New member driving a TDI Beetle with B100

[UFO]

I've been driving diesels for 7 years on biodiesel. I am now driving a 2001 Beetle with an automatic transmission, and it gets poor mileage compared to the manual models. If the transmission goes out, I am considering installing a manual as I am handy that way.

I was averaging about 37 mpg on my commute, mixed highway and city. Then I got a Scangauge and using driving techniques alone I have improved to 40-43 mpg. Now I am thinking about what Ernie Rogers did with his Beetle to improve the Cd, and that's what led me here.

I am looking forward to participating here. I see test data and the scientific method are valued here, and that suits me just fine as I work as an electrical engineer in power design. I'd love to find a source of NiH or Li-Ion batteries and build an all electric vehicle. I've always enjoyed modding cars, so I am self-taught in the mechanicals.

My other vehicles:

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD - 30mpg highway @ 65 mph (wife drives)
1983 Mercedes 240D - 24-30mpg (for sale)
1989 Toyota 4x4 - 30mpg highway @ 60mph (gasser, someday a diesel swap)
1978 Datsun 280Z - 29 mpg highway @ 70mph (turbo, 12.89@110)
Rans Vivo Recumbent Bicycle

[UFO]

Hello?

[TomO]

Hi there, and welcome aboard! Looks like you've been fighting the good fight for quite a while. We're definitely looking forward to seeing some of your experiments and your input for the site!

[dieseleverything]

How do you figure out the 153 mpg on your 240D? The bio diesel is not free because you have to buy methanol. And if your 240D can get 153, then why is your Beetle only getting 42? (that is poor, my '03 Jetta TDI 5 spd gets 48mpg). I'm just interested in how you calculate your mileage.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by dieseleverything

How do you figure out the 153 mpg on your 240D? The bio diesel is not free because you have to buy methanol. And if your 240D can get 153, then why is your Beetle only getting 42? (that is poor, my '03 Jetta TDI 5 spd gets 48mpg). I'm just interested in how you calculate your mileage.

I calculated it the same way user dieseleverything calculates his mileage - only counting the petroleum derived fuel used. It's extremely disingenuous, and the only reason I posted that was to show that anyone can play that game to get good numbers.

I don't really drive the Mercedes (it's for sale, hint hint), and if I was serious about cooking the numbers, my Beetle would be getting 250 mpg.

[Phantom]

Ufo stated 1983 Mercedes 240D - 24-30mpg (for sale) in his post so the garage is just an error.

UFO I remember seeing some where (TDIClub?) that B20 gets better MPG than Dino D but that over B20 gets the same or less MPG than Dino.

[UFO]

I have noticed I get about 5% better mileage using B100 over diesel #2. Last summer I ran out of biodiesel, so I ran mostly diesel, and my mileage dropped to 39 from 41-42 mpg. I attribute that to my regions lousy fuel, 40 cetane where my car was designed for 47 minimum. Biodiesel commonly is 50 cetane or higher.

[bnmorgan]

Welcome to the forum. I've been driving my d-bug for a few months, trying to talk myself into some aero stuff to bring things up a bit. We don't have bio available here anywhere, and I just don't have the necessities to do my own, although have considered running a 2 tank svo/wvo. all cases just cost more than i can afford really.

[UFO]

Yes, aero stuff. I was inspired by the Ernie Roger's wing. I am planning to make my own out of aluminum sheet, paint it gloss black like my beetle, and have the winglets shaped like batwings. When I get a drawing made, I will make a new post for everyone to see.

I also plan to get a good skidplate for the engine, and in the process look for other opportunities to make the underside more smooth.

[SwamiSalami]

I think there should be some kind of universal standard for this sort of thing, yes?

Gas mileage and fuel economy are two different things. It's odd, because only the most informed can distinguish between different scenarios, anything else is...well...I'll get back to this later...