fuel economy

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 02:42 PM

hi people. i am just wondering what kind of fuel economy everyone is getting from their focus.

according to the focus handbook and website and wheels magazine these are what we are to expect.

manual:[7.1 litres per 100kms]

auto:[8.0 litres per 100kms]

for my little beast [auto] i am currently getting 8.3 on 91 octane petrol. i have been driving on citylink/tullamarine to work everyday and i cant seem to break the 8.3 barrier. have any manual drivers gotten down to near the claimed 7.1? i guess a long drive to sydney would do the trick.

newcarbuyer · 02-06-2006, 02:52 PM

Our 06 manual Zetec has now done 3k and have consistanly got 7.5/7.6 with it. Thats around town and some highway, very little full on city driving.

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 02:55 PM

i guess normal driving conditions would never be the same as the lab controlled conditions they use to back their claims.

pertuan · 02-06-2006, 03:25 PM

There are alot of fuel consumption figures in the "What fuel do you use" thread. I'd check there.

More revs · 02-06-2006, 04:40 PM

My 300Km old Zetec just clicked down to 6.9 l / 100Km this arvo running down the Monash Fwy....

Which is slightly better than the wifes Renault Scenic which used to be the family record holder.

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 04:49 PM

i would use 95 octane...its just that its darn too expensive at the moment. the manual says that although 95 octane is preferred, 91 is still okay.

hmmm...6.9 hey? thats pretty good! thats getting into fiesta territory! maybe if i did switch to 95 octane it would improve the economy. anyone here use optimax or 98 octane or higher?

jameseybuddy · 02-06-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfocusstar

i would use 95 octane...its just that its darn too expensive at the moment. the manual says that although 95 octane is preferred, 91 is still okay.

hmmm...6.9 hey? thats pretty good! thats getting into fiesta territory! maybe if i did switch to 95 octane it would improve the economy. anyone here use optimax or 98 octane or higher?

That is all I use, BP Ultimate or equivalent. Car runs super smooth, reasonably ballsy and averages about 7.3

jameseybuddy · 02-06-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfocusstar

hi people. i am just wondering what kind of fuel economy everyone is getting from their focus.

according to the focus handbook and website and wheels magazine these are what we are to expect.

manual:[7.1 litres per 100kms]

auto:[8.0 litres per 100kms]

for my little beast [auto] i am currently getting 8.3 on 91 octane petrol. i have been driving on citylink/tullamarine to work everyday and i cant seem to break the 8.3 barrier. have any manual drivers gotten down to near the claimed 7.1? i guess a long drive to sydney would do the trick.

If you have a LS focus shouldn't you be using 95 Octane?

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 05:19 PM

maybe i should switch.

pertuan · 02-06-2006, 05:22 PM

Driving from Melbourne to Sydney, I got 6.3L/100. I've got a Feb06 plated LX manual.

Now driving in inner inner sydney, to and from work, I get 10.5L/100

silverfocusstar · 02-06-2006, 05:24 PM

when i first got my car it had 23 litres per 100kms! they mustve done some burnouts in the shipping yard...then the first week i had it i drove it down to phillip island and got it down quicksmart to 9.1 with a full load of 5 adults and full boot! and now that i hav been driving almost everyday on the freeways 8.3 seems to be the benchmark...oh well i guess thats the limitation with having one less gear than a manual!

More revs · 02-06-2006, 05:37 PM

I use PLUS from United servos. It's a 95 RON E10, (10% ethanol blend).

I've been using it for ever in all my cars with great results even from the Renault which runs a similar comp ratio as the focus 10.3 : 1

Sure ethanol isn't as 'energy dense' and in theory a tiny drop off of performance compared to straight 95 petrol - about 2% I believe. I doubt anyone could ever tell the difference.

So at more than 4c per litre cheaper than normal 91 unleaded I'll stay with PLUS

More info here if interested http://www.unitedpetroleum.com.au/news.html

amlohac · 05-06-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by More revs

I use PLUS from United servos. It's a 95 RON E10, (10% ethanol blend).

I've been using it for ever in all my cars with great results even from the Renault which runs a similar comp ratio as the focus 10.3 : 1

Sure ethanol isn't as 'energy dense' and in theory a tiny drop off of performance compared to straight 95 petrol - about 2% I believe. I doubt anyone could ever tell the difference.

