Hi all

I've got a Octavia 1.4 TSI petrol Estate from 2011, now with 94k miles.... 

December last year, took it to a garage for its regular service and within a month the fuel consumption increased dramatically. 

Now, we use a tank of fuel per week... We drive less than 50 miles per week.. 

We took the car to 2 different garages, but they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I still haven't taken it to a Skoda Garage. 

I've serviced the car every year, including a major service every 3 years for the past 8 years. 

I'm better with computers than cars, so I would appreciate any advice regarding this issue. I'm planning to sell the car if I can't get this fixed since the fuel costs are exorbitant. 

Thank you in advance 

Edited 29 September, 20241 yr by Knockout60

Hello, welcome to the forum.

Does the engine appear to run normally at present? Are there any signs of leakage or smell of fuel?

Do you completely fill the tank each week - how many litres does it take to fill?

It would be almost unbelievable if you are using 40 - 45 litres for less than 50 miles per week (equating to around 1.25 miles per litre)

Equally unbelievable that it was (presumably) only doing 150 miles to a tank of fuel before (Fuel consumption tripled after service.)

 

I thought the Octavia fuel tank capacity was 60 litres. My MK1 and MK2 both were 60 litres.

Edited 29 September, 20241 yr by J.R.

10 hours ago, J.R. said:

Equally unbelievable that it was (presumably) only doing 150 miles to a tank of fuel before (Fuel consumption tripled after service.)

 

I thought the Octavia fuel tank capacity was 60 litres. My MK1 and MK2 both were 60 litres.

I'd originally assumed similar to Mk3, but several sources quote fuel capacity as 55 L for the Mk2.

Edited 30 September, 20241 yr by Warrior193
correction

Does the locking fuel cap/flap work?

10 minutes ago, Stonekeeper said:

Does the locking fuel cap/flap work?

Persistent fuel theft over a 9 month period seems unlikely, in any case, effective anti-syphon traps in the filler are pretty standard nowadays. 

#stonekeeper yes, locking fuel cap/flap works. I also thought about that, since I've move to a new house right about the same time as when my fuel consumption started to rise... 

12 hours ago, J.R. said:

Equally unbelievable that it was (presumably) only doing 150 miles to a tank of fuel before (Fuel consumption tripled after service.)

 

I thought the Octavia fuel tank capacity was 60 litres. My MK1 and MK2 both were 60 litres.

 

2 minutes ago, Knockout60 said:

 

 

I know, it's unbelievable to me as well! My parter is paying for the fuel, but I see the receipts every week, and been checking the mileage. We both have busy lives, but almost never leave the home, except for shopping and to do the school run. 

I guess my next step is to track exactly what's the usage, and report back. 

I guess my biggest worry at the moment is that my partner does the school run with our 2 children, and if excess fuel is being leaked somewhere, that could be dangerous. 

I'll take pics of the mileage and fuel receipts to show you nex week, yesterday the fuel tank was nearly empty... 

If your were putting in 50 litres or even just 45 litres so need 10 gallons it is very very unlikely you are getting 5 mpg.    ? What does your garage or you consider is a major service.    Is that spark plugs replaced, when were they changed,  replaced, air filter replaced, brakes serviced etc etc.  

If the fuel use the OP quotes is being burnt in the engine, it should be running so poorly as to be undriveable - I doubt a mixture that rich would even ignite due to plug wetting.   

Edited 30 September, 20241 yr by Warrior193
correction

There are 3 or 4 limited options here:

 

1/ Fuel being burnt - needs codes read for faulty sensors and also smell exhaust for unburnt fuel smell and sooty tailpipe.

2/ Fuel leaking - can probably smell it being petrol

3/ Fuel being stolen

4/ Incorrect assumption/measuring by the OP.

 

Elimintate #4 by filling tank to brim. Driving for a week or X miles. Refill tank to brim and work out actual MPG.

 

Edit: brakes binding badly is a possibility.  Check each wheel for excessive heat after a drive.

Edited 30 September, 20241 yr by Golf-Fiend

Some good suggestions here in normal circumstances but that consumption is mental.

 

From full to half a tank just for the equivalent of a half hour drive!

11 hours ago, JamieH86 said:

Some good suggestions here in normal circumstances but that consumption is mental.

 

From full to half a tank just for the equivalent of a half hour drive!

Not Full to 1/2 tank - OP says 'Tank nearly empty' after less than 50 miles!

2 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

Not Full to 1/2 tank - OP says 'Tank nearly empty' after less than 50 miles!

I know, which is why I said full to half after a short drive.

19 hours ago, Golf-Fiend said:

There are 3 or 4 limited options here:

 

1/ Fuel being burnt - needs codes read for faulty sensors and also smell exhaust for unburnt fuel smell and sooty tailpipe.

2/ Fuel leaking - can probably smell it being petrol

3/ Fuel being stolen

4/ Incorrect assumption/measuring by the OP.

 

It has to be number 4.

 

Number 3 is theoretically possible but would need the thieves to return at the right time and to take the exact amount without knowing how much was in the tank.

 

On 30/09/2024 at 09:24, Knockout60 said:

My parter is paying for the fuel, but I see the receipts every week

 

She is filling someone elses vehicle or using their receipts.

 

I paid my for my fathers fuel in his retirement, he had an additional fuel card on my company account, the daughter of his 2nd wife would con her mother taking her shopping filling up with fuel on the way then claiming she had forgotten her bank card so I paid for her fuel and her mother paid for her shopping leaving my father very depressed and anxious.

 

I dealt with that situation at the time, when my father died I continued to pay for my stepmothers fuel but it suddenly shot up as stepsister was up to her old tricks again at which point I deactivated the card.

Did they change any brakes/discs/pads at service? If they didn't push in or wind in the rear pistons (properly) they'll be seriously dragging on the discs

Edited 13 October, 20241 yr by Black vRS Oct

Easyto check for temperature by hand on each wheel centre.  I towed an aircraft trailer on which the handbrake was not releasing on one side. Not only was the axle bearing hot, the grease was boiling!

Doesn't need of a brake bind to give poor mpg.

16 hours ago, Black vRS Oct said:

Did they change any brakes/discs/pads at service? If they didn't push in or wind in the rear pistons (properly) they'll be seriously dragging on the discs

I think you are spot on. I just had someone looking into the discs and all of sudden the fuel consumption improved! I still don't know if it has solved the problem, but I can already see a massive improvement.

15 hours ago, pikpilot said:

Easyto check for temperature by hand on each wheel centre.  I towed an aircraft trailer on which the handbrake was not releasing on one side. Not only was the axle bearing hot, the grease was boiling!

Doesn't need of a brake bind to give poor mpg.

I'll check this as well, thank you. 😊

something not adding up to me a car could not use a full tank to do 50 miles its impossible.

You need to fill the tank yourself and then see what the mpg looks like.

I know of someone who paid for an employees fuel, and who had a car that always had a consistently low mpg. He found out that some of the petrol was being put into cans for another car.

Yup, I know where I would be looking.........................