Alto Fuel Economy Woes

ravibhat · 6th November 2008, 22:53

Onething I noticed with AC on Alto drinks too much of Petrol. I will know the FE inside City with AC on in my next refill which I will do at Shell. Still half Tank Fuel left and trip meeter showing 190km.

On highway without AC it returned awesome 22kmpl but I feel inside City with Ac on it will return only 11kmpl. Let me do more investigation and update about FE.

Regards,

Ravi.

amit_mechengg · 6th November 2008, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravibhat

Onething I noticed with AC on Alto drinks too much of Petrol. I will know the FE inside City with AC on in my next refill which I will do at Shell. Still half Tank Fuel left and trip meeter showing 190km.

On highway without AC it returned awesome 22kmpl but I feel inside City with Ac on it will return only 11kmpl. Let me do more investigation and update about FE.

Regards,

Ravi.

no it doesnt. there is hardly a difference of 1-2 kms, between running in AC and without it. my alto gives 14-16 kmpl in city with full AC on.
check you evaporators, condensors and compressor. if AC service is due get it done. will cost 1500-2000 rs

HappyWheels · 7th November 2008, 07:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit_mechengg

no it doesnt. there is hardly a difference of 1-2 kms, between running in AC and without it. ...

+1 for this.

Ravi, please have it checked.

ravibhat · 7th November 2008, 07:33

ok thats good news

My Alto has crossed just 3100km ODO and 2 services done. I have noticed pickup is bit less, may be some issue causing it drink more fuel when AC on, Let me study it further. In few days I am doing filling at Shell and see If fuel I used right now is culprit as well.

Thank you!

Ravi.

Vid6639 · 7th November 2008, 09:39

I think I fixed all the issues in my Alto. Mileage has gone up considerably and the jerk with AC has completely disappeared.

Will update after some more driving.

ravibhat · 7th November 2008, 13:51

Hey thats good news vid, throw on me more details so I can take your guidance to see If my Alto has any issues.

Regards,

Ravi.

Technocrat · 7th November 2008, 16:11

What all did you do Vid?

Awaiting detailed report

mithun · 29th November 2008, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

I think I fixed all the issues in my Alto. Mileage has gone up considerably and the jerk with AC has completely disappeared.

Will update after some more driving.

Please give the update about the magic you've done ?

hari_snair · 10th December 2008, 15:37

I took my Alto for a drive from Bangalore to Trivandrum and I was really impressed with the mileage. It gave me 18km (4 passengers) with ac thru out. And I get normally bw 15-16 with ac in the city. Take the car to any near good authorized Maruthi workshop and check out the basics.

ravibhat · 10th December 2008, 16:01

Thats good Fuel economy for Alto, I too noticed similar figures, in highway driving without AC it gave 23kmpl with speeds around 70kmph. Inside city with AC on I noticed FE of around 18kmpl.

I notice poor FE like 11-12 in city If my new driver drives it which is very unfortunate.

Regards,

Ravi.

14000rpm · 10th January 2009, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravibhat

Thats good Fuel economy for Alto, I too noticed similar figures, in highway driving without AC it gave 23kmpl with speeds around 70kmph. Inside city with AC on I noticed FE of around 18kmpl.

I notice poor FE like 11-12 in city If my new driver drives it which is very unfortunate.

Regards,

Ravi.

My alto is a LXi and is 4 months old (5000 kms) with 2 services done.In City without AC is 15.looks like its kinda low in comparison with yours! any tips or techniques?

HappyWheels · 10th January 2009, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

My alto is a LXi and is 4 months old (5000 kms) with 2 services done.In City without AC is 15.looks like its kinda low in comparison with yours! any tips or techniques?

Do not worry. This is the average mileage that ones get with an Alto in the city. Do a long trip keeping the speed at 80kmph and you will be surprised!

ravibhat · 10th January 2009, 09:20

Last week my Alto gave 18.5kmpl in 1200km highway trip which included 100km city drive, 200km ghat section drive, 50km narrow roads drive, 50km bad roads drive with just 5% AC usage. Speeds maintained is around 80kmph top speed being 110kmph. Highway is : Bangalore - Chitradurga - Sirsi - Ankola - Sirsi - Sagar - Shimoga - Bangalore.

I still need to check City FE of my ALto after my new driver joined me last month end. In 1 week time I would udpate.

Regards,

Ravi.

gpa · 11th January 2009, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

My alto is a LXi and is 4 months old (5000 kms) with 2 services done.In City without AC is 15.looks like its kinda low in comparison with yours! any tips or techniques?

Hi there,

You are just about at the average figure that you can get from an Alto. I have been consistently getting a mileage of 17 to 19 kmpl in the city with minimal use of the AC. I use the tank full to tank full method to check my mileage and on average for every run (i.e., tank full to tank full) I use my AC for 5% to 10% of the time. You can definitely eke out a few more km to a litre by following few of my tips.

Drive with a light foot and anticipate traffic ahead so that you don't accelerate (burn fuel) and brake (waste enegry generated by acceleration) to slow down.
Shift into the right gear at the right time. Since my Alto does not have a tacho, I use the following speeds to shift gears - 1 to 2 at 15kmph, 2 to 3 at 25 kmph, 3 to 4 at 35 kmph and 4 to 5 at 45 kmph.
When going up an incline, don't crawl up in 4th or 5th gear lugging the engine, what you are doing is increasing the load on the engine and ruining the internal working parts of your car's cylinders. Shift down to 3rd to optimally use all fuel fed into the engine.
In the city, try and keep a steady speed of 55-60 kmph. On highways, keep a steady speed of 80-90 kmph.
Change your engine oil at correct intervals and above all, keep your air filter clean. I use a vacuum cleaner to blow out dust and small leaves that are stuck in the filter every fortnight.

