2.0 TDI 170 Fuel Consumption

**mcmahonleon** · 26-10-2007,09:24 PM

Hi

I took delivery of an A4 Avant 2.0TDI 170 S-Line last month - I've done 5K miles in it already & so far extremely impressed with the car, apart from the fuel consumption. I drive mainly on the motorway (below 90mph) & typically only achieve an average 37mpg. This is quite disappointing vs. the diesel BMW I've just stepped out of.

I don't expect to achieve the quoted combined but was hoping to get nearer than this! Can I expect this to improve once the engine is properly run in?

Cheers in advance for your replies.

**Dave Avant** · 26-10-2007,11:44 PM

To be honest the TDi 170 and low mpg seems to be quite common as I keep reading that either the power doesn't seem to be 170bhp or the fuel consumption is up over other models. The 170 seems to be an 'odd ball' engine where power has been extracted at the cost of mpg. I think Audi/VW need to move in a different direction with the diesel engine as I think it has peak with the technology used. After all its a a fairly old design with modifications.

BMW and Fiat seem to be leading the way with diesels, with some Japanese models following, but they don't seem as high profile.

I've got a 1.9TDI 130 and my Wife's BMW 120d. Obviously the BM is faster with 163bhp, and it revs more petrol like, but the Audi has better pick up response low in the revs, but after 3,000rpm it runs out of pull, bit like a refined old Peugeot 1.9 turbo diesel if you've ever driven one.
The BMW does give better mpg. I've runs down to London from Manchester in both and the Audi averaged early 40s whereas the BM was high 40s.

And yes it usually takes modern engine to over 10,000 miles to properly run in and give the best performance and mpg.

**a8 tech** · 27-10-2007,08:14 AM

answer new 2.0 tdi engines comming very very soon.

**s20a4avant** · 27-10-2007,12:07 PM

Hi, same as me ! I got mine in march after opting out of the company car scheme and drive about 65k a year but with 44k on the clock now it only ever does 40 mpg ! a bit dissapointing but other than this the car is fantastic. it also uses oil all the time which i thought might have stopped by now. mark.

**barryburbs** · 29-10-2007,10:54 PM

Make sure you are using the expensive 'long life' oil and it should last for thousands of miles.

**barryburbs** · 29-10-2007,10:54 PM

Keeping your tyres PSI right with weekly checks is another good tip as is not having air con on. You can also radically improve your mpg by knocking it into neutral on downhill stretches, not in the advance drivers guide, granted. I appreciate you're all talking about what the engines can 'do' but some of these suggs may help get yours up (so to speak) ;-)

**marcus** · 30-10-2007,04:09 PM

Hi, I bought a new 170 last October and have done just over 13K in her and must say i am very pleased. Fule consumption is not brilliant but better than the petrol Merc that i had prviously. Most of my milage is local stuff where i average around mid 30s but i do sometimes have to travel to Belgium so when i get her out on the Motorway i seldom travel much below 100mph but can still get very high 30s. Must also add that i did have her remapped a few months back so still enjoying being a bit of a boy racers which is not good for consumption. I have also noticed that i have used more oil than expected probably 3 ltrs in total since new, and yes it is the proper stuff at £50 for 5 ltrs!!

**RickT** · 31-10-2007,02:23 AM

These engines seem to settle down on the MPG around 10k.. and average around 40mpg..

Rick

**mcmahonleon** · 01-11-2007,05:39 PM

Thanks all for your replies.

No worries on PSI front; I work for Continental & the tyres are checked religiously!

Since posting, I've driven circa 500-miles on the motorway & tried keeping at or below 80mph, kept below 3,500 rpm & siwtched the aircon off - achieved 42mpg, but so boring!

Hopefully clicking over 10k miles will mean I can start enjoying the engine again without worrying about my wallet.

**MarkBS** · 05-11-2007,03:03 PM

Hi, just read teh posts here...although I own a 140TDi I have found that teh economy has increased over time. When i got mine in kad under 3k on the clock and wouldn't do more that about 42-44 on a long run. Just completed a 500+mile round trip and worked out that I am at just over 50mpg. car now has 16k on the clock. Couple of things to mention though (apart from tyre pressures) is that the climate control can eat up mpg as does a heavy right foot!
Mark