WS Fuel economy update

greenfoam · 18-06-2009, 05:05 PM

Ok we had the 15k service and gave them some Castrol edge sport to stick in it. So far (half a day) my wifes averaged 6.4l/100 previously it's used 6.6 average on her work trip. But I took it on a little drive out on the road yesterday and I beleive the oil change was worth .3L /100. That would put it in the range it's supposed to use since on the original oil on the Geelong-Melbourne freeway it was sitting on 5.4l/100 I'm sure it would run somewhere between 4.9 and 5.1 now. The very rough surface on the roads around here however make it very difficult to get good figures locally. It's somthing I get upset out when everyones trying to save on pollution and every km every car travels is burning more than half a litre per 100 extra just because the Government wanted to save a few dollars on a dodgy road, that would add up to some serious numbers. But anyway, you can all look forward to about .3 per litre better with the oil change. I figure the non Zetecs would be a bit better on fuel with the thinner tyres

dannyhilton · 18-06-2009, 07:51 PM

I pick up mine tomorrow and o e of the first things I'll be doing is putting Castrol Edge in it, so fingers crossed it saves me fuel too. I'll post up my figures when I have them.

csv8 · 19-06-2009, 04:05 PM

My ZETEC had its 15000km service today. I asked the service adviser about the oil. He said "for the first 15000kms they use a heavy running in oil, then at 15000km service change it too 10w 30w oil." They put Delco 10w 30w oil in my ZETEC. Plus flashed the ECU. Service cost $266.

oldsoftboss · 19-06-2009, 06:25 PM

What was the purpose of flashing the ECU?

csv8 · 19-06-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsoftboss

What was the purpose of flashing the ECU?

I have problems with fuel consumption, car is doing around 9l per 100kms.
ECU was checked for updates and flashed to see if that will help fuel consumption. If not, a recorder will be linked to ECU and record the fuel consumption over a week.

Vision Zetec · 20-06-2009, 05:48 PM

Interesting, what thickness Castrol Edge Sport did you put in? 5W-30?

curik · 20-06-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I have problems with fuel consumption, car is doing around 9l per 100kms.
ECU was checked for updates and flashed to see if that will help fuel consumption. If not, a recorder will be linked to ECU and record the fuel consumption over a week.

Interesting... Please keep us updated with your fuel consumption after the reflash.

csv8 · 21-06-2009, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curik

Interesting... Please keep us updated with your fuel consumption after the reflash.

Will do..I am getting amount the same fuel consumption out of my Fairmont as the Fez !! Be a week or so before I can post fuel consumption. Only fill up once a week. Will be interesting as auto Fez's are supposed to do around 7l per 100ks.

curik · 21-06-2009, 01:21 AM

890kms on the clock and my fuel consumption (auto) is v6 like. 11l/100kms. Almost 100% city driving though..

greenfoam · 21-06-2009, 07:24 AM

Went for a pretty big drive yesterday and clocked up another 800ks, I found the only way to get down to 5.0l/100 was to cruise on about (all speeds are from a GPS since the speedo is out about 5ks as per normal Fords) 85km/h, 90km/h was good for about 5.1, this was on the normal old rough country roads. I had to stay on those kind of speeds anyway as it was late at night in areas heavy with Kangaroo's. Soon as you sit on 100 the fuel usage goes right up to at least the high 5's. Overall it uses at more fuel than my friends Honda Jazz which will definatly sit on 5.5l/100 if not better on the highway at 100 on the same roads. I feel like the Australian version of this car should have the diff ratio changed to suit, 2500 rpm would have been more sensible and also while I'm complaining the SEAT WINDERS ARE SH I T

anyone else noticed that? I'm still in my 30s and have good strong wrists and I struggle to adjust the passenger seat, someone in their 70s would have real problems

?. So if Ford ever reads this I think the car needs to rev at 2500 on the highway + a 2 litre engine and better seat adjusters, then it will be perfect.

Vision Zetec, I'll check the oil tomorrow I still have the bottle. It was alot thinner than the stuff the car came with that's for sure but I think it was the 5-30. The highway sticker figures are in a bit of dream land I think unless your driving on roads as smooth as glass you wont ever see under 5 at 100, but I'm able to do way better than 6.0 in town (not much traffic in my town:P ).

My parents are currently on a trip around half of Australia and they are averaging 7's on the highway in their auto AU, considering how big a car that is, it's very impressive. It's been to Alive Springs a couple times before and got 7's then too, It's probably no different to an auto Fiesta.

Oh yeah the service cost for 15k was $140 (we supplied the oil)

Vision Zetec · 21-06-2009, 10:27 AM

I think a huge factor here could be how new the engine is, I have heard of better economy/performance once the Fez's have been run in a fair bit

Candyman2 · 21-06-2009, 04:30 PM

Post first service (oil change in engine and gearbox) we are getting consistently ....

City - 7 to 7.5
Freeway - 5 to 6 (110-115 kph)

Haven't found any problem with the seat winders.

oldsoftboss · 21-06-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candyman2

Post first service (oil change in engine and gearbox).

Did you request the gearbox oil change or is it standard. Just wondering why you would change the oil @ only 15k

Candyman2 · 21-06-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsoftboss

Did you request the gearbox oil change or is it standard. Just wondering why you would change the oil @ only 15k

By request ....

