Roomster 1.4 petrol poor fuel economy

[tomandsophie]

I have just bought a 2008 1.4 petrol Roomster. I am quite shocked by the fuel economy. So far I have driven 100km of mostly motorway driving (60mph max, that's the speed limit here in Sweden) and so far the average economy is 9l/100km which equates to 31mpg. Is that normal? I was expecting better. 

[Carlston]

Try driving a max of 80km/h (50mph). You might improve to 7l/100km (40mpg).

 

Maybe the engine is not running correctly. Has it passed an emissions test?

 

Have you scanned for engine fault codes?

 

Are you running tyres wider than 185s?

 

Are your brakes rubbing? After a drive, feel all four wheel rims to see if they are hot.

 

Is the engine running smoothly?

 

Maybe change the car to a diesel.

 

Edited 29 March, 2021 by Carlston

[tomandsophie]

I'll check the brakes. I did notice today that a headwind made a massive difference - i saw 6.5l/100km on the way home whereas it was 10l/100km on the way out against the wind. 

[tomandsophie]

Yes, passed a strict emissions test. 

Haven't checked for fault codes, only just bought it. 

No, standard tyres.

Engine is running smoothly.

Don't want to change it for a diesel, only bought it yesterday!

 

I was more wondering if this is normal fuel economy for this engine. 

[Carlston]

It looks like you chose the wrong engine. The 1.2 12V engine is far more economic. 4.7l/100km (60.1mpg) is a lot better than 6.4l/100km (44.1mpg). This is also reflexed in the emissions figures. 125g/km versus 149g/km. So the 1.4MPI is putting out almost 20% more pollution than the 1.2MPI

 

Skoda Roomster

Petrol engines

Engine designation	Production	Engine code (family)	Displacement, configuration, valvetrain, fuel system, aspiration	Motive power at rpm	max. torque at rpm	Gearbox (type), drive	Top speed	0–100 km/h [s] (0–62 mph)	Combined consumption [l/100 km / mpg imp / mpg US]	CO2 [g/km]
1.2 HTP 47 kW	2006	(EA111)	1198 ccm, I3, 6V, OHC, MPI, naturally aspirated	47 kW (64 PS; 63 hp) at 5400 rpm	112 Nm. (83 lb•ft) at 3000	5-speed manual (MQ200), FWD	155 km/h (96 mph)	16.9	6.8 / 41.5 / 34.6	163
1.2 MPI 51 kW	2006–2015	(EA111)	1198 ccm, I3, 12V, DOHC, MPI, naturally aspirated	51 kW (69 PS; 68 hp) at 5400 rpm	112 Nm. (83 lb•ft) at 3000	5-speed manual (MQ200), FWD	159 km/h (99 mph)	15.9	4.7 / 60.1 / 50.0	124
1.2 TSI 63 kW	2010–2015	CBZA (EA111)	1197 ccm, I4, 8V, OHC, TSI, turbocharged	63 kW(86 PS; 85 hp) at 4800 rpm	160 Nm. (118 lb•ft) at 1500–3500 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ200), FWD	172 km/h (107 mph)	12.6	5.7 / 49.6 / 41.3	134
1.2 TSI 77 kW	2010–2015	CBZB (EA111)	1197 ccm, I4, 8V, OHC, TSI, turbocharged	77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) at 5000 rpm	175 Nm. (129 lb•ft) at 1500–4100	5-speed manual (MQ200), FWD	184 km/h (114 mph)	10.9	5.7 / 49.6 / 41.3	134
1.2 TSI 77 kW	2010–2015	CBZB (EA111)	1197 ccm, I4, 8V, OHC, TSI, turbocharged	77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) at 5000 rpm	175 Nm. (129 lb•ft) at 1500–4100	7-speed automatic (DQ200), FWD	184 km/h (114 mph)	11.0	5.7 / 49.6 / 41.3	134
1.4 MPI 63 kW	2006–2015	(EA111)	1390 ccm, I4, 16V, DOHC, MPI, naturally aspirated	63 kW (86 PS; 85 hp) at 5000 rpm	132 Nm. (97 lb•ft) at 3800 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ200), FWD	172 km/h (107 mph)	12.6	6.4 / 44.1 / 36.7	149
1.6 MPI 77 kW	2006–2015	(EA111)	1598 ccm, I4, 16V, DOHC, MPI, naturally aspirated	77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) at 5600 rpm	153 Nm. (113 lb•ft) at 3800 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ200), FWD	183 km/h (114 mph)	11.3	6.9 / 40.9 / 34.1v	165
1.6 MPI 77 kW	2006–2015	(EA111)	1598 ccm, I4, 16V, DOHC, MPI, naturally aspirated	77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) at 5600 rpm	153 Nm. (113 lb•ft) at 3800 rpm	6-speed automatic (AQ250) FWD	180 km/h (112 mph)	12.5	7.5 / 37.7 / 31.4	180

