done a 25-30 mile run yesterday (all motorway) and best i got was 39-40 mpg, on this run about 3 weeks ago i got 55mpg, (best i have seen) only owned the car 1 month so dont know the ins and outs. it was the same on the return drive, i was trying to get a high mpg deliberatly and best i got on the return was 41 i think and it took almost the full 25 miles to get upto it :/

was told to drive like

3rd-30mph

4th-40 mph

5th-50mph

6th-60mph

just not to let the engine struggle, now i was told the car was serviced when i bought it (but we all know some sellers dont tell the 100% truth) maybe a air filter needs changed? i put in redex with no noticable difference.

is it just the weather? ive been driving sensibly. or could it maybe need the throttle body cleaned? and possibly the injectors (which the redex should have cleaned)?

ive head people say on a 25 mile run they have got over 50mpg easy and also heard people getting into the 60mpg zone upwards. its a 2005 model. about town i can get about 30-35mpg is that about right too? the weather is getting very cold and the cold starts might not be good for it.

what is the best speed to sot at on motorways and in what gear? example a 70mph motorway ive heard people saying like cruising at 60-65mph in like 5th or 6th gear but just doesnt seem like it helps.

any help much appreciated.

Edited 16 November, 201015 yr by Scott Howie

done a 25-30 mile run yesterday (all motorway) and best i got was 39-40 mpg, on this run about 3 weeks ago i got 55mpg, (best i have seen) only owned the car 1 month so dont know the ins and outs. it was the same on the return drive, i was trying to get a high mpg deliberatly and best i got on the return was 41 i think and it took almost the full 25 miles to get upto it :/

was told to drive like

3rd-30mph

4th-40 mph

5th-50mph

6th-60mph

just not to let the engine struggle, now i was told the car was serviced when i bought it (but we all know some sellers dont tell the 100% truth) maybe a air filter needs changed? i put in redex with no noticable difference.

is it just the weather? ive been driving sensibly. or could it maybe need the throttle body cleaned? and possibly the injectors (which the redex should have cleaned)?

ive head people say on a 25 mile run they have got over 50mpg easy and also heard people getting into the 60mpg zone upwards. its a 2005 model. about town i can get about 30-35mpg is that about right too? the weather is getting very cold and the cold starts might not be good for it.

what is the best speed to sot at on motorways and in what gear? example a 70mph motorway ive heard people saying like cruising at 60-65mph in like 5th or 6th gear but just doesnt seem like it helps.

any help much appreciated.

sounds like it needs a good service to me,

mine was like this till i changed the air filter and oil and filter,

strange as it was done 5k miles prior to this ,

In my experience the ambient temperature has a significant effect on MPG, not that much perhaps but certainly 4 or 5 MPG lower when it's cold.

Another thing to consider is winter diesel, supplies have in the last couple of weeks switched to winter diesel. MPG when using this is always less than regular diesel because it has a lower calorific value. Additives are put in the diesel to stop it waxing at low temperatures which would otherwise leave you stranded.

Another thing to consider is winter diesel, supplies have in the last couple of weeks switched to winter diesel. MPG when using this is always less than regular diesel because it has a lower calorific value. Additives are put in the diesel to stop it waxing at low temperatures which would otherwise leave you stranded.

Wow is this true or ru pulling my leg? That's prety non PC.

My first winter with the vrs, its reading ~55 avg and 45 at pace. Now its 48 avg and 40... :(

No, it's absolutely right - it's only a con if you consider the risk of it waxing inside your car to be acceptable! It has to be done far enough in advance that there's no risk of a typical driver still having Summer-blend fuel in the car when it REALLY starts to get cold in the New Year. It's a genuine risk, even in this country, and is why those who stockpile diesel will only ever keep reserves of winter-blend DERV.

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/australia/corporate_australia/STAGING/local_assets/downloads_pdfs/f/Fuels_Winter_diesel_Problems_Summary.pdf

Have you had new tyres recently?

My mpg figure plumetted when I had 4 new tyres fitted.

Have you had new tyres recently?

My mpg figure plumetted when I had 4 new tyres fitted.

nope had the alloys refurbed but checked the pressures and corrected them once i got them back.

its maybe this winter diesel as stated but tbh im not convinced, maybethe fuel filter and oil filter needs changed, i will check the service book.

If it's any help, my non-vRS has nose-dived from 52mpg to 45mpg on my commute ... a combination of colder weather necessitating the use of heated windscreens/mirrors & AC, headlights, and more traffic, I think..? I did read on here once that the lower temperature increased the air density, so more fuel was injected by the ECU to keep the fuel:air mix constant...?

Check your tyre pressure. It's got cold in the last couple of days.

Check your tyre pressure. It's got cold in the last couple of days.

Good point (one I meant to make but forgot) - incorrectly inflated tyres do have a surprising effect!

Good point (one I meant to make but forgot) - incorrectly inflated tyres do have a surprising effect!

Mine were about 3psi down in each corner this morning when I checked them.

I also find that the car takes longer to warm up when it's this cold outside (measured by the little red stick and the warm blowers on my hands). Given the car will only operate efficiently once it's warm on a short commute the relative longer time at "not warm" would reduce the MPG. At least that's what I find. I reckon there is an optimum ambient operating temperature for these cars somewhere around 12 degrees.

what should the tyre pressures be? i put 34 in the fronts and 32 in the rears, sound about right? standard 16" vrs alloys

33 -31 for me

done a 25-30 mile run yesterday (all motorway) and best i got was 39-40 mpg, on this run about 3 weeks ago i got 55mpg, (best i have seen) only owned the car 1 month so dont know the ins and outs. it was the same on the return drive, i was trying to get a high mpg deliberatly and best i got on the return was 41 i think and it took almost the full 25 miles to get upto it :/

was told to drive like

3rd-30mph

4th-40 mph

5th-50mph

6th-60mph

ive head people say on a 25 mile run they have got over 50mpg easy and also heard people getting into the 60mpg zone upwards. its a 2005 model. about town i can get about 30-35mpg is that about right too? the weather is getting very cold and the cold starts might not be good for it.

what is the best speed to sot at on motorways and in what gear? example a 70mph motorway ive heard people saying like cruising at 60-65mph in like 5th or 6th gear but just doesnt seem like it helps.

any help much appreciated.

Sounds to me like it needs a good service. In my experience with owning diesels the mpg soon drops off when a service interval has passed.

Some good advice re. the tyre pressures, and interesting info about winter fuel. Maybe Scottish diesel is tampered with more because of the colder climate?

I easily break 50mpg (on dashboard) daily on 14 mile commute with varying traffic conditions. This includes the defrost time on the drive too.

When you are driving at a steady 65-70 in 6th, are you getting 60mpg + displayed on the dash? Mine was serviced when I bought it 2 weeks ago and this is probably an average reading at that steady speed.

Anything to do with a old fuel filter?

Scott Howie,

why not leave it in automatic and you then will be put into 6th gear when you hit 40mph (or thereabouts). Dirve in a high a gear as possible for good mpg - so, on the motorway you want to be doing 60-65mph in 6th.

its a manual so how can i put it in automatic? and your not meant to let the car struggle so 40mph in 6th would be hard going no?

I usually average 51-54mpg but this dips in colder weather (lowest I've ever had is 40mpg) - I assumed it was down to the engine taking longer to warm up and operate at optimum efficiency. Winter driving is nae fun :( .