06 1.9 Brm mpg counter

SootyGasHole

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2023
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
2006 Jetta 1.9 BRM
How accurate is the mpg counter in the dash? My 06 Jetta says 57mpg after a 150 mile drive. It used to say 48 but since I’ve added 300+ pounds of tools to the trunk and have it about bottomed out in ultimate reverse rake style the mpg has gone up a lot. More load more efficient?
 

Lightflyer1

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Location
Round Rock, Texas
TDI
2015 Beetle tdi dsg
Not really accurate at all. It should be somewhat close over time though. Better calculated by hand over multiple tanks of fuel.
 

CanadianALH

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2023
Location
Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta 5spd 2006 Jetta DSG (wifes)
My BRM says I do like 5.0-5.7L/100. Hand calculations say 6.2L/100. So it’s a little off lol. Gives you a decent idea of how your driving is doing for fuel economy.
 

Lightflyer1

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Location
Round Rock, Texas
TDI
2015 Beetle tdi dsg
See my fuelly in my signature? It matches very closely with the cars economy, but has been tracking since new. One or two tanks isn't enough for it to be accurate like that. Any instant readings can be way off. Averaging over time makes it closer but not exact.
 

jjblbi

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2000
Location
lbi, nj
TDI
2014 Passat SEL TDI
The mpg read out can be calibrated via VCDS, sorry I can't remember the exact procedure. A simple search and you should find it. Just calculate and then adjust the calibration for few tanks. I calibrated to within .1-.2 mpg and recommend you use the same station and fuel it yourself filling to the top of the filler neck each time.

The high volume station I typically used was about forty miles from home so the fuel level went down about a gallon. Be careful if you can't burn off some fuel before really topping off and shutting down or you could overflow due to expansion. Good luck, John
 

AndyBees

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
Like jjblbi stated, the MPG read-out apparently can be calibrated, although, I was not aware. As others have said, it is just a good indicator of what's going on. The MPG read-out in my 2011 Tiguan gasser is a smidgen less than hard numbers tank after tank.

My practice has been to fill-up to the max, vented at each fill-up. I have set-up a rather complex Excel Spreadsheet for fuel as well as every other expense. So, for example, I can look at the individual MPG of each tank, average and weighted average. My 2000 Jetta had a running average of just slightly over 51 MPGs. That's all driving circumstances combined. My son owns it now. I have the same spreadsheet for my 03 Jetta.

My practice has always been to buy fuel wherever it is the cheapest but, I do not drive out of the way to save 2 cents. As stated, I just fill until it will not hold anymore, vented. I've never experienced any "bad" or contaminated fuel. I've been driving VW diesels for 44 years ........ likely close to 1.5 million miles! My first VW diesel was a 1980 Rabbit with the little non-turbo 1.5 engine and 4-speed transmission. I never could break 50 MPG with it.
 
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Lightflyer1

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Location
Round Rock, Texas
TDI
2015 Beetle tdi dsg
If I recall correctly, correcting the fuel economy will affect the odometer. It was kind of a workaround fix. Most people I believe, chose to have an accurate odometer over the economy gauge.
 
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