After recently fitting new sump after an altercation with a temporary ramp (for which I have succesfully got compensation!) I noticed a dramatic improvement in economy. Whilst the sump was off I took the opportunity to clean the oil pickup pipe filter which was pretty clogged up with the sort of "coffee grounds" type gunk (190k miles and still running lovely). I am a bit of an anorak for the regular journeys I do in knowing what mpg the trip computer will read if I take it as gently as possible. On all my regular journeys I am getting around 15% increase in mpg. I have not actually measured brim to brim after recent repair job but will report back once I have. My normal brim to brim mpg before this was usually between 53 and 56 mpg so I am interested to see if I have now smashed through the 60mpg figure! Why would cleaning the pickup make such a dramatic difference in economy? And if it does why is this not a full service item?

Edited 10 June, 201115 yr by plum2pudd

Are you a diesel driver?

Must be, you don't get that mpg from the petrol engines.

Thus I am quite interested, being I am at 183k, and due an oil change soon....

What oil was used after the change?

My MKI Octavia Elegance 110 TDi would regularly get over 60mpg (trip computer rather than actual) this was using long life oil and variable servicing.

Oh crikey yes I very regularly get over 60mpg on trip computer but it does not correspond terribly well to the real world! In fact I regularly get the trip computer showing into the 80's and sometimes into the 90's (it only goes as far as 99.9 in case anyone else has managed to get it there!). I have a very light right foot and try to hypermile as much as I can. Highest ever measured consumption over a tank is a shade over 56mpg. I am a bit disappointed with this as it is supposed to do 64ish mpg on a run and my 56mpg tank was made up of long gentle motorway and a road driving so should have been over 60mpg. Oil is just regular 5w/30 and is changed every 10k or less. Yes it is diesel of course! 110 slx

Edited 10 June, 201115 yr by plum2pudd

Oh crikey yes I very regularly get over 60mpg on trip computer but it does not correspond terribly well to the real world! In fact I regularly get the trip computer showing into the 80's and sometimes into the 90's (it only goes as far as 99.9 in case anyone else has managed to get it there!).

I was referring to the average fuel consumption on the trip not the instantaneous one, which IMO is pointless, what good is it to know you are doing 90+ mpg going down a hill if you are then doing low teen going back up it? The average consumption is what is important.

Try some long life oil (VW506.01 or VW507.00) next time, it makes a difference. also check the tyre pressures are correct, some tyres are also better than others as they will have a lower rolling resistance.

Yeah I understood you. I also was talking about average not instantaneous; instantaneous goees up to 200mpg!

Actually the instantaneous IS useful for someone who wants to improve their mpg as it can help somebody to decide which gear to be in etc and to adjust their driving style to get highest numbers on computer. That is how I learned . Will certainly give the longlife a go next change, cheers.

Edited 10 June, 201115 yr by plum2pudd

The highest I've ever had the instantaneous mpg mode go was about 820.3 mpg! After that it just goes ---.-

That doesn't make sense to me notthestig as my instantaneous only goes to 200 before going to ------

Mine's an Elegance, not a SLX, so different build software?

Also, if I was prepared to drive everywhere at 50, and stay below peak torque when accelerating, I reckon it might get low 60s on a run. As it is, accelerating "assertively" and cruising at 60<cough>mph on single carriageway, I can see 57mpg (based on fuel to fill tank).

Yes I guess must be different software in computer then. And what did your trip average show for the tank that you did a measured 57mpg on? I'm going for a measured 60+mpg on my next tank just to see if it can indeed be done!

As long as all that careful driving doesn't lead to the turbo getting cacked up leading to sticking vanes and limp mode.

Well I do give it a boot now and again to clear the smoke

Yes I guess must be different software in computer then. And what did your trip average show for the tank that you did a measured 57mpg on? I'm going for a measured 60+mpg on my next tank just to see if it can indeed be done!

I didn't actually look at the fuel modes on the computer. I zero the trip every time I fill right up though.

My SLX TDI only goes to 200 before --- . My previous Fabia 1.4 8v Comfort would get the odd number up to several hundred.

