Hi My 2003 Fiesta Duratec 8 V is consuming excessive petrol (26 mpg) urban driving. Can anyone please suggest what the problem might be. There are no fuel leaks and the CO during VRT test is correct.

When replacing the fuel filter do I need the special tool to disconnect the fuel lines?

excessive consumption tends to be either not burning correctly, or, delivered in the wrong quantities.

When where the sparks / HT / coils replaced last? have you done a leak off test?

The CO is perfect with an exhaust gas analyser so the quantity of fuel at idling is correct. HT wires just replaced, and no misfiring so the HT coil should be OK.

I have a feeling that all Fords are heavy drinkers even when I was young the Ford Escort used to drink a lot compared with other vehicles of the same age.

Ok the engine has about 80000 kilometers on the clock but for modern engines that is not much. Driving in Malta is mostly urban driving with a lot of stops but 26 mpg is not acceptable.

My other car a Citroen Xsara 1999 gives me 35 mpg.. But that is French so perhaps other engineering.

The CO is perfect with an exhaust gas analyser so the quantity of fuel at idling is correct. HT wires just replaced, and no misfiring so the HT coil should be OK.

I have a feeling that all Fords are heavy drinkers even when I was young the Ford Escort used to drink a lot compared with other vehicles of the same age.

Ok the engine has about 80000 kilometers on the clock but for modern engines that is not much. Driving in Malta is mostly urban driving with a lot of stops but 26 mpg is not acceptable.

My other car a Citroen Xsara 1999 gives me 35 mpg.. But that is French so perhaps other engineering.

The new ecoboost engines drink nothing for the amount of power they put out..

8v.. So what displacement is it?

Mine is Duratec 1.3 lt 8 valve engine. I am consuming 2lt more every 100km. The handbbok says 8.1lt every 100km and I am consuming 10lt

There's your problem. The 1.3 is pretty much the worst engine Ford ever made. Unreliable, inefficient, weak

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Perhaps true but 26mpg not even my 1966 Triumph Herald because it used to give me 35mpg. Many years passed since then and the technology improved and not worsen. No I think there is something wrong. If I take it to our Ford agent it will cost a fortune. So I am trying to solve the problem with friends like you. Perhaps someone will give me a clue.

According to handbook in urban driving it should consume 8.1lt/100km not 10lt.

To answer your other question;

No special tools required to change the fuel filter. Just squeeze the white/grey bits on the connector and it should pull off.

First thing I'd do is perform a full service. Plugs, Oil, Oil filter, fuel filter, air filter.

The timing belt etc is also due unless it's already been done

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The Duratec engine uses a timing chain not a belt and I did the service. The funny thing is that I found the colour of the plugs light brown as they should be.There are no leaks and the CO is correct. Very strange to me. The engine runs like a clock. But I still believe that it should do better than 26mpg urban driving

The duratec engine uses a belt.. I'm about to change mine

Unless the 1.3 is different, which I doubt

HT leads? Coil pack? Cheap parts that like to fail/deteriorate

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Sorry mine is timing chain. Your perhaps its 16V. Mine is the cheapest Ford 8V

So it does, I've just had a quick search around. What a strange looking setup! I'm used to seeing twice as many valves.. haha

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