Mk1 Focus 1.8 Tdci - Poor Mpg?

[Focus 115]

Hi all,

I have a MK1 Ford Focus, 1.8 TD DI with close to 90,000 miles on the clock.

I usually fill my fuel tank to the brim with diesel once it reaches the quarter-line mark. This would cost me around £30 to bring it back up to the 'Full' mark. The problem is, I only seem to be averaging around 130-150 miles before I need to refill again. Would this be considered normal? I've searched around Google and have found other Focus (1.8 TD DI, MK1) owners saying that they get double the amount of miles out of a tank.

Is there any way that I could increase my MPG? I don't drive it like a rally car, and I don't have a heavy foot when it comes to the throttle. I tend to change gear at around 2,000 revs in an attempt to preserve as much fuel as possible. I drive the car every weekday, to and from work, which takes around 10-15 minutes to get to and from there. I occasionally drive it on the weekends.

The one thing I will mention is that the turbo tends to whine quite loudly (similar to that of a dentist drill), and sometimes it feels as if it isn't boosting much at all. I'm planning on buying a reconditioned turbo and having it fitted/perhaps fitting it myself.

Would the turbo have an effect on my MPG? According to a few MPG calculators I have used, I'm averaging 26 MPG.

Extra Info:

+ Ran diesel system treatment/cleaner through the car around a month ago. This was done around the time when my car was producing excessive amounts of black smoke. The smoke has since stopped, but I can't quite pinpoint what was done to stop the excessive smoke.

+ Blanked off the EGR using a blanking plate (car used to produce a lot of black smoke, but that has since stopped. Don't know if the smoke stopping had anything to do with the EGR being blanked)

+ Carried out a service when I first bought the car (two months ago - 1,500 or so miles ago). This included rear brake pads renewal, oil filter, air filter and an oil change. I didn't replace the fuel filter because I've heard a couple of stories of the Focus' being a bugger to get started again afterwards.

+ Cambelt was replaced around 500 miles ago

+ Car seems to be pretty difficult to start in the mornings/sometimes in the afternoon. It's difficult for me to explain this because at the moment it's a bugger to start, a few weeks ago it was starting fine, but a few weeks before that it was also being a bugger. I usually get in the car, turn the key in the ignition a few times (wait for the coil light to extinguish, which is almost always instantly), put my seatbelt on and all of that, then attempt to start it. Sometimes it's alright, sometimes it's more difficult. There was one time when it took about 10 seconds to crank before starting, the battery light was on the entire journey to work. Turned the car off and on again and the warning light had disappeared. Hasn't shown since, and that was 3 weeks ago. I also replaced all four glow-plugs around 3 weeks ago.

^ I also performed a battery test. The alternator was recorded as fine and the results of the battery were that it needs charging, but the battery didn't require renewal. There were no DTC when I connected up the diagnostic machine.

Has anyone else got any similar stories to share or any tips on what I can do to increase my MPG? I'm contemplating renewing the fuel filter because there's no service history with the vehicle and who knows when it was last renewed. I'm just worried about not being able to get it running again/causing starting issues later down the line. Thanks. :)

[IINexusII]

Hi, Thanks for the detailed post, that really helps

On my MK2 1.8 TDCi, i can get around 500 miles in a tank, i usually would do around 300-350 until i get to the last quarter.

First thing i would do is change the fuel filter, as you mentioned it is not changed yet. its not much of a problem really to change, you just need to make sure that the filter housing is full of fuel before fitting in the new filter, also you should first dip in the new filter to let it soak up, then lift it up slightly and re-fill the housing to make sure you have as less air as possible in the housing. ive done it this way twice now and the car started up just fine.

if that does not solve your starting issues, then the next step would be to get the injectors tested, i believe the MK1 engine is easier to do a leak-off test on, but if that is not possible then the best option would be to send the injectors to a diesel specialist to get them tested on a proper machine.

Also, using this engine for short trips to and from work is not really the most optimum as the car probably wouldnt have warmed up in that time, so it would affect your MPG, but i dont think it would be as bad as you are getting at the moment.

