The Never-Ending (Focus mpg) Story

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Wed 29 Aug 2001 21:04
The Never-Ending (Focus mpg) Story - rogerb
For those of you who made helpful suggestions about my Tdi thirst, the outcome of a diagnostic check at my friendly Ford dealer was.....
The only fault found was a duff egr valve!! (The same valve I'd disconnected, on your advice, & with some apparent success, in an attempt to reduce smokey exhaust!!!)
Anyway, to replace same required a replacement manifold, at a cost of £300, paid for 60% by Ford & 40%(I hope) by MotorWarranty Direct.
Cost to ME? Zero.
Resulting benefit, in terms of apparent reduction in consumption & smoke?
Also Zero!!!
Haven't bothered to 're-disconnect' egr valve - I think I am resigned to 37-41 mpg. It is, in all other respects, quite the nicest of the 14 or so cars I have owned, so must not grumble TOO much.
Thanks again for trying to help.
Roger (and Out)
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Wed 29 Aug 2001 21:18
Re: The Never-Ending (Focus mpg) Story - Ashley
Hi Roger,

I happen to travel behind lots of cars on my way home from work every day, and one of them is a 'T' plate Focus TDi. SMOKE, you've seen nothing like it mate. It belches every time he changes gear. He must wonder why no-one gets closer than five cars lengths to his bumper.

It must be a common factor in these cars. Have they the same engine as the Escort 1.8 Tdi ? If so, then black smoke comes as standard !

Rgds,

Ash.
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Wed 29 Aug 2001 21:30
Re: The Never-Ending (Focus mpg) Story - dave
mine doesn't belch smoke, and i get 50mpg on every tank, almost irrespective of the type of drving done
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Wed 29 Aug 2001 21:41
Ford Diesels & Diesel smoke testing in general - David Lacey
It is well known (up until now) Ford have been lagging behind with their Diesel technology. A Ford Diesel for me? No thankyou.

The Germans have shown everybody how to do it. Look at their 1.9/2.5 TDI engines! Superb, especially the 180BHP 2.5 V6 TDi Quattro - that's what I really want!

Let's hope the Focus TDCi is better. Initial reports are very promising.

Many cars fail the annual 'rev-up test' - I find that pulling the vacuum connector off the EGR valve usually results in an MOT test pass.

The MOT emission test for diesels must cause more pollution than it prevents, surely?
The amount of smoke I can blow out of a gently driven turbo-diesel before the test can be quite alarming, if not embarrassing!

In the 7/8? years of diesel smoke testing, I have not had to remove/recondition one set of fuel injectors.
A dose of Wynn's Diesel system cleaner directly into the fuel filter usually restores any stubborn engines to a satisfactory smoke level.

Rgds

David
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