Was to address the reverse gear issue (which it has reduced considerably)

Was the 3,000 km service, not the 15,000 km service

oldsoftboss · 21-06-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candyman2

Was to address the reverse gear issue (which it has reduced considerably)

Ah interesting. Was it a different grade of oil?

Candyman2 · 21-06-2009, 09:33 PM

Redline MT90 went in (supplied)

greenfoam · 22-06-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candyman2

Post first service (oil change in engine and gearbox) we are getting consistently ....

City - 7 to 7.5
Freeway - 5 to 6 (110-115 kph)

Haven't found any problem with the seat winders.

Are you sure you have you used the seat winders

? they are stiff small and there's not much room in there to get your hand on them and I have very skinny hands! more so than almost anyone else, maybe I've been spoilt and most cars have dodgy winders, I dont know. BTW I checked the oil it was 5-30

dannyhilton · 22-06-2009, 09:49 AM

Picked up my Zetec 3-Door on Saturday. So far have done 600km, and I'm amazed at the fuel economy. I'm getting an average of 5.3L/100km!!! It was in the high fours on the Bruce hiway on Sunday (the minute is started raining it went into the mid fives).

Average fuel usage (before I reset it): 5.3L/100km
Average speed (78km/hour)

Mind you this is a car with only 600km on it, though I have been running 98 Ultimate. Supurb.

I find the seats great, the passenger front seat isn't as nice as my auntys Swift, but the back seats are light years ahead of my old Fiesta.

greenfoam · 22-06-2009, 04:14 PM

Rapid is that road hotmix? I've never been able to get near high 4's yet not even on the freeways in Melbourne, there it did 5.3 on the original oil. Sounds like you got a good one !

, what tyres did yours come with?

Vision Zetec · 22-06-2009, 05:34 PM

And is it the 1.4 or 1.6L?

dannyhilton · 23-06-2009, 07:55 AM

haha. I don't know, but it's been supurb since Staurday. The average has bumped up to 5.8l/100km (probably due to the cold weath in Toowoomba and my short drives).

I have the Hancooks (with the handy rubber strip to prevent scratching my rims, yahoo!) and they seems quite good, not the best in wet.

I have the 1.6L. Is going quite well. Trying to figure out how to get instantanious consumption figures (gotta press something or other) but yeah, I think my car may be a one off? Mind you guys, I'm driving like a granny (havn't been over 3500RPM so that could be it haha, still only has 600km on it!).

curik · 23-06-2009, 09:27 AM

Nice figures there typhoon! Especially the engine is still in its break-in period. But don't let it rev constantly all the time, you want to make sure the pistons seat on nicely.

Vision Zetec · 23-06-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curik

Nice figures there typhoon! Especially the engine is still in its break-in period. But don't let it rev constantly all the time, you want to make sure the pistons seat on nicely.

Hey can you please elaborate on that a bit more? cheers

curik · 23-06-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vision Zetec

Hey can you please elaborate on that a bit more? cheers

Yeah sure, it's advisable to vary the rev and throttle input during break-in period instead of revving it at one spot (cruising steadily on the freeway) so the piston rings would maintain a good seal. I don't have any empirical evidence to back up this notion, but I have read it in a few owner manuals. Cruising at low revs produce little stress in the cylinder as if the engine is only free running. If you have to commute through lots of traffic free roads, try to take your car for a spirited run on a hilly area.

Vision Zetec · 23-06-2009, 06:51 PM

Thanks Curik

dannyhilton · 23-06-2009, 10:35 PM

I've been babying it so far, but I let it rev to four grand today twice. I have done a variation in driving, slightly spirited through to granny mode at either traffic/hilly/freeway/normal road to vary my driving. Should I be babying it so much, when can I unleash the power of the 1.6l Ti-VCT!!!???

greenfoam · 24-06-2009, 02:22 AM

lol there is no power, but you can rev them and make some sounds. I didn't take ours to 6,000 untill it had done more than 5,000ks nothing much exciting happened so I never bothered again but you can light up the traction control in the rain pretty easy. If I want to go sideways in smoke I take the V8

doctamick · 24-06-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapidTyphoon

Trying to figure out how to get instantanious consumption figures (gotta press something or other)

Is it possible to get instantaneous fuel consumption? I've just been resetting the average fuel consumption by holding the button on the end of left hand stalk.

I've done mainly freeway driving (probably 60%), and the ocassional spirited driving in-between, and averaged 6.2 L/100km and 51 km/h for the first 2500kms (without resetting any of the averages). FYI: I have a 1.6L manual Zetec 5door, with the factory option 17inch wheels and Falken tyres ( 452's I think), and been running Caltex Vortex 98 petrol.

The car is currently at the dealer for the 3,000 km service. I will let you know if there's any change in fuel consumption. But I think that 6.2 L/100km is pretty good anyway.

doctamick · 24-06-2009, 10:49 AM

Whoops... I just realised that the first "service" is just an inspection.

: So I probably won't see any change in fuel consumption until the 15k service.

Candyman2 · 24-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctamick

Whoops... I just realised that the first "service" is just an inspection.

: So I probably won't see any change in fuel consumption until the 15k service.

They will offer oil change (our dealer did).

I'd recommend it.

We supplied the oil - got ours done at the "free" 1500 km check up.