2.5L Fuel economy thread.--UNOFFICIAL--

[DUSlider]

Seeing all this is motivating me to ditch my roof rack for a hitch mount, but even then I can't see getting much more than 28mpg. Think I need to slow my avg down on the freeway to below 70.

Yup, in my experience above 70mph mileage dips significantly.

[nickbeezy]

That's in KM.... So about 150 miles, which if you are doing all highway is to be expected, in my experience on the first quarter if you go by what the gauge says.

That said, to find your true mileage do the math instead of where the needle is...

Nickbeezy, how do you like your steering wheel? hehe

yeah jordan's gas mileage seems to be consistent with what i posted right above him. 250 km = roughly 150 miles on a 1/4 tank driving HWY.

the steering wheel is just perfect. i the feel compared to the rubbery OEM one.
the grips at the 10oclock and 2oclock position help me to drive better and more comfortably

Seeing all this is motivating me to ditch my roof rack for a hitch mount, but even then I can't see getting much more than 28mpg. Think I need to slow my avg down on the freeway to below 70.

i could not break the 30mpg barrier with my roof racks on (i think i may need a fairing) and yes i agree that once the car is above the 3k mark it starts losing mpg.

[MK5golf]

That's in KM.... So about 150 miles, which if you are doing all highway is to be expected, in my experience on the first quarter if you go by what the gauge says.

That said, to find your true mileage do the math instead of where the needle is...

Nickbeezy, how do you like your steering wheel? hehe

im aware its in kms... i have a proper speedometer on my car as well. I usually only get 150 kms for the first quarter of the tank MAXIMUM.
between 24-26 mpg, mixed driving
ONCE i got 42(?) mpg... i set the cruise at 55 mph... no ac, and all hwy. Really flat (from montreal to ottawa) I was really really trying

[GTACanuck]

im aware its in kms... i have a proper speedometer on my car as well. I usually only get 150 kms for the first quarter of the tank MAXIMUM.
between 24-26 mpg, mixed driving
ONCE i got 42(?) mpg... i set the cruise at 55 mph... no ac, and all hwy. Really flat (from montreal to ottawa) I was really really trying

I used to get 150Km max on my first 1/4 tank as well. Every once in a while I would get +20km more. I have a carbonio and an exhaust, no tune. I have used Shell 91 now for 4 tanks including this one, I drive a mix 50/50 hwy city.

This is honestly the best I have seen with a 50/50 mix, but I am not going above 115km/h or 3000rpm.

Best tank I have done was 710km and that was 55mph all hiway, 93 octane coming back from SoWo this year. I sure would like to see this again... I think I went almost 300km before i burned through my first 1/4 tank of fuel.

[MK5golf]

I used to get 150Km max on my first 1/4 tank as well. Every once in a while I would get +20km more. I have a carbonio and an exhaust, no tune. I have used Shell 91 now for 4 tanks including this one, I drive a mix 50/50 hwy city.

This is honestly the best I have seen with a 50/50 mix, but I am not going above 115km/h or 3000rpm.

Best tank I have done was 710km and that was 55mph all hiway, 93 octane coming back from SoWo this year. I sure would like to see this again... I think I went almost 300km before i burned through my first 1/4 tank of fuel.

Ive got carbonio and ive just got a tune. this tank was "wasted" with enjoying my tune so, ill let everyone know how I do next tank (the economy tank)

[Anile_eight]

Best tank I have done was 710km and that was 55mph all hiway, 93 octane coming back from SoWo this year. I sure would like to see this again... I think I went almost 300km before i burned through my first 1/4 tank of fuel.

I have done a number of 750km tanks at 113 kph (70 mph) and I have even done ~770 km once. Giving me an avg fuel economy of 33.5+mpg and three or four tanks of 35 mpg.

[PaulGiz]

Waited 'til I got over 2000 miles before trying to track MPG.

First tank: 87 Shell, same pump as used before, to cutoff: 33.88mpg
Second tank: 93 Shell, same pump to cutoff: 33.83.

Pretty consistent, too bad no difference with higher octane, although I feel a big difference in throttle response and butt dyno thinks car is marginally faster.

Will continue monitoring, but I'm pretty sure I'll stick with 93 until/unless price difference becomes ridiculous.

P.

[Anile_eight]

Waited 'til I got over 2000 miles before trying to track MPG.

First tank: 87 Shell, same pump as used before, to cutoff: 33.88mpg
Second tank: 93 Shell, same pump to cutoff: 33.83.

Pretty consistent, too bad no difference with higher octane, although I feel a big difference in throttle response and butt dyno thinks car is marginally faster.

Will continue monitoring, but I'm pretty sure I'll stick with 93 until/unless price difference becomes ridiculous.

P.

If you're not tuned for 93 then there is no chance of it making any more power. At best it will run smother overall...

