Why does the 1.5L Buick Excelle have high fuel consumption?
3 Answers
Here are the reasons for the high fuel consumption of the 1.5L Buick Excelle: 1. Poor fuel flow: Excessive carbon deposits cause fuel line blockages, leading to high fuel consumption. 2. Brake abnormalities: Brake pads not retracting properly, causing the vehicle to drive in a constant braking state. 3. Spark plug failure: Generally, spark plugs need replacement after 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers of driving. If you feel the vehicle's fuel consumption is too high, check if the spark plugs are igniting abnormally. 4. Dirty air filter: Vehicle maintenance requires timely replacement of the air filter, otherwise it may cause poor air intake and lead to increased fuel consumption.
My 1.5L Excelle has been running for eight years, and I've found that fuel consumption largely depends on driving habits. During morning and evening rush hours when stuck in traffic, the RPM often lingers below 2,000. This low-RPM, high-load condition is the most fuel-intensive, easily pushing consumption over 10L per 100km. Last inspection revealed all four tires had a pressure of just 2.1 bar—low pressure increased rolling resistance, but after inflating to 2.4 bar, fuel consumption immediately dropped by half a liter. The air filter box was caked with dust like a carpet, and the unchanged air filter for six months restricted airflow, forcing the engine to compensate by guzzling more fuel. The spark plug electrodes were severely eroded, causing delayed ignition and wasted fuel spray. The trunk was perpetually loaded with two cases of mineral water, a folding bike, and a toolbox, adding 80kg to the car’s weight—extra load naturally hikes fuel use. Now, I stick to three practices: monthly tire pressure checks, throttle body cleaning every 5,000km, and spark plug replacement every 20,000km. Fuel consumption has stabilized around 8.5L/100km.
My colleague's 2014 1.5L Excelle consumes 11L/100km. I used a diagnostic tool to check three issues for him: The oxygen sensor surface is covered with carbon deposits like black charcoal, unable to adjust the air-fuel ratio in real time, so the ECU operates at maximum fuel injection; The uncharged transmission fluid after 120,000 km is as thick as paste, causing delayed gear shifts that keep the RPM stuck at 2500; The most critical issue is fuel injector leakage, where dripping fuel after engine shutdown has rusted the cylinders. Actually, the Excelle's body is 180kg heavier than comparable Japanese models, its cast iron engine is 15% heavier than all-aluminum engines, and paired with a 4AT transmission, it naturally consumes 10% more fuel than others. For frequent highway drivers, trying fuel system cleaner is recommended. Xiao Wang, who cleaned his combustion chamber, reported a 0.8L/100km fuel consumption reduction.
