Low Fuel Consumption 1.6TDI DPF Engine

[Jack199]

Hi there 

 

I’m new to this forum, recently I bought a new Skoda Fabia 1.6 TDI for my wife the car is very clean but I have few issues with it. 

 

1. Only 33 MPG fuel consumption - when Skoda is claiming more tha 60MPG from that engine. Anyone knows why the fuel economy is so low. Car drives fine no issues and only has 57k on the clock. 

 

2. Issues with seat belt locking automatically and won’t allow you to pull the seat belt out then after few hours works fine...! This issue started to give me a headache...

 

3. A noice “ chu chu chu” from radio even went radio is off which some times comes and some time doesn’t and goes away. When Radio or media player is on it cuts the radio with the sound “chu chu chu” and then music is back again. May be some setting needs to change but I’m here for help 

 

can you please help me with some advice on above issues please?

 

Thanks

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

 

So it has high fuel consumption.

Was this car recently given The Fix at a Skoda Main Dealership? 

 If done there is a 24 month Trust Building Measure Guarantee from VW from when done, a help if the engines goes wrong, likely no help to you with high fuel consumption, the person that had the car before done and after The Fix might have had some comeback if they had fuel consumption records.

http://skoda.co.uk/dieselinfo

That might be a cause.

 

Skoda never claimed 60 mpg if you drive the car on a road. 

Some have had that MPG 'Pre FIX, so before the new Engine Management & Flow Device fitted.

http://skoda.co.uk/pages/fuel-consumption-statement.aspx

VW / Skoda say the Fix does not affect the engines efficiency or increase fuel consumption, there are owners know that not to be correct.

 

Edited 1 October, 2018 by Offski

[Jack199]

Hi

 

I looked into this option too. Took the car to mail dealer as it has a recall for some software update, the guy at the desk wasn’t helpful and said that if you do this update this is completely irreversible and any cost after the software update you will be responsible for it. 

 

He he mentioned the cost of replacing DPF filter and some other costs after the software update and it’s more than £2,000 and even then you are not 10% sure if this update will be effective for your car or not. 

 

In a nutshell he advised that my car doesn’t need this update and kind of persuaded me to go away or have a high bill after the update either way as a customer I’m feeling the pain. 

 

Apart from the software update what else could the cause be for high consumption of fuel?

 

can someone advise if I should do the software upgrade for omissions and if that’s the cause of high fuel consumption?

 

i would really appreciate your reply 

 

Also if someone can advise me around seat belt issue and the weird “chu chu chu” noise under the dashboard that would be great 

 

thank you 

 

[YS53]

What year of car ?When was the car last serviced ?

A stamped 'Service History' is not a guarantee that the work was actually carried out.

Where do you live (area) and what is the cars usual driving pattern (usage).

Short trips will have an adverse affect on  MPG .

Edited 1 October, 2018 by YS53

[Jack199]

The car year is 2011. The person I bought the car from was an old lady and she was too ill to take the car for the recall. The car was serviced last year but I’m going to have it serviced again this year 

 

I live in Newcastle upon Tyne and my wife’s daily journey is around 50 miles a day to and from work so it’s not that short of a journey. My Hyundai i40 1.7 in the same journey gives me 48 MPG!!

 

any help or suggestions?

[YS53]

A quick check would be how clean the Air Filter is,I have seen cars with service history where it is clear that the air filter has never been changed.

A good high speed longish run on a motorway might be beneficial.

I would also check that none of the brakes are 'binding' and that tyre pressures are ok .

Where is the 33mpg figure from ? Do you fill to fill  the tank and cross check mileage against refuel amount ?

[Jack199]

I’m going to have a major service for the car. Tyre pressure was the first thing I checked to be honest and yes the breaks are free no issues with breaks too.

 

The computer on the car shows MPG and yes I also fill the tank and cross check weekly for my wife and also for my own car. 

 

Any more advise? 

 

Thanks 

[2ndskoda]

The TDI- CR90 and CR105 engines will only return a reasonable MPG when engine is thoroughly hot. This heat reading is then relayed to the ECU.

Get the dealer to run a check on the various sensors to confirm they are working accurately.

