what could be the cause of my really poor fuel economy

I don't want to waste loads of money if I can do it myself.

my car is a very polo 1.2 and it should be getting 50mpg but it's only getting half that. I don't drive like a mad man.

spark plugs are on my list anything else

Reply 1

tesconyc

OP

18

can people see this posr

Reply 2

OutKast

11

Original post by tesconyc

I don't want to waste loads of money if I can do it myself.

my car is a very polo 1.2 and it should be getting 50mpg but it's only getting half that. I don't drive like a mad man.

spark plugs are on my list anything else

Have you checked the basics?:
-are you going off the car average mpg reading? If so, try calculating mpg from distance travelled between filling up fuel.
- winter weather (esp if you’re driving short distances)
- if you’ve got any excess weight in the car (clothes, items etc) get rid of them if you don’t need them
- tyres properly pumped up

Reply 3

RoyalSheepy

20

Original post by tesconyc

I don't want to waste loads of money if I can do it myself.

my car is a very polo 1.2 and it should be getting 50mpg but it's only getting half that. I don't drive like a mad man.

spark plugs are on my list anything else

Is that what the manufacturer claims or have you got that in the past?

I'm guessing yours is the 1.2 N/A not the 1.2 TDI or 1.2 TSI, so it seems around about right to get around 35-45mpg with that car.

Reply 4

nevershear

15

Spark plugs or filter especially on an older car.

Cold weather is going to smoke your mpg regardless especially if you like running the AC. I'm not faring much better in an ecoboost.

Reply 5

isseihyoudou

2

Shift the gear early and prevent redlining the rmp.

Reply 6

tesconyc

OP

18

Original post by nevershear

Spark plugs or filter especially on an older car.

Cold weather is going to smoke your mpg regardless especially if you like running the AC. I'm not faring much better in an ecoboost.

what would you consider old

Reply 7

Joinedup

20

are you doing a lot of short trips where the engine doesn't warm up fully?

Reply 8

xDron3

19

Have you taken it for a service??

Reply 9

the bear

20

there may be a problem with your lambda sensor which controls the richness of the fuel flow. or your filter.

this thread may be of interest:

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2533657&page=2

Reply 10

Fullofsurprises

20

Original post by tesconyc

I don't want to waste loads of money if I can do it myself.

my car is a very polo 1.2 and it should be getting 50mpg but it's only getting half that. I don't drive like a mad man.

spark plugs are on my list anything else

Most common cause is tires - check your tire pressures.

Also in cold winters older engines tend to be a bit rubbish.

Reply 11

the bear

20

Original post by Fullofsurprises

Most common cause is tires - check your tire pressures.

Also in cold winters older engines tend to be a bit rubbish.

*tyres

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Reply 12

IWMTom

20

Original post by tesconyc

I don't want to waste loads of money if I can do it myself.

my car is a very polo 1.2 and it should be getting 50mpg but it's only getting half that. I don't drive like a mad man.

spark plugs are on my list anything else