Tom's TDCi Titanium X...

[1616six]

That'll polish out easily.

[Toms306]

You offering?

I do need to get round to cleaning/waxing it again really, haven't since I bought it, though I did put several coats of wax on (obviously not enough to slip branches off lol) and poorboys wheel sealant. Hate cleaning multispoke alloys lol. S'pose I could try some polish on the scratches as well but I think they're too deep tbh. Fortunately it's not on the drivers side so I don't have to look at them though.

[RetroPug]

I want 57.9mpg.

[Toms306]

I don't even think that's a good average! I'd be pleased with anything over 60 lol... Then again, if I can stop it trying to regen all the time the mpg should rise considerably...

[1616six]

That scratch will come out with a DA or a bit of elbow grease, get yourself on Detailing World..

[Toms306]

Don't trust myself with powertools lol, burn a massive hole through the paint knowing me!

I don't really go for full on detailing either, just get annoyed by all the minor imperfections it shows up. Then its filthy by the next day anyway...not helped by the cats walking on it leaving paw prints, the dogs peeing on it, dust and ash from the building site over the road settling on it and pieces of roadkill and horse shit on the road splattering about lol. When put like that I cant even be bothered washing it.

[Toms306]

Got an unexpected free day today so did wash it afterall, and stuck on another couple of layers of Nattys wax. Scratches and chips are now accentuated but as a whole it does look better lol. No pictures though, so a pretty pointless post...

Also removed the tax disc holder...was worried about sticky residue but a quick douse with window cleaner and it just pulled straight off with no mess lol. Also hovered it for the first time...noticed what I thought was mud was just a heel wear patch lol, and the pass side mat isn't even genuine, just a cheap shite one. New mats next year at some point!

Though I was a bit over zealous with the jetwash....the sound deadening above the pedals got wet somehow, door seals were dry though so not really sure where it came from lol. Hasn't got wet in rain before so must have been the force of the jetwash somewhere.


In another note, looked at the shape of the DPF and realised it can't be easily gutted as the ends are bent over. So it'd have to be cut along the weld, gutted and then welded up again which is a bit of effort lol.

[RetroPug]

I don't even think that's a good average! I'd be pleased with anything over 60 lol... Then again, if I can stop it trying to regen all the time the mpg should rise considerably...

It's still near enough double mine.

[Piggy]

Those regens do drink the fuel.

It should do a better average than that imo

A few friends have the mondeo 2.0tdcis, the early ford unit, and the all average 55ish, so this should do more surely?!

[Poodle]

Yeah, that's what i meant by relatively - considering the focus is heavier, has larger frontal area, smaller engine, all of the mpg-reducing toys, etc, you'd expect it to get considerably less mpg than the 306 hdi, just goes to show how far diesels have come on.

Those zsd engines didn't have all the emissions stuff to deal with though, egr perhaps, but nothing beyond that. That's what kills the mpg, all this emissions crap, that and compromises for nvh.

[Toms306]

I wouldn't mind so much if it was actually burning the fuel...half of it ends up in the oil!! Post injection is great for heating up the DPF, not so much when it has to be interrupted as it's trying to regen on a 5 mile journey...


Those Mondeo's do have a DPF iirc, that was one of the reasons for chosing the Vec C (no DPF) over a Mk3 Mondeo. Though they all seem to blow coal so I'm not so sure now lol.

[THE_Liam]

Still getting well over double my average from the last tank. Pretty much all town driving, I got 23.1mpg. Make you feel better Tom?

[Toms306]

Not really, seeing as yours is a 20 year old petrol.

I'm well aware it is the regen's that killing the economy atm though. The mpg rose to 59 from 55 while at a constant 70 the other day....until it decided it wanted to regen, over the next 5 miles at the same speed it'd dropped to 52mpg average! I was all for keeping the DPF but not if it's gonna reduce economy that much and cause oil thinning issues...

[Strikeforce]

We have a 64 plate zetec s 1.6 tdci
Done about around 1200 miles so far and is only averaging 43mpg
It is only town driving tho and i dont eco drive at all,
I do use the start/stop feature but i doubt it helps that much

Do you eco drive to get that mpg?

Id be happy with 50 but i doubt that very much

[Toms306]

I was taught to drive economically, so I'm in the habit of doing it (in-gear coasting to junctions, reading the road, engine braking, holding momentum through corners/uphill etc), but I'm not purposely chasing MPG, no point when it seems everyone else is out to ruin the eco-run if you do.

Yours isn't run in yet, the MPG should rise when it is tbh. Though maybe diesel wasn't the best option if you're only town driving. I don't have start stop, and I'm glad of that, think I'd worry it had broken every time.

[Strikeforce]

Well we chose diesel because i got a mate who cheekily fills my car up at half price a couple of times a month

I never drive eco for the sole reason that i simply cba, i have tried but usualy forget mid journey and return to normal driving without even knowing lol

[Toms306]

Lol, fair enough, wish I had a mate like that! It's not the mpg I'd worry about with town driving a diesel though, it's the DPF. Though at least you'll have the lifetime coated DPF, rather than the Eolys one.

