[skyking]

Originally Posted by solarguy

My 04 tdi wagon (240K miles) gets the best fuel economy if I avoid using the turbo. So I accelerate gently and shift at around 2,000 rpm.

Moving to a bigger turbo will do nothing to improve your fuel economy.

Now, if you want to increase your horsepower by 40 or 50% and still break 40 mpg, a little bigger turbo makes a lot of sense.


Doubtful that you need a new intercooler unless it's leaking. You would hear it, and likely smell it.

Or in my case, 100% more HP and torque.
My wife is sometimes oblivious to the difference between our otherwise identical cars; Other times she's downright maniacal :P
That's what I was pointing out to the OP too; I gave up some MPG in the quest for power, and I went a bit too far.
Oilpan 4 is totally correct the turbo is putting out boost right off idle in these TDIs, but I get what you are saying. You stay out of it.
This is not the method for best MPG observed by many TDI drivers, they advocate brisk acceleration to get to cruising. That's what my scangauge tells me too.
She does not practice much in the way of economical driving and we get almost the same MPG week in and week out, despite all my mods and penchant for stepping right into it.
We average between 44 and 46 in both cars.