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Lack of Power and High Fuel Consumption

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:48 pm
by mxysxy
Hi all,
I had enough of my FTO today, I am very angry to it.
Here is the problem;

- High fuel consumption - 340-380max kms
- Loss of power. I reckon I have lost around %30 of the power, compared to 6 months ago. Today, I have tried to test it, so, put it into 2nd gear going all the way down as hard as I can. It was bloody slow. Very slow to get to mivec range, and slow to 8k rpm. It used to be quicker then this, I am very sure of it.
- Some degree of petrol smell outside, in front of the car.
- Cooling fan comes on often during start-stop traffic, However, engine temp indicator is stays same in the safe distance from redline, around %45, almost in the middle.

Now, I am thinking that my car is running rich. I have never seen it throwing black smoke from the back, however, petrol smell in front of the car is indicating me to a rich mixture. It may need to be tuned.
All my tires due replacement, they are unroadworthy, and dangerously low threads left. I am thinking bad tires can result in increased fuel consumption and loss of power.
I have reset my ecu thousand times. No error codes displayed and resetting doesnt make any difference to fuel consumption, nor the performance.
I have always serviced my car regularly, every 5000kms, gearbox fully serviced recently, coolant changed recently, spark plugs changed recently.


- Is it possible that bad tires can drop the performance of the car considerably?
- Where/Who can tune my FTO in Melbourne, or can you engine tune and FTO?
- What should I do next?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:03 pm
by afterburner
Do FTO's have O2 sensors? If so, that?

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:45 am
by Jono
hey mxysxy,

1.spark plugs
2. Lambda sesor(o2)
exhaust temp sensor??? maybe thats the lambda sensor
3.injectors( need sonic cleaning)
4. fuel filter


these things could be the problem with power or fuel consumption. i reckon its a sensor issue.

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:30 am
by Bennoz
Agreed. Only one way to find out for sure thou - get it rolled up on the Dyno. Get the Air / Fuel maps checked.

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:18 pm
by EURO
is it petrol or oil you can smell at the front of the engine?

is your car blowing any smoke? leaking oil?

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:04 pm
by Jono
actually, i experienced the same thing with fuel consumption, couldnt remember if my performance was down.. but basically i got injectors, sparkies, fuel filter and change.cleaned. also i changed fuel from shell optimax to BP ultimate and within 2 tanks i was back from 380's to 500 pluss...

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 11:01 am
by mxysxy
Sorry guys, I went to Brisbane on the weekend, couldn’t reply any earlier.
- Fuel Filter – It has changed around 6000 kms ago, so I am assuming still in good condition.
- Spark Plugs – All have changed recently.
- Injectors – I have used injector cleaners, however, nothing like sonic cleaning.
- 02 sensor – No error codes displayed, I don’t know how to test this sensor. I have seen 4 band bosch o2 sensor for around $80, might get one as a last step to replace the factory one.
- Car doesn’t burn oil, nor any smoke comes out from the back.


I agree that I should dyno the car soon, and see the air/fuel ratio.

Where can I do this cheaply in Melbourne (Northern suburbs)?

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:46 pm
by Jono
what fuel are you using?

it cost me about $200 300 i think to get my injectors sonic cleaned.... ive heard injector cleaners(wyns.. etc) are not good at all.

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:24 pm
by mxysxy
I used BP ultimate for last 2 years

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:22 pm
by Bennoz
Unfortunately no matter if you fueled up at the same servo, same pump, same petrol for 2 years - it still has dirt in it that your fuel filter wont catch. Not only that, your injectors are mounted in the intake manifold, so will also catch the dirt & sh*t that may come in your air intake...

Im very sceptical of these 'wonder' injector cleaner liquids too.

A dyno will tell the tale! Being a Sydney sider I couldn't tell you where to go in melb thou :roll:

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:30 pm
by mxysxy
ok guys,
I will look to get my FTO dynoed this weekend.
$70 sounds right a run?
Also, in 3rd gear for tip box?
what sort of run they sould do?