We've just changed our 2002 Octavia 1.9TDI for a new Octavia estate 1.4TSI, and rather a lot has changed over the years. One thing which annoys me is that dashboard gear shift indicator; it seems to think the car will pull 6th gear up an incline at 40mph, which I'm sure would ruin the engine bearings if done frequently. Does anyone take any notice of it? If I wanted to be told when to change gear, I'd have bought a car with a slushbox

Incidentally, what sort of mpg do people get from a run-in 1.4TSI? It is currently scraping 40mpg in mixed (not much stop-start) driving, but we only picked it up on Friday. I remember that the mpg of the old diesel had improved markedly by 20,000 miles; we once got 70mpg out of it on a long motorway run with a following wind.

I just ignore it - gear choice has a lot more to do with the road condition and looking ahead than just optimal mpg IMO.

Here's my tip. If i'm in third and its telling me to to to fourth, just put your foot down a bit harder - bingo - now third is the right gear .

Works for me. :wonder:

I think it is a bit of a gimmick. I agree with its interpretation of when to change gear whilst on a level road, but as per the original poster it is best ignored when on a gradient as 6th gear at 35/40 going up a hill might save a tiny drop of petrol but with repeated use is more likely to knacker the engine.

The gear indicator just recommends what gear will be most efficient.

It wont hurt the engine being in a high gear at low revs.

The recommended gear aspect is I think a completely useless gimmick in the main. Any driver with experience of his car should know which gear to be in for the prevailing circumstances - but - it does tell you what gear you are in, which can sometimes be useful. That's a fairly common feature on motorbikes, (or it was) ie just the indicator to tell you what gear you are in.

Shame that Skoda didn't stop there and just have the display as a 'What gear the car is in indicator only'. However - I believe it may have been dropped from the cars made in the last 5 months or so?

is this only on petrol engines as I dont have this displayed on my dash? (not that I want it as it sounds a pain!)

is this only on petrol engines as I dont have this displayed on my dash? (not that I want it as it sounds a pain!)

They seem to have introduced it on the more recent cars. Mine doesn't have it either, but the Octavia courtesy car that I had last week did, as did a Golf diesel hire car that I had.

I had it once on a Greenline Octavia courtesy car. To be honest I ignored it most of the time as you had to boot it in every gear just to keep up with traffic. Still manged a respectible 55 mpg despite this ! Personally I think it is only appropriate when travelling on a flat, empty motorway and only if you are running on fumes playing 'fuel-light bingo'. Otherwise trust your instinct, brake progressively, anticipate and plan ahead for good economy. Alternatively buy a vRS, to hell with the fuel economy and enjoy life.

must have missed mine then as it was only built in september.

I'm sure this feature is totally unnecessary for the 100% perfect thoroughly experienced drivers on this august forum but spare a thought for those lesser mortals who may actually learn learn something by realising that driving at 25mph in 5th up a gradient or on the motorway at 60 in 4th is not the most efficient thing to do

Example from my dear 72 year old cousin who bought a new Yaris last year trading in her 12 year old 22,000 mile immaculate Ford Fiesta under the scrappage scheme (what a criminal waste!!!). She asked me "What is 5th gear for?". To which I replied "To save fuel when you are going over about 50mph. Didn't your Fiesta have a 5 speed box?". "Yes it did, but I never used 5th gear".

That's a fairly common feature on motorbikes, (or it was) ie just the indicator to tell you what gear you are in.

No motorcycle I ever rode had a gear indicator, all had 5 or 6 speed boxes (1 down, 4 or 5 up). The only indicator was a light to tell you that you had found neutral. You used the rev counter to keep in the power band and changed up or down to keep it there. You didn't care what number gear it was - just that you were in the sweet part of the rev band.

I've broken mine! When I select reverse the Bolero screen shows the sensor pattern as usual, but then when I select 1st gear it stays on screen. Push the "back" arrow to clear & it does but no annoying gearchange indicator appears. Don't want it fixed as I hate that thing. Got to go in, mind, as oil filler cap is now welded on for some reason. Even the weightlifters down the Gym couldn't shift it.

I've broken mine! When I select reverse the Bolero screen shows the sensor pattern as usual, but then when I select 1st gear it stays on screen. Push the "back" arrow to clear & it does but no annoying gearchange indicator appears. Don't want it fixed as I hate that thing. Got to go in, mind, as oil filler cap is now welded on for some reason. Even the weightlifters down the Gym couldn't shift it.

You did tell the weightlifters they need to turn rather than lift the cap didn't you?

Ive got use to them as the BMW i ve been running the last 2 years had it .

It does help with fuel economy if used correctly more so on long runs.

If you are at a steady speed mine tells you to change gear if over 1800rpm.

Dont you only get the gear indicator of you have dsg or maxidot ?

The vRS i did test drive in didnt have maxidot, & didnt have gearchange indicator, however any car i have been in with dsg has had this.

I had a loan 1.4tsi , which had Maxidot, & had the indicator .

I think its on the 1.4 TSI, 1.8TSI, Green line and cars with DSG.

I know this is an old post but....

When I'm in 6th gear doing the motorway speed limit, it keeps telling me to shift up????? (I only have the manual. and I only have 6 forward gears????)

At first I thought it was telling me to shift down (equally odd) but after checking again, it was definatly "advising" me to shift up.

It doesn't happen all the time, so not much point taking it back to the dealer. Any ideas?

I had gear change recommendation on my Facelift Scout (1.8T) but that had maxidot. I don't have it on my current car (VRS Diesel manual hatch). Hopefully i'll get it on me next VRS in which i have ordered Maxidot as i quite liked it, especially the wife...

I for one quite like it - you can ignore if you see fit. My wife follows it more slavishly than me, and gets better economy figures as a result. Unless anyone has evidence to the contrary, I suspect the 'using the engine at low revs damages the bearings' is a myth with modern diesels, provided you don't spend the whole time with your foot to the floor in sixth at 25mph. The indicator tells you to downshift if the engine is properly labouring.

When I'm in 6th gear doing the motorway speed limit, it keeps telling me to shift up????? (I only have the manual. and I only have 6 forward gears????)

What is the indication when it wants you to shift up from 6th?

Listening to the shift indicator is only good in certain circumstances, because it just wants to put you in the lowest revs possible for the engine. It's bad news if you have a DPF and always follow it though, low revs like that will clog your DPF pretty fast.

Listening to the shift indicator is only good in certain circumstances, because it just wants to put you in the lowest revs possible for the engine. It's bad news if you have a DPF and always follow it though, low revs like that will clog your DPF pretty fast.

I

I thought you only got it with the TSI petrol engine?

I have just purchased a 1.9Tdi Greenline 2010 (5 Speed - Manual Gearbox) - First few days, it was telling me to shift up a gear and it all made sense but yesterday morning, it apears to have gone bonkers as it now only tells me to shift down gears when it clearly should say up, to save fuel, which is what it's for.

Basically, it's stopped asking to shift up.

QA) Is there a fault or have I pressed some button ( ie sports mode) ?

QB) Can I disable this indicator ?

Edited 3 June, 201313 yr by smughal

I had this on my last two Golfs and frankly found it bloody annoying. It would often tell you to change up, leave the engine labouring to then immediately tell you to change down; I very soon just ignored it.

I think most DSG cars tell you the gear selection whether they have maxidot or not; in fact im sure gear recomendation and gear selection indicators are available whether you have maxidot or not; Ive been in MK6 Golfs with the low end trip (like what comes in the vRS as standard) and that still had gear recommendation.

^{Can it be disabled as it's very annoying?}