So at more than 4c per litre cheaper than normal 91 unleaded I'll stay with PLUS

More info here if interested http://www.unitedpetroleum.com.au/news.html

Its also the sh.ttest fuel you could put in your car. Also its a 10% ethanol mix, i belive you'll find the focus shouldnt be running that type of fuel (both new and old), its not healthy. I belive there is a thread thats got the link to tests and reports about this

theBlake · 05-06-2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amlohac

i belive you'll find the focus shouldnt be running that type of fuel (both new and old), its not healthy. I belive there is a thread thats got the link to tests and reports about this

i heard that only the old focus has a problem with E10. Focus 05+ has no problem at all?

whippet_zetec · 06-06-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theBlake

i heard that only the old focus has a problem with E10. Focus 05+ has no problem at all?

it is a definite issue for LR Focus owners, and Ford does not suggest that Ethanol fuels be used, LS not sure what the current status is, I think there is a link off the Shell website to the cars that can use Ethanol products as advised from manufacturers.

Todd

73MTU · 02-06-2006, 09:08 PM

I used to use standard unleaded (95) and i went on a trip from brisbane to orange for a week then came back and on the last tank of petty comming back i got 780km to the 45L of unleaded. which was good but it was also highway driving. cant remember L/100km. then the car started pinging bad. so i switched to premium unleaded and it doesnt ping anymore. the average km's per tank has lowered now that i'm back to city driving but i'm still averaging around teh 7.5L/100km mark.

02-06-2006, 10:45 PM

Standard is 91 octane.

Best ever was 4.5l/100ks over 55kms. This was on Heathcote Road/M5 at 3am. Used the hills in neutral a lot.

On a round trip to Canberra and back by myself got around 6.6l/100s

Generally I get about 7.4l/100ks

Worst ever was doing quick trips around the local area (was helping organising an event) and that got to 10l/100kms. Compared to the EF 10l/100s is the best the ol 6 could do.

What I find for the manual on the freeway, 80kmh is about 7.2l/100ks, around 95kmh will give 7.6l/100ks, 105kmh gives 6.9l/100ks, 110 gives 6.5, 120 goes back up to 7.2.

The slump in economy around 90ks is due to the characteristics of the engine, not liking low revs with load.

silverfocusstar · 05-06-2006, 05:07 PM

4.5! thats better than a fiesta!

krusic · 05-06-2006, 07:22 PM

11.9l/100km average over the last 2100km.

Seems like my focus is not very economical. Maybe I should get it checked out by the dealer. It seems to be running beautifully and has heaps of go.

Oh and it's also got an extra cylinder and one of those turbo things....

silverfocusstar · 06-06-2006, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krusic

11.9l/100km average over the last 2100km.

Seems like my focus is not very economical. Maybe I should get it checked out by the dealer. It seems to be running beautifully and has heaps of go.

Oh and it's also got an extra cylinder and one of those turbo things....

do you have a xr5t? you lucky man!

krusic · 06-06-2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfocusstar

do you have a xr5t? you lucky man!

Yes i do and it is a fantastic drive

silverfocusstar · 07-06-2006, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krusic

Yes i do and it is a fantastic drive

how long did you have to wait from you ordering one till delivery? apparently those who order one now wont see it till next feb!

fast66 · 07-06-2006, 01:54 PM

Just drove to from Melbourne to Echuca and back in my brand new Zetec (800km on the clock at start of trip) I reset the computer after filling up and got 6.3 Lt/100km for the trip. That was with three people and luggage, using cruise control and doing some spirited overtaking. I was using standard Mobil 91 fuel (no issues). I was pretty happy with that especially considering the engine is still tight.

krusic · 07-06-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverfocusstar

how long did you have to wait from you ordering one till delivery? apparently those who order one now wont see it till next feb!

Ordered in Feb and picked it up towards the end of April. I got the first one delivered through the Geelng ford dealer. They managed to get me one on the first ship from Germany. I just told them i wasn't fussed what colour it was (except orange), and with a preference for leather seats.They had to swap with another dealer but managed to get me an early one.

Cheers,

Steve

yum · 05-06-2006, 10:51 PM

E10 looks to be compatible according to this site
http://www.fcai.com.au/ethanol.php/2.../00000005.html

it's just the older models that can't run it maybe

pacemaker1 · 05-06-2006, 11:18 PM

We touched 7.6 in our 05 LX auto, with cruise. I still don't trust the fuel range according to the trip computer though.

silverfocusstar · 06-06-2006, 05:46 AM

my dad reckons the trip comp on the focus isnt as accurate as one on the falcon...the falcon does it every metre drive, whereas the focus seems to do it every 100kms driven...not very accurate...

plee · 06-06-2006, 12:53 PM

I average about 7.8 in my Dec 05 Focus CL Manual using normally 95 Unleaded, couple of times I've used 91, I've had problems with pinging, I don't know how Ford can say that 91 is OK when the engine pings when you use it.

silverfocusstar · 06-06-2006, 02:25 PM

has ethanol ever been proven to be safe ever?

Mikey B · 06-06-2006, 05:29 PM

I drove the ST170 I bought in Melb on Saturday morning back to Adelaide on the same tank of fuel. It was filled with premium, did 3 pee stops en-route and clocked up 756.8Kms. I was well chuffed!