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Real world mpg my figures

67K views 60 replies 28 participants last post by  Mushkin 
#1 ·
I bought my max in early September. When I bought it I reset the average mpg counter. It's had 6 tanks full (about £45-£55) a time since and my mpgdisplay shows 31.4mpg. This is a short daily commute of about 6 miles each way, and then longer weekend journeys that may make up up to another couple of hundred miles a weekend. So a fairly common and mixed bag. Mpg recently started to fall from it's previously solid 32mpg. Been since the cold and frosts of morning have needed a stay on the drive to warm up the screens before I can move, plus the fans, screens, lights etc on all journey!

Just thought I'd share. It's a 2005 1.8 duratec he on a shade over 50k.
 
#2 ·
The 1.8 is not really known for brilliant mpg.We had the same engine in my wife`s previous car (escort ) & at best got 28 round town & 35 on M/ways.So glad we switched to the 2.0TDCI C-Max.One futher point,the cam belt was on it`s way out on the 1.8 at similar mileage to yours,so keep an eye on it.MM
 
#5 ·
Well, as I have 50k to go I shan't worry, its unlikely I'll still own it, but as I say, the Ford man he says "It'll need changing at 100k or 10 years whichever comes first."

I had a 14 series engined Sierra which is a camchain drive car that was supposedly never needing to be changed. The camchain snapped at 86k and Ford said "Its out of warranty, sorry."

I think that any failure like that should be covered.
 
#7 ·
What we need for this is a "Road load" against engine speed graph with "specific fuel consumption" lines added. Something probably only a current ford research technician has any sight of.

A good starting point however would be maximum torque engine speed plus / minus 10%
 
#8 ·
I first had a 04 c max 1.8 ghia. and now have a new 1.8 titaniam. and have never been pleased with mpg.
I have a static van on the coast and so do regular 100mile runs. and at steady 50-60 only get less than 40.
before the c max,s I had a mondeo 2ltr which got well over 40 on the same run!!!

all petrol by the way
 
#11 ·
I also have a 2.0 TDCI and get around 53 on a long run with ease and it doesn't seem to mater what speed I do, I have a touring caravan and get 35mpg towing so if you want good fuel consumption figures go for the 2 litre TDCI.
 
#12 ·
I don't mind the early 30s mpg rates. It's reasonable for my needs. 30 to the gallon is good for a petrol car of the size of the max. Lower and lighter cars would expect to go further on less juice.
 
#14 ·
shaz said:
I also have a 2.0 TDCI and get around 53 on a long run with ease and it doesn't seem to mater what speed I do, I have a touring caravan and get 35mpg towing so if you want good fuel consumption figures go for the 2 litre TDCI.
Just to balance this out - I also have a 2.0 tdci, but am averaging only 38 mpg solo and about 25 towing.

Tony
 
#15 ·
Tony said:
shaz said:
I also have a 2.0 TDCI and get around 53 on a long run with ease and it doesn't seem to mater what speed I do, I have a touring caravan and get 35mpg towing so if you want good fuel consumption figures go for the 2 litre TDCI.
Just to balance this out - I also have a 2.0 tdci, but am averaging only 38 mpg solo and about 25 towing.

Tony
how recently has your air intake filter / cleaner been changed?
 
#16 ·
Is this something which is done during the annual service? If so, it was last April. The car has only done 10,000 so isn't run in yet I suppose. It is our only car and one which we wouldn't have chosen bearing in mind our low annua lmileage - about 7,000 - but we needed a car to tow a caravan, which it does admirably.

Tony
 
#17 ·
Although the CMax models are not brilliant on MPG you can improve what you get by driving correctly. You do not get the best with a heavy right foot. Accelerate carefully and change gear before the revs are above 2,000 to 2,500. Anticipate the traffic and the road to avoid heavy braking you waste all of the fuel used to accelerate when you brake to slow down (also wears out the pads and disks) if you atticipate the traffic is going to slow down ease off the pedal and you will need minimum braking to stop if required. I can get around the 40 mpg out of my 1.8 petrol on a trip and still cruise around the 70 mph. They are not very good around town but if you drive like a boy racer you will get less that 20 mpg.
 
