Skoda VRS Diesel 2010 Fuel Loss

[NasarFiaz]

I am losing approx 100 miles off a full tank from what I have normally got from a full tank. No diagnostic lights come on but the fuel needle drops a lot quicker than what it used to, regardless of motorway or local driving. 

 

Normally I have tended to eek out 400 miles from a full tank of local driving. For the past two weeks it is looking closer to 300. 

 

Can anyone suggest possible solutions to the problem?

 

Thank you.

[dilksie]

Plenty of things will affect fuel consumption

 

Binding brakes, failing thermostat, that fact the weather is colder so the engine is taking longer to warm up, fuel leak to name a few

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

 

Is that based on it having been full and what it now shows, without actually filling it up again?

 

How many miles has the car done, and how long have you had it?

Has the car been in for work at a Skoda Dealership and had The Fix carried out on it?

[PSM]

I get 420miles from a tank from my 10 plate vrs and I think the worse I have ever gotten is about 400 with the best over 500. So if you are down close to 300 then it sounds like you have an issue that needs to be checked. Unless you have changed your driving profile significantly. 

I have had the fix done which made no difference to fuel economy and the cold weather at most only makes 10 or 20 miles difference in range over a tank.

It is worth getting this checked soon too since it the engine is over fueling then it could be creating a lot of soot which could cause problems for your dpf. A friend of mine has a diesel Volvo and recently had an issue with one of his injectors which caused his dpf to fail which ended up as a big bill.

Edited 6 March, 2018 by PSM

[Vegasphil]

It's winter... All of my vag diesels have dropped off on fuel range when using air con, lights, heaters, demisters, leaving the engine on to keep warm, starting up in the morning to de ice - loads of factors. 

 

I believe there is such a thing as winter diesel too. Which apparently has stuff put in it for storage over the cold winter and by all accounts means it isn't so "diesely". 

 

Come spring/summer it should be back to normal. 

[PSM]

36 minutes ago, Vegasphil said:

It's winter... All of my vag diesels have dropped off on fuel range when using air con, lights, heaters, demisters, leaving the engine on to keep warm, starting up in the morning to de ice - loads of factors. 

 

I believe there is such a thing as winter diesel too. Which apparently has stuff put in it for storage over the cold winter and by all accounts means it isn't so "diesely". 

 

Come spring/summer it should be back to normal. 

Never seen more than a 10 to 20 mile drop in range over a tank in the winter so do not think that is the cause of the OPs issue.

[Anddenton]

44 minutes ago, Vegasphil said:

It's winter... All of my vag diesels have dropped off on fuel range when using air con, lights, heaters, demisters, leaving the engine on to keep warm, starting up in the morning to de ice - loads of factors. 

 

I believe there is such a thing as winter diesel too. Which apparently has stuff put in it for storage over the cold winter and by all accounts means it isn't so "diesely". 

 

Come spring/summer it should be back to normal. 

Never got less than 450 miles to a tank in my scout, usually over 500 so I would say 300 even around town indicates an issue.

I would start with a VCDS scan and work from there.

 

[Vegasphil]

Depends how he's filling up and running it down also. To the click or a certain amount of £ and then down to the light? 

[NasarFiaz]

Quote

4 hours ago, dilksie said:

Plenty of things will affect fuel consumption

 

Binding brakes, failing thermostat, that fact the weather is colder so the engine is taking longer to warm up, fuel leak to name a few

 

How would I get to the bottom of a fuel leak? It is as if the fuel has just disappeared. Normally the fuel needle idles its way down during a fairly pedestrian driving profile, but for the past two fills ups, motorway or local, I do not know where the miles have gone. Thanks

[NasarFiaz]

4 hours ago, AwaoffSki said:

Welcome.

 

Is that based on it having been full and what it now shows, without actually filling it up again?

 

How many miles has the car done, and how long have you had it?

Has the car been in for work at a Skoda Dealership and had The Fix carried out on it?

I have filled it up twice and it has shown poor fuel consumption both times. 

 

The car is on 87,000, Dealership FSH, Timing Belts etc. Regular DPF regeneration on the motorway after the light has switched on. The only thing that is bothering me is that it has not been on all winter. Most of my driving is local and it invariably comes on every three months for the past two years.

 

I declined The Fix as I have been dubious over it's merits.

 

Thanks

[NasarFiaz]

1 hour ago, PSM said:

I get 420miles from a tank from my 10 plate vrs and I think the worse I have ever gotten is about 400 with the best over 500. So if you are down close to 300 then it sounds like you have an issue that needs to be checked. Unless you have changed your driving profile significantly. 

I have had the fix done which made no difference to fuel economy and the cold weather at most only makes 10 or 20 miles difference in range over a tank.

It is worth getting this checked soon too since it the engine is over fueling then it could be creating a lot of soot which could cause problems for your dpf. A friend of mine has a diesel Volvo and recently had an issue with one of his injectors which caused his dpf to fail which ended up as a big bill.

Thank you very much. Mine has had a similar fuel profile. I have had it since 2013 and 500 has been on the motorway and 400 local. The only other thing I have noticed is more smoke coming from the exhaust that I can just about see from  the back through my side mirror. Not sure if this is of any significance.

[NasarFiaz]

1 hour ago, Vegasphil said:

It's winter... All of my vag diesels have dropped off on fuel range when using air con, lights, heaters, demisters, leaving the engine on to keep warm, starting up in the morning to de ice - loads of factors. 

 

I believe there is such a thing as winter diesel too. Which apparently has stuff put in it for storage over the cold winter and by all accounts means it isn't so "diesely". 

 

Come spring/summer it should be back to normal. 

Thank for this.

[NasarFiaz]

38 minutes ago, Anddenton said:

Never got less than 450 miles to a tank in my scout, usually over 500 so I would say 300 even around town indicates an issue.

I would start with a VCDS scan and work from there.

 

How much would a VCDS Scan set me back by and would I have to get this done from the dealer. Can this scan pick up issues even if there are no diagnostic lights showing? Thanks

[NasarFiaz]

35 minutes ago, Vegasphil said:

Depends how he's filling up and running it down also. To the click or a certain amount of £ and then down to the light? 

I have been advised to fill it up with BP Diesel (additives version) and let that run through the system. Would you recommend I filled it up and let it go right to the bottom.  For the past few years I had been filling it up for a modest amount and running it down to the bottom so I am not sure if this has had an adverse affect. It is only recently I have started filling the whole tank again. Thanks

[Anddenton]

45 minutes ago, NasarFiaz said:

How much would a VCDS Scan set me back by and would I have to get this done from the dealer. Can this scan pick up issues even if there are no diagnostic lights showing? Thanks

There is a list on here somewhere of members with VCDS willing to do a scan for free or no more than a few beer tokens and yes fault codes can be thrown without being serious enough to trigger a warning light.