EDIT: another thing to check before condeming the turbo is to check for any split intercooler hoses, this will make the turbo whistle and reduce power. its not common for 1.8 tdci turbo's to fail

[Focus 115]

Hi, Thanks for the detailed post, that really helps

On my MK2 1.8 TDCi, i can get around 500 miles in a tank, i usually would do around 300-350 until i get to the last quarter.

First thing i would do is change the fuel filter, as you mentioned it is not changed yet. its not much of a problem really to change, you just need to make sure that the filter housing is full of fuel before fitting in the new filter, also you should first dip in the new filter to let it soak up, then lift it up slightly and re-fill the housing to make sure you have as less air as possible in the housing. ive done it this way twice now and the car started up just fine.

if that does not solve your starting issues, then the next step would be to get the injectors tested, i believe the MK1 engine is easier to do a leak-off test on, but if that is not possible then the best option would be to send the injectors to a diesel specialist to get them tested on a proper machine.

Also, using this engine for short trips to and from work is not really the most optimum as the car probably wouldnt have warmed up in that time, so it would affect your MPG, but i dont think it would be as bad as you are getting at the moment.

EDIT: another thing to check before condeming the turbo is to check for any split intercooler hoses, this will make the turbo whistle and reduce power. its not common for 1.8 tdci turbo's to fail

Many thanks for the detailed response, James.

I forgot to mention that I removed all of the intercooler pipes/hoses and gave them a thorough clean. I couldn't see any splits or damage at all though. Although, after re-tightening everything, there didn't seem to be as much black smoke, and then the smoke stopped completely. Not sure if this has anything to do with me removing all of the pipes/hoses, cleaning, then re-tightening. Maybe just coincidental. :P

What you've said makes a lot of sense. I suppose I'd be best renewing the fuel filter, as that would be one less thing to worry about. I'm sure we have a leak-off testing kit in work, so I'll also be sure to do that sometime soon (perhaps this week or the next).

I could only dream of ever getting 500 miles out of a single tank of fuel. How are you finding the MK2? I was considering upgrading to the MK2 once I save up a little bit more. It seems like the more 'grown-up' one out of the two generations.

Cheers.

[coops206]

Hi

I have a Mk1.5 TDCi and get around 350-400miles to a tank from mine, on a car thats done over 200,000 miles and on a journey to and from work of about 15-20 mins and a slightly heavy right foot. It is definitely worth changing the fuel filter, they're really easy to change. Just make sure the new one is full of diesel when you fit it and you wont have any problems starting. As Nexus said check for splits in the intercooler pipes as they do split. If you have had them off once it may be worth checking they haven't popped off inadvertently. I have known that happen and not just on Focus. It would account for the loud noises. You can check the turbo by taking off the intercooler pipe that comes off the turbo and check there is no excessive play in the shaft. Generally a blown turbo means lots of blue smoke and the engine wont switch off as it starts to run on its own oil.

Hope that helps.

Coops

[Focus 115]

Hi

I have a Mk1.5 TDCi and get around 350-400miles to a tank from mine, on a car thats done over 200,000 miles and on a journey to and from work of about 15-20 mins and a slightly heavy right foot. It is definitely worth changing the fuel filter, they're really easy to change. Just make sure the new one is full of diesel when you fit it and you wont have any problems starting. As Nexus said check for splits in the intercooler pipes as they do split. If you have had them off once it may be worth checking they haven't popped off inadvertently. I have known that happen and not just on Focus. It would account for the loud noises. You can check the turbo by taking off the intercooler pipe that comes off the turbo and check there is no excessive play in the shaft. Generally a blown turbo means lots of blue smoke and the engine wont switch off as it starts to run on its own oil.

Hope that helps.

Coops

That's another thing I have planned; removing the intercooler pipe to check for play in the shaft. I don't think I removed the pipe directly going to the turbo the last time I was working on my car, because it seems like a bugger to get my arm down there. It sits at the back of the engine bay.

Will give it a better attempt soon. Cheers for the response, coops!

[williamweb]

Mine is always good for 50 MPG and I like to put my foot down in the right places.

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