How To Improve Fuel Economy And Power?

[MiltyG565]

According to Fuelly, recently my 1.8 Lynx TDDI 1999 Focus has only been averaging 47MPG. This is fairly poor, I think. The car has a lot of miles on it, and I'm wondering if worn out parts are the issue? Could the piston rings being worn and causing the engine to lose pressure?

It doesn't smoke badly either - only a bit of smoke on start up, and then if you really horse it, you can see a bit of smoke (not a lot - it's hard to spot, and it's fairly clear) in the rear mirror. So that doesn't signal to me any immediate problem with the fuelling or exhaust system.

So what can I do to improve the MPGs? I know these engines are fairly old tech, so are there some parts that can be modernised? Like the air-flow meter?

I'd also like it to have a bit more poke. Aside from a remap (totally out of the question on my budget), what can be done to give it a bit more go?

[IINexusII]

first thing try blanking the egr with a solid plate. lots of people have done it here including me, same engine as yours and improves down in low rev range, for more power a remap would probably be the cheapest option.

[MiltyG565]

I appreciate the advise, but I'd rather not blank the EGR valve.

[FOCA]

I appreciate the advise, but I'd rather not blank the EGR valve.

Why not?

If you want to increase power/ improve MPG how are you going to do that if you wont get a remap or fit an EGR blanking plate?

Here are some suggestions -

service - a fresh air filter, fuel filter, and oil change/ filter can help - and is good practice (if not done recently) i change my air filter avery 6k/ 6months - not the over-long recommended interval

The EGR contaminates the inlet manifold with carbon, this mixes with the oil from the breather, forming an oily "goo" the inlet manifold needs taken off and cleaned - ideally you want to fit a solid EGR blanking plate to stop this happening, again, and again, a breather catchtank will help prevent the inlet (inc. manifold) being contaminated with oil

Loose weight - if you want more performance AND economy a good way to do this is to reduce the weight in the car - start by taking a bux and filling it with all the un-nessesary junk in the doors/ boot/ glove compartment you don't need that you are hauling around - car will run nicer too when it doues not "rattle" down the road - remove the subwoofer/ fit a lightweight one - ditch the spare wheel - to go further costs money/ effort, but a lot can be done, the rotating mass is important, things like the AC, waterpump, flywheel, wheels/ tyres

The stock exhaust is heavy, fiting a lighter one that is freer- flowing (or specific components like the restrictions in the exhaust like the CAT/ back-box) can help the performance/ economy/ + reduce weight (killing more thane one bird with one stone, as it were)

the lightest possible wheels can reduce, rotating mass, unsprung weight and overall wieght tyres ditto - some tyres are specially made for better economy and can have a significant effect, narrower, smaller tyres are better for economy, keeping the pressure high reduces rolling resistance

Finally, (as mentioned) a remap probably makes the biggest difference of all, so is a cost effective way of increasing performance (a lot) and economy (a bit)

If you do nothing/ change nothing - you will improve.... nothing - a solid EGR blanking plate costs under £5 well worth doing emptying the car costs nothing, pumping up the tyres costs nothing - but for much after that - you need to put in more to get more out

[MiltyG565]

Ok, so what's the point of an EGR, CAT and back box if they can just be removed? Doesn't seem like it would benefit anyone if that were the case.

To put it plainly - Is there something wrong with my car to get only 47mpg, or do I need to modernise some of the components to make it run better? It wasn't in a good state when I got it.

I get what you're saying about filters and the like - some of the service interval they state seem a bit much. It definitely does need a good service though, which I'll probably do soon. Maybe next week or the week after. I'm trying to save up to put a set of new tyres on it before the Police notice me

[IINexusII]

47mpg is fine for a 15 year old car, if you don't want to do some mods then you will need to buy a new car

[cgriff40]

i had the same problem with my old focus too. i took it to my local garage for a service and that worked but i got them to put Castrol magnatec oil in to it and it improved well but if it is high mileage then it could be worn rings if the car has been " thrashed" for want of a better phrase and it is quite old now then i suggest a coil pack change and new plugs etc. hope this helps and good luck!

