My first post so I should say HI first of all...

I got myself this 2002 Magna Advance 2nd hand. I was fine with the 3.5 litre engine sucking 18-19 l/100km but since then I have been reading of people getting 15 l/100 km. Is that something of a concern that I should get checked?

Another irritating aspect of my car is it has developed a squeak, on the front driver side wheels. If I drive the car forward after some time of keeping it stationary (usually 2+ hours), the front wheel squeaks for around 10 rotations before it quiets down. It is intermittent, does only once in 4 times. I had it checked with a mechanic but it did not squeak then so he is stumped as well. Is that a big concern or should I "live" with this irritating behavior?

Thanks in advance...

Mileage is really bad, make sure that yo have had the usual things done, plugs, leads checked, dist cap and rotor checked, depending on mileage oxy sensor replaced etc

The squeak, if you tap the brake pedal does it go away, if so I would say you have stuck sliders on your calipers

Welcome to the forum.

Check your instantaneous fuel use with a hot engine.

My 3.5 auto FWD does 6.6 L/100 km at a steady 90 KPH, 7.5 L/100 km at a steady 100 KPH. Around town it averages 10.5L/100 Km. AWD uses more, if you have one of those.

Noisy brakes is probably a dragging disc pad. Unless one wheel gets a lot hotter than the others after driving around, I wouldn't worry about it. If you have one hot wheel though, it might explain your poor fuel economy.

I have the same squeaking problem, i was told that i rock or something big hit the plate right behind the disk and was bent into the rotor, i looked and wasent that, im thinking wheel bearing, i go out driving all day, then every time when im 3 corners from home it starts squeaking every time, i slam the breaks on or ez them on and still squeaks. i sit on 12.3-12.8 city driving and 8- doing 100km (highway runs) 99 TH

I am looking for a specialist magna service centre as i speak (well, type)... I will have to recheck the squeaking wheels as madmagna has suggested tomorrow.

@madmax, no the wheels dont get hot, I have checked for it. The temp of all 4 wheels are similar after I got home.

Thanks guys for the help. I will be writing back with my findings tomorrow...

I double checked everything today, no hot wheels. I wanted to update on the squeaky wheels but it hasn't squeaked all day...

My city driving gives me 18-19 l/100km and 13 l/100 km for highway, doing 110kph (NSW M5). Mine is 2002 Advance TJ 3.5L sedan FWD with 18" HP racing wheels (just putting everything I know about my car in here).

I know the TJ can really chew the juice if you use all of the power regularly, or only do short trips. I rarely see more than 2,200 rpm before the gearbox changes up. What sort of RPM do you use around town?

mmmm i have a TJ VRX and the fuel economy is crap, ive had it 2 mths now and im now considering selling it because im about to go into a job where i need a car for work and i can't afford the petrol these cars use!

mmmm i have a TJ VRX and the fuel economy is crap, ive had it 2 mths now and im now considering selling it because im about to go into a job where i need a car for work and i can't afford the petrol these cars use!

What economy are you getting and for what sort of driving? And how are you measuring it? How many km has the car done?

I've given my tj a lot driving and extremely short trips, and in bumper to bumper traffic for a full tank and only averaged 15.X L/100km, so I'm thinking something is wrong. Driving doing the sydney to newcastle trip (and return) each week I get in the 12.X's, and that combines a lot of traffic and city driving, trips to the shops and highway driving. I certainly know if i was easier with the right foot I'd get better economy, and I'd definitely do that before selling to buy something else. Remember how far those top gear boys have driven on a single tank of fuel just by being paranoid?

What economy are you getting and for what sort of driving? And how are you measuring it? How many km has the car done?

Im driving the car nicely, i got the avg fuel down to 12.5/100kms but im getting like 200kms to $50 seems a little to high in my regard, car has done 190,000kms and is prob due for a service but even so this seems ridiculous i upgraded to this from my old 95 commodore, the commodore was alot better on fuel then this is!!

12.5 L/100km and $50/200km => $50 per 25L => $2/litre. Where are you paying $2/per litre of petrol?

Also with fuel prices changing measuring km and $$ spent is useless and misleading. It's L/100km that actually communicated how your car is doing.

What fuel economy did you get with the commy? Unfortunately for a 3.5 L, sohc, non variable valve time engine we're on the expensive end of fuel consumption. But if you're babying it and not getting in the 10s and 11s then you can probably improve upon this. O2 sensor change, decent service etc will help

I also got better fuel economy from my VS Commodore...probably 10% better despite the Commodore being larger and very primitive with overhead valves (no OHC) and all cast iron.....it's positive was that it had Ecotec electronics with sequential injection and knock sensors. Commodore was also 100KG lighter surprisingly. However, I do think I drive the Magna in a more spirited fashion due to it's excellent precise handling so maybe that accounts in part to the higher consumption.

Welcome to the forum.

Check your instantaneous fuel use with a hot engine.

My 3.5 auto FWD does 6.6 L/100 km at a steady 90 KPH, 7.5 L/100 km at a steady 100 KPH. Around town it averages 10.5L/100 Km. AWD uses more, if you have one of those.

My fuel figures are the same as these on normal 91ULP. I would get someone to check the computer for any faults & give it full service.

Mine is on 91 ULP too. Handy gadget that trip 'puter. Lets you know if you are being a leadfoot and if your engine is running OK.

EDIT: If you want to talk about km per $, I used to fill my VW with $5 of fuel and drive from Adelaide to Whyalla, 400 Km away. My car sure won't do that today, so its fuel consumption must be very poor, worse than a 1964 VW. lol

Mine is on 91 ULP too. Handy gadget that trip 'puter. Lets you know if you are being a leadfoot and if your engine is running OK.

EDIT: If you want to talk about km per $, I used to fill my VW with $5 of fuel and drive from Adelaide to Whyalla, 400 Km away. My car sure won't do that today, so its fuel consumption must be very poor, worse than a 1964 VW. lol

I had a 1963 beetle, and (i) cruising at constant 100kph, my TW uses less than the beetle did, and (ii) the list of standard equipment that the beetle DIDN'T have would fill books, not to mention crap brakes, handling, etc. in retrospect it was a real piece of crap, but that didn't stop me doing about 500,000km in it!

I did an oil change and a transmission flush today and apart from remembering how infuriating and rewarding working on your car can be, I noticed I'm at least 1-2 L/100km better off