My first diesel

ottostreet

Picked myself up a Ford Mondeo Mk2 estate 1.8td the other day. Good nick, NCT, tax and plenty big.

Coming from a Mitsubishi FTO, I find it bloody slow, but nice not flying through the petrol considering I average 100 miles a day.

However, I've calculated I'm only getting 55-60miles from a tenner diesel, which is roughly 30mpg. This seems a lot lower than it should be.

The car is tough to start in the mornings, which I've been told is a dodgy glow plug. I've got new glowplugs which aren't fitted yet. But is this the only reason for poor fuel economy? Is there anything else that I should check out? The car is driving well, but I don't know anything about diesels, so if anyone could give me some pointers?

voxpop

Mass air flow sensor and coolant temp sensor are the two things that come to mind - I would guess the MAF is dodge if you also have no power. Easy way to test is to unplug maf and go for a drive, if everything feels the same then the maf is dodge

ottostreet

voxpop wrote: »

Mass air flow sensor and coolant temp sensor are the two things that come to mind - I would guess the MAF is dodge if you also have no power. Easy way to test is to unplug maf and go for a drive, if everything feels the same then the maf is dodge

No I have power. Not as much as I'm used to, but the car itself seems to be driving fine, just poor fuel economy and tough to start!

Zubeneschamali

ottostreet wrote: »

The car is tough to start in the mornings, which I've been told is a dodgy glow plug.

Told by who?

Most modern diesels don't even use the glowplugs until its frosty out.

robtri

ottostreet wrote: »

Picked myself up a Ford Mondeo Mk2 estate 1.8td the other day. Good nick, NCT, tax and plenty big.

Coming from a Mitsubishi FTO, I find it bloody slow, but nice not flying through the petrol considering I average 100 miles a day.

However, I've calculated I'm only getting 55-60miles from a tenner diesel, which is roughly 30mpg. This seems a lot lower than it should be.

The car is tough to start in the mornings, which I've been told is a dodgy glow plug. I've got new glowplugs which aren't fitted yet. But is this the only reason for poor fuel economy? Is there anything else that I should check out? The car is driving well, but I don't know anything about diesels, so if anyone could give me some pointers?

how did u calculate the MPG???

ottostreet

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Told by who?

Most modern diesels don't even use the glowplugs until its frosty out.

It's an old diesel. engine designed in 92/93 I think?
My mechanic told me. When I turn the key, and the glowplug symbol comes on when the engine is cold, it can take 10+ seconds to turn off. This comes down if the engine is warm, but my dad has driven diesels for years, and says this is far too long.

robtri wrote: »

how did u calculate the MPG???

Reset my mile counter, and I did 60 miles or so on a tenner, which is 8 litres. 60 miles is 96 kms, round that to 100. 8 Litres per 100 kms is around 28-30mpg.

Zubeneschamali

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Most modern diesels don't even use the glowplugs until its frosty out.

Really ? What do you mean by modern ?

voxpop

Glow plugs only affect starting afaik- dont see how they would affect mileage.

30 is decent enough around town in traffic - 50s on a long motorway run taking it easy. Old diesels arent as efficient as newer version anyway.

ottostreet

voxpop wrote: »

Glow plugs only affect starting afaik- dont see how they would affect mileage.

30 is decent enough around town in traffic - 50s on a long motorway run taking it easy. Old diesels arent as efficient as newer version anyway.

well, the starting is dodgy, and difficult when engine is cold.


30mpg is for a motorway run. The Parkers figure is 43mpg for the car, so I would imagine it should be a bit higher than it is!

Zubeneschamali

RoverJames wrote: »

Really ? What do you mean by modern ?

Anything common rail, for example.

voxpop

ottostreet wrote: »

well, the starting is dodgy, and difficult when engine is cold.


30mpg is for a motorway run. The Parkers figure is 43mpg for the car, so I would imagine it should be a bit higher than it is!

Yeah you could have problems with your glow plugs but it shouldnt affect your mileage.They can be a pain to change.

30 is rubbish on a motorway run alright.

Serviced ? Check for any cracked/leaking pipework ?

ottostreet

voxpop wrote: »

Yeah you could have problems with your glow plugs but it shouldnt affect your mileage.They can be a pain to change.

