Horrible MPG after timing belt change

Blackburn said:

As Nick says worth checking timing correct before expense of pump refurb

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I believe the timing is spot on now, no white smoke at idle even when cold, no knocking, pulls well off the line, and most importantly my mpg appears to be just right now.
Went on a cross regional trip with it on the weekend. Having brimmed the tank, I stopped to top up at the first rest stop and I had used 12 liters to cover 157 kilometers (97.5 miles). I would say that isn't too bad for a car its age and an auto too.
My reason for wanting to have the IP replaced or refurbished has to do with the high idling issue I mentioned and not because of timing issues.

Thats nearly 37mpg I would be very impressed with that to say the least!

lynall said:

Thats nearly 37mpg I would be very impressed with that to say the least!

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Yup, I've always observed that by just keeping it between 55 and 60 on long runs, it just sips fuel even with the AC running.
Maybe the fact that I almost never thrash it could explain things starting to stick in the pump.... gonna try flooring it with the transmission locked in first or second for a few minutes to see if that will help free things up.

jamesmartin said:

pump is normally advanced for cold start ,throttle cable adjusts govenor so not direct like butterfly in a carb, you may have worn and sticking parts in pump

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Jamesmartin, if I could pick your brain for a second.
Got a recon injection pump installed over the weekend. Prior to removing old pump, made a mark in between the plate and the pump drive wheel at the point I had got the timing just right where it would not knock.
Installed the new pump and torqued the three bolts at that mark, bled the system and it fired up at the first go.
Runs without knocking at idle but appears the pump advances the timing when the throttle is pressed ever so slightly and then it would start knocking.
Release the throttle back to idle and the knocking clattery diesel sound would go away.
Does that sound right, that pump advance should automatically change with slightest increase in throttle movement/rpm and then settle back to normal at idle?
I don't ever remember the old one behaving like that, but then that one had been running rough for so long I may just have gotten used to it that way.
Thanks in advance. Cheers.

you would need to reset the timing no 2 pumps will be exactly the same when fitted,likely to be more noticeable if your using marks from one pump thats been set at optimum

jamesmartin said:

you would need to reset the timing no 2 pumps will be exactly the same when fitted,likely to be more noticeable if your using marks from one pump thats been set at optimum

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If I understand you correctly, I would have to reset the timing with a little more retard dialled in so the pump's automatic timing advance with rpm increase doesn't cause knocking?