I don't find part-eco driving hard really, I've also only seen the change light come on once...don't really pass 3k rpm even joining the dually lol. And as said I was taught to make good progress economically (driving slowly doesn't raise mpg lol, you have to be covering miles for mpg afterall, slow people just annoy me) so I just continued to do it...the MPG reader also helps as you blat it up a hill and watch the mpg drop off I just cant keep my foot planted at that point lol. Yours probably has Eco mode aswell? Tried activating it on mine but it wasn't possible, where you get a flower with more or less petals depending how eco friendly you are.

That said, I do occasionally revert to 17 again and have a cheeky tyre chirp from the lights...but that's still only at 1750rpm.

[Strikeforce]

Dont know about the eco mode? But i have seen the petals!
Gearchange is full but speed and braking are about 3 out of 5

How do i activate eco mode is there a button im missing
Also urs has the steering option to change feel? Is this in the setting because im thinking mine dosent have it

[Toms306]

That petal thing is called eco mode, it's not actually a 'mode' weirdly.

Yep, the steering thing is in the main menu on the dash, where you can turn off the ESP etc. I think that's completely changed for the Mk3 though so might be elsewhere on yours!

[Strikeforce]

Yeah must have, i havent noticed it in any of the settings including esp so im guessing its not there,
Ill look in the manual when i can be bothered lol

[Toms306]

Pretty sure the menu's are different but this is where it is on mine -

[attachment=19793]

[Strikeforce]

Ill have a dig later
Cheers tom

[procta]

nice to see you are out and about tom, id keep the kerbed wheel as a spare, I bought a fifth alloy from the scrappy, by chance.

[Toms306]

Yeah it depends how much its worth really, may need to sell it to part cover the cost of the tyres. And judging by the state of the ones on ebay, mines still 'mint'.

---

In other news, between washing and driving the car, it's covered in bird shit already.

[Toms306]

Well...that makes a change...





Yet another puncture! That one cant be fixed though.


But in other news, got a new toy today.

[bashbarnard]

If you want the tyre done man I can get it at trade price for you what made you want to get a dash cam? Is it because you have a fancy car now?

[Toms306]

Done as in replaced? It still holds most of the air atm, it'll be fine for now... The front 2 are pretty low though so will need replacing in a couple of months....was wondering if you might be able to fit and balance them for me....

I've been after a dash cam for a while, but gave up on the idea when I wasn't going out much. But I've seen a few reasons to get one lately so for £25 went for one lol.

---

Will hard wire it in eventually. Seeing as the 12v sockets stay powered all the time in the Focus.

Anyone know if I can get these two things cheaper anywhere?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130978719862?_...EBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230652186731?_...EBIDX%3AIT

[bashbarnard]

i can supply fit and balance mate. just give us a bell when you want them doing and i can get you a price its not an issue.

[procta]

I had a nail in it like that, it had to go away to a tyre specialist to get it repaired. I use that tyre for a spare, but I think the repair has had it, as the tyre will not hold air in for long sadly.

[Toms306]

Oddly enough, this tyre still holds air fine...wondering if its somehow not gone right through due to the angle of it!

Will be looking at a set of tyres for it at beginning of next year though (before MOT which I thought had been done when I bought it but runs out in Feb, fail on my part for not checking). Looking at Dunlop Sport BluResponse if anyone has opinions on those? Seem to get good reviews, excellent wet grip AND economy ratings as well. Plus are only £2 more per corner than RS3's.


On the subject of economy, it really wasn't good this week...56.3mpg! MPG reader was bang on as well, right down to the .3! Probably just a coincidence though.


Though I think part of the economy loss was an anxiety exposure trip that went horribly wrong! I drove down to Colchester, got all the way there this time, even across to the scrap yard (Autobreak). Felt pretty bad by this point but pushed through knowing I could go straight home after. Had a wander round the scrappy (2 306s in btw, Bianca LD and a W reg Meridian). No newer Focus' in though, was looking for a DPF pressure switch to try...didn't think about it at the time but coulda looked for a Pug equivalent I reckon. Anyway, panic got the better of me so I left after a quick wander round, got back in the car nd back on the A12 where I felt a bit better....then saw the dual carriageway backing up...then stopped dead. Basically my 2nd worst nightmare on a longer distance trip lol. :/ We were there for an hour in solid traffic, really not good. Though I did get to take a walk along a 70mph road which isn't a regular occurrence lol. Anyway, I did just about make it home before any 'incidents' luckily, coulda been very different though. I'd like to hope it doesn't happen again, but I seem to get stuck in dually traffic at least once a week (not usually for an hour though!) because people cant keep cars going forwards. Not sure if that's normal or if I'm genuinely just unlucky lol.