Fuel Economy tips from VW

Toronto_Vento

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Location
Richmond Hill, ON
TDI
01 Baltic Green Bora
Doesn't really look like you can directly link if I get things right off the site. Try this, though:
Fuel Economy Tips

If that doesn't work, see the menu on the left? Go to Applications -> Tips for Driving -> and it is the last choice on the bottom of that page.
 

Blue_Thunder

Veteran Member
Joined
May 22, 2004
Location
Beetle Nation
How about this . . .here is the whole article. The most interesting part, to me, was the comment about how drastically using the AC cuts down on fuel economy. Wow.



Consumer Counseling
The Easy Way to Save Fuel


Fuel can be saved not only with a consumption-favorable vehicle, but particularly with a foresighted and reserved driving fashion and a regularly waited car. Driver trainings give helpful tips in handling the accelerotor pedal.

"Up to 40 percent of consumption is down to your accelerator foot."
(M. Schmitting, Spokesperson of the German motoring organization, ADAC Hamburg)






Avoid short trips and combine different destinations – You only get about 7 to 9 mpg out of your car during the cold start phase. Normal consumption doesn't come until the engine has reached its operational temperature (engine oil about 80 degrees Celsius) which takes about 4 km (2.5 miles) or more in winter.
Plan your route before each journey – By doing so, you can often avoid traffic jams and diversions. Not only does this save fuel, it also helps to keep your blood pressure down!
Set off as soon as you have started the engine – Do the little jobs (like fastening your seat belt, adjusting mirrors, de-icing the windscreen, switching on the radio, etc.) before you start the engine. Never run the engine to warm it up before moving off. This is an unnecessary waste of fuel, bad for the environment and is therefore against the law!
Change gear quickly – Only use first for moving off. Change up rapidly. It is best to keep your revs below 2000 rpm.
Drive in 3rd at 30 km/h (about 20 mph)
Drive in 4th at 40 km/h (about 25 mph)
Drive in 5th at 50 km/h (about 30 mph)
Think before driving


It is even possible to outsmart an automatic gearbox – always take your foot off the accelerator just when the gearbox wants to change up. In this way, the higher gear is engaged, but the engine revs stay low.
Do not accelerate at full throttle – but with the accelerator pedal pressed only three-quarters of the way down. Stay in a high gear when you have to accelerate. Your engine will run more economically and more cleanly than if you change down and accelerate with less throttle but higher revs.
Do not change down – as long as the engine is running without jerking.
Anticipate the road conditions – Continually braking and accelerating reduces fuel economy to as low as 8 mpg.
Let the vehicle coast – shift to neutral in good time before stopping and switch off the engine when stationary. A pause of even 10 seconds makes this worthwhile, and modern engines can cope with being switched off and on frequently.
And what is more, three minutes' with the engine idling is the equivalent of about 1 kilometer at 50 km/h.
Keep to the recommended speed on motorways – Driving at 130 km/h (80 mph) instead of 150 km/h (90 mph) on the motorway results in a saving of two liters every 100 kilometers (over 3/4 of a gallon every 100 miles).
New high-performance oils reduce friction losses in the engine – By changing to SAE 0W-30 or 0W-40 oils, you can reduce fuel consumption by up to 5 percent.
Have the engine checked regularly – A regular inspection of the engine in a specialist workshop ensures optimum engine performance.
Check your tyre pressures regularly – Inadequately inflated tyres result in increased consumption and accelerated tyre wear. Increasing the specified inflation pressure by 0.2 to 0.4 bar can save up to 5 percent fuel. There is no need for concern: The pressure at which the tyre would burst is ten times greater than this.
Every extra pound increases fuel consumption – So only carry a warning triangle and a canister of spare fuel in the boot. The first aid kit should be stowed under the front passenger seat. Only use a roof rack when you need to.
And what is more, everything that's electrically adjustable such as seats, sun roofs, windows, etc. needs electric motors. These, like spoilers or low-profile tyres, increase the weight of the vehicle unnecessarily.
Switch off the air conditioning – The cold air blower can reduce your fuel efficiency from 40 mpg, for example, to 28 mpg in urban driving. The rear window demister, heater blower and lights also consume fuel, so switch them off when they are not needed. Generating 100 watts of electricity can knock back your fuel efficiency by 1 mpg.
New cars – The best way to save fuel without putting yourself out is to pay attention to the fuel consumption figures when buying a vehicle. Sometimes, two equivalent models differ only in terms of fuel consumption. In addition, cars with an infinitely variable automatic gearbox use less fuel than those with a manual or conventional automatic gearbox.
Driver training

