Shocking fuel efficiency

Suedezed

Newbie
British Zeds
Joined
May 15, 2023
Points
3
Location
Wirral
Model of Z
2.0
What’s everyone’s mpg? I feel like I’m always topping up. Using on board computer I clocked in 78 miles for half a tank. Is that about right? 2l 5 speed manual, 2000. Thanks.
 

SV8Predator

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
Points
94
Model of Z
Z4 E89 2.0 Atacama Yellow / Z3 3.0 Topaz Blue
What's the mpg showing on the on-board computer?
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Calculate what your MPG by filling the tank and zero the trip meter. Drive the car as you normally do and when nearly empty record the miles on the trip meter and fill the tank again. Record the amount it takes to fill the tank. Then it's simple maths to calculate what you're actually getting.

Trip meter reading divided by number of litres to fill the tank. Then multiply by 4.5 for actual MPG.

Compare that to your OBC reading.
 

SV8Predator

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
Points
94
Model of Z
Z4 E89 2.0 Atacama Yellow / Z3 3.0 Topaz Blue
I might be being a bit stupid here, I can’t see any mpg figure!
Have you actually GOT an on-board computer? What does your clock look like? Is it like a "clock", or is it a digital display? If it's digital, press your indicator stalk IN, and you'll see the different functions (including mpg).
 

Rod and Kate

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Jul 11, 2021
Points
119
Location
York
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Can't be right surely. Our 1998, Z3 2.8L with after market exhaust. 400 miles to tank. AVG 30 mpg. Not dithering around either.
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
400 miles? best I've had is around 330 from my 2.8. My OCD makes me record every fill up and the mileage. I just checked my log and the most I've ever put in is 45ltrs and on that occasion I'd covered 313 miles giving me 31.6 MPG. The Z3 tank is 51ltrs if my memory serves me right.
 
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Devon Z

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Points
144
Location
Brixham, Devon
Model of Z
99 2.0 Individual
My 2.0 averages 27mpg according to the computer, around town and occasional country blast😁
 

Z Victor 1

Formerly "Ontiken1"
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
194
Location
Ripley,Derbyshire.
Model of Z
E 89 Z4 S drive 23i
From mid Derbyshire to Zaragoza, Spain on one tank in my Z3 2.2i sport. Via Portsmouth, Bilbao.
 

SV8Predator

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
Points
94
Model of Z
Z4 E89 2.0 Atacama Yellow / Z3 3.0 Topaz Blue
My 2.0 averages 27mpg according to the computer, around town and occasional country blast😁
My 3.0 averages 28.5 in similar driving (according to the computer), so it's interesting that all Z3s must be similar mpg, regardless of engine size.

Saying that. my 2.0 E89 Z4 (which is faster than the 3 litre Z3), gets 35-36.
 

Jam03

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 21, 2022
Points
136
Location
Surrey
Model of Z
2.2i
My 2.2’s average tank to tank consumption is 26mpg…and about 250ml of oil every second tank.
 

Dino D

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Points
176
Location
Kent
Model of Z
2.8 Manual
180- 220 miles per tank - urban, b road.
70-80 on a full tank on track
2.8 manual.
Best I got was about 250 but that was because my right ankle was injured =))

Even by my standards your 78 on the first half the tank sounds heavy - the first ‘half’ is more like 3/4 as it the second half drops faster.

To rule out a dodgy gauge you need to record the miles in between fills.

Ie brim tank, drive, when you brin tabk again record the miles vs litres filled to brim it again and you’ll have the actual mpg.
 

Oddly Godly

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 17, 2019
Points
129
Location
dunstable
Model of Z
z3 2.8
My 1999 2.8 averages about 28 with mixed driving. Up to 34 on the motorway.
I would put a code reader on it. Sometimes codes are thrown up that don't trigger the dashboard light at first.
 

colb

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Points
178
Location
Newport, South Wales,UK
Model of Z
Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
I would be plugging in diagnostics and looking at live data fuel trims, if they are high then you probably have an air leak thats being picked up in the exhaust and fooling the car into thinking its running lean, it then demands more fuel at the injectors to richen it up. This will go on until its adding up to 20% more fuel until it gives up trying to correct it and sets the EML as an attention getter. If you cant find any air leaks visually a smoke test probably will first go.
 

Neilb62

Zorg Addict
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 14, 2021
Points
49
Location
Darwen
Model of Z
3.0 Roadster.
I’m getting high 20’s to low 30’s in a 3.0l manual.
Even got an average of 34 on the lakes drive- out 😮
 
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