What's your MPG?

[BognorMotors]

I think that's the problem - for many of us it isn't!!!!

Like I said above it isn't for me in my normal drive, but it doesn't really bother me, its a 2 ton+van with 6 seats that does the job in hand very comfortably and like no other vehicle.

4motion and twin turbo are very thirsty in stop/start and town driving unfortunately, and you have to do a lot of open road driving to counter this.

I see some insane mpgs coming back in our rental vehicles, hence why I know its possible, so I thought id have a go the other day.

I think ideally to check your vehicle try and find someone with the same vehicle and follow each other on the same route for an hour and compare - Interestingly I did this with a petrol and bitdi California last year and the difference in mpg was only 2 or 3 from memory, I thought the diesel would have been miles better.

As a rule if you want decent mpg then the 150 is the one to go for

HTH

 

[boxerdog1]

Reading all the foregoing stuff I thought I'd mistakenly slipped onto the Toyota Prius forum We are driving brick shaped 2 ton (unladen) vans after all and if we can achieve 30mpg overall I think that's a result . My 6.1 199 4M has just broken the 1000 mile mark and is registering just under 29 mpg mixed driving , 2 mpg more than the average achieved on my big 'sleek' Skoda Superb 280 sportline . Loved the Skoda but the Kombi provides so much more versatility and I'm in love with it . So the MPG debates will continue for ever but me, I'm just happy to be cruising in the Fourmotion ,

 

[.50]

Im really not sure what your point is, I feel you have taken offence, my post wasn’t meant to be like that. You’ve mentioned halfwit not me.

If you read all my posts, which clearly you haven’t, I’ve said my average is down in the 20’s. But my van is 4Motion big wheels and full spec and I drive it hard.

This is purely an example if you drive these vans carefully on a run, and albeit this was a snapshot, High mpg is possible.

I can’t comment on how you drive, where you drive etc. One thing I can comment on is I wouldn’t use mpg as a dick swinging contest.

As you were ;-)

I have read all your posts, and rightly so given your experience in the Transporter world.

My frustrations are that I am a highly experienced driver who has a comprehensive understanding of mechanics and how things work and what effects them.

It is evident from your post above, that you can get the average mpg to display the figure of 52mpg, but it is not in the context of the this thread.

Myself and others in this thread have seemingly challenged you regarding your claims that the 150 dsg can attain over 50mpg, and you have proved your point that it can.

I am only left in dumb amazement that you can get a 150 dsg carrying 4 people to return 52mpg, yet I can't get my completely empty, with the rear bench seat removed with just my driving like an old biddy, to reach early 30's mpg.

 

[Stigofthedub]

Very interesting read. My t6 150 won't do more than 36 driving as steady as possible. 24/25 towing my caravan. I wonder if it's to do with the dpf, the reason I say that is because of my experience with my golf.
I bought a golf gtd with 9k on the clock, don't know its history. Shortly after i did a 240 mile mostly motorway round trip, on the way back i kept to around 60 mph to see what I could get out of it, 66 on the MFD. Since then I have had about a year of short journeys in that car. I then did the same trip again, did about 70 mph there to hopefully clean it out then around 60 on the way back as before. I expected to get similar coming back but nothing like, around 55, same driving style and everything. I wonder how effective the regen actually is.

 

[Rownster]

Got a 204 manual riding on 275/40/20 all round and on short trips getting between 30/35 mpg and around 18mpg towing a 1500kg caravan. Had a stage 1 Pendle remap and now seeing figure in low 40’s on short runs and around 25mpg towing, plus it shifts and didn’t cost any extra on insurance.

 

[RedUn]

I have read all your posts, and rightly so given your experience in the Transporter world.

My frustrations are that I am a highly experienced driver who has a comprehensive understanding of mechanics and how things work and what effects them.

It is evident from your post above, that you can get the average mpg to display the figure of 52mpg, but it is not in the context of the this thread.

Myself and others in this thread have seemingly challenged you regarding your claims that the 150 dsg can attain over 50mpg, and you have proved your point that it can.

I am only left in dumb amazement that you can get a 150 dsg carrying 4 people to return 52mpg, yet I can't get my completely empty, with the rear bench seat removed with just my driving like an old biddy, to reach early 30's mpg.

Maybe take it to a diagnostics place or get it on the rolling road? Make sure there's not an issue with it?

I've done about 12k miles in my van since I got it and the mpg2 screen is showing something between 38 and 40 I can't remember exactly.

