WS manual fuel economy FIXED! - Page 2

greenfoam · 28-10-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StormyKnight

With regards to this "Software Update", does it have an official name from Ford because when I get our car in for its first checkup, I want to make sure its either already done or can be done.

PS we get the new car tommorrow......

In theory they are supposed to plug the car in and check for software updates every time if goes in. But in reality they don't allways do it. Not everyone at the dealership knows how to do it etc, so you run into these kind of problems

Swordsman88 · 28-10-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfoam

No I haven't manually done it yet but the difference is very noticable, the tank full is lasting longer in terms af days rather than just a few KM's but we will make the trip to Melbourne in the not to distant future and I can do it then. Last time we ran out of fuel well before we made it home but I've got my bets on it making it now (easily). The car does 80% Highway and the fuel average with my wife driving is now pegged on 5.3L/100 (was previously 6.6L). I'm about .4L/100 more efficient on both counts: ) I don't know why, just a bit smoother I guess. These are on roads that are very bad for good fuel consumption, probably some of the worst in the country

I often find the men in the household use less fuel greenfoam. The ladies deny it but if you hid a camera in their car (don't do it...its probably illegal....) you'd find when alone and frustrated they rev the proveribal off the thing. If you had a footcam like in the V8 supercars you'd find it flat on the right pedal out of low speed corners and roundabous etc.

Either way, if you are burning alot less fuel after this update with both drivers (i.e. percentage improvement in both) then that is quite convincing evidence it works. Moreover, you are saving alot in cruise (highway in particular). That is quite strange because manufacturers work quite hard on this area and usually get it right from factory. Maybe ford has reviewed the 'beta test' data from existing vehicles (its been out a while in europe now) and developed a leaner map?

Another theory is that they have set up a number of different tunes that exploit differing RON petrol values (91-98 etc.). The fiesta would already use its VCT to adjust the peformance of the engine for measured RON but it may not have inbuilt maps for a given fuel. What fuel do you guys use and have you found it impacts your performance/fuel burn (not just knocking etc.)?

BruceT · 28-10-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfoam

What I dislike about this is that review car that made 5.0 from Melbourne to Sydney must have been running this tune when no one else's was. I don't think that's playing fair

Greenfoam, do you know where this review was published, or at at least who did it?

greenfoam · 28-10-2009, 10:19 PM

http://www.caradvice.com.au/20722/fo...rm-conclusion/

This is the review, it was a trip Melbourne to Sydney or the other way around

StormyKnight · 28-10-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfoam

http://www.caradvice.com.au/20722/fo...rm-conclusion/

This is the review, it was a trip Melbourne to Sydney or the other way around

Details from that review...

greenfoam · 28-10-2009, 11:50 PM

Also I don't use the bottom of the gearbox while driving the Fiesta normaly around the place. I use 1st 3rd and 5th gears only

BruceT · 29-10-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StormyKnight

Details from that review...

Greenfoam & StormyKnight,

Yes I read that review too, and although the distance is about right (851.5 km), how do you know it was a Sydney to Melbourne trip.

He actually says, "Out in the foothills of Mount Dandenong in Victoria are some challenging and twisty roads that will rather quickly show up any flaws in a car’s handling characteristics and best of all, especially in a car of this size, these roads are enjoyable at the speed limit."

Many of the Dandenong roads are marked 60 or 80 km/h. I would expect better economy at those speeds than at 100-110 km/hr.

That said, I'm desperately hoping the new ECM software will improve my economy like you've experienced.

greenfoam · 30-10-2009, 12:48 AM

I'm sure I read somewhere about a trip Melbourne to Sydney, might not have been on that page but I'm sure it's mentioned somewhere on the site

StormyKnight · 30-10-2009, 10:24 AM

To be honest Melb-Syd (or Syd-Mel) would be the only way to do 800+ km on a semi decent road without interuption.....

Unless your in Central Australia as I think the solar challenge roads are half Decent, but you still have towns to slow down for.....

Fi.ES.TA · 30-10-2009, 09:18 PM

Well my cars booked in on tuesday for the 15,000 service and ive mentioned the reflash for new software so we will see what difference there is on economy when i do my 165klm round trip to work.

StormyKnight · 31-10-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fi.ES.TA

....165klm round trip to work.

Oooh, thats nasty! Is it all highway? I do 70km a day round trip, takes about 1/2hr into work.

Fi.ES.TA · 31-10-2009, 05:06 PM

Yeah all highway takes me just under an hour to get to work.

Fi.ES.TA · 03-11-2009, 05:10 PM

ok had my software update today so will see what gains i have
cant say if i notice any changes with the engine as my partner
took it for its service so wont get to find out untill tomorrow (watch this space)

greenfoam · 03-11-2009, 10:41 PM

Cool so there was a newer software than you had then? I guess yes if it was updated

Fi.ES.TA · 03-11-2009, 11:33 PM

Yes he actually checked and said "oh" yes there is a newer version software.

