Fuel economy

[66tim99]

Hopefully mine "loosens up" too. 40mpg was easily doable in my T5 1.9tdi manual over a long M'way trip - haven't got close to that yet in the new 150 DSG, it's more like 30mpg.

Using ACC helps. Be worth setting your ACC driver assistance to ‘eco’ if not done already. I regularly get high 30’s with a laden 150, and low 40’s unladen.

 

[bob_summers]

Using ACC helps. Be worth setting your ACC driver assistance to ‘eco’ if not done already. I regularly get high 30’s with a laden 150, and low 40’s unladen.

Must admit I haven't read the manual yet! I use ACC all the time, I'll have a look for the eco setting (it does give me "eco tips"). It does seem to like engine braking on descents, where I'd usually leave it in a higher gear and touch the brakes instead.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Must admit I haven't read the manual yet! I use ACC all the time, I'll have a look for the eco setting (it does give me "eco tips"). It does seem to like engine braking on descents, where I'd usually leave it in a higher gear and touch the brakes instead.

Agree with that. I love ACC, and it’s fine if you’re on the flat, it doesn’t seem to economical on the descents. @66tim99 - where can this be customised please? Should mention we have a 150DSG and there’s no driving mode selection (Eco, Comfort, Sport).

 

[bob_summers]

Agree with that. I love ACC, and it’s fine if you’re on the flat, it doesn’t seem to economical on the descents. @66tim99 - where can this be customised please? Should mention we have a 150DSG and there’s no driving mode selection (Eco, Comfort, Sport).

Checked my manual and it’s not mentioned in the ACC section.

 

[66tim99]

Checked my manual and it’s not mentioned in the ACC section.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/driving-mode.41950/post-540624

 

[Hawthorn37]

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/driving-mode.41950/post-540624

Crikey I’ve a bad memory these days! Yes, I’ve seen this before, and set the option of ECO for the ACC.


However, I believe it impacts on the acceleration of the car up to the preset value, but not the means of deceleration when moving downhill. It depends what the objective is I guess. If you’re after top fuel economy you’ll be reading the road ahead and adjust road speed to suit while using minimum fuel. If you’re after a steady and low input drive, then ACC is the way to go.

I had an E Class Merc years ago, and the preset MPH had around +/- 10% built in. Not great to be spot on to the speed limit, but good for economy. It feels like the Cali has +/- 2mph. This causes steady acceleration (more fuel) when pulling uphill (even in ECO mode), and dropping gears (to D3) going downhill, and application of braking.

Just thinking, you might be able to adjust the preset span using an ODB2 dongle (Carista)?? My Carista licence has expired so I can’t check.

 

[Jim2007]

Crikey I’ve a bad memory these days! Yes, I’ve seen this before, and set the option of ECO for the ACC.

View attachment 93882
However, I believe it impacts on the acceleration of the car up to the preset value, but not the means of deceleration when moving downhill. It depends what the objective is I guess. If you’re after top fuel economy you’ll be reading the road ahead and adjust road speed to suit while using minimum fuel. If you’re after a steady and low input drive, then ACC is the way to go.

I had an E Class Merc years ago, and the preset MPH had around +/- 10% built in. Not great to be spot on to the speed limit, but good for economy. It feels like the Cali has +/- 2mph. This causes steady acceleration (more fuel) when pulling uphill (even in ECO mode), and dropping gears (to D3) going downhill, and application of braking.

Just thinking, you might be able to adjust the preset span using an ODB2 dongle (Carista)?? My Carista licence has expired so I can’t check.

Agree with you finding on acceleration and deceleration. Use ACC all the time and like it very much, but I can drive the vehicle more economically without it. I also don’t believe it coasts like it will when the driver has direct control of speed. If it does coast it doesn’t tell you that it is.

All things considered though, the improvement I can get driving it ‘manually’ vs ACC is small, maybe 1-2mpg, and not worth compromising on the driving experience that ACC gives me.

 

[Cali Phillip]

Agree with that. I love ACC, and it’s fine if you’re on the flat, it doesn’t seem to economical on the descents. @66tim99 - where can this be customised please? Should mention we have a 150DSG and there’s no driving mode selection (Eco, Comfort, Sport).

Acc on eco is good for uphill and flat, I knock it into D in coast mode for down hill and deceleration
Seems to get the best compromise for me.
To get the very best a mixture of early shifting in M and knocking it to D in coast mode for down hill and deceleration gives the best but takes work.
It's amazing what gear the dsg will drop to when often 1 gear higher will pull the uphill fine, benefiting MPG.

 

[chockswahay]

Does the T6.1 have coast mode? I haven’t found it. My sons T6 Kombi deffo has coast mode and you can see it idle the engine and freewheel……. As soon as you touch a pedal it re engages gear.

 

[Perfectos]

I would be happy with 30 mpg

The GC averaged 25.9mpg to Sheffield & back at an average speed of 56mph on the M1 last night. ACC at 70mph no aircon.
Hopefully that will improve once the engine loosens up, its still under 1000 miles.

The Euro 6 engine has a run in oil pressure up to 1500miles (2400km) the oil pressure in the engine runs at a constant 7bar to protect the engine. Then after that it goes variable as the engine is run in.

Fuel economy then settles in to what will be a normal range.

