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  1. #1
    DF Moderator EvilBoB's Avatar
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    Default Crappy MPG help!

    I have a Kia Sportage (2007 petrol model) and the MPG stinks on it. Driving back and forth to work (About 20 mile round trip) is costing me about a £8 a day. There's nothing wrong with the car it's just crap on fuel.

    I've seen a lot of talk about these mods that will increase fuel economy and used a CR mod in my old Saab that worked really well but I can't find any evidence that these $20 mods for petrol cars are a) any good or b) work. Anyone tried any? Even increasing a few MPG would be great as it's costing me a fortune.
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  2. #2
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    What mods are these? Some people sell a resistor on a board which is dangerous. You could get an ECU remap which is targeting fuel economy rather than performance but it will cost £150 upwards I would imagine.


  3. #3
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    I have seen fuel additives that "claim" to improve MPG.

  4. #4
    DF VIP Member Oily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    What fuel are you using,supermarket or something like Shell etc?

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Tyres fully inflated?? Check your presures my MPG went down a lot when I had a slow puncture.

  6. #6
    DF VIP Member dpSparhawk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    What kind of driving is it though? Motorway, Urban all the way with lots of stop/start at lights and in traffic? has it been serviced regularly?

    Unless I've got the calculations wrong, you're getting around 12mpg which to be honest, indicates an issue somewhere or really heavy footed driving.

    As an example, I had a 58 plate petrol Leon Cupra (240bhp) and even in heavy traffic and crappy lights, I'd get around 26mpg, sometimes on a bad day, 23mpg. You can expect a somewhat shitty mpg on a car with that kind of power. However, presently, I have a Mondeo 2.2 Diesel (200bhp) and on the same route, I get 37mpg (It's a big heavy car with a moderately powerful engine in it).

    If you're getting those kinds of costs on the Motorway or roads at least where you can cruise nicely, then there's definitely something up somewhere.

    Consider some of the options here. May not be such an obvious issue. http://www.aa1car.com/library/poor_fuel_economy.htm

    A quick look Google indicates the Petrol model should see an average of around 26 real world mpg. I assume that is for urban driving. People over at Kiaowners are stating anything from 28mpg upwards.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Don't do any mods get it checked out, I would get a good indie garage to look at it if I were you and not a main dealer!

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  8. #8
    DF VIP Member Geko's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    It's a heavy car. Not unexpected. My petrol Merc is the same.

    Like said above, get an Indie to take a look.

  9. #9
    DF Moderator
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    I use to get 17mpg out of my petrol X5 4.4L V8. I get 23mpg out of my Ranger Rover Sport 3.0D V6

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  10. #10
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Used to have a V8 3.9 Petrol Land Rover that would do 20 miles for about same money, but I expected it in that thing.

  11. #11
    DF VIP Member Over Carl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Quick simple things that you don't need major tools or experience to play around with:

    Check the service history - has it been serviced in the last year/12000 miles? (A stamp in a book doesn't always prove all the relevant items actually were changed, but it's often a good indicator).

    Take a quick look at the air filter to check the condition - if it's really bad that can affect performance.

    Also if can be surprising how much difference cleaning the inside of a throttle body can make if they are really covered in shite.

    You can try unplugging the air flow meter to see if this makes any difference. (Depending on car this can cause the engine management light to come on which normally will need a scanner to clear fault code)

    You may notice everything I've mentioned all relates to the air intake system of the engine. The fuel and ignition systems on modern cars are all computerised so if it's anything more serious you probably would be best off getting it looked at by a trusted workshop.
    Last edited by Over Carl; 21st October 2015 at 10:16 PM.

  12. #12
    DF VIP Member Geko's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Quote Originally Posted by ss30 View Post
    I use to get 17mpg out of my petrol X5 4.4L V8. I get 23mpg out of my Ranger Rover Sport 3.0D V6

    That's a very broad statement. Was your journey similar to his?

  13. #13
    DF Moderator
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Quote Originally Posted by Geko View Post
    That's a very broad statement. Was your journey similar to his?
    YES.

    No what i'm saying is that I have had some very uneconomical cars and his should be better than the mpg I was/am getting

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  14. #14
    DF Moderator EvilBoB's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    It's actually getting worse - put £20 in yesterday morning drove to work and back and into work today (54 miles in total) and it's on empty again (Driving at 55 to 60mph on dual carriageways only - no local town driving or stop/start driving) That's just not right is it...

    I get paid today so am going to see if my local garage can take a look tomorrow. I also noticed that I get some whiteish smoke from the exhaust - now I know that it's colder weather but after a 40 minute drive I wouldn't expect to see anything of note. There's no real smell to it though.
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  15. #15
    DF VIP Member akimba's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Quote Originally Posted by EvilBoB View Post
    I also noticed that I get some whiteish smoke from the exhaust
    Uh-Oh your in trouble somethings going wrong and its going to cost you double!!

  16. #16
    DF Moderator EvilBoB's Avatar
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    I know this is an old thread but thought I would update on the situation. Turned out that it was the MAF that needed replacing. Seems that the MPG drops as it starts to fail but no engine management lights or codes until it completely packs in - typical.
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  17. #17
    DF Moderator
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    Default Re: Crappy MPG help!

    Glad you sorted it

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