Henning (2014 VW Passat, 1.6 TDI Bluemotion)

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by spacemanspif

Nice grab. Is it a turbo diesel? I didn't think turbos and lots of on/off made for a good match; wondering how VW handled that possible issue...

Interesting question. Firstly yes it is a TDI, the 1.6 Common Rail 105hp engine - not sure if it made it to the US, but probably not.

Secondly I've just had a full day of stop start so I'm getting used to it.

It seems to come on as soon as the engine is warm - i.e. the temp gauge has moved - and is activated when the car is stopped and the clutch is out (Neutral). The engine then stops and the "Hill Start" handbrake is applied - so the car won't move even if you lift off the brake.

To restart you press the clutch and by the time the pedal is full down and first is selected the engine is started and ready to go. The car won't move until you actually engage the clutch, at which point the "Hill Start" brake is released.

I used it this evening on a very long traffic light queue downhill near home and it worked really well - stopped, cutch pedal, crawl, stop, engine off, brake on, repeat - no effort at all from me.

I haven't driven "on boost" much yet so I don't know if the facility is disabled if the turbo is hot. I did notice that when I turned up the heater on "stop" the engine started to provide the power. I will wear a pullover next time

[Arragonis]

First built in MPG display averages are 45 MPG "to" work (uphill mostly) and 59 MPG coming back (downhill mostly but more traffic). This is with no extra Eco driving effort at all except what the car had by default.

By comparison Hermann would struggle to get 30-35 on the first leg and maybe 35 on the home part if the traffic wasn't too bad.

[Arragonis]

Without much effort (I got too bored to not try some hypermiling) I got my first over 55 day, according to the on-board display. 54 MPG to work (uphill) and 74 back. 1/4 tank is at 200 so I estimate 650 miles for a tank as the gauge will drop faster.

[MobilOne]

You have a really nice looking auto!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

stop start ... is activated when the car is stopped and the clutch is out (Neutral).

When coming to a stop, I often shift to neutral without using the clutch (ie. move the lever when there's no load on the drivetrain, so no resistance).

Do you know if the system will still work in that case, or does it need to see the clutch used before selecting neutral and stopping?

Just curious.

The wee Mitsu Mirage also has stop/start in Europe. I'd love to see how it works in that car too.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

When coming to a stop, I often shift to neutral without using the clutch (ie. move the lever when there's no load on the drivetrain, so no resistance).

Do you know if the system will still work in that case, or does it need to see the clutch used before selecting neutral and stopping?

Just curious.

Habit dictates I use the pedal myself. I do sometimes coast in neutral when I can't reliably dictate the stop profile. Usually when I stop (foot on the brake) the stop-start kicks in.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

The wee Mitsu Mirage also has stop/start in Europe. I'd love to see how it works in that car too.

If I get a chance I'll maybe see if I can test drive a Mirage with Stop-Start or at least see how it works. I have seen a few Mirages here but not a huge number - more VW UP! (and related models from SEAT/Skoda) and Aygo (related models from Peugeot/Citroen).

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

When coming to a stop, I often shift to neutral without using the clutch (ie. move the lever when there's no load on the drivetrain, so no resistance).

Do you know if the system will still work in that case, or does it need to see the clutch used before selecting neutral and stopping?

Just curious.

UFI's stop start works in the above case. I suspect most of them do.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

I haven't driven "on boost" much yet so I don't know if the facility is disabled if the turbo is hot. I did notice that when I turned up the heater on "stop" the engine started to provide the power. I will wear a pullover next time

I rather suspect turbo temps aren't taken into account on most S/S turbo cars. The standard party line is that with modern turbos and oils you're safe as long as you're not on a race track. Even at freeway speed a lot of modern TD's are geared so high in top gear that the turbo's not really working too hard. A bit of DFCO before you stop is enough (doubly true on a diesel).

I have my reservations about the above though

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

I rather suspect turbo temps aren't taken into account on most S/S turbo cars ... I have my reservations about the above though

I agree and I think Diesel Turbos run hotter than petrol ones ? I might have that backwards though ?

The SS seems not to depend on temps too much - it starts working after I have trundled in neutral downhill from my house to the end of the road (1/2 mile) from cold. At the end I have to stop until the lights nearby have cycled, and the engine has shutdown every time so far. Maybe it won't in winter ?

It also disables if the power draw is high enough but I have noticed that it has disabled sometimes when I've expected it to still work. For example just after reversing (e.g. onto my drive) it won't kick in at all - but that is logical, usually the driver would want to set off again or shut down manually after parking.

Other times the SS disabled symbol appears on the dash but I haven't quite worked out why. It could be turbo temps maybe.

If I wasn't so busy at work I would have an evening to study the instruction manual or Google and know for sure...

So far done just short of 300 miles with a tank average of 53-54 on the built in display. The range estimate is another 460 miles but this is based on the most recent averages so it might go down. It does raise the question of a Kilo tank with some effort - I'm not doing anything special at the moment.

Minor issue is that the super long gearing does overwhelm the little 1.6 sometimes - it can be "off boost" at 70 (the motorway limit here) needing a change down to climb a steep hill for example. It will be interesting to try on the M74 - the road to England and civilisation of course - which is full of steep climbs and dips.

[MetroMPG]

Minor issue is that the super long gearing does overwhelm the little 1.6 sometimes - needing a change down to climb a steep hill for example.

Please don't call this an "issue".

That's exactly the transmission many (most?) of us want!

The alternative is the current manual transmission status quo: a rev-happy top gear that wastes fuel all through the flats so that we are never troubled -- heaven forbid! -- to move the shifter out of top gear once it's been put there!