Excessive fuel usage?

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

drifty325i
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 647
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Rangiora, New Zealand

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:12 am

Hi fellas im sure my 325i is using more fuel than it is supossed to,

and
i can smell unburnt fuel when its sitting at idle, from under the bonnet and
i think from the centre of the car to. Any possible ideas? could it be the injectors?

also i can see seepage of oil around number 6 injector near the fire wall, it seems to be coming from the oil breather pipe.

any help would be awesome cheers
ad318i
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1574
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Term Time: Portsmouth Holidays: Worcester

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:22 am

look under the manifold i had this problem was only getting 11mpg!!!! feels sooo good to fix it
1989 Alpine White 318i 4 Door - Got Scrapped When I Was Abroad
1993 Metallic Green 316i Touring - Im Selling it before i move back to Greece, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0239342139
drifty325i
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 647
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Rangiora, New Zealand

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:34 am

O what do i look for under the manifold? im getting about 410km for a full tank, not sure what that is in miles but it aint much i dont think
User avatar
ausbmwboy
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:56 am

410km is 256 miles. Im from Aus and have to do the conversion a lot on these forums to understand anything :?
drifty325i
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 647
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Rangiora, New Zealand

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:47 am

ausbmwboy wrote:410km is 256 miles. Im from Aus and have to do the conversion a lot on these forums to understand anything :?
Awesome cheers mate
320Touring
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 12316
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Glasgow (Scotland)

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:11 am

is your car a sport, or a 325i (normal)

on a 55l tank 256 miles is not too bad, assuming you've been ragging it.

on a 62l tank (sports/tourings) its a bit low to be honest.

mixed driving should really see 300+miles.

as said previously, check around the intake manifold/FPR for fuel leaks.

Also change the fuel filter at the rear of the car-makes some difference. A well set up 325i should easily do 30mpg on a run and 22+ when caining it.
The big Unit Parts Clear out Make me an offer on parts!
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 81#2766881
User avatar
chu346
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2403
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Leicester

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:25 am

Guess mine's never been well setup then :cry:

18MPG and 13.5 when caining it.
drifty325i
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 647
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Rangiora, New Zealand

Post Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:20 pm

Where is the fpr at the rear of the car? awesome i may be able to track down the prob. mines a normal 325i
but its mixed driving that gets 256miles not ragging it.
320Touring
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 12316
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Glasgow (Scotland)

Post Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:35 am

drifty325i wrote:Where is the fpr at the rear of the car? awesome i may be able to track down the prob. mines a normal 325i
but its mixed driving that gets 256miles not ragging it.
FPR is the fuel pressure regulator. its in the engine bay, on the intake side. next to the thermostat housing (front of engine)

also check the thermostat is working, cos if car stays cold it'll overfuel :wink:
The big Unit Parts Clear out Make me an offer on parts!
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 81#2766881
mrLEE30
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 6589
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sweating buckets in Bahrain

Post Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:33 pm

blue temp sensor is always a good start too, will over fuel (or run rich) if the reading is not correct, and they are prone to failure, but my (early)325 sport auto will only get 350km especially in summer with A/C on.
Image
User avatar
mikey-t
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 444
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:41 pm

mine stinks when i fill it up ! i noticed once when i really went for it the petrol dripped down the cills, looked under and it was all down the side of the tank . so im thinking there may be a weak joint at the top connectors of the tank!
320Touring
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 12316
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Glasgow (Scotland)

Post Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:43 pm

mikey-t wrote:mine stinks when i fill it up ! i noticed once when i really went for it the petrol dripped down the cills, looked under and it was all down the side of the tank . so im thinking there may be a weak joint at the top connectors of the tank!
e30's are notorious for rusting at the joint from the filler pipe into the tank, and also on the filler pipe itself
The big Unit Parts Clear out Make me an offer on parts!
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 81#2766881
User avatar
mikey-t
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 444
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:00 pm

Post Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:46 pm

but its fine filling and on half tank etc so maybe its on the side, / top of the filelr pipe? possibly similar problem for drifty