Absolutely all Lada Kalina owners are interested in such an indicator as the fuel consumption of their car, and surely each of us wants to make it less. But there are many owners who even dream of factory performance.
The video above shows that the instantaneous consumption of my 8-valve Kalina at a speed of 100 km/h is no more than 5.8 liters, provided that the car has winter tires and the car is almost fully loaded. There is no catch there, AI-92 gasoline, I’m driving on a flat but very good road, I think that with summer tires the numbers would be even lower.
So, over my entire driving experience of 8 years and the total mileage on all my cars is at least 300,000 km, I have several comments and opinions about what can affect fuel consumption and how to moderate the engine’s appetite. This is my personal opinion and I do not impose it on anyone and do not insist that this is 100% true, but judging by my experience, everything was exactly like that.
Factors affecting fuel consumption:
Gasoline quality
This is probably the first point that you can think about in case of increased fuel consumption, because sometimes when refueling at different gas stations, the numbers on the on-board computer can differ significantly, even up to 2 liters per 100 km. This happened to me often, especially when I had to fill up with gasoline from unknown pumps.
I would give advice, if possible, fill up with fuel at trusted gas stations where you are satisfied with the quality. As for the octane number, I almost never notice the difference, especially at local filling stations and even Rosneft, but at Lukoil the 95 differs from the 92 for the better, I have been convinced of this more than once.
Low or uneven tire pressure
I think it’s no secret to anyone that not only the maneuverability and behavior of the car on the highway, but also the fuel consumption of your Lada Kalina depends on the pressure in the wheels. Before filming this video, which is located above, I drove 140 km to the village: so then, at the same speed, the consumption was about 6.5 liters on the same section of the road, but the right front wheel was lowered to 1 atmosphere, here is a real example of this , why did my Kalina eat more then?
Weather and road conditions
Naturally, in winter on a snowy road, the needle on the gasoline gauge will tend to zero faster than in dry weather and on summer tires. Heavy snow or rain, wind - all this negatively affects fuel consumption, as they create enormous resistance to the car body. In winter, of course, you have to spend even more money on gasoline, since you have to constantly warm up the engine.
Engine condition
Anyone who had a new Kalina or another car remembers that during the run-in they had to refuel more often, and after several thousand kilometers everything became normal. And also, if the piston is already worn out enough, the loss of compression will lead to a significant increase in fuel consumption.
DMVR sensor malfunction
This problem was on my previous VAZ 2112 car, where this mass air flow sensor constantly sent an error to the on-board computer and the instantaneous flow increased immediately from 0.6 to 1.3 liters per hour when the engine was idling.
Why does antifreeze leak?
The engine cooling system consists of several main elements, as well as connecting pipes. Antifreeze in the system is a mixture of water and concentrate in certain proportions. As the internal combustion engine heats up, the temperature of the coolant also increases; the coolant itself is in the system under a certain pressure. It is quite obvious that any defects in individual components associated with tightness will cause leaks. Problems can arise both with the elements themselves and with the pipes. Let us add that in some cases the driver may encounter the fact that antifreeze leaks when cold, leaks appear after the internal combustion engine warms up, the leak can be intense or unnoticeable (antifreeze leaves slowly or quickly), etc.
One of the primary signs that indicates a problem is the coolant level in the expansion tank. If a constant decrease is noted, then this indicates a problem. An exception is that during the operation of the car the level in the tank decreases slightly naturally. This is not a malfunction. For example, in cold weather, coolant tends to decrease somewhat in volume. On a working engine, after warming up the level should return to normal. In the summer, when the cooling system is working at its limit, the water in the coolant evaporates. In this case, topping up is carried out. If the level in the tank drops more intensely, then the system needs diagnostics.
Fuel quality for Kalina engine
Sometimes owners of LADA Kalina with a volume of 1.4 or 1.6 fill up their iron “horses” at unfamiliar stations, and then suddenly notice that the car’s “appetite” has jumped sharply. This phenomenon can be explained by the presence of fuel with low quality standards, which is not able to burn completely. As a result, we observe a decrease in the power of the unit. Now, in order to move at an adequate speed, you will need to apply more gas. Experienced owners can immediately “detect” such a situation, after which they never return to the “offending” gas station.
Also common cases are underfilling. Here the situation makes the owner suspect that consumption has increased. We do not recommend rushing in this case, since the correct measure would be to measure the level of consumption.
We act like this. We wait for the fuel reserve lamp in the tank to activate and then fill up our Lada Kalina to capacity. Reset the daily mileage reading in the odometer. We continue the trip without thinking about saving until the previously indicated lamp comes on. Using the brain resource for simple mathematical operations, we obtain the value of fuel consumption. If the consumption level in this case turned out to be higher than stated, then you should continue to search for the reasons.
How to dismantle the generator
Now we need to tell you how to remove the generator. To do this, proceed according to the following principle:
- Disconnect the battery.
- Disconnect all wires going to the generator.
- Pre-treat threaded connections with penetrating lubricant such as WD-40.
- Unscrew the nut from the top mounting of the generator. The bracket can also be removed.
- Unscrew the nut from the lower mounting bolt. Hold the bolt head from turning.
- Remove the Kalina generator belt from the roller. There is no need to perform any manipulations with the air conditioner and power steering.
- Remove the generator from its seat.