 

[66tim99]

Does the T6.1 have coast mode? I haven’t found it. My sons T6 Kombi deffo has coast mode and you can see it idle the engine and freewheel……. As soon as you touch a pedal it re engages gear.

Makes sense if RDE (Real Driving Emissions?) are to be minimised by maufacturers?

 

[bob_summers]

Does the T6.1 have coast mode? I haven’t found it. My sons T6 Kombi deffo has coast mode and you can see it idle the engine and freewheel……. As soon as you touch a pedal it re engages gear.

I think it does. No expert as this is my first non manual vehicle but I’ve felt the engine coasting (not sure if it was on ACC or not at the time) and the gear indicator on the MFD turns from eg. D7 to just D. That’s what I thought was happening anyway.

 

[Boomer]

I think it does. No expert as this is my first non manual vehicle but I’ve felt the engine coasting (not sure if it was on ACC or not at the time) and the gear indicator on the MFD turns from eg. D7 to just D. That’s what I thought was happening anyway.

You can seem to activate coast mode by tapping the accelerator. The revs drop and "eco" appears on the MFD. Only works when you're on the flat/going downhill. I had a seat Leon previously and was the same to activate it on that car too.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Played the crazy fuel game yesterday.
Warwickshire to Holland and back to Warwickshire.
Fully loaded, plus diesel heating whilst camping.

Managed on 1 tank of fuel…

Best tank I’ve ever achieved and didn’t hang around getting there, admittedly the last 30 miles home I reduced my speed to 66MPH from my regular 80…

70l tank - 70.24l to refill this morning
543 miles
35.14 Mpg
Note, this figure probably slightly higher taking into consideration camping with heater on.

 

[soulstyledevon]

£130.56 to refill

 

[Hawthorn37]

£130.56 to refill

I’m starting to fill when half empty - better for my mental state!

 

[Hawthorn37]

Played the crazy fuel game yesterday.
Warwickshire to Holland and back to Warwickshire.
Fully loaded, plus diesel heating whilst camping.

Managed on 1 tank of fuel…

Best tank I’ve ever achieved and didn’t hang around getting there, admittedly the last 30 miles home I reduced my speed to 66MPH from my regular 80…

70l tank - 70.24l to refill this morning
543 miles
35.14 Mpg
Note, this figure probably slightly higher taking into consideration camping with heater on.

View attachment 93889

5 miles range left - VERY brave! We were sweating last year in Cornwall, set off from campsite (parked on a slope) 50 miles range. Mid journey to another site, going through lanes on a Sunday afternoon, suddenly dropped to 10 miles range with 20 miles to go . Managed to get a splash of diesel at Dick Turpin’s garage.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I’m starting to fill when half empty - better for my mental state!

The old days of £90 seem quite reasonable now…

 

[Ozzy Pete]

I’m starting to fill when half empty - better for my mental state!

Imagine how you would feel with an 80 litre tank?

 

[Corradobrit]

5 miles range left - VERY brave! We were sweating last year in Cornwall, set off from campsite (parked on a slope) 50 miles range. Mid journey to another site, going through lanes on a Sunday afternoon, 10 miles range with 20 miles to go . Managed to get a splash of diesel at Dick Turpin’s garage.

I used to run my Audi S4 down to zero and then had sufficient fuel for another 25 miles of range before going dry.

 

[WelshGas]

I used to run my Audi S4 down to zero and then had sufficient fuel for another 25 miles of range before going dry.

Be careful with the new van. Under 25%, Diesel Parking Heater won't run and DPF regeneration is prevented.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Imagine how you would feel with an 80 litre tank?

Yep - got one of those

 

[Wildcamper]

Just returned from a 35 mile trip in Gloucestershire. Was collecting items here and there so using small local roads and lanes. Never got above 40 mph so the DSG never engaged 7th gear. According to the on-board average mpg display, 43 mpg. Do I believe it!? Time will tell when I do the next full tank to full tank comparison.

 

[Snowball1935]

Wondered if anyone else used my method of filling up? I always top up to “full” when my tank shows half-full on the gauge. After the first fill up, it costs no more to go from half-full to full than it does from zero to half-full. And I have the peace of mind that, no matter what delays or deviations occurred, I was very unlikely to run out of fuel.
I started this method years ago when touring France in a motorcaravan, after running dangerously low on fuel on Bastille-Day - no fuel stations open - but we were fortunate to come across a helpful lady farmer who put us in her garden overnight - and she flatly refused to accept any payment.
Nice lady.

 

[Wildcamper]

Wondered if anyone else used my method of filling up? I always top up to “full” when my tank shows half-full on the gauge. After the first fill up, it costs no more to go from half-full to full than it does from zero to half-full. And I have the peace of mind that, no matter what delays or deviations occurred, I was very unlikely to run out of fuel.
I started this method years ago when touring France in a motorcaravan, after running dangerously low on fuel on Bastille-Day - no fuel stations open - but we were fortunate to come across a helpful lady farmer who put us in her garden overnight - and she flatly refused to accept any payment.
Nice lady.

The down side is that you are always carrying the weight of 35-40 liters of fuel about with you. This will have an mpg impact. By running the tank down the van gets lighter so mpg should increase. However, if it give one peace of mind that has a value.