What am I doing right?

[sports racer]

I haven't been driving my MK2 for the past month because it's been too cold and the heater didn't work. Last weekend I fitted a new heater core and the car is nice to drive again.

Last month the best fuel economy I use to get driving to work or back home (90ks each way) was 6.7 litres per 100k, never better no matter how I tried. Yesterday on the way to work I got it down to 6.6 and the same on the way home. Today I got 6.5 and 6.3!

Does the economy get better the colder it gets or now that I've got 217,000 ks on the clock the motor is finally getting broken in?

Cheers

Paul

[ryana89]

How dry is the air?
How cold is the air?
Could be to do with fuel (been buying somthing differnet lately?, ie 98 ron), has the road been done up and could you may have had a tail wind?
Clutching at straws a bit there, Ill stop speculating

OHHH, can I ask how you figured out the fuel economy? Does your clock/digital screen actually tell you?
I read somthing about it in my manual but I have no clue as to wether mine can tell me more than just the time

[sports racer]

If you press the right indicator stalk it changes the display from time to 6 different functions. One of them is litres per 100 k.

Fuel is the same, road hasn't changed. It's a lot colder than a month ago but day to day it's not much different.

I'm stumped but if I do find out what's causing it I'm going to bottle it and make a fortune.

[ryana89]

Went out and checked then, that little button (MFA) has no effect on my display, just stays in the clock mode.
Consider yourself lucky with fuel economy, Ill be lucky to get 300km out of a full tank of fuel at the rate my petrol is going.
I think I may have a mixture problem as the car always smells of unburnt fuel no matter how long its been driven for.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

[VwJunkie]

Check your stalk mate, might be broken off at the connector. I have a spare stalk here with the mfa on it if you want it. Sounds like you have dripping injectors, does it blow any smoke on start up? I get aboout 580 to a takn and thats with the lumpy cam too...

[jayjay]

yeah i used to get 500km out of a tank after going on silly drives with a blown headgasket...?

380 isn't a lot.

[ryana89]

It certainly does blow/puff (black) fuel smoke on start-up, whilst its cold, I thought that may have been typical for an 18 year old engine/EFI.
Its a factory 1992 2ltr 8v (digifant).
I ordered some bits a pieces from GAP the other day, including a Bentley manual so Im hoping that may help me with some of my problems.
Can I get the injectors reco'd at a local mechanics/injector shop or should I save up and replace all 4?
Should figure out more once the manual arrives.

Thanks
Sorry sports racer for the thread hi-jack

[alex g]

the heater core helps to get rid of a little temp from the water system too,may be helping

[STOIE]

Come on Paul, it this thick southern air!!!

Been very frosty of late, the thicker more dense air definitely means you should be seeing some changes.

*PS. Your soft mate, get rid of that damn heater!

[sports racer]

I'll get rid of the heater when you get rid of your R32 and use the MK1 as your daily drive.

The you'll know how much a heater is worth.