[MiltyG565]

Do diesels have coil packs? I know they have glow plugs, but I don't see how changing them would get me better MPG, since the car starts absolutely fine, and the glow plugs are only used at start up. All the ignition happens automatically (i.e. without the need for a spark) when diesel is injected into the combustion chamber.

I don't accept that 47mpg is alright for a 15 year old diesel. It doesn't get driven hard, it should be doing better. I could get 45mpg out of my old Fiesta Zetec petrol driving the same way, and if this doesn't get better MPG than that, then changing cars was completely pointless.

I'm not against doing mods, I'm just not blanking the EGR or removing the guts of the exhaust system. I said I wanted to know what parts I could modernise to make it more efficient. This engine was developed in the late 80s, let's not forget, and even though this is the later reworked version of the engine, it's still using 15 year old technology. It'd be like using Windows 98 today.

[Hassen]

If I may ask, what kind of driving do you do? Motorway at a constant speed e.g 70mph, town driving or a mixture of both. From my own little bit of experience since owning my 1.6tdci focus, there are many factors that affect mpg.

I drive the same routes every week i.e a mixture of 100km/h National Roads and 120km/h Motorways. I average approx 50-52mpg. The only mods the car has is a tuning box on the medium settings and a Green Cotton air filter. Running stock, the car was averaging a slightly less mpg but with the tuning box makes it a lot more fun to drive with a slightly better fuel economy.

I don't think a real world 47mpg for your car with the 1.8 engine is all that bad IMHO.

A service will definitely be beneficial to your car and unnecessary weight will do the same without breaking the bank. Also, tyre pressure and fuel efficient tyres. Some of them are better for mpg that others. Best of luck :)

[MiltyG565]

Most common route is from my house to work - a 9.5 mile drive through the countryside, mostly on 60mph roads. Very little town driving (I work in a high street music shop, but it's a small town).

Nearly all my driving is on main roads, but rural. I don't do a great deal of town driving or motorway driving at all, really. Just the odd time when I want to get something in town, but I generally try and avoid busy times anyway, and try to take the most efficient route.

My dad's old Mondeo regularly got 60+MPG, and actually still does (my uncle owns it now). I think it was 2003, 2.0 Duratorq.

[Hassen]

60+ mpg from the trip computer of the car? That is impressive for a 2L duratorq, 2003. I personally don't trust the trip computer and use an app that records the amount of fuel I put in everytime.

I wonder what kind of mpg others on the forum are getting with the 1.6 and 1.8 tdci just to compare.

[jg321]

1.6 TDCI @ 45,000 miles here. Get between 50 and 55, depending on how sensibly I drive. Always brim the tank, about 50/50 town/motorway driving. Trip computer pretty much agrees with brim calculations. Supermarket diesel and always run it down to 20 or so miles remaining.

[MiltyG565]

60+ mpg from the trip computer of the car? That is impressive for a 2L duratorq, 2003. I personally don't trust the trip computer and use an app that records the amount of fuel I put in everytime.

I wonder what kind of mpg others on the forum are getting with the 1.6 and 1.8 tdci just to compare.

"just to compare" to this preconceived notion you have that the reading isn't right? It does get 60mpg, easily. It's been worked out. My dad worked it out when he had the car. I'm sure, also, if it wasn't getting 60mpg, and was running empty after 400 miles, my uncle would be very dubious about the readings.

What makes you think that what your app tells you is any more accurate than the onboard trip, though? It's vulnerable to the same error as the trip is.

1.6 TDCI @ 45,000 miles here. Get between 50 and 55, depending on how sensibly I drive. Always brim the tank, about 50/50 town/motorway driving. Trip computer pretty much agrees with brim calculations. Supermarket diesel and always run it down to 20 or so miles remaining.

2 things strike me here - firstly, you do town and motorway driving. Secondly - supermarket diesel. Personally, I don't think the supermarket diesel is all that great. But, 50-55mpg is a great figure, I feel, for the conditions. Also - It's a different engine entirely from my uncles.

