My new Golf's low mpg.

[j_nickels]

My new Golf\'s low mpg.

So I recently bought a CPO 2004 Golf TDI with 27000 on the odometer (wish I had found this website sooner). One of the biggest reasons for choosing a TDI was of course the great gas mileage--but where is it? Unfortunately, it doesn't have the multi-function display, so I have to figure mileage manually. On my second half-a-tank's worth (7.25 gallons) of fuel the trip read 210 miles for about 29 MPG. This is mostly city driving. I was under the impression I should be getting high 30's for city driving--some claim to get even more! The car passed the certification process so I'd like to think the engine is running just fine (it sure seems to be)--am I missing something? Someone tell me the fuel tank's capacity is actually only 10 gallons. Is this something I should tell the dealer about so the service guys can have another more focused look? I guess I shouldn't have told friends and family that my car's MPG was gonna blast their cars away-I was off by 20 mpg! Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[daBooj]

Re: My new Golf\'s low mpg.

take your time. fill er up and drive her all the way down. (rinse, repeat)x2.

while you're doing this, come over here and fill your head. look up the ventectomy, or you will get an earful. do a search for ways to improve your fuel mileage. Make sure you know what oils to use.

and stay out of the city.

 

[mctdi]

My new Golf\'s low mpg.

Which transmission do you have?
The fuel gauge is not 1/2 & and 1/2 of the tank. Second 1/2 is less then 7.25 gal. Need to check MPG with gallons used to fill tank.
OEM listing on tank size is 14.5 gal. But with "venting" there is 17 gallons to empty.
I'm getting 43-46 MPG with 2004 Golf 5-speed on the highway, 60-70 MPH.
Also look at this file EXCELL FILE in the folder "mctdi". You can change the values in the light blue boxes.

 

[whitedog]

My new Golf\'s low mpg.

...fortunately, it doesn't have the multi-function display, so I have to figure mileage manually

Edit in bold. Don't rely on what the fuel guage says since it is notoriously inccaurate for computing mileage. It sounds like the tank you are driving on is what was in there when you bought the car, so disregard any computations from this tank; you have no idea how full the tank was filled.

Fill the tank fully and carefully after reading here about how to do that then keep track of total miles driven and total fuel used, then use your own brainpower to compute the mileage.

If you are able to keep the car under 95 MPH and are able to NOT turn fuel into brake dust at every stoplight, you should be able to throw those numbers in your friend's face.

 

[j_nickels]

Re: My new Golf\'s low mpg.

Thanks for the responses so far, already very helpful.
For the record my golf is also a 5-speed manual. I guess I need to go fill 'er up in order to calculate my mpg instead of using tank capacity and the fuel gauge--what was I thinking!
I've also done some research (something I'd normally do very well before posting-I jumped the gun this time) and learned about visually topping off for consistency and about the ventectomy. So I'll have to go through a few refueling cycles and then report back now that I'm armed with some info.
Thanks much.

 

[dieseldave2006]

My new Golf\'s low mpg.

Your previous owner has not been breaking in the engine. You take over now. Let the boost go crazy. This means have you a lead foot and you will win in the long run because your engine will finally enter the stages of initial breakin. Drive it hard, and keep the boost churning, Read the breakin threads and you will be pleasently reaping the benefits.