Hi, new to the forum and looking for some help please.

 

I'm coming from a MK1 Fabia 1.9s non-turbo diesel, which always saw good returns. Average 45mpg and often as high as 53mpg coimbined if I had done a few motorway trips - which I think means it was getting at least 60mpg at a steady 60mph.

 

Needed a car in a hurry as it droped the clutch on me, and being a 2001 was just not economically viable to repair it.

 

Just bought a 12 plate Fabia a week ago - 1.6tdi cr se and I am getting TERRIBLE fuel consumption.

 

Do mostly short urban journeys and I find it always wants to be in a different gear from what I would instincively select.

 

My natural driving style is to accelerate slowly and gently, quickly get the car in a as high a gear as the travvic allows, and normally just tickle the accelerator gently in 5th gear at 30mph, which gave great returns ln all my previous cars and it was no different in the MK1 Fabia diesel.

 

What is causing this? Is there a different way you have to drive these modern torbo diesel engines?

 

I have had it suggested that I am driving it too gentle and that it prefers to be in a much lower gear.

 

Is there a guide to what gear it prefers at what speeds? Really frustrated so any help appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

You need to adapt your driving style I'm afraid, the 1.6tdi actually drives more like a petrol and loves to be revved. Ignore the gear selection indicator and just listen to the engine. 

 

Alternatively you could get a remap, the extra torque allows for earlier gear change, more like you were used to with your old PD engine. 

You need to adapt your driving style I'm afraid, the 1.6tdi actually drives more like a petrol and loves to be revved. Ignore the gear selection indicator and just listen to the engine. 

 

Alternatively you could get a remap, the extra torque allows for earlier gear change, more like you were used to with your old PD engine. 

 

Thanks mate, so you suggest dumping my naturally over gentle driving style and just "driving" the thing? I don't mean aggresively, but giving it a little more oomph.

 

Mate suggested today to drive using these guidelines : 2nd till 20mph, use 3rd right upto 40mph, 4th up to 55mph, then 5th - sound way off to you ?

 

Are there any recognised recommended speeds for each gear?

 

Trip computer is doing my head in - mpg readout changes it mind more times than a virgin on prom night.

 

Today it went from 200mpg ( I kid you not! ) to 13mpg and everywhere in between.

Thanks mate, so you suggest dumping my naturally over gentle driving style and just "driving" the thing? I don't mean aggresively, but giving it a little more oomph.

Mate suggested today to drive using these guidelines : 2nd till 20mph, use 3rd right upto 40mph, 4th up to 55mph, then 5th - sound way off to you ?

Are there any recognised recommended speeds for each gear?

Trip computer is doing my head in - mpg readout changes it mind more times than a virgin on prom night.

Today it went from 200mpg ( I kid you not! ) to 13mpg and everywhere in between.

Welcome to the forum

If trip says 200mpg then 13 you have it on the wrong readout more than likely

i.e 200 when coasting then 13 when having fun

As said above drive it like a petrol

I had mk1 vrs and just couldn't get used to the 1.6d after

If you're only doing short journeys (as I do) you may run into dpf problems so keep those revs up.

Thanks mate, so you suggest dumping my naturally over gentle driving style and just "driving" the thing? I don't mean aggresively, but giving it a little more oomph.

 

Mate suggested today to drive using these guidelines : 2nd till 20mph, use 3rd right upto 40mph, 4th up to 55mph, then 5th - sound way off to you ?

 

Are there any recognised recommended speeds for each gear?

 

Trip computer is doing my head in - mpg readout changes it mind more times than a virgin on prom night.

 

Today it went from 200mpg ( I kid you not! ) to 13mpg and everywhere in between.

Yep, sounds about spot on, mines been fiddled with so i can now grab gears earlier on but for you is say work with that and adapt slightly to suite your car. 

 

You should be averaging around 40-50mpg round town and 50-60mpg on the motorway, all depends but thats a ruff guide. 

