MK7 GTD - Real Life MPG

[SRGTD]

I'm pretty certain I've read it on this and other forums before, but I think at around end of October / beginning of November, the formulation of diesel being sold is switched to winter diesel, which includes additives to stop it 'waxing' in cold weather.

Winter diesel is less efficient than summer diesel. In previous years, I've noticed an increase of between 5% - 10% in fuel consumption when the fuel companies make the switch.

[monkeyhanger]

I'm pretty certain I've read it on this and other forums before, but I think at around end of October / beginning of November, the formulation of diesel being sold is switched to winter diesel, which includes additives to stop it 'waxing' in cold weather.

Winter diesel is less efficient than summer diesel. In previous years, I've noticed an increase of between 5% - 10% in fuel consumption when the fuel companies make the switch.

The 10% extra thirst is as much down to the weather as the formulation, if not more so. Colder air is drier air, it has a lower moisture saturation point. You'd be amazed how much humidity contributes to fuel economy. Warmer air saturated with moisture (as we see in the summer) expands more when combusted - giving a bigger expansion per combustion and better mpg as a result. With the colder weather you will also find your car takes longer to warm up - it may only be an extra mile for warm-up, but on a 10 mile journey it'll be noticed. You'll likely be using your lights, heating and ventilation more, all of which put an extra drain on your battery, so your alternator will be working harder.

[mike_f]

Yeah I agree to an extent and appreciate that the economy in the winter is worse but I have had my car for about 13 months and 16k miles. The economy I got last October when I first got it was about 46-48..

Now I cant even get that and it's the worst it's ever been so I'd have to suspect that something is wrong. It isn't even that cold - about 12 degrees.

I'm driving it as carefully as I can and still struggling to break 45 mpg on an 130 mile motor way run.

It is honestly like a different car since being serviced..

reading a lot of the sales patter about low friction lubricants etc being developed helping improve fuel economy I wonder if they have used a diff oil?

Love the car, hate the performance!!

Surely you can get nearly 40mpg out a Golf R!!

[monkeyhanger]

Mike f: Yes my car is a thirsty beast post-servicing, getting 43mpg ave right now. Can't wait for the R now, at least when my mpg dips below 40mpg when it gets really cold, the mpg shock of the R won't be as big as it was.

This GTD has by far the worst fuel.economy of a VW TDI I have ever owned, I'd be getting a solid 50mpg in my Scirocco right now for these weather conditions.

[C2K]

Mine is a manual GTD, just sitting on 6500 miles at the moment as it sits around quite a lot lately.

Took it 140 miles to Preston at the weekend, it managed 57.7 on the run, which is good given that it's about 30 by the time i reach the motorway (all uphill). That was at cruise on 73 all the way.

Coming back it was quite a bit faster, 75-80 on cruise with a few moment of foot down action, stopped once briefly ahead of M6 toll. Managed 54.5 coming back.

Seems a bit more effortless than when i first got it, but have still only cracked 60 on a couple of occasions. The DPF is a nuisance though, no rhyme or reason to its cycle. Only significant pattern is it always seems to initiate one after a long motorway cruise, meaning i arrive at destination with fans on.

My biggest irritation is VW diesels were always famed for meeting their combined MPG figures with ease - then i buy one and mine is a mile from the book figures really. Only once has it come close!

[mike_f]

Mine is a manual GTD, just sitting on 6500 miles at the moment as it sits around quite a lot lately.

Took it 140 miles to Preston at the weekend, it managed 57.7 on the run, which is good given that it's about 30 by the time i reach the motorway (all uphill). That was at cruise on 73 all the way.

Coming back it was quite a bit faster, 75-80 on cruise with a few moment of foot down action, stopped once briefly ahead of M6 toll. Managed 54.5 coming back.

Seems a bit more effortless than when i first got it, but have still only cracked 60 on a couple of occasions. The DPF is a nuisance though, no rhyme or reason to its cycle. Only significant pattern is it always seems to initiate one after a long motorway cruise, meaning i arrive at destination with fans on.

My biggest irritation is VW diesels were always famed for meeting their combined MPG figures with ease - then i buy one and mine is a mile from the book figures really. Only once has it come close!

I would be delighted with that consumption. I cant even hit 45mpg cruise on at 75mpg on a 130 mile motorway run with flat-ish roads...

[runningman35]

Just got my car on Thursday, and covered 320 miles so far. Noticed that comfort mode and using radar cruise control to assist I did a return journey with 50.9 mpg actual return mpg on 162.7 miles journey from home to Newtonmore and back. Saw a best of 55.7 average for a time, then Cairngorms put paid to that.

Impressed with the technology so far and betters the 36.3mpg I got doing same route in my Mk5 GTI by a useful margin if I can see this type of return regularly! 

No doubt will drop off if listen to rock or dance music and select sport mode, but find it gets annoying after a while with pseudo V8 sound track and Sat Nav directions getting piped through louder as well for some reason. Also why does it think I want to go to Wolfsburg when I change to 3D view and then lose my current destination? Weird? Bit off topic but in my mind to mention it! 

[p3asa]

Wolfsburg is its maternal home so probably just missing it!!
Seriously though this was a gremlin in some of the old RNS510's sat navs.
I've never experienced it on my Nav. Maybe worth mentioning to the dealer?

[Jobilo]

I've had my GTD for nearly 2 months now (2200 miles on the clock), mpg wise it is showing 49 long term - mix motorway and town. Long motorway trips returning 53 ish, confirmed by brim to brim test.

Overall i'm quite pleased, not as efficient as my last car but ok and a lot more fun to drive.

[monkeyhanger]

I've had my GTD for nearly 2 months now (2200 miles on the clock), mpg wise it is showing 49 long term - mix motorway and town. Long motorway trips returning 53 ish, confirmed by brim to brim test.

Overall i'm quite pleased, not as efficient as my last car but ok and a lot more fun to drive.

Just wait until it gets serviced, you might see your mpg drop a bit.