still only getting at most 370-400 miles to a tank help!

cana_julian

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2017
Location
Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
Ive got a 03 tdi 01m auto. Only modification done to the car is GTI long beach wheels. I just had the transmission rebuilt (for failure) and im still not seeing the mileage that anybody else is claiming to get! I have no cel on and ive changed the map sensor, maf sensor and glow plugs. what else could cause poor mpgs? Ive noticed the egr might be getting clogged because it looks like its starting to come out of the gaskets or did at some point. Could that be the cause? Still have no lights on for it and im waiting for the delete to get in but im just looking for ideas. Are my mpgs normal or does anybody else have any insight?:confused:
 

Tdijarhead

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Location
Lawrenceville PA
TDI
2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
Do you fill completely full by venting or have you drilled out the vent? Instead of having the tranny rebuilt you should have had the 5spd swap done. 01m 37-43mpg, avg 40, 5sp 47-53 mpg, avg 50. My old 01m I could get (by venting) around 530-570 miles per tank a couple of 600+ tanks. On my 5pd(vented) I get 670-740 per tank with a handful of 800+ tanks.
 

cana_julian

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2017
Location
Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
Do you fill completely full by venting or have you drilled out the vent? Instead of having the tranny rebuilt you should have had the 5spd swap done. 01m 37-43mpg, avg 40, 5sp 47-53 mpg, avg 50. My old 01m I could get (by venting) around 530-570 miles per tank a couple of 600+ tanks. On my 5pd(vented) I get 670-740 per tank with a handful of 800+ tanks.

I didn't want to put as much money towards this as its just my daily was the only reason I didn't swap it. Where would I drill the hole? is there a sticky or link on how to do it? I wish I was seeing even 450 miles to a tank!
 

KERMA

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Sep 23, 2001
Location
here
TDI
99 beetle and 04 jetta
There are a number of things that could cause low MPG
I will ist a few of the more common ones, but this won't be a complete list. But it should give you a place to start.

first thing to check is always the thermostat. Others, in no particular order:

1) timing and IQ
2) clogged intake manifold
3) boost leaks
4) low compression
5) snow screen
6) air filter
7) clogged cat
8) turbo vanes stuck/vacuum/N75
9) injection pump worn out ("cold start" valve)
10) timing belt off a tooth

good luck
 

Jetta_Pilot

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Location
West Hill, Ont.
TDI
2015 Passat Highline TDI Candy White (SEL Premium) long gone 2002 Jetta TDI
I basically had the same car, a 2002 with the same automatic.
The car was sluggish to take off and at every slight inline would shift to a lower gear.
The first thing I did was to swap the original injector nozzles to .205's which made quite a difference. My next step was to have the computer chipped via the OBD II port to stage 2. That made the car perform very well.
It also improved the mileage significantly. Over the years I had the car I regularly got over 800km (500 miles) on a tank with the ventectomy done as well. My best ever was 1,200km (720miles) to a tank.

Long, long ago a dynometer test showed approximately 129hp compared to the 95hp originally from the factory.
 
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cana_julian

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2017
Location
Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
There are a number of things that could cause low MPG
I will ist a few of the more common ones, but this won't be a complete list. But it should give you a place to start.

first thing to check is always the thermostat. Others, in no particular order:

1) timing and IQ
2) clogged intake manifold
3) boost leaks
4) low compression
5) snow screen
6) air filter
7) clogged cat
8) turbo vanes stuck/vacuum/N75
9) injection pump worn out ("cold start" valve)
10) timing belt off a tooth

good luck
If my temps are normal should I still check the thermostat? I live in texas so the weather usually isn't cold. My injection pump is leaking a little from the very top gasket not much though. Other than that the car runs good and doesn't seem boggy etc. Ive checked for boost leaks nothing. I have looked for leaky injector lines and nothing.
 

TX Smoke

Member
Joined
May 4, 2017
Location
Kingsland TX
TDI
2003 Beetle
I’m out in the Hill Country between Llano and Marble Falls, not sure where you are. Something I’ve noticed with my wife’s diesel Cruze is it just won’t hit the numbers other people see due to the hills. It can hit pretty good numbers when we get away from the area, between home and Austin where the car spends most of its time it stays about 10mpg below what most people report.

I don’t know how much it effects my TDI Bettle. I’ve never left the area in it, and I’ve never seen anything close to what people claim.

I do know they are both a lot more fun to drive than a gas car that gets similar mileage especially out here in the hills.
 

piotrsko

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Location
Reno Nv
TDI
2013 Golf, 2000 F-250 (7.3)
driving habits affect mpg considerably.
cruise control trips on a flat highway at 70 degrees will give you best mileage.
changing your rims indicates that you don't drive like me, an old man.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
First, read through this:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=342274

Second, use "miles per gallon" instead of "miles per tank", since those are very different things. Miles per tank is range, and since we have no idea just how much you actually put IN the tank, we can only guess as to your actual miles per gallon.

