golf mk3, USING TOO MUCH FUEL!!

[golfmk31993]

hi,
this is my first post on this forum
i have a mk3 1993 golf 1.4, i have owned the car for about a month, it drives really nice and smoothly

the problem is it is drinking way too much fuel, if i put 20litres of fuel i only get about 90 miles'ish, wich seems way too low,
i have been told i should be getting around 45-50mpg.

i can hear that my exhaust is definatly blowing, the engine is not smoking but when its running and i stand behind the exhaust i can smell petrol quite strong,

i was thinking i may have a hole in my cat ,would this be the cause of my poor mpg? it would explain the exhaust blowing, or maybe i just have a hole somewere in the exhaust,

a mechanic friend of mine did remove all my spark plugs and clean them, they looked quite black but i didnt think this was unusual, it has also had a new air filter.

can someone please help me, i really cant aford to keep putting all this petrol in my car, thats the reason i bought the 1.4 in the first place (aswell as the insurance as im only 18)

any help is really really apreciated

thanks

[MowatGTI]

You didn't sleepwalk and drop a vr6 lump in with that MPG?

No idea whats seriously wrong with your motor, but im sure someone will.

The guys on here are genius!

[golfmk31993]

i really hope so,

im currently getting vr6 fuel consumption and 1.4 performance (definatly needs sortin quick)

[Dragon6]

Black sooty spark plugs are a sign of too much fuel being burnt they should be greyish/light brown kind of colour well thats the best I can describe them.Forgive my ignorance but is 1.4 carb or injection.If injection it could more than likely be the blue cold start temp sensor this is what happened to my G60 last year..

[golfmk31993]

its a 1.4 single point injection,

[Dragon6]

Would check the Blue Engine Coolant sensor 2 pin plug could well be this by the sound of it.Your exhaust wont help but dont think it would make things as bad as you make out unless the Lambda probe has gone belly up but think these normally effect general running pretty bad plus you would see black smoke as well as the extra fuel is being burnt.Hope this helps a little 

[golfmk31993]

thanks for your help,

wot should i be checking the blue engine coolant sensor for? any signs too look for that will tell me if it is faulty?

also were is it located?

thanks

[boneybradley]

I would swap temp sensor first...just make sure you check what colour is currently fitted (as theres more than just blue!).. and if the car smells fuelly it will of ruined the cat!! and that will in turn kill the lambda probe..
get the temp sensor done and seal the exhaust and have the emmsions checked by an m.o.t place.

[golfmk31993]

ok i will do exactly that, how much should a temp sensor cost me?  is it something i could change myself ? (im no mechanic) would i get one from a breakers yard or should i just get a new one?

also can i seal my exhaust with holts exhaust gum?

[Dragon6]

DONT put a 2hnd one in get a gen VW one they only a few quid..I got a GFS one 1st and that was a duffer...