Learn and practice all the driving tricks for increasing fuel efficiency under the watchful eye of expert instructors. Volkswagen has been running fuel economy and road safety training courses with great success for five years now. To date, 40,000 people have taken part in the 4-hour basic courses or 8-hour intensive courses.
 

amorfeusz

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2003
Location
Seattle, WA
TDI
2004 Black Passat GLS Wagon 150k+, 2009 Jetta Sedan
Yep, hence my constant conflict with my g/f with her wanting A/C on so she can breathe and me turning it off all the time


I'm also going to get a TDI Heater before winter, the engine does take a while to warm up...
 

VelvetFoot

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Joined
May 17, 2001
Location
Sand Lake, NY
TDI
NB, 2000, Yellow
I personally wouldn't advise turning off the engine at a stop when the tank is really low. I wasn't able to restart it once.
 

kabatc

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2002
Location
Marietta
TDI
Jetta, '98, black
Change gear quickly – Only use first for moving off. Change up rapidly. It is best to keep your revs below 2000 rpm.
Drive in 3rd at 30 km/h (about 20 mph)
Drive in 4th at 40 km/h (about 25 mph)
Drive in 5th at 50 km/h (about 30 mph)
Doesn't this seem mighty low? It goes against the widely acepted shift recomendations of DriveByWire. It is also contrary to the 'get up to cruise speed as fast as possible and then drive at the lowest possible RPM' logic that i thought was the key to ranges that i only dream of but reached by the likes of Mr. Bartlett.
 

mrGutWrench

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Joined
Aug 29, 2002
Location
Carrboro, NC
TDI
'03 Jetta Wagon, 5-speed, 563K Miles (July '23)
Change gear quickly – Only use first for moving off. Change up rapidly. It is best to keep your revs below 2000 rpm.
Drive in 3rd at 30 km/h (about 20 mph)
Drive in 4th at 40 km/h (about 25 mph)
Drive in 5th at 50 km/h (about 30 mph)
Doesn't this seem mighty low? (snip)
__. It does to me. I typically shift so that the tach is about 1900/2000 RPM. That means revving up to about 27-2900 RPM, depending upon the gear that I'm in. But I typically don't use large throttle openings unless I'm doing that on purpose to blow out carbon/exercise the VNT turbo blades.
'
 

Rammstein

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Location
Québec city baby, Canada
TDI
Golf 92 D
Change gear quickly – Only use first for moving off. Change up rapidly. It is best to keep your revs below 2000 rpm.
Drive in 3rd at 30 km/h (about 20 mph)
Drive in 4th at 40 km/h (about 25 mph)
Drive in 5th at 50 km/h (about 30 mph)
Doesn't this seem mighty low? It goes against the widely acepted shift recomendations of DriveByWire.
These are for flat terrain, with no traffic whatsoever: perfect conditions.

Very few people can actually to that (like me
) because it takes about 3 minutes to reach cruising speed.

These are excellent guidelines for max fuel economy.


BTW, I believe Drivbywire's recommendation good for break in.


After that, they are useless.


I can see they come from somebody who used to drive gas cars...

Ventectomy and Dbw rec's are 2 things I just don't believe in.


Drive the peak torque and not the downslope of it.
 

Frank M

BANNED
Joined
Apr 7, 2000
Location
NH
TDI
NB
So this is why I got a 3% increase in mileage when I disconnected the DRL's.....


It takes fuel to run the alternator..
 

billsbuddie

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Apr 25, 2004
Location
Wichita, Kansas
TDI
GOLF, GLS, TDI, 05, Reflex Silver
I wonder when that article was written? Obviously is was written in European, but it seems old to me. Those fuel saving numbers may apply to a big gasser but I doubt very much if it would hold true for a TDI. At any rate, I am a doubting Thomas. I love the comment about warming up your car is against the law, where?
 