[PaulGiz]

If you're not tuned for 93 then there is no chance of it making any more power. At best it will run smother overall...

Yes and no. If ECU is pulling timing due to knock sensor, you're losing power with 87.

The speculation is that these cars are probably optimized for 91, set to run on 87 without damage, but at reduced efficiency due to ignition retard.

Maybe, maybe not. Car feels more responsive to me with 93, so I'll go with it.

Besides, premium gets better detergent package, which can't hurt longevity.

I will gladly be proven wrong.

P.

[thygreyt]

You are almost entirely right. Keep on using 93, the car likes it better

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

[GTACanuck]

Still doing very well, just past the half tank and at 401 kms

[thygreyt]

on the last 8 tanks (~2800 miles) i have gotten consistent 30 miles per gallon, and about 400 miles per tank.

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

200/gallon

[wetheitalians]

Still doing very well, just past the half tank and at 401 kms

how do u set the trip comp. to km on a car without an MFD?

[wetheitalians]

sry, i realize u have a km/h speedo, but ive heard u can do this with the MPH speedo

[MK5golf]

how do u set the trip comp. to km on a car without an MFD?

Is this possible? (in my case it would be vice versa)
and lol at your user name sei parle italiano?

[Evil_Charles]

I use the torque app also. It says 37.4 MPG average. I have Lubro Moly 0w40 synthoil energy oil in it (part no LM 2050). I never use the A/C and it is not flat where I live. That 37 sounds kinda high especially considering that I got 400 (28 MPG) miles that tank (I had it to that point when you pray that you make it to the gas station before you run out. I know it isn't a good idea to run a car that low on gas but I don't do that all the time. If anyone knows how to get the right reading from that Torque app feel free to PM me if you like, I run the app on a no contract phone and I have one on those ELM 327 compatible bluetooth dongles that you plug in under the dash.

[Nick_V08]

What would be the correct tire pressure I should be running to get best mpg on my car? I'm running 36 psi on falken 245/40/18s (max psi on them are rated for 50) so what do you guys think?

I'm also running neuspeed P-Flo+full custom magnaflow catback (same exact setup as the kit)

[Nick_V08]

Also I don't got any tune right now and I only run Shell 87 but if I switched to Shell 91 would it benefit me at all or any worth it? Or waste of extra money/tank with my above setup?

[tiffanyrogers]

Hey all-

Just bought a used 2007 Rabbit and am getting terrible mileage-- like 12 mpg. HELP!

Was a golf owner for many years- living in DC now, and haven't owned a car at all in 8 years. Recently moved to a part of the city were parking was easier, so i justified getting a car and opted for a used 2007 Rabbit (2 dr auto). I just used my first full tank of gas and got 163 miles total!!! Shocked- that's maybe 12.5 mpg. I'd say the driving was 95% city, but still.

I will check the tire pressure, but anything else you can suggest? The car has a VW installed roof rack, so I imagine that is affecting the mileage, but online accounts vary as to how much that impacts- anyone have any first hand knowledge with the 2.5L and roof racks? I am trying to get the sucker off, but it has a keyed bolt i have to match. In the meantime, just looking to try and match so of your mileage numbers. Or get anywhere close. If I could I'd be thrilled with my foray back into these great little cars-- as is i'm pretty stressed and perplexed.

Thanks!

[MK5golf]

um, 12MPG? You have a serious problem. Are you sure your calculating properly? Roof rack negatively impacts your mpgs for sure, but unless your redlining all day everyday I think it would even be hard to get 12 mpgs.

[tiffanyrogers]

Yep that's why I'm stressed. And no, I drive like a granny. Granted all city so a lot of starting and stopping but still. I got 163 miles on 13.5 gallons. Any other way to calculate that?

Any suggestions other than I must be doing something wrong (or even pointing out if I am doing something wrong-- would rather be wrong than be getting just over 150 miles on 1 tank) would be greatly appreciated.

[Zoolook_]

Yep that's why I'm stressed. And no, I drive like a granny. Granted all city so a lot of starting and stopping but still. I got 163 miles on 13.5 gallons. Any other way to calculate that?

Any suggestions other than I must be doing something wrong (or even pointing out if I am doing something wrong-- would rather be wrong than be getting just over 150 miles on 1 tank) would be greatly appreciated.

Take it in for a tune... at that kind of mileage, you must be literally leaking gas. Does the 2007 model have a trip computer? What does that read as you're driving along? It could be the mixture is much too rich - does it ever stall?

[tiffanyrogers]

Thanks Zoo. Yes will def take it in. From everything I've read here it seems way out of the norm, even accounting for the roof rack. It was just at a mechanic 3 weeks ago for the prebuy look over and all they suggested was a new battery. Also passed state inspection last week- but something definitely isn't right.

