12mpg only! help pls..

The fuel consumption of my freelander 1.8i reg. 2000 with 73k on the clock is just around 12mpg. It's a pain in the pocket! I had replaced already the plugs, oil, and air filter and still nothing changed. I don't know what seems to be the problem. Is this normal? What should be the correct average fuel consumption for this model? I only use this car on a short distance drive, around four miles everyday.

That could be the problem..only 4 miles per day!!..prob still running on the choke...
How long have you had the motor?
And has it been worse since the weather has been cold?
Also is it getting up to full operating temp on your journey?
D

at least 28 mpg , but short trips will lower that , but not by that much

jramiro181 said:

The fuel consumption of my freelander 1.8i reg. 2000 with 73k on the clock is just around 12mpg. It's a pain in the pocket! I had replaced already the plugs, oil, and air filter and still nothing changed. I don't know what seems to be the problem. Is this normal? What should be the correct average fuel consumption for this model? I only use this car on a short distance drive, around four miles everyday.

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4 miles a day is as bad as it gets for petrol engine, and it may well be that 12 mpg is what it will do in those very short trips.

I suggest you do a proper test.

Next time you are going a decent distance say 100 miles each way, FIRST
FILL the tank till the pump clicks. Now zero the mileage trip. As soon as you get back fill it up again at the same pump again till it clicks. Note how many litres, divide by 4.54 to get gallons, then divide the MILES on the trip by the gallons used = MPG.

Should be a whole lot more than 12. If it isn't way over 30 mpg I suggest you need a problem sorted.

CharlesY

The 28mpg is only on open roads,
You are more likely to get around 20-22mpg around town, less if you are stuck in traffic, dont forget, sitting at endless traffic lights gives a fuel consumption of 0mpg.

What temp is the gauge at by the end of the 4 miles?

temp gauge is still at its starting position after 4 miles. Thanks for the replies. I'll try to do the proper test suggested by charlesY.

who was it on here who's MPG improved after refitting their thermostat. car was running to cool and choke was often on

at 4 miles a day it aint ever going to heat up , probably lucky to get 12 mpg , you would be better off with a bike Do as Charlesy says and give it a proper run , at this rate you will have a flat battery by the end of the month

I agree compleatly, $ mile trips will kill any car quickly, let alone one that already has tendancies

ment 4 mile trips

I'm not suprised with 12Mpg - that is what ours (1.8) gets when the missus uses it... about 3.5 miles each way to work, it's only just warmed up!

When I use it for work (about 20 miles each way on single carriageway 'A' roads) I get fractionally over 28mpg, however a long motorway trip at 65-70Mph I can get well over 30Mpg.

No suprise at 12 mpg for short trip. Bout same as wife used to get going about 5miles to work up and down single track roads. One of many, many reasons she now drives a diesel Gran Vitara

Mine probably does less than that!!!!! Which is why I'm getting rid of it. It would be cheaper to run a 3.9 V8.
I suspect the thermostat has been removed to try and prevent the inevitable HGF, so it runs on choke all the time. Its such a shame that a car that has (imho) such appeal, has been released on an unsuspecting public with such a MAJOR inbuilt problem. I have owned mine for 6 months and when I'm not stood at a petrol pump pumping ridiculous amounts of fuel into it, spend the rest of the time checking coolant/oil levels , worrying about WHEN the HGF will happen. I now have a diesel Discovery which hopefully will do what it says on the tin, and long for the day/hour/minute when someone drives my FL away from my garden!!!!!
Unless you are a director of BP or similar and get good discount on petrol, my advice would be to do the same....SELL it.

aussielander said:

ment 4 mile trips

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we would never have guessed .... but it's $ mile trips too at his MPG!!

CharlesY

cartraker said:

Mine probably does less than that!!!!! Which is why I'm getting rid of it. It would be cheaper to run a 3.9 V8.
I suspect the thermostat has been removed to try and prevent the inevitable HGF, so it runs on choke all the time. .

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You only get the official figures 28-30mpg when on dual carriageways or motorways. Another 20% fuel saving when in Mondo mode.

What temp did the engine gauge sit at?

If the stat is removed the idle is very high esp when the cold weather hits. In fact if there is no stat in this weather is would never warm up. Any alterations to the stat even drilling a bypass hole can cause the engine to overcool.

hi, got the same model as you, but has covered 90 000 miles. am getting around 27 miles to the gallon. more obviously if on a long run and driven sensibly. No harsh revving etc. True to say that fuel economy is not 1 of Freelanders strongest points. but i suggest that you take your vehicle to be checked as a matter of urgency. that fuel is going somewhere.