Frank M

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Joined
Apr 7, 2000
Location
NH
TDI
NB
I wonder when that article was written? Obviously is was written in European, but it seems old to me. Those fuel saving numbers may apply to a big gasser but I doubt very much if it would hold true for a TDI. At any rate, I am a doubting Thomas. I love the comment about warming up your car is against the law, where?
Its against the law to let commercial diesel vehicles idle when its above 32°F
 

RogueTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2002
Location
San Diego
TDI
1998 Jetta TDI Black
Yep, hence my constant conflict with my g/f with her wanting A/C on so she can breathe and me turning it off all the time

...
Hahahaa.


Me too. She just cant stand any heat - must have AC on. I of course hate using it unless its an absolutely broiling day.
 

RogueTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2002
Location
San Diego
TDI
1998 Jetta TDI Black
I personally wouldn't advise turning off the engine at a stop when the tank is really low. I wasn't able to restart it once.
That's my concern too, but I sometimes shut the engine off at stops, if the stop is really long for example. Usually, I only shut it off when I have to stop just after a cold start - not good for the engine to sit idle for minutes on a cold engine. But yes, there is the slight chance of not being able to start it up again, and causing ensuing chaos. Also, there may be concern of starter wear, but Im not too worried - my engine starts right away beautifully every time, for 85kmi.
 

RogueTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2002
Location
San Diego
TDI
1998 Jetta TDI Black
Some comments about the article:

"Set off as soon as you have started the engine – Do the little jobs (like fastening your seat belt, adjusting mirrors, de-icing the windscreen, switching on the radio, etc.) before you start the engine. Never run the engine to warm it up before moving off. This is an unnecessary waste of fuel, bad for the environment and is therefore against the law! "

I dont know about the law, or how they enforce it. I also dont think you should literally drive off instantly - should wait at least a few seconds of idle for oil pressure, etc.

"Let the vehicle coast – shift to neutral in good time before stopping and switch off the engine when stationary. A pause of even 10 seconds makes this worthwhile, and modern engines can cope with being switched off and on frequently. "

I cant believe they suggest this for crazy European stop and go city driving. 10 sec? I think the starter would wear out pretty fast if people followed this advice.

"Every extra pound increases fuel consumption – So only carry a warning triangle and a canister of spare fuel in the boot. The first aid kit should be stowed under the front passenger seat. Only use a roof rack when you need to.
And what is more, everything that's electrically adjustable such as seats, sun roofs, windows, etc. needs electric motors. These, like spoilers or low-profile tyres, increase the weight of the vehicle unnecessarily. "

True, but these arent really tips for saving fuel - they are tips for what options to get on your car.





A few good tips, but mostly rather hysterical if you ask me. The tips were obviously written for gas engines. Take the advice accordingly.
 

billsbuddie

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Apr 25, 2004
Location
Wichita, Kansas
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GOLF, GLS, TDI, 05, Reflex Silver
Frank, yep, KS is in the USA. I perused that document and it seems to me to be a "project" document that is offered to states. It says clearly that it does not override local or state laws, it talks about future years as if it is a plan, and the important article, the one that talks about how it would be enforcement is not complete. Plans, and even laws that have no enforcement procedure are still on the drawing board.

This entire argument is somewhat out of context since the VW article was intended for automobiles, not 33,000 lb trucks. So, here in KS, and I suspect even in "liberal" NH, you and I can still idle our cars for hours without threat of violating the law.
 

gdr703

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2002
Location
Vancouver, Canada
TDI
Golf 2 door 2002 Indigo
Change gear quickly – Only use first for moving off. Change up rapidly. It is best to keep your revs below 2000 rpm.
Drive in 3rd at 30 km/h (about 20 mph)
Drive in 4th at 40 km/h (about 25 mph)
Drive in 5th at 50 km/h (about 30 mph)
Doesn't this seem mighty low?
VW thinks the engine is very well capable of dealing with it, obviously.
I dont always drive at that low an rpm, as I do give it an occasional burst, and go with the traffic flows etc etc.
However:
Lifetime is at 59.3mpgUS, thats over 50,000 miles.
 

billsbuddie

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Apr 25, 2004
Location
Wichita, Kansas
TDI
GOLF, GLS, TDI, 05, Reflex Silver
In Vancouver its against the law to idle your engine when stationary for more than 3 minutes.
I will not dispute you comment above, however, I have been to Vancouver several times. It is a beautiful city. When I thought of you comment and my experience it points up the stupidity of some of the laws that are on the books.

