800+ on a tank, whos with me.

[NMRJock]

Sure, but around here the speed limit is 70 and you'll get run over doing any less than that. I usually drive at an actual 80-85 on the interstate and I'm basically keeping with the flow of traffic. I don't mind taking a fuel economy hit to get where I'm going that much quicker. Driving like that on the freeway and ~5 over on surface streets we've gotten an average of 39.5 MPG over the first 25,742 miles (hand calculated). Good enough for me.

 

[jbright]

You would be surprised what the '09 - '10 can get if you slow down.





According to studies backed by the department of energy, the average car will be at its advertised MPG at 55 mph. But as the speed increases:

- 3% less efficient at 60 mph
- 8% less efficient at 65 mph
- 17% less efficient at 70 mph
- 23% less efficient at 75 mph
- 28% less efficient at 80 mph

See the graph below (from fueleconomy.gov):

 

[jbright]

39.5 average for driving that fast is amazing, when you think about it. 70 mph is the speed limit on I-65 as well, but good luck trying to maintain that (except late at night) with the bumper to bumper traffic and endless streams of semis. Last night from Chicago to Indianapolis I had 4 completely stopped jams, one which necessitated a detour on back highways. I was in a hurry but after a while just got in the slow lane. The point of my post, anyway, was for those people wanting to know how to get better mpg in their more powerful "clean" TDIs, and the best tank possible, is to slow down a little, that's all. It works. But it can be boring, as well.

 

[Karl640502]

My personal record is 1440 km or 895 miles on 62 litres 16.4 gal. I once filled 64 litres, so probably had 2l left, could have taken me another 50 km or so, that woultd have taken me into the 900 miles club. All of this was in summertime, driving alone, tires at 2.3 bar (34 psi). At the moment, I take 2 pasengers with me to work, so the figures are much worse now. Still doing 50 MPG though. When the fuel light is on, it tells me it has 100 km to go; I squeeze out about 220 km from that point, and it never failed me... so far. I drive 68 km to work, half of yhis is highway 120 km/h the other half is 80 km/h. BTW sorry for being all metric.

 

[jbright]

Karl,

What are you driving there in the Netherlands? Do you have a wide range of diesel engine options in cars?

 

[NMRJock]

I did 774.0 miles on a tank in our '00 Jetta last weekend. Then I ran out. I had a gallon of fuel with me, but I didn't have a wrench to crack the injector lines. We had to sit for 20 minutes while a friend (following in the TDI behind us) ran to the gas station and bought a crescent wrench).

We were well on our way to an 800 mile tank, but the last 150 miles or so were at 85-90 MPH. I only made it 57 miles after the light came on!

 

[tditom]

it is absolutely no fun to run out of fuel in the ALH, in my experience. I don't even chance it anymore because of the hassle of bleeding the air out and the extra wear and tear of cranking it so much.

For some reason my 1Z is much more forgiving when run dry. It cranks for a bit but starts relatively easily.

we're on winterized diesel now, paul- so expect your miles/tank to drop some.

 

[NMRJock]

This previous tank was pretty old and probably not winterized. My '00 doesn't get a ton of use anymore. My commute to work is only 17.5 miles each way, so that tank of fuel was probably three weeks old before I took it out on the highway last weekend for a getaway.

I've run out once before, poured in my reserve stash, started it right up and drove away. This time the injectors had a bunch of air behind them and all the cranking in the world wasn't going to get it fuel.

A cop showed up just before my friend arrived with the wrench and was kind enough to park behind me with his lights on to help keep traffic over. He saw it wouldn't start, saw us crack the injectors loose, crank it for 2 seconds, tighten them down, and fire it right up. I think he thought that it was magic.

I still haven't refilled my emergency fuel stash (An old-style 1-gallon Rotella jug stuck in the cubby on the right side of the trunk.) I've only ever needed it twice though, and this time I knew that I was tempting fate but was emboldened by having my friend following behind.

 

[rbscouter7]

I did 860 miles on 17.0 gal mixed miles very little city, mainly 2 lane rural and a little interstate

 

[tditom]

...I still haven't refilled my emergency fuel stash (An old-style 1-gallon Rotella jug stuck in the cubby on the right side of the trunk.) I've only ever needed it twice though, and this time I knew that I was tempting fate but was emboldened by having my friend following behind.

if you plan on continuing to tempt fate, you should add a 17mm open-end wrench to you emergency kit

 

[NMRJock]

if you plan on continuing to tempt fate, you should add a 17mm open-end wrench to you emergency kit

The first thing I said when we (finally) got to dinner was that I was going to find the right size wrench in my 'junk wrenches' drawer to add to the toolkit in the car when I refill the jug.

 

[Karl640502]

Karl,

What are you driving there in the Netherlands? Do you have a wide range of diesel engine options in cars?

That's a 2002 Skoda Octavia TDI 110 Hp with 330.000 km and counting. It has the VW engine. It's a manual, as most cars here are. Yes, diesel engines are pretty commonly available on any brand of car, but they only pay back from a certain km/year, due to more road tax. Is that the same in the US? Many people drive on LPG instead, but they can't go more than approx. 400 km before refueling.

 

[stuckless]

It's great to hear these experiences. I had a 2006 TDI and got 750 all the time however the new TDI will never get 800 miles..........

 

[Dunno513]

800.2 mi. on 16.3 gal. in a PD bug. Worked out to 49.2 MPG best so far. 44.2 lifetime average. Course tires are at 65k so I'm not looking forward to the mental drop about to happen with new tires and winter blend.

