Fuel for Thought

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I AM concerned about the fuel economy of my 1998 six-cylinder auto XH Falcon one-tonne ute, which I bought new and has now done 180,000 km. I drive sedately and rarely tow a trailer, but I only drive 9km to work so the engine is hardly even warm when I get there. On a recent check it took 34 litres after doing 255km, which equates to 7.5km per litre of fuel. That is absolutely atrocious. Is this normal for a vehicle with this engine given its age and engine capacity, or is something seriously wrong?

Answered by CarsGuide

15 January 2010

Graham Smith

ON YOUR own figures your ute is getting 13.3 litres/100 km, which is hardly atrocious, and suggests there is nothing seriously wrong with it. Rather I would say it;s quite normal for that vehicle having done that mileage. You could replace the spark plugs and plug leads, put some fuel system cleaner through it, and take it for a long run where you could get it fully warmed up and make it work a little to blow any carbon build-up out of the engine.

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