40 - 50 miles achieved from a gallon of diesel around town is rather unlikely if you do 10 x 4 mile journeys starting each time from cold.

Driving around and about for 10-20 miles might be a rather different economy achieved.

I've noticed mine varies massively on how I'm driving it, I also went to the newer CR TDI from an old PD unit.

Definitely Rev the engine a little more, 2nd until between 25 and 30, 3rd from then until 40-45, 4th to 55 and consider 5th as an overdrive - never use 5th below 55. Once I mastered it, and when the engine is warm, I'll see up to 45/48 mpg around town and depending on how fast I take it - up to 65/67 on the motorway.

Mine happily cruises at indicated 80 sipping around 52mpg. There is a massive difference between how much it uses between 65 and 80. I also changed my tyres a few weeks ago from Contis to Michelin Pilot Sports and I'm sure they have made a difference too unless it's the cold weather.

Oh, and as for the trip computer - make sure it's on Average Consumption instead of just "consumption". Once on average consumption you can decide between "1" or "2" - 1 is for this journey (or however many journeys within the same few hours) and 2 is for the entire time since it was reset (I reset trip every full tank). If you really want to know how much it's consuming, warm the engine up, take it on the motorway and cruise as steady as you can. Reset the "average consumption 1" and watch it for a few minutes - this cuts out the data taken when the engine was warming up and gives you a truer value.

A test I did; warmed up the engine drove 10 miles in 3rd gear not exceeding 50/55 mph, average 51.6 mpg.

Same day, same road conditions, same 10 mile journey this time using 5th gear not exceeding 50/55mph, 

average 50.2 mpg.

I didn't try a 4th gear test, all this proved to me was that 5th gear is purely an overdrive, I use it 60 mph plus.

 

Fuel consumption since new, now 8550 miles, averages around 52 mpg, which is roughly the same as my

previous Mk1 Octavia Elegance 1.9 130 bhp boosted to 160 bhp & that did pull from 2.5k rpm in 6th gear!

 

Drive the 1.6 CR TDI as one should drive a petrol engined car.  The CR TDI engine is totally different to the

1.9 PD tdi engines.

 

I'm toying with the idea of increasing the Monte's power/torque but I'm a bit wary of doing so whilst under warranty.

 

Keith

Edited 6 January, 201511 yr by keithw

The difference between your old car and this Is quite vast.

 

The gear ratios in the 1.6 will be much higher for a start.

 

Don't try to accelerate hard when the revs are under 2000rpm as you will put stress on the clutch and flywheel.

 

As above they need to be revved slightly more. Driving them too gently causes more harm then good.

 

When looking at your MPG on the trip computer make sure you are on either the trip one (a little "1" next to it) or switch with the button on the bottom of the stalk to the overall mpg (a little "2" next to it). It sounds like you're on the instantaneous mpg figure.

 

Phil

I've been running a 10-plate Fabia 1.6TDI CR (105) since last summer and it's not as frugal as I'd thought. I bought this car with low miles (30k miles) and it's currently at 39k.

During the summer with better ambient temperatures, I was probably getting 500 miles on a tank of diesel. This is mostly on A-class roads and motorways, so 60-70mph

It does like to be driven hard, and for a little car it's quick off the mark. I'm no stranger to diesels and still run my A4 Avant quattro 2.5 TDI (V6) aka Amtrak locomotive. For a brut of a car it achieves 45mpg when driven under 60mph, which equates about 530ish miles from full to fumes, hence my disappointment from what should be a more economical Skoda.

Couple of things to remember, servicing is key. I normally run a can of Forte diesel conditioner straight into the fuel filter prior to changing (not every service) to clean injectors, etc. It'll smoke like an E Class frigate but it does clear in 10 minutes. Drive hard through the gears. Alternatively run the conditioner in a full tank of diesel.

I'm servicing it in 1,000 miles, so will change fuel and air filters, swap out the glow plugs and put in a nice drop of Castrol Edge 5w30. Change every 10k miles for a sweet running engine.

