Arctic 1.6 16V Auto Fuel Consumtion

[naughtynigel]

Arctic 1.6 16V Auto Fuel Consumption

What sort of fuel consumtion should I expect from this car?

We rarely get more than 28 to 30 MPG except on a good run when it might manage 33 MPG. I am not heavy footed, and we actually get better fuel consumtion form our 2.5 V6 Omega!

The Astra seems to run quite rich at low-ish speeds (30 MPH or so), as if it is 'hunting'. It also floods sometimes when re-starting from cold.

The plugs are fairly clean when pulled out, but show a light sooty deposit on the cooler parts of the insulator.

The car has been checked several times by the main delaer, and they just say it is a characteristic of the car. They also say there is nothing they can do to change the mixture.

Is this a known problem? Also, has anyone had one of these engines re-mapped?

The car has doen 65,000 miles and is otherwise in good condition. Oil consumtion is negligable.

NN

 

[Vectra-Arctic]

Hi.

I've got a P Reg 1.6 8v Auto Hatchback and is probably around the same mpg as yours, my 1.8 16v Vectra B Auto has better mpg than the Astra both around town and on a long run. Dont know why but the 1.6 should be more economical but isn't.

Some might say that Automatics are not as fuel efficent as Manual's, but I have an identical year/model Vectra B but a Manual and that is pretty close to the Vectra Auto's fuel consumption figures. Even the same rpm figures at speeds of 30, 50, 70 mph.

The Vectra Auto has a 4 speed Auto Box as does the 1.6 8v Astra.

 

[naughtynigel]

Thanks for that VA. I suppose the Arctic was one of the earlier models with a catalytic converter, and they all seem to dring fuel.

Going back a few years I had a 1.6 8v Cavalier which would easily top 40 MPG on a run, whilst my parents had a 2.0 litre 8v Carlton, which would do around 45 MPG! Neither had catalytic converters.

NN

 

[tabetha]

Cats are a con, they are ****, 90% of the time they cause the engine to use more fuel, simple fact, just so they can be seen to be clean, worst idea ever.
My 1.4 C14SE merit auto does around 38mpg, but that is thrashed from startup to turned off, doesn't seem to vary much going normal, ie very heavy foot to cruising on a run, less than 15 miles to a tank difference, averaging 350 miles.
All else being ok you should easily get what I get.
tabetha

 

[naughtynigel]

Cats are a con, they are ****, 90% of the time they cause the engine to use more fuel, simple fact, just so they can be seen to be clean, worst idea ever.

My 1.4 C14SE merit auto does around 38mpg, but that is thrashed from startup to turned off, doesn't seem to vary much going normal, ie very heavy foot to cruising on a run, less than 15 miles to a tank difference, averaging 350 miles.
All else being ok you should easily get what I get.
tabetha

That is a fact. The introduction of catalytic converters increased CO2 emmisions by around 25%, and significantly increased fuel consumption at the same time.

They do improve air quality in towns and cities, but it would be much better if they could be bypassed out of town.

Thanks for the info about your fuel consumption too!

NN

 

[picbits]

If its any consolation I've just used a full tank of fuel to do just under 200 miles in my 1.6 16V Arctic Auto

Just replaced my lambda sensor and checked the CTS (within acceptable limits) so might give the throttle body a good clean out in the kiddies holidays when I don't need the car for a couple of days.

 

[naughtynigel]

If its any consolation I've just used a full tank of fuel to do just under 200 miles in my 1.6 16V Arctic Auto

Just replaced my lambda sensor and checked the CTS (within acceptable limits) so might give the throttle body a good clean out in the kiddies holidays when I don't need the car for a couple of days.

How is it running otherwise?

NN

 

[picbits]

Well ..........

The idle is not very good, its a bit stuttery but stays around the 900rpm mark so no problems suspected with the ICV. It smells like its running rich still - you can see the exhaust fumes (just) even on a warm day.

Power is great when its cold (its absolutely rapid for the first 10 minutes or so) - it gradually seems to lose power as the engine gets warmer.

The previous owner had a new CTS fitted to sort out a problem with it cutting out just before I bought the car off her plus I've measured the resistance at around 230 ohms when the engine was at 95 degrees so that seems within spec.

I'm going to hook up a multichannel datalogger to the ECU at some point to see whats going on with all the sensors but that can wait for a bit until some other projects are out of the way lol.

 

[naughtynigel]

Sounds as if the ECU thinks the engine is colder than it really is.

All that extra petrol will wash oil off of the bores too, so I would get it sorted ASAP!

NN