Page 1 of 2

Trip computer issue or just bad fuel consumption ?

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:50 am
by boxa
Hi,
I am new to the CJ Lancer scene and am in the process of buying a 2008 CJ VR 2.0 litre manual with 61k on the clock.
I am having the car inspected by the RACQ this week, but of concern is the AVERAGE FUEL COMSUMPTION on the trip computer. It is sitting at 13.4 l/100km !
That's Pajero territory !
I don't know whether the number is the consumption for the most recent run (which was the test drive) or average since the last reset.
But I am very concerned about the number ! Expecting under 10?

Can anyone help me with with how the trip computer works or comments on the number - I don't want to be buying a car with any issues !!

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:12 am
by Quixand
I average around 7 or 8... And i'm quite certain it pertains to the most recent trip.

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:56 am
by VRX_08
That does sound on the high side! I get around 8-9 litres per 100kms according to my car's trip computer, although mine is a manual and I don't drive right in the CBD, only the outer suburbs mainly!

When you fill the car up completly how many km's does it say you can roughly get n a full tank of fuel! It maybe worth getting it looked at as it does sound awfully high!

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:57 am
by BZC-45S
How long was the test drive? On cold starts, you'll get ridiculously high figures. It takes 20-30mins for it to settle down to acceptablely accurate estimates.

It is an avg reading only for the most recent trip, and resets after 4 hours if the car is inactive. ie. say you drive for 1 hour, park it and have lunch for 1 hour and come back, when you resume your return trip it will continue recalculating the avg. When you come home and park it overnight, the next morning the trip computer will be blanked.

You can manually reset the avg reading by pressing and holding the info button while on the avg fuel consumption screen.


The day I took delivery of my car it had a reading of 22l/100kms - the pre-delivery guys would have been thrashing it. I've had it read 87l/100km momentarily after having just filled up at a servo, reset it and drove down the road 200 metres. Similarly I've had it read 0.4/100kms after leaving a servo and coasting down the hill to the next traffic light.

A normal Lancer's long term average fuel consumption will be nowhere near 13.4l/100kms.

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:20 pm
by boxa
Thanks guys,
I suppose i'm just concerned that I will be buying a car with engine problems !

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:03 pm
by Dire
Take it on the road and reset it while in motion and it'll reveal the truth. :P

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 3:22 pm
by aspir3
The fuel consumption on the dash is for the trip or last 3 hours.

It will be very high early and then get better as your engine warms up and the further you go. I put it on instant too which gives a good indication how to drive to get good fuel consumption.

The economy you are reading is very normal for trips under 5km. I find you need to do about 15km to get a better indication. For example I get about 8.5km per litre on
15 kilometre trip and about 6.5-7.0km per litre on a 30 kilometre trip.

I doubt very much you have an issue as all our lancers are very ecomical and are as good as any in their class.

Best of luck with your purchase.

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:12 pm
by spellbound
The trip computer is only an average, mine reads high but if you do a klm travelled and lts used you will get a better indication. I have a 2.0 vr auto and get 7.0 to 7.5 and 650 to a tank normal driving.

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:10 pm
by SIX
nar i get 550 to 600 around adeliade :)

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:46 pm
by Seffy
I get in between 500 and 600 depending on traffic, the route I take and how I drive throughout the week.

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 5:11 am
by Tong-sea
Depends on how and where u drive. I can get 550 with 1/4 left in the tank.
Maybe i drive like a grandma :)

Image