Mpg for bx16 carb

BX Tech talk
Post Reply
adamparis54321
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:53 pm
Location: Milton Keynes

Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by adamparis54321 »

Hi guys

The mpg for my meteor 1.6 is about 20 mpg drving very slowly :(

Is their any tips with the carb engines to improve mpg ??


I know these cars arnt excellent on fuel but I am getting worse mpg than in a senator 3.0 !!!
2005 - 1990 Citroen BX14 St Tropez

2007 - 1992 Citroen BX17 TXD

2012 - 1991 Citroen BX16 Meteor
Dollywobbler
Over 2k
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
Location: Wales
Contact:

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Dollywobbler »

That's appalling. I'd expect 30-35. My 2-litre Nissan Bluebird was quite capable of achieving that. Presume you are doing tank-full to tank-full?
Mothman

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Mothman »

Hell, thats bad, get over 30 with my TGS and i dont think the carbs tuned properly.
However, i have noticed that the fuel guage goes down very rapidly but thats because it has a 52 litre tank instead of the 66 litre which became standard after 1991.

Andy
citronut
Over 2k
Posts: 2781
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:55 am
Location: EAST SUSSEX UK
x 1

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by citronut »

check float levels, ignition timing, plug gaps, auto choke is working corectly,

then after all that get it on a gas analyser to st the mixture/CO

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
User avatar
JayW
1K Away
Posts: 1590
Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:40 pm
Location: Now listen here you mullet...
x 13

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by JayW »

When i got my TGS it gave 40mpg on the steady 250 mile journey home and did 28-30 round town.

My first fiddle with it was purely for power and although is was only giving 35mpg & 20mpg respectively it went like a greased weasel up a drain pipe!

After several weeks of mild adjustments i've now got it exactly how i want it, i'm happy to sacrifice power in the name of economy (i'm getting old you know!) Despite still being no slouch it's happily getting 38-40 round town and 50 on long runs (at 60mph).

I should add, mine's fortunate to have been fitted with a Weber 32/34 and uses significantly less fuel when only running the primary venturi (similar to a turbo's on & off boost characteristics) so keeping below 3krpm it's pretty frugal! But, nail it and it flies :)
I have zero patience for your tedium.
Mickey taker
Over 2k
Posts: 3209
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: M K
x 1

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Mickey taker »

Unfortunately Adams got the solex, I still think its the autochoke (did you get round to checking the pipework out yet Adam ?) It always seemed to tun rich no matter how many times I adjusted it, must admit I never checked the timing ( I think its done by loosening the distributor and turning it slightly looming it up with some marks somewhere, but as I wasn't sure thought it best to leave it alone )
1991 BX Meteor 1.6

light travels faster than sound, thats why you look intelligent and then you spoil it all by opening your mouth !!!!!
Dollywobbler
Over 2k
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
Location: Wales
Contact:

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Dollywobbler »

Must be running insanely rich to only do 20mpg. It'd foul up the plugs in seconds! There must be either a fuel leak or a calculation error.
Mickey taker
Over 2k
Posts: 3209
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: M K
x 1

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Mickey taker »

I could never find a fuel leak unless it was inside the carb and draining into the engine somehow
1991 BX Meteor 1.6

light travels faster than sound, thats why you look intelligent and then you spoil it all by opening your mouth !!!!!
Mickey taker
Over 2k
Posts: 3209
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: M K
x 1

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Mickey taker »

The car pulled really strong at high revs but was a bit spluttery at lower revs, would that give any clues
1991 BX Meteor 1.6

light travels faster than sound, thats why you look intelligent and then you spoil it all by opening your mouth !!!!!
adamparis54321
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:53 pm
Location: Milton Keynes

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by adamparis54321 »

I got on average 30 miles to £10 worth of fuel

My mechanic at work will put the carb on a sync machine , do not know what this means :p

It smells of petrol when starting it when warm so may be the auto choke .


I am a salesman so my only problem is I am the least mechanical person around so this may cost me a few quid :(
2005 - 1990 Citroen BX14 St Tropez

2007 - 1992 Citroen BX17 TXD

2012 - 1991 Citroen BX16 Meteor
adamparis54321
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:53 pm
Location: Milton Keynes

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by adamparis54321 »

And you don't buy a 20 year old French car and expect it to run like a Ferrari but god does it look better
2005 - 1990 Citroen BX14 St Tropez

2007 - 1992 Citroen BX17 TXD

2012 - 1991 Citroen BX16 Meteor
Mickey taker
Over 2k
Posts: 3209
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: M K
x 1

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Mickey taker »

The guy you had with you seemed pretty clued up, could he help with the mechanical side ?
First step, check the pipes to and from the autochoke to make sure there clear and not gunked up, that won't cost a penny, fifteen minutes with a strobe light and the Haynes manual should check out the timing, and take one of the. Spark plugs out, see what colour the electrode is to get a. Idea if its running rich (black and sooty ) lean (white) it correct (a sort of caramel colour)
1991 BX Meteor 1.6

light travels faster than sound, thats why you look intelligent and then you spoil it all by opening your mouth !!!!!
citronut
Over 2k
Posts: 2781
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:55 am
Location: EAST SUSSEX UK
x 1

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by citronut »

Mickey taker wrote:The car pulled really strong at high revs but was a bit spluttery at lower revs, would that give any clues
auto choke is what i would look at first then, although float levels wrong can cause similar,
if the waxstat is not functioning or coolant getting to it, the choke will be on more than it should obviously,

in this state if you floor it the choke will open via the anti flood capsule,

this could be why its spluttery on slow go and ok on fast go

the other thing BX's suffer with is moisture droplets in the emulsion tubes, this is caused by a blocked crank case breather, as it creates moisture droplets on the underside of the rubber boot/air intake over the carb which drop into the emulsion tubes,

unsrew them and tap them out upside down onto a surface the water will sit, if you see beeds of water that the problem in this case

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
adamparis54321
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:53 pm
Location: Milton Keynes

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by adamparis54321 »

Hi Guys

Thanks for the info

I am going to put her to sleep until Sunday once I have finished work

I will take a look at the choke first as advised by mick and malcolm

Thanks for the time guys and will let you know how I get on

And sorry for the lack of expertise !!!!
2005 - 1990 Citroen BX14 St Tropez

2007 - 1992 Citroen BX17 TXD

2012 - 1991 Citroen BX16 Meteor
Kitch
Over 2k
Posts: 6417
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:36 pm
Location: Fareham, Hants
My Cars: Too many to list
x 88
Contact:

Re: Mpg for bx16 carb

Post by Kitch »

BX 16 carb models I've found to be good on fuel, if driven lightly. But it has that device I can't stand on it.....a carb! They can cause chaos!

But autos.....christ I struggled to do better than 20mpg. The box is just too draining for a little engine IMO.
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

CCC BX registrar: The national BX register - click to submit a car!

1983(A) 16TRS (Rouge Valleunga)
1990(H) 16Valve (Rouge Furio)
Post Reply