Those of you that read the thread on my car overheating here will remember that my Fabia overheated after a longish drive and gave my wife and me a big scare. Now the car is ok (and I've replaced the missing coolant cap I reckon was the cause of the issue), but I'd like to clarify something. I'm concerned that, even after repairs, I'd better keep a much lower cruising speed on the motorway.

The facts: it's a 2001 Fabia with a 8v engine, the Czech-made MPI. It already had work done on it a few months ago to change a head gasket. Top speed is about 90ish mph.

The question: in a hypotethical scenario with no speed limits, let's say in Germany, what is the highest speed that the engine can safely sustain for a long period of time? Would you drive hours at, say, 80? 70? 60? How often would you take breaks?

When I am cruisng I look at the fuel economy and the revs,if neither of these are too high thats the speed i do,in my case 140KPH in a 2.0 pd at 2600 RPM and approx6.0 l/10k

It's a double edged sword though. The slower you go, the less air flow you have over the engine. Personally, I'd go at a speed you're comfortable with and keep an eye on the temperature gauge. If it creeps above normal operating temperature while you're moving, you want to think about pulling off and investigating (putting the heaters and blowers on will help drawn heat away from the engine).

Chris

No probs cruising at an indicated 130kph (80mph) for extended periods in my wife's MPi. On the autobahn, obviously

I drove for over two hours in excess of (indicated) 100mph (German Autobahn) in my 1.1i Peugeot 106 once! No problems whatsoever. I even got it to an indicated 120mph, hit the red line in 5th tough little engines those XU units.

I got my 106 to 110mph once and decided I better stop as I was running out of spedo even doing 90 the fuel consumption was always pretty good.

I have driven the Fabia at 90mph without any problems but due to recent concerns going to drop it to 80mph maximum and also with my poor mpg I need to take this into consideration.

Yeah I agree, the 106 motorway consumption was pretty decent.

I bought mine new and did 80,000 miles in 4 yrs before trading it in for the vRS...it was still going strong! Can't complain for a

The question: in a hypotethical scenario with no speed limits, let's say in Germany, what is the highest speed that the engine can safely sustain for a long period of time? Would you drive hours at, say, 80? 70? 60? How often would you take breaks?

Personal choice:

- Does it say anything in the manual?

- 85mph.*

- When I nearly fall asleep for the 5th time.

*indicated, which is an actual 37mph, stupid over-reading Fabia...

- Does it say anything in the manual?

*indicated, which is an actual 37mph, stupid over-reading Fabia...

Well, the manual was written thinking of a new car, right? Not a 6 year old one that is a bit battered.

Speaking of over-reading speedometers, is it so common? My speedo overreads by about 5mph. I can't be bothered to fix it but it annoys me.

I think *all* speedos over read because they're not allowed to over read by law. Pretty sure that 'fixing' it isn't an option...

I find my car sits nicely at 80mph (indicated) on the dual carriageways/motorways. 7.5 years old now , still going strong! Another 10 years and I might start entering Classic car shows in it!

Without wishing to teach grandma etc, if you do long fast runs check your oil levels, both before and after.

The spec of my 1.4 16v says a consumption of a litre per 600 miles is permissible and, with older engines, especially the marks with the dodgy piston rings, that may be a problem. You might start loosing oil before the water temp guage indicates a change of state.

Also, I've found that the Fabia is very prone to crosswinds on motorways at high speed.

Nick

31/08/07

I think *all* speedos over read because they're not allowed to over read by law. Pretty sure that 'fixing' it isn't an option...

True, however, if you get a gps of some sort it should be able to give you an accurate speed read out. Mine is aprox 3 mph out.

True, however, if you get a gps of some sort it should be able to give you an accurate speed read out.

It will be more accurate, but is still prone to error as it is still an "average" speed.

Chris