30 is rubbish on a motorway run alright.

Serviced ? Check for any cracked/leaking pipework ?

I think it'll have to be serviced alright. It was sitting up for a while. Passed the NCT two months ago, and I have all the NCT certification to show emissions, and emissions are almost double what they were for the NCT in 2008.

voxpop

ottostreet wrote: »

I think it'll have to be serviced alright. It was sitting up for a while. Passed the NCT two months ago, and I have all the NCT certification to show emissions, and emissions are almost double what they were for the NCT in 2008.

Its just a smoke test for diesels, no emissions other than that - you might want to give the EGR a clean out while you are servicing it - they tend to get gummed up

ottostreet

voxpop wrote: »

Its just a smoke test for diesels, no emissions other than that - you might want to give the EGR a clean out while you are servicing it - they tend to get gummed up

Yeah I'll just get a decent service done on her. I'm still saving a fortune compared to my old FTO, but I can save more!

voxpop

ottostreet wrote: »

Yeah I'll just get a decent service done on her. I'm still saving a fortune compared to my old FTO, but I can save more!

No point in driving a diesel unless you are getting good economy - at 30mpg you could be driving a 530i

robtri

ottostreet wrote: »

Reset my mile counter, and I did 60 miles or so on a tenner, which is 8 litres. 60 miles is 96 kms, round that to 100. 8 Litres per 100 kms is around 28-30mpg.

if i am reading this right i think ur figures might not be very accurate...

best thing to do is fill car till till nozzle stops...

reset trip and drive ( 100 miles should be enough)

then re fill your car till nozzle clicks again

note exact number of litres used

note exact mileage on trip and do your calculations again...

ottostreet

robtri wrote: »

if i am reading this right i think ur figures might not be very accurate...

best thing to do is fill car till till nozzle stops...

reset trip and drive ( 100 miles should be enough)

then re fill your car till nozzle clicks again

note exact number of litres used

note exact mileage on trip and do your calculations again...

ive done it three times, average is 28mpg!

patrickc

ottostreet wrote: »

Picked myself up a Ford Mondeo Mk2 estate 1.8td the other day. Good nick, NCT, tax and plenty big.

Coming from a Mitsubishi FTO, I find it bloody slow, but nice not flying through the petrol considering I average 100 miles a day.

However, I've calculated I'm only getting 55-60miles from a tenner diesel, which is roughly 30mpg. This seems a lot lower than it should be.

The car is tough to start in the mornings, which I've been told is a dodgy glow plug. I've got new glowplugs which aren't fitted yet. But is this the only reason for poor fuel economy? Is there anything else that I should check out? The car is driving well, but I don't know anything about diesels, so if anyone could give me some pointers?

i picked up a 96 mkII mondeo recently same as yours 1.8td and I'm averaging about 50mpg so well happy with it.

mine was also hard to start and there white smoke also on the first start of the day. I changed the 4 glow plugs they were 13 each and no smoke and grand to start since.

edit: i serviced mine myself and it cost me 60 all in including the oil so was grand

its handy to service but because of the cover underneath its handier if you can access a pit/ramp

ottostreet

patrickc wrote: »

i picked up a 96 mkII mondeo recenytly same as yours 1.8td and I'm averaging about 50mpg so well happy with it.

mine was also hard to start and there white smoke also on the first start of the day. I changed the 4 glow plugs they were 13 each and no smoke and grand to start since.

who fitted them? I'm working in Kilkenny every day and having trouble getting them fitted in the hour or two that I'm back in Carlow each evening.

patrickc

ottostreet wrote: »

who fitted them? I'm working in Kilkenny every day and having trouble getting them fitted in the hour or two that I'm back in Carlow each evening.

did it myself, took about 45 mins to do. it wasn't that hard once you've the right tools.


if you need someone to do them in KK. that polish lad in irishtown is supposed to be good and reasonable.

ottostreet

patrickc wrote: »

did it myself, took about 45 mins to do. it wasn't that hard once you've the right tools.


if you need someone to do them in KK. that polish lad in irishtown is supposed to be good and reasonable.

Ah I'm just gonna get someone over weekend to do it when I have a bit more time. If I have a bit more time!

