Poll: Will he make it, Austin, TX to Ft. Stockton, TX, 800 miles round trip

[Lightflyer1]

Think I can make it round trip on one tank? Vote now!

I should be able to test this next Saturday. I have to drive from Round Rock, Texas near Austin to Ft. Stockton. One quick stop there and back. Right around 800 miles and all interstate. I will set the cruise at 2100 rpm and let her run. I think I read here that is the most efficient rpm to cruise at. Should be a pretty level drive and excellent weater forecast. I will be traveling alone with an empty car. Tires inflated to max and Shell premium diesel with 8 oz Perf. Formula. Still have dealer 5000 mile oil change of Castrol 505.01 at 9100 miles or so. Switching to Elf 505.01 on my return. Might change early to 506.01 if Mach1 is available. Maybe I should do a video like that "bloke" did on the other side of the pond. I will be carrying 2 gallons extra with me to immeadiately stop and fuel if I run out. I will be running on new Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S radials that replaced all four of my knifed tires from a month ago. No stops except for 15 minutes or so in Ft Stockton.

 

[RAST]

*BUMP*

This is the thread with the poll

If it's 800 miles you'll have to do 55mpg to pull it off. That is do-able, depending on the weather, traffic and how you drive.

 

[DRbillZ]

Only if you get the air pressure above 40 psi.

 

[scknight]

2100 rpm on the highway in central texas?, hahaha- better put your 4-way flashers on!
I voted no, but I do really hope you make it.

 

[whitelite777]

I'm kind of dubious also. I would love to see you make it, but new engine and your speed will be to high in my opinion. Also, no stops except for 15 min.-----better have a portable toilet

Anyway, best of luck, looking forward to the results.

Lowell

 

[onefiftyfour]

i've made that trip several times. not in a vw diesel, but i know what the road is like. what time of day or night are you going? watch out for deer.

i wonder if it would be better going the back roads through Fredricksburg to I-10. it'd be less miles but more stop and go i guess. might still be worth it.

good luck! there are some hills.

 

[pepper10]

Bear in mind that the slower you go in top gear without bogging down the engine, the longer distance you will go. The only time I drove over 800 miles (895), I drove 60-65mph of morning and evening commute with some stop and go traffic. Keep your RPM's above 1400 and below 2000 and you'l really go the distance... Put your 4-ways on though..

 

[TerribleTDI]

I'll put a little faith in the TDi, and a pilot.
At every turn this motor shocks and awes me...
1 vote for yes.

 

[Mach1]

Going to need some seriously good fuel to do it..The fuel is still not top notch...I am interested in seeing if you can do 800 on a tank..If the AC is needed you wont make it..

You are trying to get the right recipe together, SOOO maybe so???

 

[deming]

I just made that drive a few week ago and I do not think the little Jetta can pull it off, mainly because the roads suck. Too many hills and the road is washboarding badly.

I ran a new Corvette pretty hard from Austin to Flagstaff AZ via Ft. Stockton TX. The Schlumberger well drillers were a hoot to have dinner with that evening. Anyhow, I think you are smart having a spare five gallon jug of Diesel in the trunk in case she gets dangerously low.

I think you could stretch off 700 under ideal conditions, but 800 is a far push.

Good Luck brave one!

 

[Mach1]

If dave gets some good fuel, he will beat my best MPT of 740...He may be able to get to right at 800..Good experiment though..

 

[Doug71]

I believe you can do it if you do not drive like me. If your foot stays out of the go pedal and you kept it at 60-63 mph. Good luck

 

[texmavrick]

Will he make it - doubt it!

I live in Georgetown Tx, and have driven to Ft. Stockton. You will have to drive around 55mph to reach 800 miles. Driving 55 in Texas is inviting all the red necks and truckers to run you over. I hope you make it!!!

 

[Gr8danz]

I had to vote no with the head, but my heart is with ya....I hope ya make it.

 

[Lightflyer1]

Well the 506.01 oil and new filter are in. All ready for the trip. Thanks to Mach1 for the oil change and Pela demo! We VagCom'ed our cars tonight for the remote windows and no DRL's and turned off the seat belt warning. Very easy!

