's a common conversion. I did it to my 1.05 and it improved reliability, responsiveness and economy, worth every penny.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 1:00 am
by Mk2Adam
i personally get about 90 miles for £10 but that's all town driving and with a reasonably heavy right foot :P

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:10 pm
by Gareth_GT_Hatch
the golf ones come up on ebay fairly often, they can be fitted to a polo too, they just need re-jetting (which is dead easy on the weber carb you need) Weber 32/34 DMTR is the one (DMTL works too)

Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:30 am
by Tahrey1043
<pedant> *ahem* 4.54 litres </pedant> :lol:

I don't think the Formels were meant to be driven hard :lol: :lol: their carbs were made specially to put in small amounts of fuel, and being pierburg to boot are probably throwing fits at the throttle being propped open a lot

mind you, definately work out how many gallons you're putting in for your 200 miles - you may be surprised that it's fairly good. it might just be your fuel guage is wonky and going into the red when you've still got a good 3 gallons left (instead of about 1), etc

Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:11 pm
by NornIron
Tahrey1043 wrote:<pedant> *ahem* 4.54 litres </pedant>
:lol: 4.54609...

Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:34 pm
by hypojam
Ok..

Ive done 180miles and used 28 litres.. My brain isnt as fresh as it used to be so could someone work out the MPG :)

Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:25 pm
by Polo Paul
29.5mpg

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:23 pm
by hypojam
I'm selling my polo, as Ive now bought a 'new' car...

I will make a topic, with pics in the for sale section soon...

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:24 pm
by Polo Paul
dude what've ya got?

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:12 pm
by hypojam
1996 1.2 Fiesta... Sorry :cry:

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:35 pm
by Polo Paul
Not such a bad car though it pains me to say it, I was always in the VAG camp and my mate has always been in the fiesta club. Nothing much between em really, although the spec on the Fiesta seems to be very basic and they drink the juice!!