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Recently acquired a 2007 S type. 2.7 diesel. Currently getting about 30 MPG. Not heavy footed did that long ago in my youth, please advise what I should be expecting and would a re-chip be of help? anyone has experience of this work being carried out. many thanks

Hi

Last year I sold my 2006 S Type diesel sport after a very happy 2 years. I was averaging overall 40.1 mpg, but and here is the caveats - I do 20k miles a year. And 80% of those are on the M-ways in cruise between 80-85 mph. But I tend not to hang about!

On a long run i could always achieve about 41-42 depending on traffic, wind direction and all the other stuff.

Around town I reckoned she was doing about 34 - 36.

30.1 seems very low but depends on the overall traffic conditions - might be worth running diagnostics on. I have heard people say that chipping has improved economy by about 15% - but again the cost has got to be worth the improvement - if you spend 250 squid on chipping you are going to have to keep the car a while and do quite a few miles to see the return on that investment.

Hope this helps - I miss the S Type's economy because the XF is not as good...

Suggest a check on air filter cleanliness. If ignored and choked solid with crud, this would seriously affect fuel economy.

Worth also dosing the fuel with diesel injector cleaner on an annual basis. Obtainable from most motor accessory outlets.

As with all things mechanical, start with the basics first.

Mike

I could get 42.5mpg in my S-type using Shell fuel. Is there any truth in the suggestion that Shell or BP fuel goes further than that from the supermarket?

I have sold my S-type and now have an XF 2.2 diesel which is more economical than the 2.7 S-type.

Ray's cars are consistently faster than mine

David,

I think you will have to concede that when they left the factory both cars were equally capable, and that therefore you are the Captain Slow of the JEC, which makes me either the ugly or the Hamster, ....Mr Kennedy no comments on that I know which I am!!

As for fuel, my 30 years of buying says it is marketing mumbo jumbo designed to squeeze a few extra pfennigs out of you. Unless you are conducting tests in wind tunnel and rolling road lab conditions you are never going to know for sure. I know someone now living in Spain who will only put BP in his fuel tank, trouble is he has to drive miles out of his way to do it - where's the sense in that??

Also worth remembering that these days oil companies and therefore "retailers" as well share refineries - so you will see different trucks coming out of the same refinery ... still think you should pay the extra ??

Admittedly this is many years ago when I was an apprentice we were taken on a visit to Stanlow oil refinery and saw the shell tankers filling up, but to one side a stream of tankers form 'budget' companies also filling up.

One of our number asked what the difference was between the petrols? Aah said the guide they don't have the addative package in their petrol. Our man immediately said 'so we get more petrol per gallon at the budget pumps!!!'

Brian

And the other point of view......

I've run on Shell V-Power and Optimax for a number of years now. Long term tests show a 1.0-1.5 mpg improvement at an average consumption of 24-28 mpg over other fuels both in the XJS and the SLK. I believe the benefits are greater the more highly worked and modern design your engine is, turbo, high compression, high revving etc. We've got past decoking every 1,000 miles and I think advanced fuels with additives do keep a modern high performance engine cleaner internally. Just as oil technology has advanced past 20/50 to more modern lubricants, the same is true of fuel.

For further info. you may wish to read the opinion of Honest John who is a motoring journalist I know and respect on supermarket vs advanced fuels.

I never put supermarket fuel in my cars nowadays and haven't done so for some time.

Regards
TonyS

I use shell V power in my 2.5,and on a good run I can get around 30,32, mpg .An increase of around 2 or 3 mpg, compared to lower octane fuel.