How long should a full tank last?

[Tomsk]

Keep a log like this..

Fill tank, zero mile counter.
When light comes on, fill tank and note how much fuel goes in (in litres) and how many miles you're on.
zero mile counter.


Repeat this a few times and you'll have a good basis to work on the actual MPG.

You could do it the lazy way. Start by clicking on 'Jaws' below.

 

[xMarkie]

Hi guys,
Had my first car an 03 1.2 SEAT Ibiza for about 3 weeks now loving it I am.
Just wanted to check really roughly how long a full tank should last, I put £45 in it the Wednesday before last and sure enough 8 days later my fuel light came on and I put another full tank of fuel in.
During those 8 days I did 210 miles in the car and just wanted to check this is about right
Cheers

Erm, need more info than that;

Is the car serviced regularly?
Does it have the correct tyres inflated at the correct pressure?
Is the engine tuned and fuel system in full working order?
Are you carry around excess weight in the boot?
Are you driving in town or on motorways?
Do you race people from the lights?

Sign up to www.fuelly.com and track your mpg on there - I believe they also have a phone app.

It does sound low - with my first car VW Golf 1.1 I would easily get around 40mpg if sensible.
Even my current BMW 323i (2.5) AUTO! does 28mpg.

 

[mistercrabb]

Hi guys,
Had my first car an 03 1.2 SEAT Ibiza for about 3 weeks now loving it I am.
Just wanted to check really roughly how long a full tank should last, I put £45 in it the Wednesday before last and sure enough 8 days later my fuel light came on and I put another full tank of fuel in.
During those 8 days I did 210 miles in the car and just wanted to check this is about right
Cheers

That's similar to me (04 1.4L Ibiza).
I was doing about 230 miles = ~£50 every week.
So about 28mpg by my reckoning.

Mostly motorway driving though for me, my underpowered car doesn't like going fast

 

[Buchanan0204]

£11.25 for 52.5 miles.

Seems pretty poor for a 1.2, however as people say with the cold weather, short journeys and perhaps your driving style. How is your driving style? Do you drive it hard? Accelerate hard up to speed?

Changing your driving habits can be a huge help to the wallet come petrol time.

 

[iaind]

That's similar to me (04 1.4L Ibiza).
I was doing about 230 miles = ~£50 every week.
So about 28mpg by my reckoning.

Mostly motorway driving though for me, my underpowered car doesn't like going fast

Begs the question, why would you run such an unsuitable car if you mostly do motorway miles?

 

[mistercrabb]

Begs the question, why would you run such an unsuitable car if you mostly do motorway miles?

Got the car before the (temp) job. Back down to a 3 mile commute now

Also I'm 21, at the time of purchase a couple of years back a bigger engine would have cost me a few £k in insurance.

 

[iaind]

Got the car before the (temp) job. Back down to a 3 mile commute now

Also I'm 21, at the time of purchase a couple of years back a bigger engine would have cost me a few £k in insurance.

Aah fair enough

Although insurance cost is not directly proportional to engine size. Chances are a larger engine in a larger car wouldn't be expensive, if it's not something "sporty". Think 1.6 focus or 1.8 mondeo, generally very cheap to insure.

 

[bledd]

Also, do you try and drive around everywhere like Senna?

 

[mistercrabb]

Just thought I'd update, it's been 3 and a bit weeks since I started my new local job, 3 miles away from my house.
I drive home for lunch so that's 12 miles total travelling each day, all with a cold engine (just gets to 90C as I arrive at my destination).

I'm still getting approx 28-30mpg
Obviously the cold engine isn't helping, and there are a few stop/start bits with traffic. But that still seems low to me?
And no I don't rag it around too much.. I think..

Thoughts?
At least it's £50 every 3 weeks instead of every week..

 

[Chives]

£11.25 for 52.5 miles.

Seems pretty poor for a 1.2, however as people say with the cold weather, short journeys and perhaps your driving style. How is your driving style? Do you drive it hard? Accelerate hard up to speed?

Changing your driving habits can be a huge help to the wallet come petrol time.

Hmm not sure how you'd define accelerating hard up to speed?

Erm, need more info than that;

Is the car serviced regularly?
Does it have the correct tyres inflated at the correct pressure?
Is the engine tuned and fuel system in full working order?
Are you carry around excess weight in the boot?
Are you driving in town or on motorways?
Do you race people from the lights?

Sign up to www.fuelly.com and track your mpg on there - I believe they also have a phone app.

It does sound low - with my first car VW Golf 1.1 I would easily get around 40mpg if sensible.
Even my current BMW 323i (2.5) AUTO! does 28mpg.

Has a service once every year, due for one in January.
It does, had brand new tyres about 4 weeks ago.
As far as I know yes
Nope
Mostly town driving with some dual carriageways thrown in
No

Also, do you try and drive around everywhere like Senna?

No, a 17 year old trying to drive like Senna would end with death I fear

 

[Jono8]

Mistercrab, If you are only getting to temperature by the time you reach work and considering ambient temps are barely above a few degrees recently, i wouldn't say that was especially low.