I was on the top deck of a cruise ship in Canada Place. I would watch the smoke spewing from the stacks of the ship, tugboats, etc. I could not help but hear the diesel engines of the trains in the station as they were waiting for whatever they wait for, yet their engines were running. There was a constant noise of seaplanes and helicoptors, yep, warming up, and they exceeded three minutes. Not to mention the numerous tour buses that sat there with their motors running. There are many laws in the states about spitting on the street and other silly things. Basically, they are not enforceable, but at least some representative earned his/her salary by pushing a law that pattered to his constituancy.

You have answered my question as to where, and it further points out that that article was written for a rather limited audience.
 

Blondee

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2002
Location
Canada
TDI
Jetta
In Vancouver its against the law to idle your engine when stationary for more than 3 minutes.
Can you find that law for me? This jerk in our apartment idles his supra for 10+ minutes in the underground parking. The manager says they cant do anything since he passed air care. I'd like to show them this law, if true.
 

tjl

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Joined
Mar 19, 2001
Location
California, USA
TDI
2001 Golf GLS
Not to mention the numerous tour buses that sat there with their motors running.
So why do (for example) bus drivers leave the engines running when they know that they will be waiting for a while?

I've been on hotel shuttles where the driver left the engine running for several minutes while stopped (at an airport or a hotel). The interiors of those shuttles smelled like exhaust (which itself was kind of strange, since the exhaust pipe is supposed to be outside the vehicle).
 

AndyBees

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May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
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Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
Let the vehicle coast – shift to neutral in good time before stopping and switch off the engine when stationary. A pause of even 10 seconds makes this worthwhile, and modern engines can cope with being switched off and on frequently.
Really! I admit, I have not followed the "links" to the "driving tips" or have I read all the posts and replys. But, I can say this with 100% certainty, "shifting to neutral" to coast will not save fuel as opposed to taking your foot off the accelerator and leaving the car in gear (coasting in gear). There are other discussions about this issue.

According to my VAG COM (and others here in the club), the TDI engine shuts-off the fuel "coasting in gear" down to about 950 RPMs. So, coasting in neutral is not very good advice! Also, I seriously doubt that a "cold" TDI engine consumes fuel at the rate of 8 or 9 miles per gallon until it warms-up (even below freezing temps). Yes, it does use more fuel when cold than it does at full operating temps. And, sure letting the engine idle for warm-up is wasteful.
 

Bayou

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Joined
Jun 20, 2004
Location
Louisiana
....shifting to neutral to coast will not save fuel as opposed to taking your foot off the accelerator and leaving the car in gear....the TDI engine shuts-off the fuel "coasting in gear" down to about 950 RPMs....
I have developed a technique to take advantage of this characteristic. When driving in urban areas at low speed in 2nd or 3rd gear, I will often upshift to coast. That way compression breaking is minimized and I can coast at low RPMs up to a stop light, while using no fuel at all. Had I remained in the lower gear, I'd have to apply a bit of throttle to make it to the light, or coast in neutral, both of which consume fuel. By upshifting I can coast farther and use no fuel, then push in the clutch at about 1,000 RPMs to stop. Cool...
 

Frank M

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Apr 7, 2000
Location
NH
TDI
NB
According to my VAG COM (and others here in the club), the TDI engine shuts-off the fuel "coasting in gear" down to about 950 RPMs.
this is true of all diesels and computer control gassers fuel injection systems..
However the RPM cutoff will vary
 

MWM

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2002
Location
Ottawa, Canada
TDI
Variant, 2003, Reflex Silver
When idleing warm, our TDI's use approx .4 to .5 litres per hour. I would think that the amount of fuel saved by staying in gear as opposed to coasting in neutral is negligible for most of us.
 

AndyBees

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Joined
May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
I drive slightly over 420 miles to and from work per week (84 miles daily), as well as many miles on the job. I have averaged 2,655 miles per month for the past 28 months (74,345 miles). My commute alone has several opportunities to "coast in gear." To work, I have about 3.6 miles of opportunity in 4 different sections. On the return the distance is about 3.8 miles for a total of 7.4 miles (in the 84 mile round trip). So, that's rather significant and worthy to keep the foot of the accelarator when practical. Of course there are numerous short opportunities that add-up over the course of consuming a tank of fuel.

And, yes the fuel consumption of a fully warmed-up (85-89c)TDI engine is 0.40 liters per hour at idle speed. At least that's what my VAG COM indicates. This issue is being discussed in another thread.
 
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