V Reg Fiesta Need Help To Get Better Economy

[Said Shah]

Hi there all,

Got 1.3 that won't do more than 320 per tank, I am looking for advice from a master tech, who can help improve economy, a recent service had been done,

Many thanks all

[hampshireman]

320 on a tank? I'd say that wasn't TOO bad for a 14 year old fizzy? I've just got a new Mk7 1.25 Zetec with a trip/fuel computer fitted as standard and when I fill it up, the readout says 346 miles to go before I need to fill it up again and its a 12 gallon tank. I know its only approximate and Ford have to program the computer during manufacture with general averages but I'd say 320 miles is fairly good unless anyone else disagrees with a car thats that old?

As to your question, I'm not a master tech but have 35 years of driving experience so just do the usual, service it regularly, make sure your tyres are inflated correctly and are the right type and aren't worn or damaged, make sure the wheels themselves aren't buckled or out of true, get the tracking checked to make sure your front tyres aren't scrubbing along the road unnecessarily, don't accelerate or brake hard, change up into a higher gear as soon as you can, don't carry half a ton of rubbish around with you in the boot, keep your windows shut especially on the motorway, use your air con as sparingly as possible (assuming you have it fitted), if you have a roof rack, remove it if you aren't using it and thats pretty much it really?

Anyone else got any thoughts?

[Columbo]

320 on a tank? I'd say that wasn't TOO bad for a 14 year old fizzy? I've just got a new Mk7 1.25 Zetec with a trip/fuel computer fitted as standard and when I fill it up, the readout says 346 miles to go before I need to fill it up again and its a 12 gallon tank. I know its only approximate and Ford have to program the computer during manufacture with general averages but I'd say 320 miles is fairly good unless anyone else disagrees with a car thats that old?

As to your question, I'm not a master tech but have 35 years of driving experience so just do the usual, service it regularly, make sure your tyres are inflated correctly and are the right type and aren't worn or damaged, make sure the wheels themselves aren't buckled or out of true, get the tracking checked to make sure your front tyres aren't scrubbing along the road unnecessarily, don't accelerate or brake hard, change up into a higher gear as soon as you can, don't carry half a ton of rubbish around with you in the boot, keep your windows shut especially on the motorway, use your air con as sparingly as possible (assuming you have it fitted), if you have a roof rack, remove it if you aren't using it and thats pretty much it really?

Anyone else got any thoughts?

I think that pretty much covers it.

One thing I've been doing is using Millers petrol power eco max fuel additive. A cap full in the tank before filling has slightly upped my MPG figure, but has only been noticeable on motorway journeys.