Poor fuel economy 2009 Ford Smax

P_Cash

Hi, we have bought a 2009 Ford Smax, model LX 1.8 5 SPEED 5DR DIESEL,
we had intentions of buying in a 2015 model from the UK, but been unsure of our circumstances this car became available in reputable local garage. We needed the 7 seater asap. So we opted for this for the short term.

Having the car for 3 or 4 weeks now we both have the same opinion, very low power in any gear until you get well up above 1800rpm, with good boost at 2000.
Taking off and going up the gears is painful each time until you are in the 1800+ threshold. My wife drives it mostly, and would be doing shorter runs, picking and dropping. Keep in mind she was doing this before in a Nissan xtrail 2.2 ltr.

She then at the same time noticed topping up the tank more often, €50 euros going in more often than before.


Myself I drive a 2008 Ford Mondeo, Zetec. 6 speed. On the clock I get 5.5L/100km. that translates to 42.7 mpg.

When I took a reading of the Smax its doing about 7L/100km or 33.6 mpg. This to me would make sense, as driving the Mondeo I can change gears at 1500-1600 revs, and rarely pass 1900rpm.

Driving both cars, I was initially making an allowance for a Zetec engine, but my Mondeo feels like a Ferrari compared to the Smax, and I now believe there is something up with the Smax/power at lower revs etc.
I also have to take in to account the 5 speed Smax versus the 6 speed Mondeo, but again believe there shouldn’t be a 27% difference in fuel consumption.



The Smax is under engine warranty for 3 months.

2 options right now.

1. Bring to a Ford dealer, have them diagnose the problem if any, and take the details to the original garage.
2. Or bring the car back to the original garage and hopefully they will play ball and fix the issue.

My wife is off the opinion we can’t afford to keep this car, versus the costs of the 2.2 ltr xtrail.


I welcoming any thoughts, ideas and advice of what to do.

Thanks.

Toyotafanboi

Honestly,I'd just re-evaluate if there is actually anything wrong.

The S-Max is a big car, weighs around 1800kgs, has the aerodynamic qualities of a brick and is powered by a 120bhp engine and 5 speed manual box. If it's doing mid 30's with mostly town driving, I'd say that's where it's at tbh.

The original figure Ford quoted for that car was 45mpg, which can be taken with a pinch of salt. If you have a look at Fuelly.com there is 14 people tracking 2009 Ford S-Max and across 950 tanks of fuel they have averaged 34.6mpg. This also isn't completely indicative of reality as some will be 2.0's and some 1.6's but it's very in line with the figure you are getting.

It's not really comparable to your Mondeo which has a more modern engine, 6 speed gearbox, better aerodynamics and weighs 400kgs less.

Think it's the same engine in my focus but I can't get under 8.0 according to the computer. Though a bit lower when I do a brim to brim run. I wish I was getting the consumption you are. :P

zilog_jones

26 S-Max owners with the same engine: https://www.spritmonitor.de/en/overview/17-Ford/935-S-Max.html?fueltype=1&constyear_e=2015&power_s=124&power_e=126&gearing=1&powerunit=2

7.22 l/100km or 39 MPG

You've got your gallons wrong, by the way. 5.5 l/100km = 51 MPG imperial. Yank gallons are smaller than ours.

"Zetec" used to refer to one specific series of Ford petrol engines in the '90s. Then it became two. Then it became a trim level and is essentially meaningless now. Your Mondeo (assuming diesel) either has the even more gutless 1.6, the same 1.8 engine as the S-Max, or the Peugeot-derived (good) 2.0 DW10 engine.

CorkMan_

Have you had the SMax serviced since you bought it? I wouldn't trust a garage selling a 9 year old car to give it a complete service before selling.

If it was me I'd put in fresh (correct) oil and oil filter along with a new fuel and air filter and see if that helps. But as others have said it's not the worst economy for what it is.

ExoPolitic

they're known for their poorer fuel economy, considering they were to replace the old VW/Seat/Ford 7 seater, which had 1.9tdi's which were much more efficient, it was a shame. But you do have a small engine to pull a lot of weight, I have a 2 litre diesel and it manages 58mpg on a run, and 42 odd mpg in mixed use. But big engine in a small car will give you good fuel economy if you don't blast around.

bazz26

The S-Max is a bigger and heavier car than the Mondeo. The 1.8 TDCi LX model only had 100bhp in them too so is bound to use more fuel to shift the heavy body around.

I think this might be a case of newer car and the expectation of getting the same or better fuel economy than your old or other one.