 

[RAST]

David --> One more thing to add to your list if you haven't done this already.

Change your MFI so the MPG is more accurate. Basically the stock adaptation reads ~14% optimistic so setting this to 114% gives you a much more accurate MPG reading.

17 - Instruments
10 - Adaptation
Channel 3 should be set to 100. Change this to 114.

 

[jimlockey]

The southwest wind will play a bad part when going toward West Texas. I Just got back from a trip to Abilene from Dallas and the wind was very strong.

 

[JohnBennett]

It totally depends on the wind.

It is supposed to be windy Friday, but calmer and beautiful Saturday afternoon.


http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/tx/state.html

 

[Lightflyer1]

David --> One more thing to add to your list if you haven't done this already.

Change your MFI so the MPG is more accurate. Basically the stock adaptation reads ~14% optimistic so setting this to 114% gives you a much more accurate MPG reading.

17 - Instruments
10 - Adaptation
Channel 3 should be set to 100. Change this to 114.

Is this the change that affects the odometer as well? If so I will just live with the MFI being off. I can see my correct speed in the climatronic display. I use the instant mpg display as a guide only.

 

[RAST]

Is this the change that affects the odometer as well? If so I will just live with the MFI being off. I can see my correct speed in the climatronic display. I use the instant mpg display as a guide only.

This only changes the MPG calculation. I'm within 1mpg on mine now where before it was quite optimistic. My last fillup was 44mpg on the MFI and 43.4mpg actual pen-and-paper. My speedometer is still off though, when compared to the GPS.

This is just another one of those things you can change with the VAG-Com while you're doing the DRLs, seatbelt chime and windows.

 

[Lightflyer1]

I will try and borrow another laptop tonight and "get er done". I should probably try my old dinosaur laptop and see if it might just work. Very old 200MHz Compaq.

 

[Mach1]

Dave, coming back with the wind, may do it, now that you have the good setup!!

Good Luck...

Keep us posted!

 

[snokid]

Well? did he make it?

 

[Lightflyer1]

Yes! 806 miles on 15.1 gallons. I reprogrammed the car to change the value for the fuel display Friday as well. It showed 53.5 mpg average. Calculated by pen and paer it is 53.37. Prety darn close now!

Went out and back without shifting again, once on the highway. Drove on cruise at 2100 and 62 mph on the Climatronic display and 65-66 mph on the speedometer. Stayed in the right lane and got passed by everybody! Some of those people had to be doing a 100mph. Most about 75 or 80. Not much traffic though out on the road. Somewhat busy coming back through San Antonio on 1604. Traffic backed up in Austin too on the way back at IH35 and 6th streets. Made it back to the same station I left and filled from and filled up again.

I still had another .2 gallons left. (Plus 2 gallons in the trunk)

 

[whitedog]

That is worth a night out on 6th street, congratulations. Did you circle around just to make sure you topped 800 miles?

Joes Generic Bar and Grill is the only one I remember from way back when.

 

[Lightflyer1]

Planned it on Delorme. I was going to drive up to Georgetown and back to "pile on" but the traffic jam in Austin scared me away from doing it. I give myself 60 miles from the fuel warning light. I carry 2 gallons with me just in case for a trip like this.

 

[Mach1]

Good deal Dave and welcome to the 800 mile club, you are the only member out there?

I had a couple of 740MPT, but have never had a road trip to break 800, I guess I will have to do a road trip to join the 800MP club.

 

[BleachedBora]

Good job dude!

Good deal Dave and welcome to the 800 mile club, you are the only member out there?

No, not the only one...

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=131509

...but then again, he did this in an A5--I was in an A3...
Cheers!
-BB

 

[Gr8danz]

Great Job! One time that I am glad to be wrong!!!

 

[snokid]

Great job Dave!!!

I have a question for you about the oil, you used 506.01 oil on this trip, having drove this car on 505.01 oil before this trip. Do you think that the oil made any difference in the miles per gallon you were getting? I know this oil is expensive and you have longer between oil changes. But I have seen claims that it will increase your mileage. But have never seen proof of it doing that.

Thanks Bob