[FOCA]

Do diesels have coil packs? I know they have glow plugs, but I don't see how changing them would get me better MPG, since the car starts absolutely fine, and the glow plugs are only used at start up. All the ignition happens automatically (i.e. without the need for a spark) when diesel is injected into the combustion chamber.

I don't accept that 47mpg is alright for a 15 year old diesel. It doesn't get driven hard, it should be doing better. I could get 45mpg out of my old Fiesta Zetec petrol driving the same way, and if this doesn't get better MPG than that, then changing cars was completely pointless.

I'm not against doing mods, I'm just not blanking the EGR or removing the guts of the exhaust system. I said I wanted to know what parts I could modernise to make it more efficient. This engine was developed in the late 80s, let's not forget, and even though this is the later reworked version of the engine, it's still using 15 year old technology. It'd be like using Windows 98 today.

No diesels don't have coil packs, they don't have spark plugs either - or run on petrol (normally) once the engine is warmed up, the glow plugs should have no effect on the MPG (though from a cold start and some diesel engines in the warm up phase the glow plugs come on - mostly for emissions reasons but it may affect economy,(at least slightly) in warming up )

If you leave the car the way it is you are liable to continue to get the same MPG/ performance, to improve the MPG/ performance, you must change something, like remap the rngine, delete/ block the EGR, or "removing the guts of the exhaust system"

In an earlier post you said "what is the piint of the cat EGR and back box if they can just be removed"

In a way, you have answered your own question, because when the engine was originnally designed, it did not have a CAT, or an EGR, these were added later on, for political, not engineering reasons, cat causes back pressure/ reduces flow, (reducing performance/ efficiency) and can cause a build up of carbon (to be deposited in larger lumps ) the EGR contaminates the inlet of the engine and eventually clogs up the inlet (including the maniflod)

These things add weight and complexity, reducing reliablity, efficiency, economy and performance - reoeat, the engine was designed and sold without these things and "stuck on" on later versions - basically, these things "strangle" the engine - it is also highly debatable if they actually help, or hinder emmisions and the cars' overal impact on the enviroment during its lifetime

you can "modernise" it by ditching the junk/ reducing weight - because in the future cars will become much lighter- as it will be the only practical/ affordable way of increasing performance AND economy (many new designs have already started this trend)

What is the point in asking others opinions if you have already made your mind up - unless your motive is just piston everyone off! (like it says above your avatar)

[MiltyG565]

No diesels don't have coil packs, they don't have spark plugs either - or run on petrol (normally) once the engine is warmed up, the glow plugs should have no effect on the MPG (though from a cold start and some diesel engines in the warm up phase the glow plugs come on - mostly for emissions reasons but it may affect economy,(at least slightly) in warming up )

If you leave the car the way it is you are liable to continue to get the same MPG/ performance, to improve the MPG/ performance, you must change something, like remap the rngine, delete/ block the EGR, or "removing the guts of the exhaust system"

In an earlier post you said "what is the piint of the cat EGR and back box if they can just be removed"

In a way, you have answered your own question, because when the engine was originnally designed, it did not have a CAT, or an EGR, these were added later on, for political, not engineering reasons, cat causes back pressure/ reduces flow, (reducing performance/ efficiency) and can cause a build up of carbon (to be deposited in larger lumps ) the EGR contaminates the inlet of the engine and eventually clogs up the inlet (including the maniflod)

These things add weight and complexity, reducing reliablity, efficiency, economy and performance - reoeat, the engine was designed and sold without these things and "stuck on" on later versions - basically, these things "strangle" the engine - it is also highly debatable if they actually help, or hinder emmisions and the cars' overal impact on the enviroment during its lifetime

you can "modernise" it by ditching the junk/ reducing weight - because in the future cars will become much lighter- as it will be the only practical/ affordable way of increasing performance AND economy (many new designs have already started this trend)

What is the point in asking others opinions if you have already made your mind up - unless your motive is just piston everyone off! (like it says above your avatar)

I asked because I thought there might be some new info people could give me, not just the same old "Block the EGR, remove the Cat" that I see on so many threads. I don't want to do that, and I won't do it.

