Real Passat TDI fuel mileage?

6% Optimistic

I have manually calculated EVERY fill up since I bought my B5.5 Passat and compared it with the trip computer. The computer is about 6% optimistic. By the way, when I do the 205-65-16 tire experiment, it should correct the trip computer and the speedometer. As an added bonus, every 100 miles on your odometer will actually be 108 miles traveled. These numbers only apply with the 16" factory wheels, and a switch from 205-55-16 tires to the taller 205-65-16 size.

BRUSSELS BELGIAN said:

I have manually calculated EVERY fill up since I bought my B5.5 Passat and compared it with the trip computer. The computer is about 6% optimistic. By the way, when I do the 205-65-16 tire experiment, it should correct the trip computer and the speedometer. As an added bonus, every 100 miles on your odometer will actually be 108 miles traveled. These numbers only apply with the 16" factory wheels, and a switch from 205-55-16 tires to the taller 205-65-16 size.

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Let us know when you do this. I would be interested in that myself. How will it affect the real fuel economy?

I drove from Florida to the Colorado Springs area with 4 people and a LOADED trunk. I got between 36.0-36.5 mpg running @75 mph calculating manually. I have 17" wheels OEM. I filled up to the rim each time, so I know there was no variable with that aspect.

I've noticed that between 50K and 60K miles the mileage on my car has increased substantially. At the same time, oil consumption has dropped from .5L/10K miles to zero. I just did my 60K oil change this afternoon. 4 litres in at 50K. 4 litres sucked out at 60K. Zero consumption. That's never happened to me before in 200K of driving VW TDIs. And like I said, the mileage is way up. Front Royal, VA to Hagerstown, Md and back this evening yielded 42.0 mpg (MFA) over the 150 mile journey. Does it really take 60K miles to break in a TDI? It sure seems so.