The other main differences between the trip computers are that the Fabia had genuinely instantaneous consumption readout. On the SLX it reads (according to the manual) the fuel consumption over 30m stints (so is less responsive and updates periodically as you're driving). Also the Fabia's computer would estimate remaining range but the SLX doesn't do this.

I think the 2000-2001 facelift models have the same trip computer software as the Fabia.

Edited 13 June, 201115 yr by Uriel

Yeah; mine has an "available range" mode, and obvious pauses between updates in "instantaneous consumption" mode.

It's very interesting to read all the replies here, so what the hell is wrong with mine, I'd like to know? My Octavia Elegance Estate 1.9 TDi110 ASV engine with 175,000 miles on the clock runs on Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W30 motor fully synthetic oil. It never loses a drop. The turbo is clean and free, the MAF sensor performs exactly as it should do. I have checked and double-checked these with VCDS. The valve timing is spot on, the pump timing is fractionally advanced but well within the limit. The engine temperature is correct and it runs very nicely and pulls well. Yet my overall average fuel consumption is around 43mpg. There's no way I can get anywhere 60mpg. If I'm lucky I can get to around 53mpg on the right kind of journey driving steadily. Maybe changing the oil feed pipe would help.....

The engine temperature is correct and it runs very nicely and pulls well. Yet my overall average fuel consumption is around 43mpg. There's no way I can get anywhere 60mpg. If I'm lucky I can get to around 53mpg on the right kind of journey driving steadily.

Mine does not seem to pull very well, but gives good MPGs... wanna swap?!

My best brim to brim was 60 MPG which included a long journey with climate control turned off. In normal usage (9 mile each way commute, plus variable weekend and social trips) I'm averaging somewhere around 43 mpg. Last 2.5k miles since I got the SLX TDI gives 48 MPG on the trip computer and 46 MPG calculated.

I got the SLX110 TDI, my commute is 60miles a day, and taking it easy 60-65 on mway easily sees 65mpg and that is giving it full throttle boot in 2nd coming off roundabout to keep the turbo clear, always use long life, always keep eye on tyre pressure as it really does effect it quite a bit, my car has done 116k miles with full skoda service history, im the second owner and will be keeping it serviced,

Interesting stats guys thanks for posting. I know this thread is a little old but I think that there are always people interested in "real world" mpg figures for cars rather than the manufacturers claims. FWIW I think the 110 engine is the best combination of power and economy. I still haven;t managed to crack 60mpg on brim to brim fill ups but last couple of tanks have both been over 59mpg. Recent changes include a cleaning of EGR and inlet which was pretty caked up with gunk, 5w/30 and filter change and inflating tyres to 40psi. Coasting is far better with higher tyre pressure. A little more road noise from front wheels but nothing too much. Don;t really understand what is up with some of your cars that are returning sub 50mpg but I struggle to get sub 50 even if I thrash the pants off it and I get depressed with a brim to brim tank of under 52mpg. Maybe try some of the changes I mentioned. Oh and 1ml of acetone per litre of fuel to clean injectors (although some say it can harm components including fuel pump so on your head be it if you want to try this!).

Edited 24 March, 201214 yr by plum2pudd

Oh and 1ml of acetone per litre of fuel to clean injectors (although some say it can harm components including fuel pump so on your head be it if you want to try this!).

That's fine if you want all your fuel and vacuum hoses, and any seals in the system to slowly turn to crumbly cack! Not a good idea at all. Especially something as highly solvent as acetone. That'll eat all of the silicon and oil content out of rubber (very important to keep it's structural integrity) in no time at all. And the vapour alone is very corrosive to rubbers.

Yes I've heard others say similar things but also others say that they have immersed rubber seals in jars of acetone for weeks with no degradation so not sure who to believe there. Diesel and petrol are obviously strong solvents so I would think that the rubber used should withstand it but I'm not an organic chemist! Incidentally the acetone comes in a plastic bottle. Plastic is made from oil I believe so if 99.5% pure acetone is ok in a plastic bottle a 0.1% solution is likely to do little harm in the fuel system. Just my tuppence worth and I'm not suggesting anyone should try this without at least considering the potential risks themselves.

Edited 28 March, 201214 yr by plum2pudd