A2 TDI Fuel Economy low?

R

richardcalver

Member
Hi,

I've recently (in the last month) bought a 51 plate A2 TDI, I was expecting great MPG but so far only seem to be getting 300 - 330 from a tank of fuel, although I'm filling up shortly after the fuel warning sounds.

Does this seem right?, I've just checked my last receipt and I put in 26.72 litres... the car is needing a service (the computer says in the next 400miles) and I'm planning to get it booked in somewhere soon.

Any help would be appreciated.


Rich
 
300-330 on 27 litres = 50-55 mpg Which depending on driving conditions is broadly in the right zone.

What's your typical journey length and time?

Many many other factors too......
 
That doesn't sound too bad.. it works out at 50.9 MPG if you get 300 miles from 26.72 litres or 56 MPG if you get 330 miles.

Do another fill until the pump cuts and reset your odometer, then fill up again when needed and note the miles and litres you need to fill it up again.
 
Hi and welcome! Without a brim to brim check and details of journeys and driving style etc it is impossible to say whether your mpg is good, bad, indifferent. However from what the other posts have indicated doesn't seem too far off the mark. Check tyre pressures, brakes for binding, renew air filter, use quality diesel such as Shell/BP etc (not supermarket jungle juice), use the torque (not revs) and change up early. Ocassionally give the engine a good workout, works wonders!
 
I figure you are getting MPG in the low to mid 40’s but perhaps I’m doing something wrong as others note 50mpg plus.

Anyway as Adrian888 said and i agree, changing from any kind of standard Diesel at fill up to Shell V power / BP ultimate made a noticeable difference in consumption on my TDI. Perhaps it can make a diffrence for you too?
 
Despite lots of anecdotal evidence I'm yet to read a technical paper to suggest how 'premium' fuels are measurably better than supermarket fuels. By that I mean >10%. Even a recent advertisement of BP (IIRC) was only suggesting 1-2% at best. It's a debate that will run and run no doubt and as ever I'm happy to be educated.
 
ULP - just had a look and my phone was set to US conversion standard, doh..

Will, i can't explain it in a techincal term and i can't speak for others, but for me it made a diffrence so noticable that i haven't gone back to normal Diesel since. For sure when you put £20 worth of standard diesel in your fuel gauge will show more than the premium pump return, but in my experince the fuel gauge then comes down noticably faster too. This is just my opinion and i've only come to think this inadvertantly after being forced onto a V power because it was free in a packed garage.

Techincally, i can only assume that perhaps if you're not using the extra power provided by the premium then it may burn better in your car thus reduce comsumption? just a guess.
 
A close friend of mine works for Shell and has loads of inside knowledge about their products.
The V-Power products, be it petrol or diesel, are much the same as the standard fuel, except they have an additive. This additive is of the order of 1 part per 10,000. In terms of fuel economy, you might get about 1% more.
That's incredible, when you think about it from a maths point of view: 1/10,000 giving an increase in economy of 1/100.
From a financial point of view, however, it doesn't make any sense, because the percentage increase in price is much more than 1%.
Obviously, there are arguements about lesser wear and tear on your car, too. This is more difficult to quantify.
 
I wasn't actually talking about V power, i simply meant the brands. I filled up on some 'lesser' brand recently because I had to and the car simply did not run as smoothly and had a flat spot which when using a premium brand has since disappeared.
 
Hi Timmus

Did you see the Fifth Gear episode when they compared the engine power of one car with standard fuel, then the same car with both V Power & BP Ultimate on a rolling road? The result was the car while filled with premium fuel, produced 8bhp more than standard stuff.

I don’t boy racer anymore so haven’t really looked for an increase in performance but do note a more reluctant Fuel gauge in my own car. On the standard stuff the needle flew up during fills due to the small 34ltr tank, but it also appeared to fly straight back down again after a couple of runs. Now on V Power my needle is slightly but noticeably more reluctant to dive back down towards the red. I’m not preaching this stuff as I have absolutely nothing to gain!! just relaying my honest opinion.

Alas even Shell dont make any claims with regards to better economy but they do suggest trying the stuff your self and then formulating your opinion.
 
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i have to admit, I have moved onto Shell V power deisel recently and the car really does drive better.

The only thing is Im still only getting around 45MPG, which is a tad low for TDi A2....
 
At the moment Shell V Power is on offer locally so am using that. The car runs distinctly better, problem is in using that better performance :D the economy is actually suffering.....:eek:
 
john-wingnut said:
i have to admit, I have moved onto Shell V power deisel recently and the car really does drive better.

The only thing is Im still only getting around 45MPG, which is a tad low for TDi A2....
Click to expand...

Hi John. What mileage have you done in your A2? I think it is general concensus that you get better MPG after you have done 50k or so.

I have noticed I am not getting as good MPG now the colder weather is coming in, I do a lot of short trips though.

I will be giving it a good run in a couple of weeks to the curry social:D:cool:

So that should blow out some of the cobwebs.


Cheers

David
 
riverlad said:
Hi John. What mileage have you done in your A2? I think it is general concensus that you get better MPG after you have done 50k or so.

I have noticed I am not getting as good MPG now the colder weather is coming in, I do a lot of short trips though.

I will be giving it a good run in a couple of weeks to the curry social:D:cool:

So that should blow out some of the cobwebs.


Cheers

David
Click to expand...

David, I have none nearly 100K in mine, so well past 50 :eek:
 
Automatic said:
Hi Timmus

Did you see the Fifth Gear episode when they compared the engine power of one car with standard fuel, then the same car with both V Power & BP Ultimate on a rolling road? The result was the car while filled with premium fuel, produced 8bhp more than standard stuff.

I don’t boy racer anymore so haven’t really looked for an increase in performance but do note a more reluctant Fuel gauge in my own car. On the standard stuff the needle flew up during fills due to the small 34ltr tank, but it also appeared to fly straight back down again after a couple of runs. Now on V Power my needle is slightly but noticeably more reluctant to dive back down towards the red. I’m not preaching this stuff as I have absolutely nothing to gain!! just relaying my honest opinion.

Alas even Shell dont make any claims with regards to better economy but they do suggest trying the stuff your self and then formulating your opinion.
Click to expand...



Was that petrol cars though? many modern performance engines in standard tune are designed to run on 97+ ron 'Super' unleaded, but will adjust to run fine on standard 95 ron.

The result is more power with higher octane fuel as the engine is designed make the most of the higher octane, advanced timing etc.

I'm fairly sure this isn't the same a with diesel engines?

Having said that - if one diesel fuel is more 'explosive' than another under compression, I suppose the same theory could apply, kind of, without the engine management system needing to make any adjustments :confused:
 
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