Most ALH+automatics can get ~45 MPG or so if driven steady highway at a not-too-high of speed. But a lot never see that, some average as low as 40. Just depends on how fast you want to go. The slushbox sucks a LOT of MPG out of the engine around town, and the slightly lower overall gearing takes a bit out on the highway. You add in a few issues (like what I outline in my thread linked above) and you can see 35 MPG tanks, which is not that great.
 

Jetta_Pilot

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Location
West Hill, Ont.
TDI
2015 Passat Highline TDI Candy White (SEL Premium) long gone 2002 Jetta TDI
Just for what it's worth, my 2002 averaged out at 50 Mpg religiously kept track of until 2016 when I bought the Passat. But as oilhammer states, I kept my speeds to about 75 Mph on interstates. Only a few times did I open it up until I reached about 120 Mph for a short stretch.
This was in Mexico where did not have to worry about County Mounties.
 

narongc73

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Location
VA/OH
TDI
2006 Jetta TDI
Very simple. Diesels do best with long distance hwy miles. Try driving all city and short distance, you'll see 30 or less mpg.
 

[486]

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Location
MN
TDI
02 golf ALH
400/12ish gallons is 33ish mpg
seems reasonable for an auto in the winter
How cold's it get where you're at?
I'll add dragging brakes to the other causes listed above, along with flat tires and bad alignment.

the guys that get 60 or better are generally impeding traffic
 

jjblbi

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2000
Location
lbi, nj
TDI
2014 Passat SEL TDI
How long is your typical drive? Does the car get fully up to temp? Dragging brakes, try measuring each rotors temp with a non contact thermometer after a drive. An abnormally hot rotor may indicate a brake issue. Do you have a snow screen and is it clear? Have you checked timing via VCDS?
 

turbovan+tdi

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Location
Abbotsford, BC.
TDI
2003 TDI 2.0L ALH, auto, silver wagon, lowered, Colt stage 2 cam, ported head,205 injectors, 1756 turbo, Malone 2.0, 3" exhaust, 18" BBS RC GLI rims. 2004 blue GSW TDI, 5 speed, lowered, GLI BBS wheels painted black, Malone stage 2, Aerotur
Long beach wheels are heavy and they will eat up mpg.

Auto's average 38-40 mpg and some hover around 35 around town.

You are on the low side, my first auto Sedan would get 750-800 km's per tank with a best of 850 on a road trip and beating the crap out of it, so that's around 500 miles.

Ventecomy doesn't do squat for mpg, that's only for going longer.

Check brakes, IQ, and fix the leaking IP and swap the rims to steels, Wolfsburg BBS wheels or 15's.
 
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cbman18j

Veteran Member
Joined
May 29, 2015
Location
Savannah
TDI
03 Jetta TDI (First Diesel)
Just as a note those long beaches with 225 45 17 could cost you 3-5 mpg. I found this out the hard way, also if you are running above 65 mph you fuel economy starts dropping.
 

Jetta_Pilot

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Location
West Hill, Ont.
TDI
2015 Passat Highline TDI Candy White (SEL Premium) long gone 2002 Jetta TDI
Just as a note those long beaches with 225 45 17 could cost you 3-5 mpg. I found this out the hard way, also if you are running above 65 mph you fuel economy starts dropping.
Aw come on there are people here who consistently drive at 85Mph and get 65Mpg:rolleyes:
 

DSLTOO

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2018
Location
Montana
TDI
03 5 speed tdi sedan 6 speed, 03 tdi wagon automatic
Questions? I am currently looking at a 2003 ALH wagon auto jetta. I took it out for a test drive and the tach said 3400 ish rpm at 80 mph. Is this normal?. My 04 tdi sedan 5 speed runs about 2600 rpms

I also notice that if i throttle it the rpms go up faster than the speed of the vehicle but then catch up to each other. Is this tranny slip or just the way automatics normally drive?

What mileage can i expect if this is the normal rpms?

I have an 01 gaser 6 speed manual parts car. Any idea what a fair price for a mechanice to swap the trannys and parts? Will they mesh?

Car has 17900 miles on it and was a one owner car, in really good shape. Price $3700
 

KERMA

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Sep 23, 2001
Location
here
TDI
99 beetle and 04 jetta
Questions? I am currently looking at a 2003 ALH wagon auto jetta. I took it out for a test drive and the tach said 3400 ish rpm at 80 mph. Is this normal?. My 04 tdi sedan 5 speed runs about 2600 rpms
I also notice that if i throttle it the rpms go up faster than the speed of the vehicle but then catch up to each other. Is this tranny slip or just the way automatics normally drive?
What mileage can i expect if this is the normal rpms?
I have an 01 gaser 6 speed manual parts car. Any idea what a fair price for a mechanice to swap the trannys and parts? Will they mesh?
Car has 17900 miles on it and was a one owner car, in really good shape. Price $3700
No 3400 rpm at 80 mph is not normal, nor is the slipping behavior you mention
Sounds like the transmission is stuck in 3rd gear "limp mode"
 

[486]

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Location
MN
TDI
02 golf ALH
Stop driving autos, ffs.
They do offer some pretty neat advantages.
I've got a mind to build one up to take some abuse, just gotta happen upon a car that's got one for cheap. Not tearing the 0a6 outta the golf quite yet, just got it in there...
 

