Fuel consumption

[-Bradders-]

As you've probably already answered this a million times but what could be causing my vit to use so much fuel or is it just normal?

On start up it stinks of fuel like really stinks! it idles at around 900rpm after the auto choke has come off, but i stuck £30 of fuel in saturday, i got around 24 litres. i managed 103 miles with it before i needed to put more fuel in! is that right or is that running rich? i had a blow in the manifold last week which was causing the engine to miss etc.. and i managed 27 miles to half a tank lol. but its got to the above after welding it up and sorting the blow!

Just want to know if its normal or not.

Cheers

[donkeychomp]

Have you checked the fuel lines for leaks? Is it a carb or injection?

My Vit does about 30mpg if I drive like a nun...still better than mj SJ lol.

[Edweird]

I normally get 28 to 31 mpg driving 18 miles to Hull Uni. That includes back roads, a bit of motorway and some urban. Mine's only a 410 4-speed, so I'd expect a bit more from a Vitara. The 1 litre is a bit underpowered and has to work a bit harder than would be ideal for fuel economy. Sounds likw you're running rich and/or not getting a good burn.

A tune up might get you a higher MPG.

I was getting 26-28 initially, but the carb was knackered and the bowl was overflowing and pouring into the engine. A new carb, plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm, breaker points, condenser and ignition timing adjustment later and I've got an extra 3MPG. Aside from the carb none of those bits are expensive. I got all the ignition bits for about £30 from Cookie's in Scunthorpe.

If you weren't too far from me I'd offer to lend a hand if you're unsure, but everyone on this forum seems to live a hundred if not more miles from me.

[Jordi]

My Zuk is doing 21mpg. I was happy, i thought it was much worse.

Jordi

[turbo-tom]

I get about 16 roughly but mine is always getting thrashed off road (sj with 1.6 8v carb vit engine)

[-Bradders-]

Hmm mixed reviews lol! well some morning it will run sweet and i'll get about 26mpg, other days it just throws a fit and gets about 18mpg! i've already replaced all the dizzy leads plugs rotor etc.. i'll take a look at the carb and give it a good clean out, it was run to empty by the previous owner so it could be junked up, i need to replace the fuel filter too!

[ScottieJ]

It's prob the autochoke playing up a bit, my old 1.6 carb was like that, I don't think they like cold weather