Diesel Fuel Consumption

[Guest JC5478]

Hi

OK, so I admit it. I bought our 06 hdi C3 purely for its decent consumption figures having had a 03 version before. However what has surprised me is the huge difference between the mpg attainable on UK diesel compared to French diesel. My normal UK mpg works out around 60 on a tankfull during the winter to 70 for the summer months using the car in what I suppose is called the Extra Urban mode. I've taken the car touring in France a couple of times staying mainly on N roads with some motorway travel and limited my speed to around 65mph and have been amazed to return around 78mpg average to the tankful. Is there something inferior with UK diesel? Is it full of so many additives that we have to pay for it in extra fuel costs? Has anyone else come across similar experience when travelling abroad? Ive been advised that it was because the French roads are smoother but the same figures where maintained (for a while) in the UK on return using fuel bought in France. If it is all about the properties of the fuel then imagine the amount of diesel UK could save (about 20%) if we all could use the French stuff!.

Hoping for an answer!!

JC5478

[stimulator]

I have a C3 1.4HDi 16V 90BHP This does on average 61mpg on Brit fuel in the Summer and only 58 in the winter.

 

being impressed with that I bought as a second car a C3 1.6HDi 16V 92BHP as it is supposed to give 65mpg. However it is only returning 53 mpg using local fuels.

 

I made a comment about this to the dealer on the service date but they claimed they got 60+ (some hope), but bthey did say it wasn't run in yet only 2000 miles to date and its 6 months old.

 

But I said the other one returned 64 while it was being run in. I'll see what the summer brings.

 

Even at those figs the cars are impressive and the performance of the 1.6 is outstanding for a diesel car.

[Guest JC5478]

I have a C3 1.4HDi 16V 90BHP This does on average 61mpg on Brit fuel in the Summer and only 58 in the winter.

 

being impressed with that I bought as a second car a C3 1.6HDi 16V 92BHP as it is supposed to give 65mpg. However it is only returning 53 mpg using local fuels.

 

I made a comment about this to the dealer on the service date but they claimed they got 60+ (some hope), but bthey did say it wasn't run in yet only 2000 miles to date and its 6 months old.

 

But I said the other one returned 64 while it was being run in. I'll see what the summer brings.

 

Even at those figs the cars are impressive and the performance of the 1.6 is outstanding for a diesel car.

[Guest JC5478]

I have a C3 1.4HDi 16V 90BHP This does on average 61mpg on Brit fuel in the Summer and only 58 in the winter.

 

being impressed with that I bought as a second car a C3 1.6HDi 16V 92BHP as it is supposed to give 65mpg. However it is only returning 53 mpg using local fuels.

 

I made a comment about this to the dealer on the service date but they claimed they got 60+ (some hope), but bthey did say it wasn't run in yet only 2000 miles to date and its 6 months old.

 

But I said the other one returned 64 while it was being run in. I'll see what the summer brings.

 

Even at those figs the cars are impressive and the performance of the 1.6 is outstanding for a diesel car.

 

Hi Mr Moderator again, I seem to have hit the wrong button, get tid of post 3 if you can!

In reply to your comments, I've found that Total fuel works best in my case, if I use supermarket diesel there will be as much as 6mpg difference which more than cancels out the advantage of the difference in price.

[arrows]

So I am not the only one who has noticed such a difference in fuel economy between the 1.4 HDi Exclusive (92BHP) which I previously owned and the same model which I own now but the 1.6 version. I used to average about 65 mpg perhaps a little less in the winter even when it was being run in. I now, however only get around 55 mpg (about 470 miles on a tank when the low level light comes on) and the car has now covered 12000 miles.

 

I suppose it will pick up now the warmer weather is coming but I am not optimistic it will be anywhere near the official figures quoted by Citroen.

 

I have also noticed that the computer is rather optimistic in both the range and the actual mpg - it tells me I am doing about 61.5 mpg.

 

Yes the engine response is much better than my old 1.4 HDi.

 

On a side note has anyone noticed the erratic output of the mpg figures on the computer - it tells me I am doing either 61.5 mpg or 64.9 mpg (cant remember the figures exactly) nothing in between.

[stimulator]

This week I filled up with Shell which is supposed to be good absolultly no difference in the MPG to Tesco cooking diesel.

 

I have however got different tyres on the front to the originals, will try the fronts off the other car and see if tyres make a difference to the consumption

[raveydavey]

Well, I've got a 1.4HDi 8V (70bhp) and it always returns about 60mpg.

 

Bearing in mind that mainly the car is used for commuting to work that is frankly amazing.

I've got a 50 mile round trip to work so the engine always gets a good run with the journey comprising a good mix of local roads, "A" roads (single and dual carriageway) and motorway.

 

I also drop my wife off and pick her up again in Leeds city centre on my way - on a morning traffic is light as we set off early, but on a night the return journey takes place in the evening rush. My Garmin satnav gives me an average speed over the last 6 months of just under 30mph for the evening trip.

 

Fuel economy will tend to be slightly worse during the winter - using the lights, heater, blower, heated rear window etc all puts more load on the engine so you use a little more fuel.

 

All the above means I get just under 600 miles out of a tankfull if I run it until the last light goes off and only the warning light remains on (I try not to do this too often).

 

However, when we went on a long weekend to Inverness we managed to get a scarcely believable figure of 78 mpg from the car, so it shows what can be done with extended top gear running and light traffic. (and I wasn't hanging about on the way back).

 

If you're not happy with the fuel figures from your Citroen, have a look at the mpg's (and CO2 emmissions!) for some other manufacturers.