#20 ·
Hi Tony

We seem to be the same age group judging by driving years I have done just over 48 now. I expect when you say averaging 38 mpg that includes shorter and long trips, my 53 mpg is on a long run with a lot of motorways between Scarborough and Southampton I have not checked mixed runs as I tend not to use my car for weeks on end being retired and living in town.

Your towing numbers are more interesting to me, I only got my caravan at the end of last season its an Elldis Hurricane, I was quite surprised to get 35 towing that was over a 200 mile round trip. With the speed limits and the constrictions imposed by towing I would expect two similar cars to give very similar mpg could it be that you are towing a heavier load I didn't have a lot of extra gear in the back but next season could be heavier now Santas been.

Ed
 
#21 ·
Hello Ed,

Yes, most of our trips are short runs I must admit, so I mustn't complain. Regarding towing - our van is quite light, about 1100 - 1150 kgs loaded. I do tend to push along quite briskly (within the speed limit) when I can and don't bother with sixth gear at all.

Tony
 
#22 ·
OK that may explain the difference then, my caravan is heavier around 1500kg but being a newbie at towing I have been taking it easy, I expect pulling a square slab through the air must take a lot of fuel with every 5mph faster. If your averaging 10mph more than me then your fuel consumption will be higher. Sorry for you guys behind but I do pull in when possible to let you overtake and maybe next year I will be faster if a little poorer.

Ed
 
#23 ·
Well I'm another 2L TDCi owner in the "happy 50" club. However, my regular commute is quite long with a lot of motorway (that is real brim to brim, trip computer is regularly >55mpg). But there are a few ifs and buts:

Obviously the figures quoted are just a standard done in controlled conditions, similarly your A-rated heating boiler is not giving you the 90% efficiency it delivered on the test bench. Unless you're doing a lot of motorway work you will be doing well to get a lot better than the urban figure.

You need to drive slowly - The energy (fuel) required to overcome aero drag rises with the cube of your speed. So increasing from 70 to 75 mph is about a 7% increase in speed, but a 21% increase in losses for wind resistance. The non-linear relationship between speed and resistance is the biggest reason why a C-Max with 135hp can crack 120mph, but to do 240mph needs a Veyron with 1000hp.

Would say the most economical speed is therefore whatever the slowest speed the car can comfortably manage in top. For the 2L TDCi, this feels like low 60s, unless you're trickling along on a very light throttle, when 50-something is possible. Our other car is a VAG 2L TDi eco-model and on the flat, with similar gearing, the e-nanny in the dash is urging 6th gear from 50mph.

Cold starts and urban use murder economy in the diesel. I now drop my daughter off at school, which adds 0.5 miles and an extra engine start to a long commute, and it makes a noticeable difference.

The cold weather has not been helpful - time spent deicing and because the roads are busier - more time going slowly.

Every C-Max can run the Ford Econocheck programme, which only costs £30 (with a £15 fuel voucher thrown in), so the obvious thing for anybody to do who is not happy is to take a punt and see if there is any good advice that comes from it. I would be genuinely interested in anybodys experiences, and am thinking about doing it myself.
 
#24 ·
Not a big fan of these econochecks.Had a similar thing when I was with Volvo & all they do is check the car over & make sure the antifreeze is the correct mix.
I find the best cruising speed for ours is 70/72 in 6th where We constantly get 60+mpg.MM
 
#25 ·
The ford econocheck also gets you a weeks loan of an obd data interrogator. They give the car the usual once over, then plug in a recorder to the obd socket and you drive about for 7 days. Then unplug the recorder and post it back to ford. They then look at the data and tell you how to go further for the fuel you use. Thing is, I know why I get poor mileage. I accelerate too hard, brake to late and do lots of short journeys in a city with lots of stop start junctions and roundabouts. I'd have to move and drive more carefully to have an effect. I don't think I want to so hey ho!!
 
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