Wow, bike rack affects mpg

larrydk

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Location
Brookfield
TDI
Sportwagen
I cannot believe how three bikes on the roof affected my mpg.

I track on fuelly, normally get between between 45 and 51 mpg with mostly hwy driving by myself.

Road trip with family (loaded car) and three bikes on rack....30-32mpg!, granted I set the cruise control at 80 through Nebraska, but I never realized the rack created that much drag!
 

Jetta_Pilot

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Location
West Hill, Ont.
TDI
2015 Passat Highline TDI Candy White (SEL Premium) long gone 2002 Jetta TDI
On my Jetta TDI the mileage dropped by 20% with the Yakima rack and long slimline roof box.
Even a Yakima spoiler made no difference.

That's why I laugh when I see people running around 24/7/365 with all that crap on the roof !!!
 

austintg

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Location
Texas
TDI
2016 Audi A6 Technik
Any small amount of drag destroys mpg. I'm surprised you didn't use a hitch bike carrier, I have a hitch on mine and don't see a huge hit on fuel mileage. Anything on the roof, even a sunroof visor brings it down a bit.
 

larrydk

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Location
Brookfield
TDI
Sportwagen
Roof rack

Up to now I've used only hitch racks, my gsw had no hitcc, I used the VW gift cards to purchase roof rack set-up....I have to say after all of the tears using a hitch rack I really like the convenience of the roof rack and ease of throwing bike up there.

I do agree with other statements though, when not in use, that equipment comes off, I really rely on the excellent fuel economy
 

S-Spinnister

Member
Joined
May 1, 2015
Location
MI UP
TDI
2015 Golf TDI SEL, manual.
Personally, as much as I wanted to go with a hitch mount this time, I live on a gravel road. I don't want gravel bouncing off my carbon fiber bike frames. Plus I need my ski box in the winter. So the roof rack won.
 

bubbagumpshrimp

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2013
Location
Virginia
TDI
'13 Jetta TDI
It's not just the drag killing your fuel economy, but it certainly isn't going you any favors. Try dropping to 75 MPH. Every little bit counts once you get over 70 MPH.

That and vehicle payload. My commute...I got 47-48 MPG all day when it was just me and I was going ~70 MPH. Bump it up to 75 MPH and throw in two passengers (all other conditions the same)...I'm doing good to break 40 MPG. At this point...I ******* hate my commute, so every minute I'm not spending in my car > saving a few cents on fuel.

Edit: If you run with your current setup (family and bikes) and drop the speed to 70 MPH...you'd be surprised what a difference it would make. I'm betting up around 40 MPG.
 
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TDIGUY03

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2003
Location
Belle River, Ontario
TDI
2003 GLS TDI BLK/BLK (SOLD), 2015 Golf TDI SE, 2011 Golf Sportwagon TDI (Traded for 2018 Atlas)
I ordered the Yakima Whispbars for my car.
With just them on the car and no accessories on them i did not see any change in mileage. (Saying that I still take them off when not in use.)

I went with the bars over the hitch mount for the bikes since it gave me the option of roof box as well. We had a long trip planned for the family and no way all the gear would fit in the car with us so the roof box was the way to go.
May still add the hitch rack for the bikes as well in the future.

With my old 2003 and the OEM bars it was easily a 20% hit on mileage but I was all about looks then and kept them and the bike racks on the car just because I liked how it looked and even with the 20% hit I was doing better than most for mileage.
 
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