What are you guys getting?

[GoLfMan]

Hi guys,
just filled the polo up for the first time. Dad and i worked it out we got an economy of 5.67L/100km around town and thats on a tight engine.
what are you guys getting economy wise?

[brackie]

TDI: 5.3L/100 on mixed running, 5.0L/100 on highway.
Silver Mk1 GLD: 4.7L/100 on mixed running, 5.0L/100 on highway.
Red Mk1 GLD: 5.0L/100km on mixed running, 5.2L/100 on highway. (Has additional weight of sump guard, aircon and sound proofing.)

[GoLfMan]

TDI: 5.3L/100 on mixed running, 5.0L/100 on highway.
Silver Mk1 GLD: 4.7L/100 on mixed running, 5.0L/100 on highway.
Red Mk1 GLD: 5.0L/100km on mixed running, 5.2L/100 on highway. (Has additional weight of sump guard, aircon and sound proofing.)

they are some impressive figures brackie!
did you get my PM mate?

[brackie]

I got your pm and replied. Been distracted a bit by other forum issues. Kinda dampens your enthusiasm

Not all diesels are created equal. This is a fact of life and time and time again I have seen cars/vans/trucks that should on paper be returning the same fuel consumption getting different results. Those with in-line (multi-element) injection pumps seem less variable, but distributor-type pumps like the VE are very sensitive in the governor area and must be timed accurately to achieve the best results. Most guys know about the "smoke screw" (so called because if you open it you get more smoke and more performance but use more fuel but really a maximum fuel device) so they have a bit of a twiddle. I don't have access to bench test apparatus anymore so I twiddle too and try to achieve a balance between performance and economy. Last time I went to Hobart in the silver Mk1 GLD I had to change the settings of the screw to cut down the smoke in the Hobart traffic. Didn't want an infringement notice or worse still a work order. When I was at Andrew's workshop I borrowed tools to do the adjustment but the next day on the cruze with the other Hobart crew I found it difficult to keep up with them. Andrew also lent me a dial gauge and probe so that I could set the point of injection accurately.

The biggest variable in diesel fuel consumption is the driver. Drive it like a petrol engined car and you'll get petrol engined fuel consumption. Use the torque band and you'll get there faster and use less fuel.

[brackie]

Had a disappointing run to Launceston and back today. The TDI did 5.2L/100km for the trip. I came back across the Asbestos Range which worked her hard but I expected better now she's loosening up. Worked out @ ~ 54mpg using 1g + 4.45L and 1km = 0.625ml.

[gtimk5]

About 40,000 kms before they really loosen up Brackie, then the things go heaps better and the consumption improves even more. I had a 2l TDI at work today with 15ooo kms on the clock. He achieves 1150 kms to a tank!!

[Edison]

Silver Mk1 GLD: 5.0L/100 on highway.
Red Mk1 GLD: 5.2L/100 on highway.
(Has additional weight of sump guard, aircon and sound proofing.)

Hi Brackie, Can you tell me what is your highway cruising speed(s) ? (or range of speed)

[brackie]

Hi Brackie, Can you tell me what is your highway cruising speed(s) ? (or range of speed)

I have never trusted the speedos and I reckon they're about 8 to 10% optimistic.....but.... I cruise @ 100kph comfortably and she will do 110 all day long....but... there is a significant fuel penalty for that extra 10kph.

[gldgti]

i've been doing a LOT of hyway driving lately....

i cant get worse than 5.6l/100 km, even going 120/130 mostly... but thats with the 5 speed, and my car is quite low as you guys know.

[briseos]

2005 2.0TDi Sportline Golf - love the way you can drive it hard around town and use all that beautiful torque, make screetchy noises off the line in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears (DSG) and still walk away with less then 6.5l/100k -

BUT

IF you get stuck in trafik, you get 8+l/100k..... might as well do the rat runs and circumnavigate the globe than sit in trafick!!!

Incidentally, my Satnav (Navman N60i) tells me CONSISTENTLY that the speedo is exactly 10% optimistic - and this error corrects the fuel consumption calculations on the trip comp too!! (Have actually verified Satnav speed at 60, 80 and 100kmh via trafick cop mate!