Why Does Fuel Consumption Increase After Maintenance?
2 Answers
The reasons for increased fuel consumption after maintenance include higher oil viscosity and replacement of brake pads. Detailed explanations are as follows: Higher Oil Viscosity: Excluding the use of different oil, even with the same oil, newly replaced oil will have higher viscosity compared to oil that has been used for 10,000 kilometers. This naturally creates greater resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption under the same road conditions and driving habits. This situation usually diminishes after a few hundred kilometers of driving. Replacement of Brake Pads: After installing new brake pads, the friction gap is relatively smaller, resulting in greater resistance during braking, which can slightly increase fuel consumption. This issue resolves after the brake pads' break-in period. Slightly Overfilled Oil: Excessive oil increases the energy required for the crankshaft to rotate, thereby adding to the engine's load and naturally increasing fuel consumption.
I just had my car serviced and suddenly noticed the fuel consumption skyrocketing - been there myself. The most likely culprits are either overfilled engine oil or using the wrong viscosity grade, like putting in 10W-40 when the manufacturer recommends 5W-30. Thick oil like honey will definitely make the engine work harder. Next, check if the air filter is properly installed - once an apprentice mechanic misaligned my airbox clips causing air leaks that messed with combustion efficiency. Don't forget to recheck tire pressure too; if it's below 2.2 bar after maintenance, those tires dragging against the road will guzzle fuel. Also, if the ECU wasn't reset after throttle body cleaning, it'll keep calculating fuel injection based on dirty conditions - total waste. My advice? First check the dipstick levels, then monitor over two full tanks of gas to rule out temporary ECU reset anomalies.