It doesn't have a trip computer. Also, I will note that the terrible mileage was throughout the tank-- meaning it seemed consistently bad. Don't know if it was leaking fuel if I would come back to it having taken a big dip on the gauge (it sits idle usually for a day or 2 at a time).

[Zoolook_]

Is there any carbon build up in the exhaust? Black residue?

[MK5golf]

I think its a leak too. 12 MPG could only have one cause....

[Anile_eight]

check your spark plugs... either you're not running on all cylinders... your maf is messed up... tires are flat. But most you would get a CEL.

[A1an]

Damn. How many miles are on the Rabbit? Any idea if it was ever serviced? I noticed a nice little boost with the regular spark plug change interval on my Rabbit so I can imagine if that was neglected for a long time the car could run like crap. What about the air filter? Do you ever smell gas? Does it have a really rough idle?

[magics5rip]

If you were leaking fuel, you would smell it or be able to spot puddles of it while the car is sitting still. I would rule that out.

Depending on mileage it could be a combination of many things. I would start with: new plugs, new synthetic oil (0w40 Mobil1 is my choice), new air filter. I am suspecting that one of your O2 sensors might be going bad but has yet to throw a CEL. When these go bad, cars tend to run a little rich since the ECU loses the ability to monitor the air/fuel mixture accurately.

How does the car FEEL when you drive? Sluggish? Running rough?

[tiffanyrogers]

Car runs great- it seems. No discernable problems- only thing i've notice is twice while i was driving the brake pad light (the one that looks like a setting sun with dashes around it) came on but went back off. The original owner had the brake pads and rotars replaced this January. The car does have a lot of miles on it, 93k- have a partial service record and it was serviced as recently as this summer and seems to have been at regular intervals before.

took it in this morning. Mechanic said these cars aren't great with gas but i'll look-- told him i had asked many other owners of the same car and they said something was definitely amiss. Anyway, he didn't find anything. O2 sensor, fuel filter, brakes, etc all look good.

He took off the roof rack, will ask about the tire pressure. Wondering if doing all city driving with AC on with roof rack and maybe low tires would make that big a difference. Seriously driving pretty darn granny though. I wish there was something wrong with it that I could point to. Environmental factors alone don't seem to add up and I REALLY don't want to be stuck with sh*tty mileage in the city, since that's my main use for the car. Was prepared for the 19 EPA est, but not 12.

Thanks to everyone who has weighed in.

[magics5rip]

Thanks to everyone who has weighed in.

Have you tried any highway driving? It would be interesting to benchmark the mileage against what you see with the city driving. I have personally never dipped below 23 MPG in my 06.5 Rabbit...

[Nick_V08]

How do I get MPG to show on my cars dash? 08 rabbit.

[PaulGiz]

Car runs great- it seems. No discernable problems- only thing i've notice is twice while i was driving the brake pad light (the one that looks like a setting sun with dashes around it) came on but went back off. The original owner had the brake pads and rotars replaced this January. The car does have a lot of miles on it, 93k- have a partial service record and it was serviced as recently as this summer and seems to have been at regular intervals before.

took it in this morning. Mechanic said these cars aren't great with gas but i'll look-- told him i had asked many other owners of the same car and they said something was definitely amiss. Anyway, he didn't find anything. O2 sensor, fuel filter, brakes, etc all look good.

He took off the roof rack, will ask about the tire pressure. Wondering if doing all city driving with AC on with roof rack and maybe low tires would make that big a difference. Seriously driving pretty darn granny though. I wish there was something wrong with it that I could point to. Environmental factors alone don't seem to add up and I REALLY don't want to be stuck with sh*tty mileage in the city, since that's my main use for the car. Was prepared for the 19 EPA est, but not 12.

Thanks to everyone who has weighed in.

Since the brakes were recently done, do this.

After a drive, put your hand near the brake rotors. Are any glowing? Do you smell or feel excessive heat? Perhaps you have a sticking or cocked pad, or your parking brake is misadjusted. Dragging brake could kill your economy real fast.

P.

[A1an]

Good call on the potential dragging brakes.


If there are no specific documents for the air filter, spark plugs, etc then I would do that ASAP. Double check that the coil recall was done on the car too. If it hasn't get that done at the dealer (should be free). I would imagine if one or more weren't operating correctly that you would get a check engine light, but you never know.

Roof rack plus low tires wouldn't cause that sort of dip. I've been running a rack on my 07 Rabbit for five years now and we average around 26-27 in mixed driving.

[TylerO28]

How do I get MPG to show on my cars dash? 08 rabbit.

Do you have a mfd display? Some of us were lucky to get the 08 Rabbit with mfd. Others not so much... For my 08 i have the mfd display and my window wiper stalk has a little flipper switch on its end like the cruise control stalk. If you push that up or down, you'll be able to scroll through your mfd options.

Sent from the bottomless pits of HELL!