Marks DTM Calib wrote on 18. Jul 2006 at 10:52:


I've used them for years - never had a problem - just wash every 3 - 6 months.

If you have to re oil them what oil is needed?

So i went to vx dealer this morning......bought new air filter and new pollen filter (carbon type)
Not sure which was which on the invoice.....but one cost £14.20 the other £13.40 incl vat

Bunged in new air filter.......and blimey.....what a difference.
Immediately noticed a better response......gears where changing at lower revs.
It still hesistates a tad when you floor it from standstill.....but noticed it does this on petrol as well....
new plugs at the weekend may fix this.

I tried the sport button at one point....and it actually changed down a gear!....not something ive ever experienced before...as the gearbox ecu usually has in sport mode anyway trying to compensate for the lack of power.

Carnt really comment of fuel consumption yet....but normally i get 125miles to 38l of lpg with aircon off and 100miles with aircon on, running about town....i filled up with lpg yesterday afternoon and had done about 40 miles on it when i changed the air filter.....last few days ive had the aircon on all the time.....when i filled up on way home earlier....i had done 120 miles....frankly i was surprised i hadnt out of lpg....nearly tho....it took 36l to fill up.

So it looks like mpg is up as well  

I have noticed that now when i start i from hot.....it idles at about 900rpm until i blip the throttle then it drops to about 600rpm....this is on petrol....as it takes about 30 secs to switch to lpg.
I'll have to see how that goes....but im suspecting that maybe the ecu has been compensating for the lack of air flow for so long.....it might take a few days for it to re-adjust.

Im going to Ipswich on Sat.....so i'll let you know how it does on that run....performance and mpg wise...sooner if get any airport runs.

Im very interested as to how it copes with motorway hills when on cruise......before any sniff on an incline and it used to change into 3rd

So Cheers guys for your input....spes Martin for suggesting the air filter.

At the moment its  

Moral of this.....dont let your air filter do 65k miles without changing it.....and dont assume vx dealers change it on a major service.....which i assumed they did

Air filter will make no end of difference if its done 65k. I tend to change mine at about 10k, as easy and cheap to do.

And dealers skimping on servicing? Nah, never.... 

Taxi Driver wrote on 18. Jul 2006 at 18:31:



Does the ecu learn? and adjust for different conditions/driving styles?

TheBoy wrote on 18. Jul 2006 at 19:25:


WIth LPG they are especially critical - can't find the link at the moment but I have read it in a number of places.

38l of gas on a run with a 2.2 should do 160 miles at least

markey mark wrote on 18. Jul 2006 at 18:55:


Last major service i had it serviced 'Masterfit' so maybe they dont on a Masterfit service....dunno...
but the probs i had undoing one torx screw on the airbox.....so badly rusted that a torx wouldnt grip....and fact the filter was darker in colour than a charcoal pollen filter.....its certainly not been changed in a good while....if ever 

The last time Evans Halshaw at MK touched my car it was for their top of the range Vauxhall service (I was unable to do at the time). They tried charging my for air filter, fuel filter, plugs until I showed the service mgr the state of the (alledged new) parts on the car - even then he tried wriggling out of it.

So, don't go purely by receipts. And don't assume that the 'old' parts they give you if you ask are off you car. Some dealers are crooks.