Punto drinking Petrol

areyawell

Punto starting to drink petrol lately. Its an 03 model 1.2L with 84,000 miles on the clock. Driving perfect never had a problem with it until now. 60 euro petrol is getting roughly 194 miles. It used to do the same journey for 30 euro petrol but seems to be getting worse every fortnight. I did the same journey for the last three months for 30 euro which is 194 miles. It then all of a sudden went to 50 euro for a week or two and now its at 60 euro for the same trip I always take during the week. Is it because the mileage on the engine is getting high or is there anything I can do to fix the problem. Tire pressure and everything in the engine is topped up, thanks. Not due a service either, well maybe he didnt change spark plugs last time,not sure, would this be causing it? No leaks are anthin like that. Would engine need to be refurbished or would I be better off flogging it for 1300 and getting a car for 2k. Any suggestions welcome

TestTransmission

Have you calculated your mpg?

joujoujou

It may be a lambda failure. Rarely, but happens lambda sensor fails without "check engine" light on dash.

Find someone with decent OBD reader to check lambda condition.

dgt

TestTransmission wrote: »

Have you calculated your mpg?

+1

Brim it, drive it 100 miles, refill, calculate mpgs from there.

Might be getting crap petrol either, Fiat's don't respond well to poor fuels

Stheno

When was it last serviced? Were the spark plugs due to be replaced?


And are you monitoring mpg as per Test Transmission?

Pottler

There's a plastic fuel line that runs down inside the passenger side wing beside the bonnet - have a good sniff in that area, the line often develops a leak and they start milling fuel.

ottostreet

84000 miles isn't high mileage

analfabets

I have full version of FiatECUscan if you need it scanned for errors. I won't take any money. Assuming you could meet me in Newcastle some weekend evening or in Blanch at certain times. Thanks.

As said before, money isn't a good way to measure cars fuel consumption.

areyawell

areyawell wrote: »

....... 60 euro petrol is getting roughly 194 miles.........

22mpg :eek:

Stheno

RoverJames wrote: »

22mpg :eek:

That's horrific, I'd a 99 punto same engine a few years ago and got to close to 40 mpg out of it.

I do however consider them cars that like alfas don't appreciate missing out on oil changes, proper services, and respect for the intervals and what are called out at that time.

If the plugs were due and not replace that could cause issues, the gasket goes fairly commonly on them etc.

Given petrol has gone down up to 10c a litre in the same timeframe as the Op is posting a 100% increase in consumption something is very wrong.

Ghost Train

joujoujou wrote: »

It may be a lambda failure. Rarely, but happens lambda sensor fails without "check engine" light on dash.

Find someone with decent OBD reader to check lambda condition.

Did have this fail on 01 puntos, fuel consumption was noticeably poor before getting it fixed. No check engine light as far as I remember. Worth checking other stuff to that might effect engine running poorly

Stheno

Ghost Train wrote: »

Did have this fail on 01 puntos, fuel consumption was noticeably poor before getting it fixed. No check engine light as far as I remember. Worth checking other stuff to that might effect engine running poorly

I'd be checking coolant, engine temp levels etc as well.
Don't know if impending HG failure could eat petrol, but at that mileage I'd not be surprised to see the HG fail on a Punto

OP iirc mainly does motorway miles so mightn't be seeing the symptoms, my punto HG went on the M50 and I merrily drove it home 50 miles later

areyawell

Im gettin a lad I know to check the spark clubs etc and bringing it up to the local garage if he cant find anything. Some pain. I think I might sell it off If I cant get it sorted 22mpg is frickin ridocolous for a 1.2L. May as well be driving a 2ltr turbo.

Ill let ye know how I get it on, hopefully just sparks!!

Pottler

Yeah, probably best not to check that fuel line. The fact that a load of them crack and leak there is probably irrelevant. Less irrelevant is how hard it is to fix.:)

dgt

Pottler wrote: »

Yeah, probably best not to check that fuel line. The fact that a load of them crack and leak there is probably irrelevant. Less irrelevant is how hard it is to fix.:)

That happened to me in my old Bravo. €60 worth of petrol dumped between Dunboyne and Navan :eek:

The line in question was beside the brake fluid resivoir, from there into the injector rail. £30 for the new line, problem sorted in minutes

But yes, I agree. Couldn't be that part now could it :rolleyes:

Pottler

dgt wrote: »

That happened to me in my old Bravo. €60 worth of petrol dumped between Dunboyne and Navan :eek:

The line in question was beside the brake fluid resivoir, from there into the injector rail. £30 for the new line, problem sorted in minutes

But yes, I agree. Couldn't be that part now could it :rolleyes:

I've seen it on at least 4 puntos and the owners were baffled by the huge fuel use. Another common one is the thermostat failing open, the engine then never gets fully warm and uses a lot extra fuel.

dgt

Don't forget the failed lambda, caused by piss poor petrol, another one for poor mpg!

areyawell

ugh sounds like it could be a lot of things! I'll keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Spark plugs are fine. There's nothing leaking that I can see and no smell of petrol. Guess I'll just leave it up to the garage during the weak. Hopefully not a big job. Stupid Puntos. Only fit to be demolished with a sledge hammer!

Pottler

areyawell wrote: »

ugh sounds like it could be a lot of things! I'll keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Spark plugs are fine. There's nothing leaking that I can see and no smell of petrol. Guess I'll just leave it up to the garage during the weak. Hopefully not a big job. Stupid Puntos. Only fit to be demolished with a sledge hammer!

