'09 Jetta TDI 55 MPG ?

I'm getting 59-61MPG (imperial, about 48-50mpg US) at the moment in my 1.9TDi Passat (the 2.0TDi engine is better?), and I've only just started looking into this hypermiling stuff, so probably doing everything wrong. Traffic is starting to get bad again due to heavy rain so my MPG is bound to drop again.

As per this thread:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8131

I read somewhere that trying to do forced-autostop (FAS) is bad for the turbo when restarting the engine by putting it into gear. Is this something I should avoid? What is the best alternative to use?

-- Edit:

(I should add it's a 115bhp PD-engine)

 

There is often confusion with the US vs UK MPGs. Many people don't realize that the Imperial (UK) gallon is 20% bigger than the US gallon, and so we get lots of claims about these very high MPG cars available in Europe.
It could be 55MPG UK gallons, which is 45.6 MPG US. If you look at similar VW TDI cars sold in the UK http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search/
you'll see that a US MPG in the 40s would seem reasonable as a highway MPG (and probably a combined MPG in the upper 30s).

 

dude - check out the 1.9TDI's on our site they all get 49-50 MPG - Id respectfully suggest that the new VW engine will be, say, 2-5% more efficient (7 speed gear box, FSI, and more) than works out to more than 50 MPG COMBINED !

Think about that 50 MPG actual in a 103 inch wheelbase 3,000 lb. station wagon or car - that puts to shame Detroit's whining about all the compromises needed to get to 35 fleet MPG !


Bring it On 1

 

Mike - didn't realize you have a Passat TDI


really jealous that the POHM's get such great engines - I'd love to be able to buy a US Passat with the 77kW TDI engine - I think its rated at 4.5L/100km

 

I'd like to see a 7spd manual transmission. They can keep the close ratio all these 6spd transmissions seem to have and still have a tall final drive ratio.

 

Just visited the Portland Auto Show last night (which included their traveling Dieselution exhibit) and grabbed the latest brochure. The brochure does say they expect mid 40s city and mid 50s hwy, but was printed in 2007 and presumably that's based on the '07 EPA regime. 1999-2003 TDIs were rated at 42/49 (37/45 under the '08 specs) so it sounds like the new one will be about the same. Sounds great to me.

By the way, the brochure only claims that TDI engines will be available in the Jetta, Jetta wagon and Tuareg. NOT the Rabbit or the Beetle. Last night a VW rep confirmed to us that there are no plans for a TDI Rabbit in the US. . Looks like my Golf is going to further appreciate in value.

 

Two Mikes in this thread now

Last couple of tanks were 60.8, and 60.3 MPG (Imperial - US is ~48). I've just been using the basic techniques. I'm finding that the engine gets a bit coked up when I drive like that so I need to thrash it (100mph in 4th gear) for a minute or two once per tank to clear out the soot - the figures include this.

I also discovered the infamous electrical problem with Passats + A4s - if the drains get blocked in the battery plenum then water gets into the footwell and affects the electronics. I'm sorting this out myself rather than getting the garage to fix it (a bit of resoldering + perhaps drill a drain through the footwell). So a good idea for anyone with a 1998-2003 Passat or A4 is to remove the drain grommets before this happens.

VAG have launched a new car, under the SEAT label this time, called the SEAT Ibiza EcoMotion. It's basically the same as the Polo BlueMotion but slightly cheaper. When I finally retire my current car I'll try to replace it with either the Polo or the Ibiza (I really don't need the size of this Passat).

 

Mikemarsuk, where are these grommets located? I'm doing the timing belt/water pump on my girlfriends 2000 Jetta TDI next Friday, and might as well take care of this. She has had a bit of water in the passenger footwell.

PS - My girlfriend drives like a MANIAC (gas!, brakes!, gas!, brakes!, etc...) and still turns out 45mpg in her 100k+ TDI. I've never tried to push it, but I'm sure it would be more satisfying than my 2000 Altima.

 

One is underneath the battery, and the other is behind the brake master cylinder. I cleared them with a bit of wire (coat-hanger) without removing the battery, but for someone less impatient than myself the recommended way is to remove the battery which gives you much better access.

The following page describes the process:

(see step 8 which shows the positions of the grommets).

http://www.weirdlittlebiscuit.com/passat/leak/index.htm

His article describes how to clean the grommets, but that is only a temporary solution - the longer term solution would be to just take them out, so that it can't block up again in the future.



The following describes the electrical work necessary if the CCM was damaged (if the internal lights, power windows, remote locking, and alarm are misbehaving, this is probably why).

www.headfuzz.co.uk/vw_ccm

A garage (in the UK) would charge around £ 650 to do this work ($ 1300). = 6 hours labour plus parts.

 

Thanks for the good links, Mike! It looks like the layout is quite a bit different though... (for the A4 jetta the battery is in the front driver side and the master cyl res is in the engine bay) BUT, it looks like this area is the place to look. I already cleared debris out once, but now I can go in there with a little more grunt. Also, I'll have to clean up those wires. The alarm has been funky for a while so I shut it off, and the windows don't know whether to roll up or down when you use the switch. Not to mention the turn signal stalk went limp. LOVE VWs!

 

This is why I always convert the l/100km figure (well...sometimes. I have a fairly good feel for l/100km figures). It's a lot more accurate that way, although you still have different testing cycles. But at least you're not fighting the imperial gallons thing.

 

I have been a Ford man my whole life. I am new to hypermiling with my 2002 Focus and it will be a couple of years before I can swing a new car, but I got really excited when I heard about the new VW TDI. I went to the International Auto Show in Grand Rapids Mi. and talked to a VW dealer and he quoted me 45 city and 55 hwy. He seemed knowledgable and also told me the price difference from gas to diesel will be only about $1500. That's what excited me most. Can anybody confirm that price? Wayne? Anyway, thats way better than the $7000 difference Ford wants for their Powerstroke in their trucks. It makes the cost of diesel fuel moot when you only have to spend a little to save a lot. Not the case for a truck. I would have to drive a Powerstroke 11 years to recover the initial cost of the engine.

 

It is going to be difficult to guess at the TDI price preminun - $1,500 - $2,500 is a decent enough estimate- but the exact preminum doesn't really matter, becuase the resale value is so big.

But for a real shock, check out how much USED VW TDI's are worth !

 

Wanye is correct - VW might charge more than $2k extra if the consumers are willing to pay.

 

If the new Jetta has over 50 MPG highway nunmbers, I am probably going to trade up to a sportwagon from my current 06 TDI sedan. If I do, if anyone here wants my old TDI let me know.