 

Other than that (as an ex owner of a 2011 TDI CR90) - I am going to be very controversial and say exchange it for something else PDQ.

This may cause much adverse comment from other forum members, but IMHO (as a fully trained Mechanic with many years on the spanners) is perhaps the best advise I can give.

One thing you might consider however - take the car to a VW dealer OR a VW specialist independent garage. I am afraid my view on skoda dealers backup and technical expertise is not high.

[Ootohere]

?

Has the car not had the Fix carried out then and still shows on the VIN checker as outstanding?

 

Whoever at the Dealership was talking tripe as to any future expense falling on the owner after the fix.

But if it stopped you from having it done then good.

 

If it has been done the New Software on the ECU can be removed by the competent people that do that.

 

Use an Independent, get servicing done if keeping the car and avoid Main Dealerships.

If the car has the fix, then use your Guarantee while it is running if diagnostics and repairs are required.

[Jack199]

I honestly wish VW group gives decent service. I’m going to do a full major service and then try and see if this fixes the issue. Is Halfords any good for servicing?

[Ootohere]

NO!, Halford Service Centres are not good.

 

Where are you in the country, someone can maybe recommend someplace you could use.

[Jack199]

I’m in Newcastle upon Tyne and good garages?

[2ndskoda]

Jack, you said...

" I'm going to do a full major service and then try and see if this fixes the issue" -

In reality - a service in itself will not overcome your problem.

You need a full diagnostic check first, using a proper analysis tool to drill down to the root of the problem.  Not only do you need a garage with this equipment, BUT, the user of the gear needs to be fully conversant with the results, what they mean and where lies the next step.

 

Sorry to sound negative here, but I am trying to save you throwing money at a car unnecessarily. Guessology costs money! Regrettably many dealers will start chunk changing, and with each step costing you money, and not curing the problem - they go on to the next 'fix'.

 

See what users in your area recommend as a 'good garage'

[Bertie90]

I had a similar issue before and had a topic on here.

 

Bottom line, my rear brake shoes were a bit sticky not spinning very freely. Occasionally I couldn't even get off the drive.

 

The solution to my issue:

- checked tyre pressure

- checked air filter

- did a full service

- changed the rear brakes

- looked for any fluid leeks in the engine bay and surprise surprise the clamp from one of the intercooler pipes was a bit loose and loosing boost. Reclamped and working well.

 

Have you got power/boost when you put your foot down?

When you say 33mpg, are you reading the mpg calculator or the actual miles covered on the trip computer on a tank? 

Does the engine tick correctly? 

Does it smoke? 

 

Is it all seatbelts doing the issue or only one? 

 

I'm done...sorry about the other stuff, not sure what the noise is 

 

P.s. do not have the update done. I've been there and it wasn't a pleasant surprise. 

 

Edited 1 October, 2018 by Bertie90

[Hudson1]

Agree with getting the car to a recommended indy...... not the main dealer, i have the exact same car as you but a 2010 model, i have the same mileage as well, my car has never seen the inside of a dealership whilst i have owned it, i have also avoided the ' fix ' like the plague. There is clearly something wrong with that MPG, i am getting easily 55-60 mpg and that is without trying to drive in a careful manner. My journeys are not long (13 mile each way) and i am in a decent amount of traffic most days, so stop start a lot, i have had zero issues with the dpf and it runs like a dream, its simply one of the best cars i have ever owned and i have had it since virtually new.  I would say that give a good indy a go before looking to off load it and see if they can sort it for you, the guy i use is excellent and knows his stuff, you just need another of him in your location, they must be about somewhere !

Edited 1 October, 2018 by Hudson1

[spartacus68]

I have a 2010 Skoda 1.6TDI (105PS). Had this car when it had 30k miles and was 4 years old and I've added 50k miles in 4 years so I have a pretty decent idea of fuel consumption.

 

First off, accept this is not a frugal car. A member of my family has a Volvo V50 1.6 diesel and that can achieve 70+ miles per gallon.

 

During the summer I think I've squeezed 530 miles out of a full tank and the display was 55-60mpg. That's mainly on A-class roads and motorways so 60-70mph. That's running on 17" alloys with Kumho summer tyres. At the end of this month I'll swap back to 16" steel wheels and Kumho winter tyres.