Ah, they're not, no better or worse than most. What's wrong with yours should be a simple fix for an experienced mechanic and is unlikley to be very expensive. Get someone to look at it before you start writing it off.

dgt

areyawell wrote: »

ugh sounds like it could be a lot of things! I'll keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Spark plugs are fine. There's nothing leaking that I can see and no smell of petrol. Guess I'll just leave it up to the garage during the weak. Hopefully not a big job. Stupid Puntos. Only fit to be demolished with a sledge hammer!

Cut that crap out fast, they're a crackin wee car. Don't you dare bring down the entire range because of a bad experience

jca

dgt wrote: »

Cut that crap out fast, they're a crackin wee car. Don't you dare bring down the entire range because of a bad experience

Exactly. Start thinking logically here. Get the car to someone who actually has the ability to fix the damn thing. I thought that " oh the car had a hiccup I must get rid of it " attitude had died with the ole Tiger..... Seemingly not :mad:

areyawell

I'm joking. I actually think there good little cars. Short on cash so I wanted a rough idea of what could be wrong with it so could check for things before I bring to mechanic.

jca

areyawell wrote: »

I'm joking. I actually think there good little cars. Short on cash so I wanted a rough idea of what could be wrong with it so could check for things before I bring to mechanic.

flogging it for 1300 and getting a car for 2k. Short on cash Just bring it to a mechanic, the easiest solution in the end.

dougie-lampkin

areyawell wrote: »

Punto starting to drink petrol lately. Its an 03 model 1.2L with 84,000 miles on the clock. Driving perfect never had a problem with it until now. 60 euro petrol is getting roughly 194 miles. It used to do the same journey for 30 euro petrol but seems to be getting worse every fortnight. I did the same journey for the last three months for 30 euro which is 194 miles. It then all of a sudden went to 50 euro for a week or two and now its at 60 euro for the same trip I always take during the week. Is it because the mileage on the engine is getting high or is there anything I can do to fix the problem. Tire pressure and everything in the engine is topped up, thanks. Not due a service either, well maybe he didnt change spark plugs last time,not sure, would this be causing it? No leaks are anthin like that. Would engine need to be refurbished or would I be better off flogging it for 1300 and getting a car for 2k. Any suggestions welcome

What's the dash MPG display reading? I found mine to be fairly accurate, and usually sat between 35 and 50, depending on how spirited it was driven. If that's above 30, you have a fuel leak. If the display matches your real world MPG, I'd be looking at the air filter, lambda, thermostat, coil packs, plug leads, MAP sensor and coolant temp sensor (which are actually on the same sensor I believe). These are all simple things anybody can test with nothing more than a spanner set and a multimeter.

Is the engine down on power or misfiring? If not you can almost certainly rule out anything ignition related, i.e, coils, plugs and leads. In that case my money's on the coolant temp sensor.

HG failure is between either of the outside bores and a water gallery on the FIRE engines. It's far less common than you'd believe, some people shout HG failure as soon as Fiat is mentioned. And if it does happen you'll notice either the plumes of white smoke out the exhaust or the lack of coolant before an MPG drop.

mchammer

If the coolant sensor is gone. The car will be very difficult to start when cold as the ecu will not be delivering enough fuel to start from cold. Thermostats go fairly regular in fiat/alfas and have a big effect on fuel consumption..would check thermostat first for sure..

CJhaughey

Coils are a common fault in those, check the coil first.

dgt

dougie-lampkin wrote: »

HG failure is between either of the outside bores and a water gallery on the FIRE engines. It's far less common than you'd believe, some people shout HG failure as soon as Fiat is mentioned. And if it does happen you'll notice either the plumes of white smoke out the exhaust or the lack of coolant before an MPG drop.

+1

A dead miss, plumes of steam have happened to me at some stage. Down to neglect by the previous owners!

Most of the HG failures I've seen are between cylinders. What normally happens is the engine is let overheat, allowing the head to warp slightly, thus putting pressure on any weak point of the HG.

The trick is to keep on top of the coolant and pipes. Coolant 2 years. Rubber perishes with age, a lot of people seem to forget. What looks ok might be actually about to let go

areyawell

Maybe I should have stating that I used to go a normal route where speed limit i s 80 and was ploughing down on the motorway at 120 to 130 km. Mechanic said to go 90 on motorway and see how it goes today before he checks it. Distance is 90km alltogether back and down as well, shorter than the old route.

Anyway had a quarter of a tank today which usually would be just empty coming home if I was going the 120km. Did 90km down and back and used feck all petrol. Maybe a third of the quarter of tank that was left. Guess puntos are not meant to be driving over 100km and burn petrol like water over it.

Jordan537

wow.

I have a little 1.2 corsa and i travel alot to donegal from Dublin.

Once i filled her up in dublin and bombed it ( i say bombed it, floored the corsa ) to a 145km and by the time i had finished the motorways i was down to a half tank, i made it to donegal on reserve fuel.

next time i went i filled her up in Dublin and i didn't go past 100km all the way, yes it took 20 minutes longer but i only used 1/4 tank of fuel. However, it was immense concentration the whole way, hardly ever touched the accelerator. i was amazed at how little fuel i had actually used.

As soon as you start going about 100k in these little cars it burns the fuel, you might as well be throwing cash out the window while driving her.

amazing how much fuel it uses once you floor it.