Try these few tips and you will see a definite rise in the overall mileage of your Alto.

Cheers,
gpa

911turbo · 10th February 2009, 02:59

Hi,

This is my first post in the T-BHP family. To start off, this is really scary to have such a frightening FE from an Alto.
I drive an Alto Lxi, almost driven about 16K kms, I get a constant average of 16.382 kmpl (city) and 20+ highways to be precise and still I am hungry for more. Always driving at a constant speed, never abused my car always drive at 55-60km/hr on5th gear. I always get my car topped up from the best petrol stations in the city.

Here is how I drive

1st gear - 20km/hr -25km/hr
2nd gear - 25km/hr -35km/hr
3rd gear - 35km/hr -45km/hr
4th gear - 45km/hr-50km/hr
5th gear -50km/hr and then drive upto 55-60 km/hr and keep constant as far as I can. I try to avoid changing gears, braking unnecessarily, taking fast starts.
I am very gentle to my car. I keep it as my child, and give a treatment as you would treat a mercedez benz.

Here is when the confusion began,

Two of my friends got an Alto after 2-3months of my purchase and he had driven only about 5800kms city drive. When I test drove both the cars, I found their clutch would ground to the floor with a very light foot and moreover they are getting about 18 kmpl driving in city.

Can this could be the reason why I only manage around 16.5kmpl everytime?

Any suggestions??

6th November 2008, 22:53	#181
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	Onething I noticed with AC on Alto drinks too much of Petrol. I will know the FE inside City with AC on in my next refill which I will do at Shell. Still half Tank Fuel left and trip meeter showing 190km. On highway without AC it returned awesome 22kmpl but I feel inside City with Ac on it will return only 11kmpl. Let me do more investigation and update about FE. Regards, Ravi. Last edited by ravibhat : 6th November 2008 at 22:54.
	() Thanks

7th November 2008, 07:33	#184
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	ok thats good news My Alto has crossed just 3100km ODO and 2 services done. I have noticed pickup is bit less, may be some issue causing it drink more fuel when AC on, Let me study it further. In few days I am doing filling at Shell and see If fuel I used right now is culprit as well. Thank you! Ravi. Last edited by ravibhat : 7th November 2008 at 07:35.
	() Thanks

7th November 2008, 09:39	#185
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,730 Thanked: 43,485 Times View My Garage	I think I fixed all the issues in my Alto. Mileage has gone up considerably and the jerk with AC has completely disappeared. Will update after some more driving.
	() Thanks

7th November 2008, 13:51	#186
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	Hey thats good news vid, throw on me more details so I can take your guidance to see If my Alto has any issues. Regards, Ravi.
	() Thanks

7th November 2008, 16:11	#187
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	What all did you do Vid? Awaiting detailed report
	() Thanks

10th December 2008, 15:37	#189
hari_snair Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4 Thanked: 13 Times	I took my Alto for a drive from Bangalore to Trivandrum and I was really impressed with the mileage. It gave me 18km (4 passengers) with ac thru out. And I get normally bw 15-16 with ac in the city. Take the car to any near good authorized Maruthi workshop and check out the basics.
	() Thanks

10th December 2008, 16:01	#190
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	Thats good Fuel economy for Alto, I too noticed similar figures, in highway driving without AC it gave 23kmpl with speeds around 70kmph. Inside city with AC on I noticed FE of around 18kmpl. I notice poor FE like 11-12 in city If my new driver drives it which is very unfortunate. Regards, Ravi.
	() Thanks

10th January 2009, 09:20	#193
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	Last week my Alto gave 18.5kmpl in 1200km highway trip which included 100km city drive, 200km ghat section drive, 50km narrow roads drive, 50km bad roads drive with just 5% AC usage. Speeds maintained is around 80kmph top speed being 110kmph. Highway is : Bangalore - Chitradurga - Sirsi - Ankola - Sirsi - Sagar - Shimoga - Bangalore. I still need to check City FE of my ALto after my new driver joined me last month end. In 1 week time I would udpate. Regards, Ravi. Last edited by ravibhat : 10th January 2009 at 09:23.
	() Thanks

10th February 2009, 02:59	#195
911turbo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 37 Thanked: 3 Times	Hi, This is my first post in the T-BHP family. To start off, this is really scary to have such a frightening FE from an Alto. I drive an Alto Lxi, almost driven about 16K kms, I get a constant average of 16.382 kmpl (city) and 20+ highways to be precise and still I am hungry for more. Always driving at a constant speed, never abused my car always drive at 55-60km/hr on5th gear. I always get my car topped up from the best petrol stations in the city. Here is how I drive 1st gear - 20km/hr -25km/hr 2nd gear - 25km/hr -35km/hr 3rd gear - 35km/hr -45km/hr 4th gear - 45km/hr-50km/hr 5th gear -50km/hr and then drive upto 55-60 km/hr and keep constant as far as I can. I try to avoid changing gears, braking unnecessarily, taking fast starts. I am very gentle to my car. I keep it as my child, and give a treatment as you would treat a mercedez benz. Here is when the confusion began, Two of my friends got an Alto after 2-3months of my purchase and he had driven only about 5800kms city drive. When I test drove both the cars, I found their clutch would ground to the floor with a very light foot and moreover they are getting about 18 kmpl driving in city. Can this could be the reason why I only manage around 16.5kmpl everytime? Any suggestions??
	() Thanks