Xsara 2.0hdi Auto

[Trevor]

My Xsara 2.0HDi LX Auto Reg DS51EUE !3000Miles
Has never bettered 52 MPG it is suggested it should be nearer 61mpg
My Combined figure is barely above 40mpg against a supposed 47mpg.

The automatic gearbox has been replaced due to a judder occuring when dropping out of second gear.This appears to have effected a cure,but now when dropping down from second it invariably drops out of gear and if the car is left to reac standstill no gaer is engaged until the accelerator is depressed.
Any one know if these conditions are to be expected?

Ever hopeful Trevor

:angry:

[Torquelover]

Hi,

I'm driving the Xsara 1.6 Automatic.

I too have a funny problem with the auto tranny. When driving in second gear, the rev seems to drop quite a bit before climbing up again (the feeling is similar to a gear change). But I understand that the Xsara auto gear box has only 4 gears.

TL

[Brilec]

Well I have not been able to get my manual Xsara HDI 90 over 50 mpg yet, including a tank full driving quietly on good French D roads at about 50 to 60 mph. Dissapointed in not the word I would use.

[pork_pie]

Miles per gallon figures are inaccurate but heard many stories of xsara auto drivers getting poor fuel economy.

The 90bhp diesel auto is unavailable in the UK.

Only the 110bhp diesel self shifter is available and, if its a hatchback, does 48.7mpg.

Its a fact that the 90bhp Hdi model is not as economical as the 110bhp engine so overall you will at best achieve 46-47mpg.

How old is your car and how many miles has it done?

My Hdi 90 manual done nearly 25000 miles and am getting 55-57mpg. Takes a while to properly run in a modern diesel engine.

[Brilec]

Don't know what you mean when you say miles per gallon figures are inaccurate, how can dividing the mileage done by the fuel put in be innacurate?

It seems we have the same vehicle, Xsara LX Estate HDI 90, though mine's a Y plate, and has done 40,000 miles, probably enough to have run it in.
Yet I am unable to better 50 mpg, no matter how gently I drive.

[pork_pie]

Inaccurate - the Goverments official fuel consumption figures especially the extra urban figures.

Car tests are performed on rolling roads and don't take into account of: gradients, weather conditions and if the mother in law is sat in the back gassing off.

Diesel automatics (with the conventional torque convertor with less gear ratios than the equivalent manual) never give good fuel returns anyway because the units are about 70kg heavier and saps the engine power.

The 90 bhp engine is a great engine but sluggish in hauling a car of xsaras size compared to the 110bhp version which is why its slightly thirstier. Same engine was put in a C5!!!!!

You say you never get more than 50mpg? What exactly are you getting?

If you get under 40mpg at the speeds you are doing then I would be worried and check the engine management settings, air filters, sticking brakes and tyre pressures.

You got an estate? Then the 110 Hdi auto estate will alledgedly do 47.9 mpg - the 90 should provide around 46.3/45.6.

[Brilec]

Your figures seem very pessimistic. I used to get 47mpg with the 405 1.9td estate, cruising at 80. I would expect the HDI 90 to be a little better than that in a manual Xsara estate, which is smaller and lighter. The engine is the same power, but supposedly more efficient.
Or was all that advertising blurb just bullpoo.

[pork_pie]

The 1.9td? Beautiful engine in its heyday. 92 bhp and not far behind in the torque rating. However the engine needed servicing every 6000miles.

47miles to the gallon? Not bad seeing as the no turbo version was more frugal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HDI 90 came out in 1998 with a hike of torque from 155lb/ft from 144lb/ft and ran on semi synthetic oil. An even better engine. However the 110bhp version is outstanding.

Official overall MPG figure for an HDi 90 manual Estate is 51.4mpg.

Like I say the combination of diesel engine and an old design automatic transmission with 4 forward ratios rather than 5 with torque convertor is not the best.

I cannot think of a torque convertor automatic diesel that offers more than 45mpg.

The newer Continuous Variable transmission and semi autos (eg Sensodrive and Toyotas MMT) with diesels offer the best compromise since they are lighter and the nature of the transmission does not sap the engines power reserves.

Have you tried adding diesel fuel additive? They unblock the fuel injectors.

This is what improved my mpg from 47 to around 55

[Brilec]

Just put in some STP injector cleaner. Will see if it helps.
I must say that with the old 1.9td it was very clattery when cold, but got much quieter as it warmed up. On this HDI the oposite seems to be the case. It is very quiet on cold start, but gets more clattery (as in diesel knock) as it warms up.

[Bob]

:) My Xsara HDi 90 Y reg manual estate with 57K done gives 55 regular and 59 on a run. I don't do motorway and I don't drive fast. Plenty of other problems though!

[pork_pie]

MPG has remained around 52-57 even during the winter months.

Been using Millers diesel fuel additive and it gives a car a kick up the behind.

It's smoothed out the rough edges.

Still love it but the rattle and squeaks are annoying though.

Shame the C4 isn't being launched in estate form.

Ran out of fuel in October even though the gauge was in the middle of the red zone. Scared me sh itless. Luckily I did not cause any damage to the fuel pump but I was introduced to how to bleed a diesel fuel circuit.

Painstaking to say the least.

But I did get 650 miles out of it which is disappointing :)

[Brilec]

I still can't get my HDI 90 estate to better 47 mpg. Why is it that some are soo much better than others? Even the Auto version at the top of this thread does better. Poor quality control, or something else, assuming similar driving conditions?
I also get a surprising amount of black muck over the back after a run (OK it is a white car). I thought the HDI was supposed to be much cleaner running than the older XUD engines. Makes me wonder what result it would give in an MOT smoke test. I have to say I am very dissapointed in it. If I could afford to just change it for an alternative, I would.
I will see if I can get some Millers additive. Might help, though the last injector cleaner I used made no difference.

[pork_pie]

Brilec

Long time no posting.

Not much to report apart from the clutch switch being replaced last November which allieviated the problem of poor engine response and the LCD info display has blown a lightbulb.

Any luck with the poor fuel economy teaser and did you manage to find some Millers fuel additive?

Still finding my estate frugal and errr reliable. Still my best Citroen!

Since when did the word "reliable" become associated with Citroen.

Autoexpress Driver Power edition out next wednesday. Me thinks that Citroen and other French makes are in for a right good pounding.