Your not too far away, happy to meet up and do the most boring mpg driving test ever? Could drive to a nice pub, not a bad idea actually

 

[Daffy]

Funnily enough I had a play yesterday. This is a brand new 150 DSG shuttle. 4 people. Full seats. And I drove like a saint - it’s painful. But doable. I think with a longer stretch and mor motorway it would have easily gone up a bit.
View attachment 80502View attachment 80503View attachment 80504

I get that you are proving a point that a van can do high mpg but I’m not sure what really means as it certainly isn’t real world driving as the odometer is clicking up in each picture, cruise is set to 52mph and it covered 14 miles in 17 minutes which is an average speed of just under 52mph.

 

[.50]

Maybe take it to a diagnostics place or get it on the rolling road? Make sure there's not an issue with it?

I've done about 12k miles in my van since I got it and the mpg2 screen is showing something between 38 and 40 I can't remember exactly.

Your not too far away, happy to meet up and do the most boring mpg driving test ever? Could drive to a nice pub, not a bad idea actually

Your offer is very kind, thankyou.

Although it seems the more I contribute to this thread, the more bitter and uppity I sound, I ultimately know that poor mpg on certain T6 variants does not just affect my van.

It seems to be doing fine mpg wise until the regens start, and then you can watch your range shorten on the mfd.

Maybe I need to start driving it harder to get the whole emissions system working at higher temperatures.

Maybe the fact that I am now driving it so conservatively to try to attain the kind of mpg,s that,(as reported in and many other threads), the vehicle is clearly capable of.

I understand that 30mpg is ok for a brick shaped, 2 tone vehicle, but it is very frustrating when you read that many others are returning significantly better mpg's while driving at higher speeds than me carrying greater loads.

 

[s2ulk]

Your offer is very kind, thankyou.

Although it seems the more I contribute to this thread, the more bitter and uppity I sound, I ultimately know that poor mpg on certain T6 variants does not just affect my van.

It seems to be doing fine mpg wise until the regens start, and then you can watch your range shorten on the mfd.

Maybe I need to start driving it harder to get the whole emissions system working at higher temperatures.

Maybe the fact that I am now driving it so conservatively to try to attain the kind of mpg,s that,(as reported in and many other threads), the vehicle is clearly capable of.

I understand that 30mpg is ok for a brick shaped, 2 tone vehicle, but it is very frustrating when you read that many others are returning significantly better mpg's while driving at higher speeds than me carrying greater loads.

Just filled up and did the brim to brim calculations and on my first fill up we got 34.5 and on the last one I got 32.5. So the conclusion? I can achieve 50mpg driving like a saint at 65mph with a warmed engine but most of the time I can’t be a saint!

 

[RedUn]

Your offer is very kind, thankyou.

Although it seems the more I contribute to this thread, the more bitter and uppity I sound, I ultimately know that poor mpg on certain T6 variants does not just affect my van.

It seems to be doing fine mpg wise until the regens start, and then you can watch your range shorten on the mfd.

Maybe I need to start driving it harder to get the whole emissions system working at higher temperatures.

Maybe the fact that I am now driving it so conservatively to try to attain the kind of mpg,s that,(as reported in and many other threads), the vehicle is clearly capable of.

I understand that 30mpg is ok for a brick shaped, 2 tone vehicle, but it is very frustrating when you read that many others are returning significantly better mpg's while driving at higher speeds than me carrying greater loads.

Offers there

And that's a good point, maybe trying to get more mpg your getting less because it's not getting hot enough, regens etc. Worth taking for a blast to see if it helps clear it out?

The only other thing I can think of is check your air filter and tyre pressures.

 

[Daffy]

Offers there

And that's a good point, maybe trying to get more mpg your getting less because it's not getting hot enough, regens etc. Worth taking for a blast to see if it helps clear it out?

The only other thing I can think of is check your air filter and tyre pressures.

Not wanting to make you feel worse but in my experience (& fuel consumption was a big part of what I did for 21 years), it is rare for a defect to be the cause of fuel consumption with modern common rail engines, similarly driveline problems manifest as bigger problems fairly quickly so you can probably discount these also.

As others have said, ignore the MFD as these can give misleading info, do a fill to fill comparison and go from there, check tyre pressures with a quality gauge. (if you have a variable tyre pressure rating and your not sure which is for you - go heavier rather than lighter)

has the van been modified externally (roof, racks, suspension, wheel size, off road tyres etc etc - as a rule if you can see it then it will have a +/- effect)

If everything stacks up have a walk round it after a run and put your hand on the tyres, you are looking for warm not hot. - feel for any differences between axles and/or on individual wheels.

I doubt you will improve it to the level some others achieve as their operation will be different to yours but you should be able to get the best out of it - good luck.

 

[.50]

I doubt you will improve it to the level some others achieve as their operation will be different to yours but you should be able to get the best out of it - good luck.

I hear everything you are saying, but as I have stated many times before, my factory kombi 150 dsg is BOG STANDARD, other than 30mm lowered suspension and 19" alloys.