P_Cash

cheers, i should have mentioned i drive the 1.8 Zetec Diesel, Mondeo 2008.

so if its the same engine, one would have thought slightly worse efficiency.

saying all that, our long term plan is to buy a new model 2015 2ltr 150bhp. i guess it would be more fuel efficient that we have now.


another point someone brought up, if the my 2008 mondeo has the same engine as the smax, 400kgs wouldnt count for difference in power.

something is telling me it could be the gear ratio , 5 speed versus 6. We have been driving the Mondeo for 7 yrs.

zilog_jones

It could be the case that your Mondeo has 125 bhp whereas the S-Max has 100 (assuming bazz26 is correct regarding the LX) - same engine, but just tuned differently (probably mostly turbo boost). 100 bhp for a car of that weight is quite underpowered.

A 6-speed box will help with efficiency at higher speeds (e.g. motorway driving) more than anything else.

P_Cash

zilog_jones wrote: »

26 S-Max owners with the same engine: https://www.spritmonitor.de/en/overview/17-Ford/935-S-Max.html?fueltype=1&constyear_e=2015&power_s=124&power_e=126&gearing=1&powerunit=2

7.22 l/100km or 39 MPG

You've got your gallons wrong, by the way. 5.5 l/100km = 51 MPG imperial. Yank gallons are smaller than ours.

"Zetec" used to refer to one specific series of Ford petrol engines in the '90s. Then it became two. Then it became a trim level and is essentially meaningless now. Your Mondeo (assuming diesel) either has the even more gutless 1.6, the same 1.8 engine as the S-Max, or the Peugeot-derived (good) 2.0 DW10 engine.

interesting, so Im getting 51 mpg from the Mondeo, I must do the refill check millage a few times in a row to ensure i get an accurate reading.

that leaves me getting 40 about on the Smax

P_Cash

zilog_jones wrote: »

It could be the case that your Mondeo has 125 bhp whereas the S-Max has 100 (assuming bazz26 is correct regarding the LX) - same engine, but just tuned differently (probably mostly turbo boost). 100 bhp for a car of that weight is quite underpowered.

A 6-speed box will help with efficiency at higher speeds (e.g. motorway driving) more than anything else.

my mondeo is 125
i was assuming the Smax was the same, i cant see the ps or BHP any where for the smax,
engine No 8Y80195

P_Cash

only way to know for sure is drive another Smax i guess.

Thatnastyboy

P_Cash wrote: »

cheers, i should have mentioned i drive the 1.8 Zetec Diesel, Mondeo 2008.

so if its the same engine, one would have thought slightly worse efficiency.

saying all that, our long term plan is to buy a new model 2015 2ltr 150bhp. i guess it would be more fuel efficient that we have now.


another point someone brought up, if the my 2008 mondeo has the same engine as the smax, 400kgs wouldnt count for difference in power.

something is telling me it could be the gear ratio , 5 speed versus 6. We have been driving the Mondeo for 7 yrs.

Ah it would though, it's like having 5 or 6 full grown adults in it extra over the mondeo.

It sounds about right being honest, the smax with any kind of load in it will be edging toward 1900kg if not more (according to quick google search figures) - only giving you 65 odd bhp/tonne. (based on a 125ps/123bhp engine)

Baring in mind the power and torque figures are peak, and definitely not available at low rpms.

9935452

LIGHTNING wrote: »

P_Cash wrote: »

interesting, so Im getting 51 mpg from the Mondeo, I must do the refill check millage a few times in a row to ensure i get an accurate reading.

that leaves me getting 40 about on the Smax

Your forgetting the weight difference, put 150+kg in your Mondeo and see the difference in fuel economy

There could be a massive difference in weight. Someone here said 400kg of a weight difference . Add in 3 or 4 kids , their car seats ,buggies , toys etc and the 400kgs could become 600 or 700kgs .
Mondeo 1400kg. 50 percent heavier is the smax. Try throwing a bale of silage into the mondeo and see the economy drop

bazz26

Both engines are the same lump but the base model S-Max and Mondeo back then had the 100bhp 5 speed engine while the Zetec and above of both had the 125bhp 6 speed versions. That, the extra weight/dimensions of the S-Max plus extra humans in it could easily explain the fuel economy difference.

Gonad

Ford galaxy 2 litre 2013 140bhp only Get 34 mpg

pah

Gonad wrote: »

Ford galaxy 2 litre 2013 140bhp only Get 34 mpg

Yikes. I was getting 40 from my 2006 2.0 tdci but herself has a heavy right foot