Gas mileage on 2005 TDI Beetle

Debbie martz · August 25th, 2007, 14:38

I have a 2005 Beetle, Diesel with the DSG transmisson and I am only getting 34 to 37 MPG. I have drive on the highway and will get 39mpg. I have around 15,000 miles on it. I had it in the dealer and they keep telling me it is how I drive it. The did a test on the car, I had to have a full tank of gas, they drove it for 52 miles filled it up and told me I am getting 48 miles to the gallon. Can't figure that on out. My dealer told me to take it to another dealer there is nothing they can do. It also has the cold start hesitation they can' seem to fix. I don't think I would by another VW.

Debbie Martz

rv6_flyer · August 26th, 2007, 17:55

I have a 1998 New Beetle TDI 5-speed that I purchased USED in May 2007 that now has 227,978 miles. I just did an overnight trip to a friends. I had the cruise control set at 58 MPH when ever I could go that fast. I filled up before and after the trip at the same station using the same pump and not adding any more fuel after the pump tripped off. Drove 259.5 miles. Purchased 5.080 gallons of Shell ULSD. That calculates out to 51.08 MPG. Yes I did drive to use the least amout of fuel possible. This is my first TDI. My father has had 3 VW diesels over the past 30 years. I have driven all three.

I only get 44 MPG driving the eleven mile one way trip to and from work.

Gary

BeetleGo · August 27th, 2007, 05:49

An automatic DSG in a post '04 TDI SHOULD be getting exactly what you have seen. A pre-'04 with a stick will get something totally different (in the lower 40's).

Consult your manual. Mid-30's is expected.
If your want to check out what you are actually getting, you need to take a minimum of 3 readings and then average them out. Using the button on the side of the fuel filling pipe to top up will give you a more consistant reading. This button was designed for the gas car. We don't need it, but taking it out in the Beetle is a pain. I just use the pump hose to press it down (it's located on the left hand side of the filler pipe).

~BeetleGo

oilhammer · August 27th, 2007, 05:53

Yeah, PD + DSG + NB mid to high 30s is normal. If there was really anything "wrong" with it in 15k miles the ECU would have set a DTC by now.

Drive it harder than you think you should, this keeps the turbo working and happy, and will actually improve fuel economy.

06SpiceRedTDI · August 27th, 2007, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv6_flyer

not adding any more fuel after the pump tripped off.

You have to fill your tank to the very top of the filler neck to get an acurate reading. the way that Diesel foams makes it impossible to get an accurate reading using this method. If your car hasn't had the ventectomy done by the previous owner you should have a white button on the inside of the filler neck that you can push with the nozzle of the fuel pump to make the foam go down.

Gent4157 · August 27th, 2007, 13:19

I have a 2005 Beetle with an auto trans, I get a tank average of 46-49 MPG per Scangauge. When I first bought the bug my mileage was not all that good. The previous owner babied the car and never blew her out, since I have done this regularly it gets better mileage. Also I have read that the diesels don't get their best mileage till about 70+ thousand miles. Hot weather will hurt mileage mileage as well, just hang in there and enjoy your ride, besides I think the window sticker said 36-42 MPG.

ComradeXavier · August 27th, 2007, 15:02

For my '05 NB (5 speed) I really only care about long term miles driven vs. gallons consumed, which is about 41 MPG at the moment. My miles are fairly balanced between city and highway.

My per-tank results vary (I'm not terribly a consistent filler). But before my first engine was destroyed at 17,000 miles in a freak glow-plug accident, I was noticing an upswing in MPG, and I'm starting to see a similar trend with 10,000 miles on my new engine.

Blue_Hen_TDI · August 27th, 2007, 17:02

And if you're reading the mileage competitions in the fuel economy forum, keep in mind that the winners, week in and week out, are driving 45 mph in 5th gear w/ manual transmission. Seeing as how you list Maryland as your residence, I doubt you can get away with that on the DC or B-More Beltways, etc. The typical 75+mph cruising speeds in our areas are an automatic 5-10 mpg deduction.

jmarv · August 27th, 2007, 19:05

My wife has 24,000 miles on her bug with a DSG she cant get over 40 MPG
i know its the trafic and the way she drives. she loves te bug

littlesilverbugfromwales · August 28th, 2007, 13:42

Hi, I'm getting about 42 Miles per US gallon out of my 1.9 tdi pd 100 manual new beetle. This figure is from mixed type driving. I understand from forum members here in the UK, these figures are about normal.
BTW, diesels get better MPG as the engine wears in.

Blue_Hen_TDI · August 28th, 2007, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlesilverbugfromwales

BTW, diesels get better MPG as the engine wears in.

Very true. Mine reached the sweet spot around 60,000 miles.

littlesilverbugfromwales · August 29th, 2007, 02:23

I've also heard that VW expect new engines to use more oil as they "wear in" and often delay the first oil changes to advance the wear process!!!!!!

Blue_Hen_TDI · August 29th, 2007, 07:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlesilverbugfromwales

I've also heard that VW expect new engines to use more oil as they "wear in" and often delay the first oil changes to advance the wear process!!!!!!

Suggest you go by the book. First two OCIs 5K miles each, then 10K thereafter.

littlesilverbugfromwales · August 29th, 2007, 08:03

I quote my 2003 VW NB TDI PD 100 service manual, issued by VW Oval Garrage Westbury :
"Longlife servicing (UK) oil change to be carried out between 9 and 30 thousand miles

" I know it's hard to believe, but it's there.

Blue_Hen_TDI · August 29th, 2007, 08:14

Ah yes, you must have an oil monitor. Bear in mind that we in North America have been sentenced to a lifetime of vanilla VWs over here. They won't let us have the neat stuff. We're just happy they let us have TDIs and cheap(er) fuel.