The Mondeo is a bit rough around the edges, but its fine. How slow is it supposed to be? Cos mine is dog slow!

ottostreet

ottostreet wrote: »

How slow is it supposed to be? Cos mine is dog slow!

Boost and fuelling increase and batter the guts out of the cat.

patrickc

yeh its dog slow, coming from a 2.0 turbo petrol to this, but its economical, and im happy with my yoke so far.

it really is handy enough to do yourself if your anyway handy with cars.

ottostreet

patrickc wrote: »

yeh its dog slow, coming from a 2.0 turbo petrol to this, but its economical, and im happy with my yoke so far.

it really is handy enough to do yourself if your anyway handy with cars.

I'm not handy. I can put oil in, and thats about it!

I'm actually quite happy with it too, I'm coming from a 2 litre V6 with 197bhp, but the Mondeo is strangely nice to drive. I was expecting to hate it, but I don't!

I'll probably love it once I get it driving as it should!

ytareh

Are ya 100% sure this will increase power and mpg and NOT fail the NCT ?Might do it to my Diesel 1.5DCi Micra if so .Used do it to all my old pre 94 performance cars 'back in the day '-only ever had ONE bad experience with a 91 Lancer GSR which Id swear was SLOWER after cat out -so convinced I paid to have it put back IN !!!

I never said removing the guts of a diesel cat would improve mpg, nct will be no bother though

a_v525

patrickc wrote: »

that polish lad in irishtown

lol I actually laughed at that....

ytareh

Well if it improves performance it would PROBABLY improve mpg if you took it relatively easy ...

ytareh

ytareh wrote: »

Well if it improves performance it would PROBABLY improve mpg if you took it relatively easy ...

Possibly, but you asked me was I sure it would :P

shamwari

Those Mondeo's are very much old school in terms of performance and economy. Mid to late 30's is about right around town I'm afraid, with a bit more on a spin. The estates suffer particularly due to their weight.

They do not use fly-by-wire technology and certainly do rely on glowplugs at startup. If the plugs are in any way weak then they will be hard to start and will belch grey smoke for a few seconds. Apart from the above shortcomings, those Mondeo's are very reliable if looked after. They are almost electronics-free under the bonnet with little therefore to go wrong (pump advance solenoid excepted!)

On the subject of glow plugs in more modern diesels, they are usually activated very briefly in direct injection diesels if ambient temperature goes below (I think) minus 10 degrees. The compression is such in DI engines that pre-heating is not required only in exceptional circumstances of extreme cold.

ottostreet

shamwari wrote: »

Those Mondeo's are very much old school in terms of performance and economy. Mid to late 30's is about right around town I'm afraid, with a bit more on a spin. The estates suffer particularly due to their weight.

They do not use fly-by-wire technology and certainly do rely on glowplugs at startup. If the plugs are in any way weak then they will be hard to start and will belch grey smoke for a few seconds. Apart from the above shortcomings, those Mondeo's are very reliable if looked after. They are almost electronics-free under the bonnet with little therefore to go wrong (pump advance solenoid excepted!)

On the subject of glow plugs in more modern diesels, they are usually activated very briefly in direct injection diesels if ambient temperature goes below (I think) minus 10 degrees. The compression is such in DI engines that pre-heating is not required only in exceptional circumstances of extreme cold.

That'd be grand, but I'm not driving around town, and I'm only getting around 30mpg! and i'm only doing 65-70mph most of the time (motorway).

Cheers for all the advice though, I'll get her looked at during the week.

dr.fuzzenstein

ottostreet wrote: »

I think it'll have to be serviced alright. It was sitting up for a while. Passed the NCT two months ago, and I have all the NCT certification to show emissions, and emissions are almost double what they were for the NCT in 2008.

Before doing anything drastic I'd give it a good service, new glowplugs (since you have them, not doing the engine any good if you start it with one or two of them not working), new air filter (diesels use a lot of air and restricted flow can lead to smoking and loss of power, the mondo should have good enough pull), new fuel filter (tend to get clogged), of course oil and check if and when the timing belt is due.
Unless you do the basics trying to troubleshoot a problem will become too difficult if your problems are just caused by old oil, a dodgy glowplug and a clogged up filter like in 90% of all cases.