Diesel engines

Engine designation	Production	Engine code (family)	Displacement, configuration, valvetrain, fuel system, aspiration	Motive power at rpm	max. torque at rpm	Gearbox (type), drive	Top speed	0–100 km/h [s] (0–62 mph)	Combined consumption [l/100 km / mpg imp / mpg US]	CO2 [g/km]
1.2 TDI CR 55 kW	2010–2015	(EA189)	1199 ccm, I3, 12V, DOHC, common-rail, turbocharged	55 kW (75 PS; 74 hp) at 4200 rpm	180 Nm. (133 lb•ft) at 2000 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	162 km/h (101 mph)	15.5	4.5 / 62.8 / 52.3	119
1.2 TDI CR GL 55 kW	2010–2015	(EA189)	1199 ccm, I3, 12V, DOHC, common-rail, turbocharged	55 kW (75 PS; 74 hp) at 4200 rpm	180 Nm. (133 lb•ft) at 2000 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	165 km/h (103 mph)	15.4	4.2 / 67.3 / 56.0	109
1.4 TDI PD 51 kW	2006–2010	(EA188)	1422 ccm, I3, 6V, SOHC, Pumpe-Düse, turbocharged	51 kW (69 PS; 68 hp) at 4000 rpm	155 Nm. (114 lb•ft) at 1600–2800 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	163 km/h (101 mph)	14.8	4.8 / 58.9 / 49.0	127
1.4 TDI PD DPF 59 kW	2006–2010	(EA188)	1422 ccm, I3, 6V, SOHC, Pumpe-Düse, turbocharged	59 kW (80 PS; 79 hp) at 4000 rpm	195 Nm. (144 lb•ft) at 2200 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	172 km/h (107 mph)	13.3	4.8 / 58.9 / 49.0	127
1.6 TDI CR 66 kW	2010–2015	CAYB (EA189)	1598 ccm, I4, 16V, DOHC, common-rail, turbocharged	66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) at 4200 rpm	230 Nm. (170 lb•ft) at 1500–2500 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	171 km/h (106 mph)	13.3	4.7 / 60.1 / 50.0	124
1.6 TDI CR 77 kW	2010–2015	CAYC (EA189)	1598 ccm, I4, 16V, DOHC, common-rail, turbocharged	77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) at 4000 rpm	250 Nm. (184 lb•ft) at 1500–2500 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	181 km/h (112 mph)	11.5	4.7 / 60.1 / 50.0	124
1.9 TDI PD DPF	2006–2010	(EA188)	1896 ccm, I4, 8V SOHC, Pumpe-Düse, turbocharged	77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) at 4000 rpm	240 Nm. (177 lb•ft) at 1900 rpm	5-speed manual (MQ250), FWD	182 km/h (113 mph)	10.8	5.0 / 56.5 / 47.0	130

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Škoda_Roomster

 

Edited 29 March, 2021 by Carlston

[Breezy_Pete]

Have you checked the tyre pressures? Engine air filter condition?

 

Sounds a bit low to me. based on the manufacturers claimed 6.4l/100km combined figure I'd expect the real world number to be 15-20% worse, so about 7.7 max.

The type of driving you have been doing should make it better than that really.

[bigjohn]

I had what I think was the same engine in my old Octavia NA 1.416v  which was reasonably economical. Usually well over 40mpg on a run.

[tomandsophie]

Checked the tyres last night, ranged between 20 and 29 psi, so i pumped them up to 35 front and 38 rear. 

Have ordered an air filter, temp sensor, oil filter, and spark plugs. Will do all that at the weekend and see...

[Carlston]

10 hours ago, tomandsophie said:

Checked the tyres last night, ranged between 20 and 29 psi, so i pumped them up to 35 front and 38 rear. 

Have ordered an air filter, temp sensor, oil filter, and spark plugs. Will do all that at the weekend and see...

 

It sounds like you have a slow air leak.

 

Often this is caused by corrosion around the rim where the tyre bead sits. It can also be caused by a puncture.

 

Check the tyres' air pressures in one or two weeks to determine the tyres which are leaking air. Then find out where the air is escaping. You may have to remove the wheel and submerge it in a bath (or other suitable container) full of water to find the air leaks. You can use a yellow crayon to mark where the leak is.

 

Edited 31 March, 2021 by Carlston

[ca6]

On 29/03/2021 at 20:23, tomandsophie said:

I have just bought a 2008 1.4 petrol Roomster. I am quite shocked by the fuel economy. So far I have driven 100km of mostly motorway driving (60mph max, that's the speed limit here in Sweden) and so far the average economy is 9l/100km which equates to 31mpg. Is that normal? I was expecting better. 

 

I've got a 63kw 1.2tsi and there's quite a big difference in fuel consumption between going highways or country roads. 70km/h can be 5.5-5.7 and 110 km/h can be 6.4.
The Roomster doesn't have super terrible aerodynamics but it's still a big volume to push through the air and if it's windy it adds up.

Since it's my winter car, I run it on unstudded Scandinavian winter tires, I guess low friction eco summer tires would help with the consumption as well.

[tomandsophie]

Thanks for the reply.

I think I have tracked the problem down. The handbrake cables were sticking, so the rear brakes were dragging a bit. Now I have fitted the new cables and the fuel economy is down to around 5.6l at 100kph, not bad.

The wind makes a big difference like you said - against the wind it can be 7l, then with the wind behind it can be more like 4.5l.