PS.i actually sent the missus with a note stating what i wanted lol
as she did'nt have a clue.I started the car before,when she got home
to listen for change in the engine i give them mobil 1 oil to put in it and it definatley sounds less noisier with a more bassier sound to the exhaust.

okay · 07-11-2009, 03:49 AM

Is there a chip that can be updated for better fuel economy in the manual LX WP Fiesta?

dannyhilton · 07-11-2009, 01:36 PM

Have you noticed a change FIESTA? Others are reporting the same figures as Greenfoam as well, but they have a fair few clicks on their cars too.

Fi.ES.TA · 07-11-2009, 01:54 PM

i am defanatley noticeing the difference,but i will give the final figure once i have emptied the tank.
Other things i have noticed.
Braking has been smoothed out,perfect now.
they fixed my drivers window works all the time.
And definatley more responsive on the accelarater.
I put mobil 1 engine oil in and definatley makes the engine quiter.
useing my own oil brought the service to $94.09

JClarke · 07-11-2009, 04:05 PM

Currently I am in melbourne, and my car is parked somewhere in the eastern suburbs. I drove 7 plus hours to get there from Canberra and unfortunately I cant get a confirmed kms in a tank will need to do it again on the way home on monday to ensure

greenfoam · 11-11-2009, 05:14 AM

How are you guys that are running the update going now? I'm still able to drive it at 4.6/5.2 anywhere on the open road now depending on road conditions. My wife tells me a tank lasts her 8 days+ driving to work and back now instead of 7. FI.ES.TA, I think you are right about the engine note the car used to make fluffy rattly sounds at idle like a diesel, I haven't noticed it doing that recently. I'm more and more convinced Ford AU had a really dodgy tune in these, for whatever reason I don't know

Fi.ES.TA · 11-11-2009, 10:56 PM

Well after running a full tank of fuel on the software update
all highway driving.........Drum roll........not a freaken slightest difference
still 620klm to a full tank.

StormyKnight · 11-11-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fi.ES.TA

Well after running a full tank of fuel on the software update
all highway driving.........Drum roll........not a freaken slightest difference
still 620klm to a full tank.

Thats not too bad, 43l for 620kms = 6.9l/100km.

If you had 3l left in the tank that would make it 6.4l/100km.

doctamick · 11-11-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfoam

How are you guys that are running the update going now? I'm still able to drive it at 4.6/5.2 anywhere on the open road now depending on road conditions. My wife tells me a tank lasts her 8 days+ driving to work and back now instead of 7.

greenfoam, assuming that you're getting 5.2 L/100km, this would give you range of at least 770km (i.e. 40L per tank). The best I have got is about 650km and had to fill up about 41L. Has anybody done more than 700km on a single tank?! (in a WS manual)

EFPWR · 11-11-2009, 11:55 PM

We have a Fiesta here too. WS Auto. We are only getting 400km/tank.. this doesn't sound right, car was delivered 6 months ago. Am most curious about this update. Also, was mentioned about a brake issue, don't suppose this was brakes that grab so hard you can stop on a 5c piece? Cause this sort of braking just doesn't seem right to me..

greenfoam · 12-11-2009, 12:01 AM

Yes but the car is drivin more than 80% highway, maybe closer to 90% and I don't go over 100km/h. Sounds like it's only the early cars what were in serious need of the update. I'll be able to average under 5.0 going to Melbourne and make it there and back on a tank, with some city driving included that could be close to 800ks, pretty sure about that but have no real reason to go there just yet, last time we came up about 100km short (pre update) but were only averaging low 6's on the trip back then. I used to really struggle to get into the high 5s on the 20km trip back home from my parents house, my record now is 4.6 but that's clutching it down hills etc. Really going for the record, but so were the high 5's before

dannyhilton · 12-11-2009, 12:11 AM

Although greanfoam has better figures than I've had, mine are not too far off what he has been getting. Most trips are in the low fives, sometimes sneaking into high fours. Around town mid sixs. Mind you this is what the trip computer says. All auto Fiestas seem to have fuel economy issues, I guess because the transmission is trying to always catch the right gear and it really has to be revved to get some power. Meh, I'm happy with my fuel figures.

greenfoam · 12-11-2009, 12:23 AM

Yes yours are good but this thing about this one was how bad it was before:! and now they are as expected

GoesLikeAZetec · 12-11-2009, 01:41 AM

Anyone taken notice of the difference in the fiesta with the air con on?

It looks like its over 1ltr/100km extra to have it on in ours so far

greenfoam · 12-11-2009, 05:09 AM

Yes it used to cost over a litre in ours, but is a lttle less than that now, but it still pumps it up a fair bit

StormyKnight · 12-11-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoesLikeAZetec

Anyone taken notice of the difference in the fiesta with the air con on?

It looks like its over 1ltr/100km extra to have it on in ours so far

I guess it would be 1l/100km for any car, but when you start with 5 or 6l/100km, the extra 1l is a lot!

In relative terms you can run the car @ 100km/h on 5 or 6 times the fuel require to run an airconditioner! Thats not bad economy is it!