Fuel Consumption Issues

92subbie · Post by **92subbie** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:55 am

Hi guys

Im not sure if this is really a big problem but it has got me a little concerned. I have a '92 L Series Wagon, just the DL model with the original carby on it, no mods done. Ive had the car for nearly a year now and it hasnt missed a beat, with up until recently ive been getting good fuel consumption of 10L/100k's.

Now the last few fill ups ive done a fuel consumption test and i have noticed that it has been around the 11.3-11.5L/100k's which got my attention. I have also noticed a very very slight (and it may even be just because ive noticed a difference in consumption) smell of fuel inside the car of a morning. I have yet to have a decent look under the bonnet to check for fuel leaks, but i have had a good look under the back of the car around the fuel tank and all seemed to be sweet.

So im wondering is it a common problem with the Hitachi carby to leak? Or does the car need a good tune, as in the fuel mixture running rich perhaps? As it does seem to run better on 95ron and runs a bit 'sluggish' on regular.

The car is in great nick having only done 108,000k's when i bought it and it has been regularly serviced and maintained. Have any of you got any suggestions?

Cheers Leigh

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:32 pm

The shafts on the carbies can wear and leak fuel, this can cause poor running, also check your timing, being retarded well give you a loss of performance and excess fuel usage.

While your at it check spark plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor button and fuel and air filters, these would be my first steps, see how you go from there.

Jordan.

92subbie · Post by **92subbie** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:40 pm

thanks heaps i will have a look at all that sometime this week (provided i find time...) and see how i go!

Thanks!

smoov · Post by **smoov** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:26 pm

i know a great way to fix your problem.

webber

that'll improve the figures to more along the lines to 16L/100

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:28 pm

sorry, but I wouldn't call 10L/100Km on the 'ol DL good consumption, unless its 4WD travelling + fully loaded gear + roof rack full!

My experience is that it should be doing 7-8L/100km Highway travel.
Did get a period of 12-14+L/100km.....replaced timing belt and tuning fixed it back to normal....but this is many years ago...and fuel may not be what it was ?

IMHO 95ron is waste on $ on the 'ol ea82 carb.....but i guess you could extract some performance by advancing the timing a bit more....

92subbie · Post by **92subbie** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:54 pm

fred-sub: Yeah i dont do alot of long trips, maybe 1 a month. I mainly use it to travel to the train station and back and to work and back which is no more than 15 minutes away. In a week i probably only do 200k's, and yeah its all short trips.

I'd be over the moon if i could get it down to 7-8L/100k's!!! I had a squize at the Gregorys manual for some tuning info and it didnt really have too much, bit of a useless book actually.

The timing belt has just been done. Fuel... i have no idea if fuel has changed! Ha ha!

Cheers!

92subbie · Post by **92subbie** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:58 pm

ok i just finished mucking around with the car. I checked the following:
- Spark plugs, gaps and condition
- Spark plug leads
- Carby (just for general leaks)
- Rotor button
- Dizzy cap
- Fuel filter
- Air filter
I wasnt able to check the timing as our timing light isnt at home. What i found was that the plugs and leads were all ok, carby looked fine with minmal signs of major leaks, rotor button was a bit scummy so i gave it a quick sand, dizzy cap was all good and gave it a quick sand, air filter was fine and the fuel filter appeared a bit scummy.
I also increased the pressure on my tires to see if it helps. What i did find though was that the choke appeared to 'partially' stay closed, now im not too sure if this was its normal operating position or whether the auto choke has a problem. What can be done to try and fix the auto choke if that is the problem?

Leigh

SCOOBIDOO · Post by **SCOOBIDOO** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:01 am

adjust it so its off when hot.....

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:55 am

How long have you had the car? Did you have it last winter?

Nothing to do with the cold weather? Leaving the car to warm up? That can use a fair bit of fuel. I find in winter when I let my car idle for a few minutes in the mornings (cos I hate getting into a cold car) my fuel consumption can go up dramatically.

92subbie · Post by **92subbie** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:54 am

I have had the car nearly a year now so i guess you could say i had it for part of last winter. I dont actually let the car warm up of a morning, which is probably a bad thing but i dont have the time.
I'll see how i go with the auto choke ajustment too.

Thanks everyone!

kwijmbo · Post by **kwijmbo** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:35 pm

ROFL

I wish my economy was 11/12L per 100km! lol

try 19L average.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:18 am

kwijmbo wrote:ROFL

I wish my economy was 11/12L per 100km! lol

try 19L average.

EFI rote pushing a coupe should be heaps low - I conclude you drive too fast

My outback got 17.4L/100 on a recent trip towing the boat, bloody pain in the arse, outback fuel tanks are no bigger!!!

Wish it was like 120L rather than 60, at least then I might get some decent towing range...

D3V1L · Post by **D3V1L** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:55 am

mmmmnot a bad effort for a liberty towing a boat

i recently droveupto exmouth from perth, towing our boat with a landcruiser, and i was struggling to keep it under 30 litres per 100 kms....now thats what i call thirsty!!!!

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:38 pm

D3V1L wrote: i recently droveupto exmouth from perth, towing our boat with a landcruiser, and i was struggling to keep it under 30 litres per 100 kms....now thats what i call thirsty!!!!

Shit, thats insane!!! And here I was thinking I should have bought a patrol or landcruiser cos it would be better on the highway...

When I had the 2.0 liberty it did 14L/100k's towing the boat - hence I am upset about the 17

D3V1L · Post by **D3V1L** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:40 pm

thats what i thought hahaha....so unleee you have a bottom-less money pit...i wouldnt buy one, made that mistake...and its starting to cost me

soobs_rule_m8 · Post by **soobs_rule_m8** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:14 pm

Geez, that makes me feel good about buying the missus a V8 jeep last year. It averages about 13l / 100km normally or about 17l / 100km towing a boat or caravan up the coast.

Plus its got plenty of sting when you want it.