I'll never see 900 without a strong tailwind, so my mileage quest is over.

 

[NMRJock]

I routinely get 50 MPG. I've never gotten 16.3 gallons of fuel into my car though. How long do you spend at the pump waiting for the foam to settle to get that much in?

 

[Turbospool]

I think that the people that put up the big numbers tanks often carry a gallon or two of fuel with them and tools necessary to fill up the filter so that if they run out they can just top up the filter, pour the rest in the tank, and drive to a gas station.

Yeah, but running out or even close to it simply isn't worth it for me...... getting a good MPG rate is more fun I doubt I'll ever try for the 900 club.

 

[dzelldog]

We expect 700 every tank full and 800 anytime we're on a trip. Just this week 806 with a 14.9 gal fill up. Not great driving conditions either. Hills of WV VA and 2 lane about 300 miles of it. Lucas and good fuel are mandatory in our world. 2003 Jetta GLS. 127,000 miles chipped and race piped.

 

[Variant TDI]

Not great driving conditions either. Hills of WV VA and 2 lane about 300 miles of it. Lucas and good fuel are mandatory in our world. 2003 Jetta GLS. 127,000 miles chipped and race piped.

My best tank came from a trip that had me on I-81 from front royal to Blacksburg and back. Hills often return better fuel economy than flatland because you have more opportunity to use coasting and overrun.

My latest tank is in the toilet (first tank in nearly 20 that I won't get 800 miles) because most of the driving was done at 70mph on a dead flat road.

 

[bikegeek]

finally.... after almost 10 years and over 60,000 miles I put together a 800 mile tank....went to Kings Dominion and back then to Raleigh and back....put 16.16 in the tank for a 49.5 avg. MPG....thanks for all your help in TDI land......

 

[cascade7997]

804

Made 804 on one tank. 15.8 gallons
Max on any fill up has been 16.7 (sweating that night)

Howard Garner
Pickens, SC
2005 Golf PD - stock

 

[Nevada_TDI]

I finally broke my first 600 mile tank this week. You guys that get that kind of mileage (700 plus )must be driving the speed limit...
I'll post my calculated mileage when I fill up tomorrow .

 

[pzl1nz]

It only took 15.8 gallons to do it. I have heard on people putting in 16, so I would have made it even if I hadn't put in 2 gallons to guarantee that I wouldn't run out of fuel. I put in 2 gallons, when 74 miles, and then put in 13.8 gallons.

All high way, well as much as DC rush hour gets, 60 mph, no AC, B20, ALH with 138k on it.

How many members do we have in the 800 club?

I have a 06 Jetta with 5 speed manual and I routinely get about 860 miles per tank. Most of my driving is about 55mph. I have found using cruise control does a better job than I do with MPG and normally I get about 1-3 MPG more with cruise on.

 

[judisjetta]

Finally made 800

My fuel light came on at 751.5 so I could have gone to 840 or 850 but I filled up at 804.3 on 15.210 gallons. I have a 60 mile commute - 65% highway - each way, drive 62 mph and coast on long exit ramps and one big downhill stretch. I quit doing the ramps in the parking garage and grab a spot as close to the exit as I can get without getting door dings.

I just recently switched to Shell for my fuel and have seen a big jump in mpg since doing so.

 

[Joe TDI]

I did this way back in March but never posted it in this thread.... 1st and only to date 800+miles and 50+ MPG tank.... This entire tank was 1 road trip from Youngsville, NY to Toronto, ON and back... the whole trip was on this 1 tank... 99% highway cruising between 70-75mph....

- Mods at the time were RC3, Sprint 520's, and full 2.5" turbo back exhaust. Everything else was stock.

- 15X6.5 stock wheels with Bridgestone Blizzak tires inflated to 42psi.


Miles: 810.6
Gallons: 15.6
Model Year: 2003
Model: Jetta
Tranny: 5M
Fuel type: ULSD

MPG = 51.96

 

[dieselfuel]

Best tank was 834 miles. Still had about 1/2 gln. of fuel left.

Now, I can't even come close. I'm down to about 35 mpg. Hopefully, I go back to 45-50 mpg once my turbo actuator is replaced along with a TB kit install.

Wish me luck! :>)

df
2003 Jetta TDI 5-speed man. trans.

 

[combatbuck]

mileage

I got 48.2 miles per gallon on a trip from Fort Stewart, Georgia to Fort Dix, NJ. Went about 725 miles before filling the Passat up. Drove the speed limit and did not use the AC.

 

[arne487]

I never fill up before 800 miles. My best tank so far is 895 miles. That's the miles that the GPS says, not the odometer (oversized tires). I could have made it to 900, but I didn't push it since it was probably 60+ miles since the light came on.

 

[shizzler]

I'm at 740 right now with no fuel light yet. Just got back from a road trip to Florida and back, got 55 mpg consistently on two fill ups during the trip. Driving 5-10 over the speed limit (meaning 70-80 mph) and accelerating hard always (thought I am well aero-modded).

But... While I could easily hit 800 miles on this tank, who cares? I am going to go fill up tonight and be content that my mileage is awesome, instead of waiting for some arbitrary tank distance target. 55 mpg could get me past 900 miles... for what it's worth.

 

[shizzler]

Well it wasn't exactly intentional, haha.

=52.4 mpg

 

[Powder Hound]

On the 5th & 6th of March, 2010 I was driving east on (mostly) I-80. I bought fuel on the western edge of Indiana. 805 miles later, I bought 15.8 gallons in western NY state. Traveling mostly 70mph, and in a Y2k silver Golf 2dr 5sp.