Record tank in progress

[tasdrouille]

I am working on a record tank for my car. I started filling my TDI to the brim 3 tanks ago and decided to be quite patient for a whole tank this time. By that I mean mostly sticking to 55 mph on the highway.

I will break the 1000 miles mark for sure, and may be able to get to 1100 miles if I keep a jerry can in the back. I am currently at 360 miles with around 5/6 th of the tank left, but the needle didn't really move before 240 miles. So far the SG stands at 67 mpg.

Whatever happens with this tank, I'll be shooting for 1200 miles for the next one. I have some due dilligence to pay. Let's just say I'm still carrying ballast from the green grand prix plus a lot of tools I need to work on the new house (which is nearing completion, finally!).

[99metro]

That is real nice! I've always been partial to those TDIs.

[tasdrouille]

For those who know me, and whom I've talked to about it, I pretty much always said the SG was not accurate on TDIs. Well, I may be taking back that those comments in the near future.

I have had intermitent MAF problems with my car ever since I've had it, but I recently traced it back to a botched rewiring job done by the previous owner. The PO wiring job left MAF wires semi exposed down the loom, and they would quite often short the signal. These problems caused the ECU to think my car had minimal airflow going in and throwing the mpg readings out of whack, and cutting power out!

I have since done a proper wiring job and mpg readings have apparently been more consistent. I still need to do proper testing between highway and city driving, but it looks more accurate already.

BTW, I'm just waiting for the next economy run to rig up an external tank to accurately measure the fuel used. I know how I'm gonna do it, I just an incentive to do it.

[tasdrouille]

Needle is barely touching the half tank mark at 560 miles now.

[tasdrouille]

820 miles with a little bit less than a quarter tank left.

[euromodder]

LOL, I'd be happy with a tank over 1.000 km - you're aiming for over 1000 miles !

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

820 miles with a little bit less than a quarter tank left.

Looks like you may end up nearer 1100 miles than 1000 miles !

The TDIs of that time (with PD) are really good for FE.

[tasdrouille]

I have an ALH, even better than a PD!

I figure I might hit 1100 miles, but it'll be a leap of faith. I have roughly 1.9 gallon left when the low fuel light comes on. Last tank I found out I don't need to worry even if the fuel needle stops moving on the empty mark.

[tasdrouille]

900 miles at the 1/8 mark.
Low fuel chime at 936 miles.
963 miles at the 0/8 mark.

I did it. I wanted to reach 1000 miles and I did, but I chickenned out! I didn't make it to 1100 miles.

1021 miles at a somewhat disapointing 63.8 mpg. This is the best mpg I've got on a tank, but I was expecting more given the effort I've put into that tank. I filled 16 gallons, so I still had 1.5 gallons left in the tank.

It still was far from a perfect tank. I was jammed an hour in traffic for 2 miles going uphill, so that killed a good 10-15 miles off the tank. 10% of the tank was done driving in the city. I also lugged a lot of stuff around and between Quebec and Montreal as I was moving and working on the house.

Most of the driving was at 56 mph on the freeway. 10% of the miles were EOC.

I now moved to Mirabel, QC. My new commute will be very mpg friendly. Weather permitting, I might have a shot at another 1100 miles tank this year. It's already starting to get chilly in the morning here.

[COcyclist]

Nice work Tas. Have you thought about changing 5th gear to lower your rpm? Your Jetta looks pretty aerodynamic so you may not need as much power at highway speeds. I just completed a belly pan (new thread coming soon) and it seems to be helping. I have a very steep driveway so I can't really add air dams.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

I did it. I wanted to reach 1000 miles and I did, but I chickenned out!

1021 miles at a somewhat disapointing 63.8 mpg.

Mes félicitations !