Poor MPG - 2.0 TDi

[ti rich]

I am really, really disappointed with the MPG on my car (2.0 TDi S-Line Manual) . Despite doing long trips (normally on my own) i am struggling to average 43MPG over the full tank. To get this i am keeping to 65mph on the motorways and 55 on the A roads.

When doing long motorway trips at 80mph the average is 38MPG, at 75mph its about 41-42. If i drop the speed to 65mph then it will do about 48mpg (all in efficiency mode)

The car has done almost 8k miles so should be run in. To put this into perspective my old car (BMW 330d AUTO) which is heavier, automatic and had 100 BHP more did better than this.

Is my car normal or is there something wrong?

[Blackmore Spur]

Same car as you with 20" wheels to add to it. Across range of settings and driving conditions managed 33 for first thousand miles; up to nearly 40 now I've done 3k miles. Best I've managed so far is 48k mpg on long run..... Only good thing is it seems to be slowly getting better!

[pitch3110]

If I could add my bit.......

My B8 143 Multi was shockingly bad and slow when I first had it. Nearly 40k down the road and 50+ can be gained through steady driving.

Pitch

[Timothy Nathan]

My 3.0 TDI (SE, but I doubt that makes much difference) was indicating 57mpg on the whole motorway run (at 70 mph in "E" on the ACC) from M25 J9 to Coventry yesterday, and that was with a roof box, which must cost some fuel consumption. The car has only done 1200ish miles.

Obviously the trip computer lies a bit, and I haven't done a brim to brim, but it cant be more than, say, 10% off, so that would still be 52 at the most pessimistic.

Generally, I am amazed by the good consumption.

[ti rich]

This is my point - It appears that the 3.0 TDi's get better Motorway MPG than the 2.0 TDi.

Mine is going back to Audi tomorrow for a few minor things - i will ask them to check it over but i feel its just the way it is.

[Eshrules]

If you want to improve your MPG, your average MPH needs to be addressed.

Sitting at 55>60 is a decent compromise between speed and economy - if you rag a car around at 80mph it won't return decent fuel consumption figures, diesel or not.

[belly2000]

I have the same car as you 2.0 Tdi S-Line manual - just passed a 1000 on the clock. My Monday morning commute and Friday commute is 110 motorway miles each way - Averaging 69mph (from on board computer) gets me 49mpg and there's only a 1000 miles on the clock. Also this is in automatic setting not efficiency.

[Timothy Nathan]

Eshrules,

Far more important than the speed you drive is whether you need to make the journey at all. But this is Motherhood and Apple Pie stuff.

There was a comment from Auto Express on You and Yours just now that a clean car does better mpg than a dirty one.

[Piddles]

Despite doing long trips (normally on my own) i am struggling to average 43MPG over the full tank. To get this i am keeping to 65mph on the motorways and 55 on the A roads.

Doesn't sound right.

When you take it in ask them to write up what they do to investigate in an attempt not get brushed off with "couldn't find anything, they all do that, gov"

The comparison with the BMW is interesting. Did it have DPF? Diesels generally have taken a significant MPG hit when they're added.

[ti rich]

If you want to improve your MPG, your average MPH needs to be addressed.

Sitting at 55>60 is a decent compromise between speed and economy - if you rag a car around at 80mph it won't return decent fuel consumption figures, diesel or not.

Thanks but i am very aware of that. I am comparing a heavier car with a larger engine and is an automotic against mine on a mph/mph basis.

As stated at 65mph it will return 50MPG (just about) but the fact is thats really, really poor.