Tdijarhead

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Location
Lawrenceville PA
TDI
2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
Questions? I am currently looking at a 2003 ALH wagon auto jetta. I took it out for a test drive and the tach said 3400 ish rpm at 80 mph. Is this normal?. My 04 tdi sedan 5 speed runs about 2600 rpms
I also notice that if i throttle it the rpms go up faster than the speed of the vehicle but then catch up to each other. Is this tranny slip or just the way automatics normally drive?
What mileage can i expect if this is the normal rpms?
I have an 01 gaser 6 speed manual parts car. Any idea what a fair price for a mechanice to swap the trannys and parts? Will they mesh?
Car has 17900 miles on it and was a one owner car, in really good shape. Price $3700

As Kerma said that’s not normal. That’s a transmission on its way out. The only reason to buy a car like that is to do a 5 spd or 6 swap and that’s if the body and interior are in extremely good shape. With the transmission nearly dead that car is worth maybe 500-1000 dollars again for a swap if it’s in good shape or for parts.

A gasser gearing is different. There are some 6 spds available from Europe through Frans a forum member here.
 

Jetta_Pilot

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Location
West Hill, Ont.
TDI
2015 Passat Highline TDI Candy White (SEL Premium) long gone 2002 Jetta TDI
Stop driving autos, ffs.
Well there are two reasons to drive an automatic.
When I bought my 2002 Jetta TDI automatic in 2005 it had original 3,000 miles on the clock, got the car at 1/2 price compared to new!

Second my 2015 Passat TDI has the DSG tranny, again when bought it there were only three 2015 Passats for sale in Ontario and all DSG. I've had manuals and in a very large city with stop and go traffic, especially in rush hour a manual tranny soon makes you sick and tired of it.

Maybe you live in the boonies away from such traffic!!!
 

turbovan+tdi

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Location
Abbotsford, BC.
TDI
2003 TDI 2.0L ALH, auto, silver wagon, lowered, Colt stage 2 cam, ported head,205 injectors, 1756 turbo, Malone 2.0, 3" exhaust, 18" BBS RC GLI rims. 2004 blue GSW TDI, 5 speed, lowered, GLI BBS wheels painted black, Malone stage 2, Aerotur
Questions? I am currently looking at a 2003 ALH wagon auto jetta. I took it out for a test drive and the tach said 3400 ish rpm at 80 mph. Is this normal?. My 04 tdi sedan 5 speed runs about 2600 rpms
I also notice that if i throttle it the rpms go up faster than the speed of the vehicle but then catch up to each other. Is this tranny slip or just the way automatics normally drive?
What mileage can i expect if this is the normal rpms?
I have an 01 gaser 6 speed manual parts car. Any idea what a fair price for a mechanice to swap the trannys and parts? Will they mesh?
Car has 17900 miles on it and was a one owner car, in really good shape. Price $3700
The other option is someone put a 2.0L transmission in, that would make it act this way and have that high a rpm on the highway. I know because I put one in my wife's wagon when I first bought it. I bought a used trans and didn't bother to check the code, :mad:
 

turbovan+tdi

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Location
Abbotsford, BC.
TDI
2003 TDI 2.0L ALH, auto, silver wagon, lowered, Colt stage 2 cam, ported head,205 injectors, 1756 turbo, Malone 2.0, 3" exhaust, 18" BBS RC GLI rims. 2004 blue GSW TDI, 5 speed, lowered, GLI BBS wheels painted black, Malone stage 2, Aerotur
Stop driving autos, ffs.
Stop breathing, ffs.

Always one in the crowd. My wife prefers a auto due to almost all city driving and lots of stop and go. I switched to auto's years ago but driving a 5 speed TDI, I don't mind it anymore due to the super soft clutch and take off at idle without touching the go pedal.
 

Tdijarhead

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Location
Lawrenceville PA
TDI
2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
The other option is someone put a 2.0L transmission in, that would make it act this way and have that high a rpm on the highway. I know because I put one in my wife's wagon when I first bought it. I bought a used trans and didn't bother to check the code, :mad:

Forgot about this possibility. Honestly, something I can see myself doing.
 

turbovan+tdi

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Location
Abbotsford, BC.
TDI
2003 TDI 2.0L ALH, auto, silver wagon, lowered, Colt stage 2 cam, ported head,205 injectors, 1756 turbo, Malone 2.0, 3" exhaust, 18" BBS RC GLI rims. 2004 blue GSW TDI, 5 speed, lowered, GLI BBS wheels painted black, Malone stage 2, Aerotur

turbovan+tdi

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Location
Abbotsford, BC.
TDI
2003 TDI 2.0L ALH, auto, silver wagon, lowered, Colt stage 2 cam, ported head,205 injectors, 1756 turbo, Malone 2.0, 3" exhaust, 18" BBS RC GLI rims. 2004 blue GSW TDI, 5 speed, lowered, GLI BBS wheels painted black, Malone stage 2, Aerotur
Holy porn spammers, wow.
 
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