I asked if diesels had coil packs because a poster earlier suggested changing the plugs and coil pack but as I said then, I don't think the glow plugs would effect the performance much at all.

So, other than the EGR, are there improvements I can make to make it run better?

[Hassen]

"just to compare" to this preconceived notion you have that the reading isn't right? It does get 60mpg, easily. It's been worked out. My dad worked it out when he had the car. I'm sure, also, if it wasn't getting 60mpg, and was running empty after 400 miles, my uncle would be very dubious about the readings.

What makes you think that what your app tells you is any more accurate than the onboard trip, though? It's vulnerable to the same error as the trip is.

No offence intended there. I just don't trust the mpg readings on cars in general like you don't trust supermarket diesel. Btw, I would never again use supermarket diesel from previous experience. Very poor fuel economy and car needed a service earlier than scheduled due to it "kangarooing".

As for the 2L Duratorq engine, I now feel as if I chose the wrong engine as I thought the 1.6tdci would be more fuel efficient, Then again, at the time I couldn't afford anything else.

[MiltyG565]

"just to compare" to this preconceived notion you have that the reading isn't right? It does get 60mpg, easily. It's been worked out. My dad worked it out when he had the car. I'm sure, also, if it wasn't getting 60mpg, and was running empty after 400 miles, my uncle would be very dubious about the readings.

What makes you think that what your app tells you is any more accurate than the onboard trip, though? It's vulnerable to the same error as the trip is.

No offence intended there. I just don't trust the mpg readings on cars in general like you don't trust supermarket diesel. Btw, I would never again use supermarket diesel from previous experience. Very poor fuel economy and car needed a service earlier than scheduled due to it "kangarooing".

As for the 2L Duratorq engine, I now feel as if I chose the wrong engine as I thought the 1.6tdci would be more fuel efficient, Then again, at the time I couldn't afford anything else.

Are we talking about the PSA/Ford designed 1.6TDCi? My dad bought a C-Max a few weeks ago with one of those engines. Problem - there was no boost from the turbo. Taking the turbo off showed that only one turbine was spinning, the other had seized in place and snapped off the shaft. Apparently it's a common problem, caused by sludgy oil, which blocks the oil filter to the turbo. I'd just be careful with that if I had one - make sure it's well serviced, or it could all go badly wrong (although, saying that, the turbo core was only £100, so if you have the skills, it might not be too hard to fix).

I don't trust the MPG readings on cars either, but the one on my uncle's car has been checked, and it is right. Mine does have an MPG read-out. I work these things out, except now I've started using Fuelly. Maybe it's wrong, although it doesn't seem to be wildly out.

[Hassen]

Knock on wood, no issues with the turbo at present. Good thing to know they are not that expensive to replace.

Btw, I had a thought while driving today about mpg that is often overlooked. Tyres! I remember when looking for tyres the last time round that the new ones come with energy efficiency ratings. Maybe that's one thing you could look into to get better mpg without major modifications to the engine etc. Just my thoughts :)

[MiltyG565]

Yup, the tyres will be changed soon! :)

If I were you, buddy, I'd just check the oil filter on the feed line to the turbo, and make sure it's not all gunked up.

I've just been taking a look at parts under the bonnet this evening. It turns out that the pipe for the air that goes into the bottom of the filter box is completely missing! The only air it's getting is through the hole at the bottom of the filter box, which will be warm because it's right beside the engine block.

Secondly - the intercooler is jammed full of gunk. It looks like it has never been cleaned. The veins on the outside are sitting full of dust and dead bees, and inside, it's got loads of oil and crap.

Another thing - There seems to be a lot of oil around the block, especially the diesel pump. It doesn't look fresh, but it's giving me questions about it's past. What the hell happened to it?

As I've said before, previous owners weren't kind to it! <_<