General Difference between 1.1 Active, and the newer 1.1 active eco

[Matthen]

I've been wondering all day... Is there any difference at all in the engines in the original 1.1 active, and in the newer, 1.1 active eco?

Obviously the active eco uses less fuel... is this because of a different gear box, or a slightly modified engine?

 

[jrkitching]

I've been wondering all day... Is there any difference at all in the engines in the original 1.1 active, and in the newer, 1.1 active eco?

Obviously the active eco uses less fuel... is this because of a different gear box, or a slightly modified engine?

IIRC this was a 'smoke & mirrors' exercise primarily intended to get the car into the crucial £35 (now £30) tax band - I very much doubt that there's all that much difference in real world fuel economy. The most economical petrol FIAT on fuelly is actually udtrev's old pre-eco 1.2 Panda.

Done by switching to narrow ecotyres & changing to a lower friction synthetic engine oil I believe - both easy changes to retrofit, but it won't get you cheaper tax!

They're all 1.2 engines now, and the latest move from Euro4 to Euro5 sees a further small reduction in the official consumption figures.

BTW the 1.2 engine will likely give you better real world economy as well as being a more comfortable drive, thanks largely to the extra torque.

 

[udtrev]

The most economical petrol FIAT on fuelly is actually udtrev's old pre-eco 1.2 Panda.

Why thanks

I notice Maybelline is going to take the crown shortly


Trev

 

[JD82]

Isn't there difference in the gearbox ratios too? Or is it really just down to that special oil?

It was crucial they got the tax down though, on a car like this it would be a major major selling point.

 

[ivantate]

I remebee oil ad tyres being listed as changes although i imagine there will be some changes within the engine dataset to hit the sub 120g target.

 

[tarbyonline]

Isn't there difference in the gearbox ratios too? Or is it really just down to that special oil?

It was crucial they got the tax down though, on a car like this it would be a major major selling point.

User manual says the eco has different gear ratios in the Fuel consumption part (available in the downloads section)

 

[Matthen]

So, in theory, the original active should be able to get up to speed with more ease, because it was geared for performance, rather than economy? One day ill met an active eco at the lights, and we'll find out

 

[JD82]

Pretty sure I remember that the none Eco version had a slower 0-60 time than the Eco but I haven't got any old car magazines to find out. Parkers list them both identical but I am pretty sure that is a mistake.

I am sure I have a magazine some where which lists the Eco as being slightly quicker.

 

[Geddes]

I am sure I have a magazine some where which lists the Eco as being slightly quicker.

Both the 1.1 & 1.2 have a 2km/h higher top speed in Eco form.

 

[Matthen]

Fair enough... So 2km/h faster, thinner engine oil, low resistance tyres and a slightly different gear box.

When they test a cars top speed, do they weigh the person to ensure its a fair test? Because an obese driver could knock 5 km/h off the top speed, with an engine as small as the panda

 

[Sam Green Racing]

Fair enough... So 2km/h faster, thinner engine oil, low resistance tyres and a slightly different gear box.

When they test a cars top speed, do they weigh the person to ensure its a fair test? Because an obese driver could knock 5 km/h off the top speed, with an engine as small as the panda

As a rule, the weight of the driver will not make a difference to a cars top speed, it will just take it longer to reach it.
The only time the drivers weight will affect the top speed is when a vehicle is grossly over geared and will not pull to peak power revs.

Sam.

 

[R1NGA]

1.2 Euro5 engine runs 11:1 compression ratio, which is much higher than the 9.8:1 which I think from memory the Euro4 engine has. A higher CR produces better combustion and higher output - or better economy if driven so...

Phil G

 

[JD82]

If an engine runs at a higher compression rate would that put more strain on things? I guess it won't really affect the head gasket much, but things like piston rings etc and valves could it make them fail sooner?

 

[R1NGA]

Higher CR's are commonplace these days and help push forward the efficiency of engines. With this comes improved QC of the components and things continue to improve in terms of reliability these days. My first car (998 Mini Cooper) needed constant fettling to keep it in good tune and a regular 'de-coke' as it gummed up.

Technology waits for no man....

Phil

 

[jrkitching]

Higher CR's are commonplace these days and help push forward the efficiency of engines. With this comes improved QC of the components and things continue to improve in terms of reliability these days. My first car (998 Mini Cooper) needed constant fettling to keep it in good tune and a regular 'de-coke' as it gummed up.

Technology waits for no man....

Phil

In times past. one of the biggest hurdles to raising compression ratios was the need to prevent preignition ('pinking'). With closed-loop electronic control of fuel mixture & ignition timing, it's possible to design engines which run much closer to the limit & as others have said, higher compression ratios generally mean better efficiency.

BTW, is anyone 'in the know' able to definitively confirm that this raising of the compression ratio in the Euro5 1.2 FIRE engine hasn't compromised its status as a 'non-interference' design?

 

[tarbyonline]

It was quite common AFAIK in the former Eastern block to boost engine output by increasing the compression ratio. Good point regarding non-interference tho I personally dont see how it would change things when you look at how many other changes have happened to the FIRE engine from the early 80's