Dmac, yea...the taxi boys with the TDI PD engines cover the miles. I was offered an Octavia 1.9TDI with 430,000 miles on the clock and it was an 04 plate. It ran very very well and had only had normal servicing and consumables (I think that meant two clutches and a set of injectors too but he wasn't clear on the injectors).

We have just changed my wife's car for a brand new Fabia 2 1.4 TDi 80 and on the first brim to brim fill it has only managed just over 46MPG, that was calculated manually not using the on-board computer. It was filled at the same filling station and our daily commute is 15 miles each way on a 60/70 MPH A road with very little stop/start driving.

I know we are still running it in but our previous cars have been much more economical from new so we are quite disappointed. Is this normal for this engine when it's only done just over 400 miles?

I know it is been a while now, but what kind of MPG are you getting now ?? If you do not mind me asking

regards

Timelord

Evil, yep...it sounds about right at the moment. If you think it's powerful now, wait until you have a few thousand miles on the clock. Don't worry about the fuel consumption just now...it'll sort itself out. Remember most of us are still running winter diesel too which knocks the figures a bit. It does need a few more revs than a four cylinder unit too as you say, but most of us rev it a bit too much to start with and this too will of course affect your fuel consumption especially when coupled with the tight new engine. I'm averaging between 50-52mpg on mostly urban and town use in winter, but in summer this improves to 54 to 57mpg for the same type of use. On trips I can easily achieve 70mpg plus with just a little trying and not exceeding 65mph. Good luck and post regularly to keep us all up to date with how she goes.

That's better now.... Done 308 miles now and took it out for a spin tonight. Forty Two miles - about six or seven crossing the town and then out onto the A1 for a 60 mph dawdle. The car returned 57.3 MPG according to the trip computer. Much more like what I was expecting. I gave it a few short spurts to about 3000 rpm coming out of roundabouts and the like and the engine is responding well to a bit of throttle. To tell the truth, I sort of forgot about the 'run in gently' lark for a couple of minutes last weekend with only about 200 miles done. I was coming up the A1 chatting to the wife, pulled out into the overtaking lane and floored the pedal in fourth to 80 MPH which only took about four seconds - and then I noticed it wasn't really responding right and would hold the same speed with a fraction of the throttle (I know diesels don't throttle - but language habits die hard). Anyway, after about maybe fifteen seconds of this - tops, I twigged and thought, 'Holy Cow Batman - this isn't the way to run it in,' and I went into fifth and cruised down to seventy and then down to sixty which is about 2200 revs. Since then, I've been VERY gentle with it for the next hundred miles, just the occasional half throttle squirt out of roundabouts and up hills to no more than 3000 revs. I doubt my momentary lapse did anything bad, but it was noticeable that at that 200 mile point, the engine didn't want to know. I had that on a new commuter motor bike once when it was newish - opened the throttle and no more power, just an increase in noise.

Edited 7 April, 201016 yr by EvilV

I wouldn't worry too much about that, I think that is probably better for the engine if you use the full rev range from new rather than messing about as long as the engine is oil is warm. It should help to run it in and I think for the first 1000 miles or so its best to vary the revs rather than sticking at a set level as it helps with the friction and running in. The 1.4 tdi encourages you to put your foot down for the noise it makes.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, I think that is probably better for the engine if you use the full rev range from new rather than messing about as long as the engine is oil is warm. It should help to run it in and I think for the first 1000 miles or so its best to vary the revs rather than sticking at a set level as it helps with the friction and running in. The 1.4 tdi encourages you to put your foot down for the noise it makes.

Yeah - the noise is great. Reminds me of that TDI racing car a bit. I'll see if I can find the youtube link.

Here it is ->

Funny to hear the American commentators remarking in amazement at the diesel being quick.

Edited 8 April, 201016 yr by EvilV

Evil...I agree with you and Fabi00, concerning no harm done to your engine. In fact, it will have done it good. Bye the way, when it's run in it will rocket to an indicated 110mph very quickly! Don't ask how I know! Give it some beans now and then, it's the only way to run these motors in properly. They never run in fully unless you use some power now and then during the first 500 miles. You won't harm it at all as long as it is fully warmed up, you avoid high constant engine speeds on motorways for long periods, and you don't use a lead boot on the throttle at low revs. Speed in terms of miles per hour doesn't really matter much, drive fast if you wish, but vary the load and revs, use the gearbox lots (changing gear even when not needed), load and unload the engine frequently. Going lightly most of the time with the throttle will just not get the engine and oil hot enough and raise combustion pressure enough for some metal to metal contact between the bores and piston rings. This is very much needed to shape the pistons, rings and bores for the life of the engine, you just don't want too much happening all at once. Remember, she runs on fully syn oil (very strong oil film), and the diesel fuel itself is a very good lubricant and not a solvent like petrol that washes oil away from the pistons and rings. This is one reason diesels last so long, pistons and rings are constantly bathed in oil of one sort or another! However, it makes the running in process quite difficult unless you drive it with some gusto now and again. Oh...errr sorry, you probably know all this stuff, I'm a bit over enthusiastic about these engines, no offence meant. Glad you are having fun though! Post regularly to tell us how she's going.

LOL - as if I'd take offence at someone taking the time to respond to my questions and concerns. Yes - I know some of this, but it is always good to get confirmation.

In general the thing has been very lightly treated, with the odd burst. Took the wife to Ikea this afternoon (I'm retired) and gave it a couple of short three second bursts through the gears to seventy. In general, it just toddles along though. As for not labouring it, I DO need to watch out for that, as the old SDI fabia estate was never happier than when chugging along at 1200 rpm and would pick up fine from those revs in any circumstances. I can feel the difference in this motor though. It does want to run a bit faster. Even now at only 36o miles, it drives fine in fourth at 30 miles an hour, even on a slight incline. It wouldn't do that happily even a hundred miles ago, so it is freeing up. The trip computer is showing 'fiftys' now on urban run around trips, but less when it is cold in the mornings.

Just washed it and wiped around the inside with a damp cloth.... LOL The other one was NEVER washed more than once every eighteen months and was full of soil and even spent .22 cartridge cases. I used to shoot rabbits out the window on farm tracks where I do pest control, driving it around the fields. I'll have to try and treat this one better. When it got got really mucky, the muck just dropped off the sides in clods. Cars can only get so mucky.