Hi gang,

I recently bought a low k '98 Advance wagon (63,000). I expected to be getting around 12ltr/100ks fuel consumption but am getting more like 15ltr/100. I've been trying to improve economy by ensuring as much as possible that I don't let the engine revs go above 2000 rpm. This has made no marked improvement. The car has recently been tuned and the auto has been serviced and the changes appear to be normal so I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

Changing gears at such low RPM is probably causing more engine labour hence increasing fuel consumption. My most economical gear shift points in my experience is around 2200 downhill and maybe 3500 uphill. The higher the revs, the less the engine needs to struggle to build momentum. I recommend using light acceleration to maybe an average of 2500-3000rpm each change, that way in the next gear you're not labouring the engine.

15l/100km city driving can be slightly improved, but under certain conditions is not too bad, a few people here get that. Mine would be close, maybe around 13-14, depending on your driving habits.

By the way, welcome to the club mate!

Thanks for the welcome.

Since I've had the car it appears to give a maximum of around 400k's per tank or less. Keeping engine revs to 2000 or below generally ensures I get to 400k's before a refill is needed. Before I adopted this style of driving I'd be getting more like 360 to 380k's per tank.

I'm wondering whether I can improve on this fuel consumption by having someone recalibrate the autos shift points or perhaps it is simply down to an injector service.

Have you reset your trip computer lately cause if you havent and you want to get you consumption down it will take a long time as it will be reading from old data which is averaged out.If you have then just ignore me!!! :D

TF wont hav a trip computer

sitting on low RPM's all the time isnt good, WOT isnt good either

try resetting the computer still (u will notice the auto feels funny as it has to learn ur driving style again) by disconnecting battery, once u do that u will hav to go thru all ur gears in the auto, i think its like 1 minute in N then 1 min in L then 2 and so forth and so forth

check your filter's (sometimes they dont change air filters n stuff n still charge u)

also consider maybe the belts, as they are now nearly 8 years old and are made of rubber, they wont last forever (meant to be changed at 100,000 but if u avg 15,000 - 20,000 a year thats 5-6 years of driving, which is wht the life span of the belts most likely are)

i got an auto TF sedan and i get 450 or so pure city driving, if theres a big trip (usually a cruise) then push 500 easy, if i thrash her in city driving its usually around 400

Thanks for your suggestions. The air filter is new, but the fuel filter needs changing. The timing belt has been changed and all other belts are in good nick. I suspect however there is something else responsible such as injectors but I guess I wont know until I start parting with some $$$$$$bucks

I'll suggest looking in the TR - TS part of the forums, which has a current thread about fuel consumption and some ideas.

Also try the search button, alot of ideas around the place :)

My TF auto wagon gets around 10l/100k (sometimes just under) driving an average of 500k's a week to work. Probably 60% highway. It used to get around 12l before I had the fuel system cleaned and new filter fitted. Obviosly I don't drive fast but by know means do I drive exceptionally slow. On a long journey easily get 8-8.5 l/100k.

Thanks for your suggestions. The air filter is new, but the fuel filter needs changing. The timing belt has been changed and all other belts are in good nick. I suspect however there is something else responsible such as injectors but I guess I wont know until I start parting with some $$$$$$bucks


Get your Injectors changed over/cleaned & maybe consider getting a new O2 Sensor if these parts are still the originals. Also remove any heavy items you have in the car, I know I carry alot of water in my car and have a spare wheel, so it dosent help.

Otherwise not many options left:
Exhaust?
Extractors?
The lean out thingo 'Barry' Has?

These are heavy Large Sedans, eventually you get use to it.