27MPG but only 190 miles!!

[lipsion]

Hi,
I recently bought a 2004 1.6 206cc automatic. I love to drive this car but the mileage I'm getting from it is terrible!! I only travel 18 miles per day (and this is in some traffic) and I only get 190 miles for a full tank! I was expecting the car to be a bit juicy as its a auto but can this be right?
Any suggestions?

[gazza82]

Well the tanks aren't massive on the CC ... or any 206 for that matter. But it does sound low.

Is the engine getting up to temperature? One of the biggest MPG killers is a cold running engine with the thermostat stuck in the open position, the coolant never gets up to the correct temperature especially on short runs (9 miles each way isn't long).

The check plugs are all firing (they may need a change) and after that it's got to be diagnostic time to make sure everything is running as it should (eml light may not be on but it could still be picking up errors). Could even be timing is out (when was the cambelt last changed?


Of course a lead boot on your right foot wouldn't help, but I'm assuming that isn't the problem!

[Capncol]

An auto in heavy traffic isn't going to be economical. Aside from the above, try shifting into neutral while stationary.
The engine management is set up to maintain a certain idle speed, and with it in drive there is a slight drag on the engine (which is why it creeps off when you let the brakes off) so the ECU *opens* the throttle slightly to maintain that idle.

[lipsion]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I’m not great with cars but from what I can see the engine temp seems ok. Apparently it had a service just before I bought it (starting to think the guy was dodgy!) and there was nothing showing up that shouldn't. Not sure about the cam belt? (or plugs!?!?) May not have been done? The car has done 48000 but like I said I don't know a lot about cars.
I will try the neutral suggestion but to be fair I’m not often fully stationary just slow to med traffic?
I’m usually heavy footed but have been really cautions not to be!!

[Capncol]

If you are not sure about cambelt, change it now. It's due at 10 years / 80.000 whichever is first. Disregard engine coolant temp if it's reading normal for economy purposes, it's the oil temp that gives you the truest engine temp That will probably never get up to normal on your journey.
If you only drive in heavy traffic, then about 30mpg is about what I would expect, especially at this time of year. The car will be on enrichment (choke) for far longer than in summer.

[Rivis]

Your mpg is probably what you should expect according to this site:

http://www.carsite.co.uk/car-data/peuge ... o/id/19519

[Capncol]

Good find John

[lipsion]

Thank you. Is having the cam belt changed very expensive?

[Capncol]

Depends where you go.
£300 upwards for new belt kit, new waterpump (driven by cambelt) and new coolant. Bit cheaper if you only change the belt (not recommended)

[lipsion]

Well fingers crossed its covered under my 3 month warranty!!
Thanks for the help.

[cillian]

Just to throw my tuppence worth in. Mine had been showing up with about 19.7MPG but is slowly but surely creeping up every day despite not really driving any differently. I would love 27MPG!

Unlikely cambelt will be covered by warranty - it's wear and tear.

[gazza82]

The best way to check is not using the car's display ... if it has one.

Fill the tank as far as you can, use the car for a few days and refill, preferably at same pump.

Divide miles by gallons used (litres divided by 4.54)

It's actually more accurate!

[lipsion]

I have filled it up and reset the mile counter. So far a quarter of a tank got me 48 miles!!?

It doesn't help that I had a 107 before and could basically run that on a egg cup of fuel!!

[lipsion]

I'm going to show my clueless-ness about cars here ... but is the cam belt related to the rpms?

[GrandadMonkey]

The cam-belt (also called the timing belt) is driven by the crankshaft and drives the cam-shafts which open and close the inlet and exhaust valves in a precise sequence. It also drives the water pump on the 206cc. If it breaks then the valves smash into the pistons and will cause terminal damage to the engine. If it hasn't been renewed it is on borrowed time at 10 years old. Replace the water pump and pulleys at the same time - not to do so is false economy.
In answer to your question the belt runs at engine speed, but when it breaks it doesn't matter whether the rpm's are high or low, it will still wreck the engine.