1.6 Tdi Fuel Consumption

[Brian B]

I have just purchased an A3 1.6 Tdi (8P) and found the fuel consumption very disappointing. Only getting about 50 mpg driving very carefully. Can anybody tell me what I should expect. Can anything be done to improve it, such as the plug in 'diesel tune' devices.
The only reason for buying a 1.6 was fuel consumption quoted.

 

[dan77]

Surely it should do more than that? my 2.0TDI quattro matches those figures. . . . just, start with the obvious things like tyre pressures etc, when was it last serviced?

 

[Turbo jay]

Have you change your filters recently? Particularly air,fuel filters as those when dirty can reduce mpg.

 

[Minstadave]

The 1.6TDI is regularly mentioned on here for poor fuel consumption. You're not alone. It's not a great engine, not really suited to a car the A3s size. The consumption figures are even more optimistic than normal.

 

[Brian B]

Thanks Guys, Have done a few more miles since yesterday, mainly A roads, little traffic and driving gently can do about 60 mpg according to trip. Not much fun though!
Car has only done 11k so filters,etc should be OK. Looks like I'LL have to live with it.
Has anybody tried the plug in performance improvers?

 

[Zak0123]

Mine gets about 65-70mpg at 50-60mph on an hour commute in this weather. Gets 50-55mpg on short dual carriage way journeys.

 

[sliced]

Plug in performance improvers, are those tuning boxes? Cheapish ones tend just to be resistors

 

[A3audi2010]

we have the 1.6 tdi A3 8p 2010, its done 24400miles.

the trip computer tells us different MPG all the time.

I only ever fill the tank until it cuts out and then reset the miles to zero.

after a simple bit of maths we average between 38-42 MPG.

its 6 miles in traffic in the morning and 6 miles home, maybe run to the shops of a weekend.

nowhere near the advertised MPG

 

[c_w]

The advertised figures are clearly controlled lab tests. The top mpg figures will only be achievable in a lab or to get near, in very careful driving, not stop start and getting up to full temp etc.

Sat in traffic for 6 miles is never going to return great MPG though.

 

[Zak0123]

Sat in traffic for 6 miles is never going to return great MPG though.

+1. This kind of driving was not what the Diesel engines were designed for bud. As c_w stated you need longer motorway journeys to start to see returns.

 

[A3audi2010]

+1. This kind of driving was not what the Diesel engines were designed for bud. As c_w stated you need longer motorway journeys to start to see returns.

so your suggesting I should move further away from work to get better MPG?

maybe if my commute was a few junctions down the motorway!

 

[Zak0123]

so your suggesting I should move further away from work to get better MPG?

maybe if my commute was a few junctions down the motorway!

If you want better MPG from a diesel then yes!

 

[Minstadave]

so your suggesting I should move further away from work to get better MPG?

maybe if my commute was a few junctions down the motorway!

Yes if you want better MPG drive further.

You'll never get the advertised figures as they're not real world figures just lab numbers.

Diesel engines take longer to warm up so a short commute is not what they're good at.

Buying a diesel for such a short commute wasn't a great idea, you'll not get great MPG and you'll be moaning again when the DPF packs in.

 

[A3audi2010]

you'll be moaning again when the DPF packs in.

I'm not moaning, I'm mocking.

its still a very good MPG compared to other cars in its class, and I am very happy with consumption in general.

but to suggest I drive more miles to save fuel is .......

 

[Zak0123]

but to suggest I drive more miles to save fuel is .......

Yep... thats exactly whats been said... drive more to save fuel... you're listening loud and clear. Like minstadave said the longer journeys allow the engine to warm up and will result in better MPG. Petrols are better for shorter journeys, don't forget as mentioned that the stated MPG is the optimum.

 

[Riichard]

The only reason I bought a diesel was because my daily commute is a smidgen under 40 miles each way. Careful driving can get me over 70mpg in my 2.0 140 which is pretty decent. My record - set this morning - is 75.7mpg (dropped to 74.7 after a set of traffic lights and an uphill stretch). Think this will deter some of the people who claim you never get near the MPG figures described by Audi!

Picture:

 

[Zak0123]

75 MPG on a 140!? Nice!! My record is about 67 MPG through 30mph-60mph back roads on my 30 mile commute. What do you get out of a tank? I normally get 600 miles but genuinely think I could get over 700 with a solid two week commute. Tend to have at least a couple of spirited journeys a week down the motorway which get me around 45-55mpg. :thumbsup: