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My car is doing pretty crap MPG, hence my rents might be planning on selling it off.

I've spent quite a bit on it, and i don't want my hard work to dissapear, because i love VW's, and especially this shape/one.

The car is a 1.4 16v AUTOMATIC, hence the low mileage, but they only wanted an auto, so i cant do anything about that.

Has anyone got any idea how i can go about increasing the economy of the car?

Will a BMC Carbon Induction Kit increase my economy, if so, by a little, or quite a bit?

P.S. - Just about manages to pull off about 290ish miles on a FULL tank! (Is that any good?)

kapur wrote:My car is doing pretty crap MPG, hence my rents might be planning on selling it off. I've spent quite a bit on it, and i don't want my hard work to dissapear, because i love VW's, and especially this shape/one.

I agree with you on the shape and if you've spent some money on it it's hard to sell something if you just have one issue with it

kapur wrote:The car is a 1.4 16v AUTOMATIC, hence the low mileage, but they only wanted an auto, so i cant do anything about that.

Ahh - Auto will not help mpg at all - esp on a 16v engine where most of the power is at the top end of the rev range

kapur wrote:Has anyone got any idea how i can go about increasing the economy of the car?

Only the basics - make sure it's serviced well - tyre pressures up a couple of PSi can help a bit - drive it for economy

kapur wrote:Will a BMC Carbon Induction Kit increase my economy, if so, by a little, or quite a bit?

It may help a little but the repayment period for the cost of the kit will take a long time

kapur wrote:P.S. - Just about manages to pull off about 290ish miles on a FULL tank! (Is that any good?)

If thats for a 40L fill (Approx) then it's 33 mpg and that isn't brilliant but everyone's mpg is dropping fast now winter is here.......

it also depends on how the car is being driven the number of small trips v long runs etc

The car has always had short trips, rarely had a long run.

I guess i'm stuck. Darn car, love it, but it's a b1tch tryna keep it because it's costing a bomb to run, especially since it's having it's own problems too.

Damn brakes keep screaming like a b1tch!

kapur wrote:The car has always had short trips, rarely had a long run.

I guess i'm stuck. Darn car, love it, but it's a b1tch tryna keep it because it's costing a bomb to run!

Then I'd say you are doing well and you'd probably struggle to get better from any other car - unless of course you go over to the dark side and buy a diesel

Yeh, i'd love a diesel, the torque...

But the insurance will also be more, lolz. Oh well, no pleasing some people.

Going to try and hold on to the car!

Tips of improving fuel consumption (quick web search - blatent cut and paste)

Picking the best car for economy
Good fuel economy starts with having the right car, consider these factors next time you shop:

Buy a car best suited to your typical driving conditions. Bigger cars with good aerodynamics and long gear ratios are fine on the motorway but useless at crawling speeds round town.

Think twice about a car with the aerodynamics of a brick and the weight of a small family of rhinos. E.g. big 4x4's! You might look exciting in an urban kind of way but you'll be paying for it through the nose!

Automatics tend to guzzle fuel at an alarming rate, although some are little worse than their manual cousins. Check the figures closely. Generally, the smaller the engine size means the effect will be more drastic. Diesel engines rarely suit automatics with both performance and economy suffering noticably

Consider diesel over petrol. Modern diesels are now considered superior to petrol in many respects, especially in low down torque.

If you have a choice over what size wheel/tyre you have, if generally makes sense to have a smaller size. Big low profile tyres don't help economy, tyre costs or ride comfort. They are good for cornering though, if that's your priority.

Saloons and hatchbacks will normally offer better economy than an estate due to the difference in weight and aerodynamic drag.

Consider having a engine one size down in the range then you first looked at. For a small decrease in performance you can get noticable benefits in economy, but not always! Again, check the manufacturers figures.

If you can afford it, opt for automatic climate control rather than air con. Generally, climate control is more efficent than air con.

Choose a car with a trip computer, it's amazing how seeing your MPG plummet when accelerating hard will change your driving style.

If you're buying second hand then insist on full service history. A well serviced car should offer better economy as well as all the other benefits.


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Driving techniques to cut down on fuel consumption
When you're behind the wheel, try these common sense techniques and you will be rewarded at the pumps:

Keep engine speed down in each gear. A good rule is to never exceed more than 10x the gear you are in. E.g. no more than 40 in 4th gear and no more than 30 in 3rd. Try to stick to 60mph in 5th gear.

Conversely, don't go too slow in each gear. If your revs are dropping below 1200-1500 then the engine is labouring and economy will suffer.

Drive at a constant speed. Accelerating and braking all the time is a waste of energy.

Touch the throttle lightly to accelerate rather than hammering it.

Think in advance so that you have can avoid having to brake then accelerate off again.

Don't rev the engine at lights!

Avoid the rush hour(s) if you can, more traffic means more braking, accelerating and waiting at junctions.

Don't leave the air con on constantly unless you really need it. However, all air-con systems need regular use to lubricate the seals etc.

Don't open windows whilst on the move, the aerodynamic drag is terrible. It's better to use air con in short bursts.

Turn off accessories like heated screens as soon as the desired effect is acheived.

Don't leave your car idling to warm it up. The best way to warm it up is to drive off gently straight away.

If you get stuck in a jam then turn off your engine. Start it again only when the queue is moving signficantly.

Overtake slower vehicles in plently of time so you don't have to slow down. Be safe though!

Avoid overtaking where you'll have to really accelerate hard to get round.

You'll have probably realised that economical driving will also make you a smoother driver, a benefit your passengers will appreciate too!

If you're dubious about the idea of driving at 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways then consider these figures:


Covering 15 miles at 70mph (average) takes nearly 13 minutes.

Covering 15 miles at 60mph (average) takes 15 minutes.

Take into account the extra stress of constantly trying to overtake HGV's, repmobiles driving right up to your ar*e in the third lane and you'll soon see that not only is 60mph more economical, but for the cost of a very small difference in time you'll be less stressed too!

If you're only doing a few miles on a 70mph limit the I would strongly question the need to bother going any quicker than 60mph.

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Other sensible things you can do that will help

Check your tyre pressures weekly. This can make a huge difference to safety, ride, tyre life and economy.

Don't carry tools or other weighty items around with you.

Keep your car properly maintained.

Remove roof racks etc. when not in use.

(another Cut and Paste)

The driving technique of the person behind the wheel is the most important single factor in determining the fuel economy of a particular car. A fuel economy conscious driver can achieve 30 to 50% better mileage than most other drivers by practising the following instructions:

The Driver Attitude

Always think about fuel economy while you drive.

Always drive for fuel economy.

Avoid driving when you are angry or upset.

Consider using public transportation when ever possible.

The 30 Seconds Warm Up

Idle your engine during its initial start no more than 30 seconds. Car engines warm up faster when they are in motion.

Idling more than 30 seconds not only wastes fuel but also does harm to your engine, since oil can't do its best lubricating job unless the car is in motion.

Depress the accelerator just once as added pumping wastes fuel.

Do not rev up the engine before turning it off. This dumps raw fuel on the cylinder walls; washing away the protective lubricating oil film and increasing engine wear at the next start. This also wastes fuel.

Avoid Screeching Starts

Jerky acceleration or screeching starts can increase fuel consumption by reducing approximately one kilometer per litre in city driving.

Accelerate briskly, but smoothly, upto 50 kmph. . Then moderately up to 65 kmph... then keep a steady pressure on the accelerator... just enough to maintain speed.

Drive at Moderate Speeds

Always rely on the feather foot pressure approach on the accelerator; this will result in even better fuel savings.

Observing 80 kmph speed limit saves fuel and money.

Driving below speed limits on highways produces even greater fuel savings

Avoid Low Gears... Get Up To Speed Quickly

Keep your car's speed up and over 35 kmph mark when you can.

Skip a gear (go from 1st to 3rd or 4th) if you are on a flat road or slope.

Run through all gears quickly and gently if going uphill.

With automatic transmission, get the car rolling, then let up the accelerator, easing into high range quickly.

Hill Climbing Techniques

Driving on hill consumes more fuel than driving on flat roads. The following tips will help in fuel economy:

Build up speed before approaching a hill, to avoid fuel wasting hard acceleration.

The momentum developed will carry the vehicle over the crest, and gravity will help the vehicle go down the other side.

Keep Tyre Pressure Up

Under inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption significantly.

Avoid Short Trips...

Travel distances of 1 to 8 kilometers are considered as short trips.

Short trips impose heavy fuel penalties on fuel economy due to cold vehicle parts, cold tyres and improper engine lubrication.

It takes approximately 25 kilometers drive for fuel efficient operation of a vehicle.

Avoid starting the engine until you are actually ready.

Plan ahead. Combine your shopping errands into one trip.

Include shopping trips into normal commuting trip.

Travel during off peak hours when there is less traffic congestion.

Operating air conditioner in city traffic reduces fuel economy by approximately 9%.

Park in the first reasonable parking space available.

Choose Route For Fuel Economy

Congested, stop and go city routes waste time and fuel.

Rough or loose road surfaces can reduce fuel economy by 10 30%.
Choose a slightly longer flat and un-congested outer, instead of a shorter, congested hilly or mountain road.

Anticipate Driving Conditions

The smoother your driving pattern, the better your fuel economy.

Keep an eye on the traffic at least two cars ahead and avoid stop and go fuel wasting situations.

Learn to judge traffic light durations, i.e., red light will turn to green before you stop if you have already slowed down gradually.

If you are at a red traffic light and plan to turn left, do not waste fuel by sitting at the light. Go ahead and turn if traffic is clear and left turn is allowed

If you are at a green traffic light and plan to turn right, do not waste fuel by sitting at the light. Go ahead and turn if traffic is clear, otherwise wait for the turning arrow signal to go green.

Unnecessary braking and stopping means more acceleration and more fuel consumed to get back to speed.

It takes up to six times as much fuel to move a car from a dead stop than it does, if it is moving just a few kmph.

Fuel is wasted by driving too close to the car ahead, since you must constantly brake and accelerate, brake and accelerate.

Varying speed on the highway even by as little as 8 kmph can reduce fuel economy by as much as 0.5 km/litre.

Avoid Unnecessary Idling

It takes less fuel to restart a car after engine has warmed up, than to idle it for more than a minute. Generally there is no need to press the accelerator to restart the engine.

Avoid engine idling while waiting for some one

Reduce Wind Resistance

Wind resistance creates a drag on fuel economy. A smooth car, aerodynamically designed, cuts through the wind barrier more quickly and more efficiently.

To reduce wind resistance always:

Close windows at speeds over 60 kmph.

Remove luggage racks when not in use.

Do not carry unnecessary weight in your car. An extra 45 kg reduces fuel economy by about 1 % for the average car.

Maintain a fuel log/calculator will assist you in monitoring fuel consumption and maintaining your own record of fuel efficiency. Such a log will enable you to quickly identify when fuel efficiency drops and your car needs a check up.

DRIVING TIPS

Avid screeching starts.

Maintain a steady speed.

Anticipate stops as far ahead as possible.

Adjust driving to changing road conditions.

Avoid engine idling for more than one minute.

Compared to a cold start, restarting the engine within 8 10 minutes causes little engine wear.

Avoid unnecessary steering wheel movement, since each sideward movement causes fuel consuming drag.

Accelerate slowly on gravel or slippery road.

Keep windows closed at highway speeds, use internal venting.

Avoid using the air conditioner at lower speeds.

Respond to wind forces by driving slowly into the wind and then letting it help you while driving with the wind.

Take advantage of rolling resistance to help you slow down as opposed to heavy braking.

Switch off all power consuming accessories before switching on the ignition so as to minimize battery load during the next start.

Revving the engine, just before switching off the ignition consumes extra fuel and may cause engine damage.

Oh god, it's becoming into a class-room kind of thing. lolz.

You should go through a check-list before driving your car. lolz. Pretty funny.

Thanks for the information, doubt it will help though, since it's an automatic. Most of the information is just common sense really.

Hmmmm, i'm stuck. lolz. Need a diesel, then again, rents will want an automatic again, ARGHHHHHHHH *bangs head* lol.

"If you are at a red traffic light and plan to turn left, do not waste fuel by sitting at the light. Go ahead and turn if traffic is clear and left turn is allowed"

LMAO! lol! no comment

kapur wrote:"If you are at a red traffic light and plan to turn left, do not waste fuel by sitting at the light. Go ahead and turn if traffic is clear and left turn is allowed"

LMAO! lol! no comment

Perfectly legal in the states unless signs indicate otherwise and TBH I think a bloody good idea

i drive a 1.4 petrol mk4 polo and if i'm lucky i get 300 miles to a tank

i usually get around 250-270

and i do a nice half and half mix of motorway jaunts and city driving


(i heard the 1 litre polo gets nearly 400 miles a tank)

13twelve wrote:i drive a 1.4 petrol mk4 polo and if i'm lucky i get 300 miles to a tank

i usually get around 250-270

and i do a nice half and half mix of motorway jaunts and city driving


(i heard the 1 litre polo gets nearly 400 miles a tank)

I was getting up to 50mpg from my 1.4 8V MKIV but winter temps and 15 inch wheels with 195 tyres have conspired to drop me down to 40-44 mpg depending on the usage

lol i have no idea what mpg i get - i only do maths when forced too

lol

how many miles a tank is 40-44 mpg?

i'm on 15 inch wheels with 195/50 tyres on