I know that fitting the alloys robbed me of 2mpg as I was averaging 34mpg with the 16" wheels and 205/65 tyres pumped right up.

This van is my absolute pride and joy and nothing gets overlooked regarding it upkeep and maintenance. (especially with anything regarding fuel economy).

I highlighted the last part of your post as, yes, other people are operating their vans differently to me, ie, driving it at higher speeds with greater loads, yet claiming significantly better mpg figures.

I'm seemingly unable, no matter what I do, to get my van to achieve anywhere near the mpg figures that others are claiming.

Yes, if I go out for a 30 minute drive up a flat section of the dual carriageway, late in the evening, zero the mpg trip once the vans warmed up and up to speed and set the cruise to 54mph I can get the mpg up to 37, but my frustration comes when guys report a similar mpg figure after driving for hours at 70mph in a fully laiden camper coversion with a pop top and a bike rack.

I actually find myself using the T6 less now because its the least fuel efficienct vehicle I own, instead I use my BiTurbo Vivaro, (which has larger wheels fitted and is fully loaded with kit), as it averages 37/38mpg driving, 'normally'.

 

[.50]

Bloody hell I need to check myself!!.

I've turned into a right moaning whiner in this thread.

I'm going out in the van today and drive like I stole it, and hopefully put a smile on my face.

 

[Dieseldonkey]

Sorry to turn up late.

Somebody told me there was mention of a 'Dick Swinging Competion' in this thread.

You see, well its just, when your second name is....Donkey...

Well, you know how it is. Thought I might be in with a shout.

But sssshhhhhh. Don't mention it to that @Dellmassive chap. Don't want any stiff competition now, do we.

 

[The Van Cave]

Yes, if I go out for a 30 minute drive up a flat section of the dual carriageway, late in the evening, zero the mpg trip once the vans warmed up and up to speed and set the cruise to 54mph I can get the mpg up to 37

I've been keeping eyes on this thread, mpg threads are always one of those that roll on and on, there are so many variables that we all have something to say based on our experience.

I've picked out this quote from you @.50 because this actually sounds like there's a problem somewhere. I would expect anyone running their vans in a similar test to yours would get better results than 37 mpg. That's nothing to do with driving style, 54mph on cruise on a flat run should do better than that. Have you run a diagnostic check on your van using Carista or VCDS or something similar to see if there are any faults recorded?

 

[Skyliner33]

I’ve been thinking about this.
I wonder if there is something up with the engine map. Is it worth getting it put on a Dyno and getting the map checked. Maybe even getting a Pendle or Revo. Especially if they offer the don’t like then money back.
Wirth a thought.

 

[Dieseldonkey]

Far better to take brim to brim readings over a prolonged period of time. Record on an app similar to Fuelio or MPG calculator. Gives an average calculation as you input the fuel quantities and mileage. Evens out the considerable number of variables over time. 12 months worth probably a good measure.

Learning to ignore the MFD average MPG is considerably better for your mental health, in my view.

 

[The Van Cave]

Far better to take brim to brim readings over a prolonged period of time. Record on an app similar to Fuelio or MPG calculator. Gives an average calculation as you input the fuel quantities and mileage. Evens out the considerable number of variables over time. 12 months worth probably a good measure.

Learning to ignore the MFD average MPG is considerably better for your mental health, in my view.

I completely agree, but in the specific circumstances that have been quoted in my post above, I would expect to see higher than 37 on the MFD.

 

[.50]

Thanks for you guys inputs again.

All my hard figures are always brim to brim calculated. (and always significantly lower the mfd fantasy reading).

At the risk of repeating myself, I'm not going to start looking into possible faults with the engine/drivetrain as all the guys I know locally to me are only getting a similar mpg to me.

I bought a T5 174 in February 2004 and had it mapped to over 200bhp.
It was a LWB, was fully loaded with kit, has big wheels fitted and used to drive it normally/eagerly and it returned 33mpg for every tank of fuel. (brim to brim calculated).

 

[Daffy]

Thanks for you guys inputs again.

All my hard figures are always brim to brim calculated. (and always significantly lower the mfd fantasy reading).

At the risk of repeating myself, I'm not going to start looking into possible faults with the engine/drivetrain as all the guys I know locally to me are only getting a similar mpg to me.

I bought a T5 174 in February 2004 and had it mapped to over 200bhp.
It was a LWB, was fully loaded with kit, has big wheels fitted and used to drive it normally/eagerly and it returned 33mpg for every tank of fuel. (brim to brim calculated).

just a thought but what tyre size did you remove and what size is on the van now?

You sound like you have covered most issues but what about rolling circumference of the tyres - how accurate is the odometer??