 

Unfortunately this car has rear drums, and frankly has been a nightmare. They're prone to seizing, and the handbrake always needs adjusted. I've also replaced both rear bearings at 90k miles.

 

Back to your predicament. Get the car fully serviced, including the fuel filter and air filter change and an oil change. I've had the VAG software update and haven't noticed much difference. I'd chuck a can if Forte diesel fuel conditioner in it and blast it down the motorway. I'd also get it hooked up to VCDS to see the DPF is doing its job and is regenerating.

 

Any advisories at MOT?

 

 

[Jack199]

So this is what happened today 

 

been driving to work at 50 MPH and all of a sudden the car’s trip computer increased the MPG from 33 to 43 and been up and down based on how I was driving. Now that’s 10 MPG jump. Is that real or just system playing up I won’t know until the end of this week when i fill the tank again. 

 

Any my suggestions and feedback?

 

thanks 

[Jack199]

No MOT advisory 

[Ootohere]

Have you zeroed the Maxidot before trips.

 

The Average MPG showing is highly likely to show a higher MPG once the Oil temp gets up to above 80*oC indicated than above 90*oC.

maybe 10 miles before that happens.

 

Does your Maxidot show 'Oil Temp' if you select that?

[YS53]

19 minutes ago, Jack199 said:

So this is what happened today 

 

been driving to work at 50 MPH and all of a sudden the car’s trip computer increased the MPG from 33 to 43 and been up and down based on how I was driving. Now that’s 10 MPG jump. Is that real or just system playing up I won’t know until the end of this week when i fill the tank again. 

 

Any my suggestions and feedback?

 

thanks 

Sounds like an instant mpg readout rather than an average MPG readout,I always have mine set to  Average so it is fairly stable and does not usually vary by more than 2 or 3 mpg.

If set to instant readout the mpg figures are up and down like a yoyo depending on throttle posn/load/air temp/oil temp etc.

Winter is almost here up north and my ave mpg will go down by 3 - 5% as the temperatures plummet LOL

Edited 2 October, 2018 by YS53

[Ootohere]

^^^ Exact opposite IME.

I will do no short trips and the nice cool air and roads and engine up to temperature will improve the diesels MPG.  Same with a petrol.

Nice trips on these roads with little rain or snow.   Snow obviously is a different matter, and crawling along in congested traffic.

 

But that is just from years of monitoring fuel use.

Cooler the better if no time wasted defrosting vehicles with engines running and then doing only a few miles.

[YS53]

LOL - I always just look at the average mpg readout,not the spot/instant mpg readout with a fully warmed up engine going downhill on the A9 

[Ootohere]

Last winter from October & the first Winter Diesel Delivery at Tesco Scone i was starting to get 730 miles from 63 litres rather than the usual 630 miles or so.

It was that way mostly though till March. Usual Trips.  East to West, North & South, a few hundred miles each trip, Still occasionally get that 700 plus from a tank but not as often as in the cold weather.  I try to be filling up there most often. Or Morrison in Edinburgh, Sainsbury in Aberdeen or Nairn.

27 miles to there when heading West, North or South. and in there on the way back if open and then 27 miles to home.  Sometime i mean to stick to 60 to see what the MPG is, usually bored by the Airport..

Same journeys for years & years all year and i remember the fuel consumption of every vehicle i pay the fuel of.

Edited 2 October, 2018 by Offski

[YS53]

As I have said before Offski - you presumably do longer journeys on a regular basis than the great majority of people 

In the summer months my Average MPG readout is usually 62/63mpg,in the winter it is usually circa 59/60 which is roughly what I would expect for a normal mix of varied journeys.

 

[Jack199]

Thank you so much guys for your input. Really appreciate it.

 

my MPG is going up gradually when I’m doing more longer journeys, I did this on purpose check it however it’s still not where it needs to be but at least it’s going up. 

 

 

That leaves 2 other issues 

 

1. Any idea about the buzzing noise from under the dashboard only happens for few seconds and then goes away and cuts the radio when it’s playing and when radio isn’t on im

still getting that noice... it’s like beeping for number is times as the cuts off 

 

2. Any idea around the seat belts why they are keep getting locked?

 

thanks a lot guys