Technical condition of the Kalina engine
During the break-in stage, the Lada Kalina engine tends to heat up more than in normal mode. This is explained by an increase in friction between the mutually moving components of the cylinder-piston group. The result of this is an increase in fuel consumption. A similar result will be demonstrated by a car whose engine “suffers” from oil starvation or lack of quality lubricant. This aspect should be taken into account, since modern Kalina engines are prone to increased sensitivity to the quality of the oil.
It is very rare for a new car to upset the owner with any malfunction. Another situation is replacing the ECU firmware. The factory software has settings that provide for a running-in mode for the power plant and its further operation under average conditions.
Generator operating principle
To visually visualize the operation of the installation, use the generator connection diagram. The second component of the installation is a voltage regulator, which is included in the power circuit of the rotor winding. The instrument panel contains a charge control lamp that:
- Lights up when the ignition is turned on and there is a breakdown in the generator set.
- Does not light up in normal mode and when there is a proper charge level.
A relay with normally closed contacts is used to power this lamp. Therefore, when the ignition is turned on, it lights up. Further, as soon as you start the engine, the generator begins to generate voltage. The relay winding is connected to the rotor power circuit; when voltage appears, the contacts switch - they open and the lamp goes out.
Driving style and operating conditions
When forming the technical indicators of a specific model, the manufacturer draws data from test results at testing grounds. These conditions differ significantly from the actual situation of subsequent operation. A considerable proportion of owners are prone to driving at high speeds and aggressive driving style. Fuel consumption inevitably increases, and the face of the temperamental driver becomes covered with surprise, turning into despondency. Also, not the best way to save money is to hold back the engine or the so-called “tight” driving.
When fuel consumption is high, this results in excessive loading of the body. This circumstance is especially relevant for owners of Lada Kalina universal modifications. Country driving in low gears will inevitably cause a “jump” in fuel consumption. Let's not ignore traffic jams, in which the owner inevitably loses a valuable fuel resource.
In winter, consumption increases due to the need to warm up the engine for a longer time. Turned on comfort systems (heating, stove, etc.) create the same preconditions for excessive waste of gasoline. Note that in summer gluttony also increases due to a running air conditioner.
Recently, the Lada Kalina has been “honored” of the opportunity to be equipped with an automatic transmission unit. Here, the owner’s leverage over the level of consumption is almost taken away, since the “brain” of the box independently determines the moment of transition to a specific level. Owners of such Kalinas can often be found on online forums, where they, in search of the truth, try to find out: why do their cars “eat” a lot?
Operation of climate control
Climate control system
To determine the causes of the malfunction of the unit in question, you first need to find out the principle of its operation and the refrigerant flow pattern. This system in Kalina includes the following elements:
- sensor;
- pipeline;
- radiator;
- fan;
- evaporator.
The air conditioning compressor is located on the BC of the engine. It works by rotating the belt. The compressor shaft is located on the housing. The air conditioner pulley is located on a bearing, which rotates regularly when the engine is running. The important elements of this mechanism are:
- friction clutch;
- electromagnetic drive.
Disassembling the device
To disassemble the generator, you need to perform several simple manipulations:
- Remove the drive pulley. Try not to lose the key.
- Unscrew the nuts from the back cover that secure all parts of the structure.
- Remove the voltage regulator. At the same time, evaluate the condition of the brush assembly.
- Disconnect all parts of the generator.
After this, you can begin to carry out repairs.
Bearings often fail, especially the one located in the front cover. The reason for this is excessive belt tension. To make a replacement, you need to unscrew four screws and press the bearing out of its seat. Instead, install a new bearing. To increase reliability, change both rollers at once.
conclusions
If the on-board computer shows significantly more than 8.5 liters (and this is the average consumption in mixed mode), then this is a reason to think about the proper operation of the engine and its systems. If an increase in fuel consumption is detected on the Lada Kalina, the malfunction should be immediately diagnosed and corrected. There were cases when consumption reached 20 liters and only after that did motorists begin to do something. If the owner of a Lada Kalina cannot detect the fault himself, then it is worth contacting a car service center. The consequence of increased consumption may be increased wear of the elements of the power unit, which can lead to unplanned overhauls.
When a hot carburetor engine does not start
Why is it difficult to start when hot and what to do?
the volatility of gasoline is mainly . The bottom line is that when the engine warms up to operating temperature, the carburetor also heats up, and after turning it off, within 10-15 minutes, the fuel begins to evaporate, making it difficult to start the car.
In such a situation, pressing the gas pedal to the floor and purging the fuel system will help to start a hot engine, but not longer than 10-15 seconds, since fuel can flood the spark plugs. If the question concerns the Zhiguli, then the fuel pump may also be to blame, since Zhiguli gasoline pumps really do not like heat and sometimes completely refuse to work when overheated.
Actions when charging disappears
The generator on a Kalina with air conditioning has more power than on cars without an air conditioning system. The design and faults are the same. What to do if charging is lost? Don't panic and check immediately:
- Voltage regulator. The easiest and most expensive way is to replace it with a known good one. But you can also apply voltage of 12 V and 15 V to check operation. Regardless of whether the regulator is mechanical or electrical, it will behave the same. In the first case, voltage will be supplied to the excitation winding, but in the second - not.
- Alternator slip rings and brushes. You can use a simple lamp probe to check the contacts. The length of the brushes must be more than 5 mm, otherwise they should be replaced.
- The integrity of the field winding can be checked with a tester. Moreover, there is no need to remove the generator, just crawl up to the slip rings and check the resistance between them. Please note that they should not short to ground.
- The condition of the stator winding and diode bridge can be assessed only after dismantling the generator.
