Ibiza 1.4 SE - MPG climate control and lights

[bp91]

I have just decide ex my 2011 Ibiza 1.4 se copa. I can only get about 33mpg driving part town and part motorway. Is that normal? MFD says about 265 miles on a full tank
Also my climate control seems to push most of the air into the windscreen and. It into the cab when on auto? Does the climate control reduce MPG even when the AC is off?
When parked and I turn the steering wheel the lights dim a bit and then brighten back up

Sorry for all the questions. Hope you can help

 

[RUM4MO]

My daughter's late 2009 Ibiza 1.4 S/C does a lot better than that - with the A/C disabled, the climate control will not "steal" any fuel or MPG - though, if possible the smart money is on switching the fan off until the engine coolant is warm/hot, I do that frequently for the first mile of so of a journey, only problem being that you need to restrict breathing!! Doing that on a 10 mile journey will increase your MPG - on that topic, do you think that the car's engine is warming up quickly? How long is your usual journey?

Air distrubution in the Mk5 Ibiza seems to be a bit hit and a miss, Polo seems better in that respect in my experience.

Lights dimmimg slightly when turning the steering wheel at low engine speeds is okay, the steering pump is a gross user of electrical power!

Daughter's Ibiza probably gets about 45MPG for mixed driving in winter - car is not used at the moment due to widish summer tyres, other cars with winter tyres getting used, old Polo 9N 2003MY currently giving 39 or 40MPG on mixed driving in winter. (265 miles range on MFD is not good - as you know)

 

[bp91]

The journey is about 8 miles with the first 2.5miles being stop start and the rest motorway. It does seem to take quite a while to heat up. Could the mfd be way out?

 

[DEAN0]

though, if possible the smart money is on switching the fan off until the engine coolant is warm/hot,

I actually find that the car warms up quicker when you put the system on recirculation rather than turning off the fan.
This way the fan keeps the screen clear but doesn't pull freezing cold air in from outside.

 

[RUM4MO]

I actually find that the car warms up quicker when you put the system on recirculation rather than turning off the fan.
This way the fan keeps the screen clear but doesn't pull freezing cold air in from outside.

I was meaning that I shut the fan off to avoid stealing heat from the engine coolant - and so letting the engine coolant get up to temperature quicker.

 

[RUM4MO]

The journey is about 8 miles with the first 2.5miles being stop start and the rest motorway. It does seem to take quite a while to heat up. Could the mfd be way out?

If anything is not performing well, it might be the engine coolant thermostat. You would need to check your MPG on a clear run of about 10miles at 60 MPH then come back with the results - just as a reference value under good winter conditions.

 

[RDD]

I get around 40mpg out of mine taken on an average over a year, it's doing about 39mpg at the moment.

I use climate control but not AC with it, journey is about 4 miles of town driving and 12 motorway.

 

[G.P]

Consistently get 38mpg out of our's on short 10 mile trips each day, it'll do more on a run on motorway.

Can't say we have noticed the light's dimming.

Car always drives off in this weather with AC on to demist screen and heater calling for heat..

 

[bp91]

Would a remap be worth it on this? slightly more power and MPG?

 

[jezyg]

Out of a 1.4 Polo Match with the same engine, I get 48-50 on my 19 mile commute to work.

 

[bp91]

What speed?

 

[RUM4MO]

Out of a 1.4 Polo Match with the same engine, I get 48-50 on my 19 mile commute to work.

Good, I'm not alone then, to Ibiza 1.4 16v owners, consider this, the Ibiza tends to be a lot lighter than the equivalent Polo - so should see better MPG than Polo.

 

[jezyg]

What speed?

Max 60 mph then 50mph and the rest is 30/40mph.
All about keeping the revs low and highest gear. To be fair for a 85bhp lump has a decent amount of torque for nippy enough progress.