Practically Classics Forum

hi all I have a mk2 seat Ibiza as my daily workhorse, the problem is i've noticed that it consumes so much fuel, the last owner told me that he never had a problem with it, as he's a good friend I presume he wasn't diddling me.. anyhow I cant work out what would cause it to do this, I know ive put a few pounds on over Christmas but I thought it would only affect my waistline, the car is really lumpy in the mornings till warm ,could this be the coolant sensor? any help or suggestions would be appreciated,its due a service next week so as of yet no filters have been touched,last service was 9 months ago

regards jim

define "consumes so much fuel". Lumpy running when cold can be the cold start / temperature sensor but it could also be low compression, poor ignition, etc.
if you know where the sensor is and have a multi-meter it should be pretty easy to test. the resistance values will be in a the Haynes manual for your car (or probably on the net either specifically for your car or for the polo on which it is based)

Could be a defective lambda,not reading the 02 level

Is the engine management light on? If so, then you MUST read the codes to give a clue.

If it isn't, then it rules out quite a lot of things, for example it's unlikely (but not impossible) that the Lambda sensor is faulty. However, the Coolant Temp Sensor could be giving a wrong reading (i.e. a permanently "hot" reading) without putting the light on, they're easy to test so that might be worth doing.....

I think I'd start with a full service though, with special attention to dizzy cap and rotor (if it's got one?), plugs, oil, fuel filters etc.

Cheers!

Mind, it'd help if the OP specified petrol or diesel

In my experience anything with that pile of junk Porsche badged engine will drink fuel like a Trent 800.

ok who is trent?

This is Trent.

We still don't know whither it's a petrol one.

I thought a trent 800 would run on jet fuel not petrol :S