Double check tyre pressures and binding brakes. Rear drums are known to sieze at this time of year.

Thanks for the input guys. Really appreciate all the help! Tyre pressures are good and as stated in the guide inside the flap covering the petrol cap.

 

Found the average consumption setting and it has varied wildly from 20ish then suddenly jumping up to high 40's, then falling back again?

 

Surely this should be a mean average readout and not fluctate so rapidly or as much?

 

It goes back into Skoda soon for a few cosmetic touchups so will ask them what they think (if anything) is up with it.

 

Considering whacking some cataclean and some redex through it after I get it back then taking it for a good old belt down the motorway.

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by butcher

That would be a very bad idea,

just put good fuel in the tank and drive it up and down the road, you do not need or want these detergent / lubricants / additives, which are just an extra expense.

 

PS

Are you set on Instant Consumption when talking about jumping from 20-40 mpg, rather than on Average Settings,

& resetting that before a trip or during a trip.

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

butcher, I wouldn't use a cat/dpf cleaner in it just yet. But I would use some 'Millers' diesel injector cleaner/fuel system cleaner in it. Once a year is all it needs to be done. It's cheap to buy and it works and will ensure your system is clean. On short journeys the injectors do get very sticky and cruddy. I would also add that your journeys are just not long enough for any modern diesel engine. The cat and dpf will suffer as will the oil if you don't do longer journeys. Your fuel economy will be bad used like that as the car will be running a 'rich' mixture for quite some time into your journey making it impossible to get good consumption. The oil will also not warm up to it's proper operating temperature and become very dirty and full of water. (which turns to sulphuric acid after a few days). You would be much much better off with a petrol engined car which warms up more quickly, preferably one of the many turbo charged 1.2 litre engines such as Skoda produce. It will most likely better your fuel economy in situations like yours and be cheaper to run. Incidentally, your average fuel economy readout will jump about if you reset it after each journey especially if you are only going a few miles down the road in an urban environment. So that's normal. On a longer run it will be fine. At the risk of sounding too negative, I suspect you are not going to be happy with a modern diesel, they are so different to diesels of old. But good luck!

During the summer with better ambient temperatures, I was probably getting 500 miles on a tank of diesel. This is mostly on A-class roads and motorways, so 60-70mph

It does like to be driven hard, and for a little car it's quick off the mark. I'm no stranger to diesels and still run my A4 Avant quattro 2.5 TDI (V6) aka Amtrak locomotive. For a brut of a car it achieves 45mpg when driven under 60mph, which equates about 530ish miles from full to fumes, hence my disappointment from what should be a more economical Skoda.

 

Don't forget though that where your Audi achieves 530 miles to a tank... the tank is 70 litres! The Fabia achieves 500 to with only a 45 litre tank!

 

The only way to get a true picture of how good a car is in terms of economy is to record the miles and calculate based on how much fuel goes through it.

Butcher - you really do need to drive the CR TDI as you would a petrol OR with your continuing short slow journeys you will start to encounter DPF problems sooner rather than later. Totally ignore the recommended gear suggestions as shown on the dashboard.

 

The blunt truth is that the CR TDI fabia's are no longer a town car in the same way that the older PD engined car was. What would be of help is to give the car a good speedy 20 mile blast on the motorway (stay in 4th) every now and again. On your short town trips, the CR TDI will not reach full operating temperature.

Can I reiterate a point already made by various posters - do not start to use additives in your fuel.

Good luck

 

PS -

I did have a 61 plate CR90 TDI, so I am very aware of the need to treat the car more vigorously than a PD. I got rid of this and returned to petrol TSI

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by 2ndskoda

Don't forget though that where your Audi achieves 530 miles to a tank... the tank is 70 litres! The Fabia achieves 500 to with only a 45 litre tank!

The only way to get a true picture of how good a car is in terms of economy is to record the miles and calculate based on how much fuel goes through it.

Indeed.

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by spartacus68

Thanks for the input again guys !

 

Took it for a blast today, did a 40 mile run taking it at 60 then 80 to see what I got. Then after a half hour rest, did the same return journey at 60 / 70 Was getting reasonable mpg on the runs at 60/70 looking around 62mpg once cruising nicely which is fine.

 

Also noticed over last couple of days that when I have done shorter journeys (7 miles or so, couple of hours apart) a couple of times during the day, it seamed to improve the round the doors milage as the day went on.

 

Would this be a result of their being any remaining heat in the dpf / cat / engine and as such meaning car was getting up to temp easier?

 

I usually do one regular run each week that consists of a 26 mile round trip - 13 miles then a few hours then 13 back - almost all motorway.

Would this run be enough to keep the dpf/cat happy? Have heard of some people getting the dpf drilled? Apart from obviously invalidating any warranty, what impact would this have on the car?

 

Also , at the risk of sounding naive : "drive it like a petrol" - I'm not really sure what you mean by this as I learned in and have always had diesels.

 

Sorry if some of this is a bit "basic" but I'm just trying to get the best out of it.

 

 

Again, really appreciate the help.

Edited 8 January, 201511 yr by butcher

"drive it like a petrol"

In other words make use of the upper rev range, don't be afraid to give it some welly!

"drive it like a petrol"

In other words make use of the upper rev range, don't be afraid to give it some welly!

 

Thanks mate, did that a bit today and saw some better figures from the round the doors run. Still rather low compared to what I would expect.

"drive it like a petrol"

In other words make use of the upper rev range, don't be afraid to give it some welly!

Erm,

Cept in a bigger car, the 1.6TDI Octavia with a DSG.

i.e. pulling/accelerating  more mass

 

The VW programmed transmission changes up-up-up-up & early-early-early, from 1500-1600 revs and only to just over 2000 revs, in ordinary driving, one up.

Unless "wellying" it, when it will easily ping 4000rpm.

 

SO

Yes one can rev the nuts off the 1.6TDI

BUT

One does not need to, this is unfortunately yet another "urban myth"

Assuming VW engineers reasonably knew sommat about the performance characteristics of the engine they had developed.

cheers

marcus

PS

I ud ave noticed particularly high fuel consumption during any period of "DPF burning", due to insufficient prolonged driving at normal engine operating temperatures.

So a "double whammy" if engaged in unsuitable short runs from cold.

PPs

I get over 40mpg from a stone cold outside start (these winter mornings) on the 3.85 mile journey into work in the morning.

On a flat main road, cept for crossing the bypass near my work, driving at ordinary speeds(rarely over 60 on an "A" Class road)

Edited 8 January, 201511 yr by dieseldogg

One thing I have noticed with the 1.6TDi is that the mpg plummets when you do short urban journeys and in winter it drops even more.

100mile summer motorway trips regularly give 70+mpg on the computer but 3-5 mile short urban hops in winter on a cold engine see that down in the low to mid 40's.

 

Low mpg = poor combustion efficiency = high soot = dpf problems!

 

As someone said in an earlier post - modern diesels no longer make good city cars.

Hello again guys.

 

So.... been living with it for a few weeks now and getting 33-37 on short journeys locally round the doors, 50 - 60 on the motorway.

 

Car is nearing 40,000 miles so the cam belt will need doing (under warranty). How would this impact on the mpg?

 

Also, what kind of milage are guys getting that own petrol fabias?

Why would it be done under the Warranty. What is the Service Schedule for it being changed?

 

Surely it should change nothing with the MPG, 

it should be correct 0-40,000 miles, and if replaced the car should be no different.

Service book says replace toothed belt at 210,000 km (130,487 miles). I would think that is a service item not warranty.

Cam belt change is a service item for which you will be charged.

 

A new cam belt will have no effect whatsoever on you MPG figures