What should the MPG or Fuel Economy be?

1253 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by jfoj, Jan 26, 2014

tedybear

Discussion Starter · Jan 25, 2014

Did a quick search and had to many side tracked posts all over the map.

We're pulling about 22-25 Mile Per Gallon. This seems very low to me. It's the 2.0 AVH with the manual.

The thermostat is working 100% according to the crap-top with the VCDS (Thanks to jfoj for his information!!)

We do have a partly blown out resonator--but that shouldn't have to much effect on the mileage. (it's not restricted, quite the reverse LOL)

The interesting thing? We started the car the other day, and it was DARN COLD!! at -6 f for the temp. The poor ol' girl smelled like a gas factory dumped under the car. My Bronco II runs rich when it's that cold--but it doesn't reek of fuel.

I still have to get a scan tool for live data (what's the alternative? Dead Data?) So I'll get the fuel trim figures eventually. (I can't afford to upgrade the VCDS, or to purchase another scan tool yet) Just wondering what the normal MPG should be...and about that fuel tanker spill smell out the exhaust.

I still think the injectors may need to be serviced...but we have no active CEL's...(the P0420 code still shows as pending/intermid)

Any ideas are welcome

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PRM502STREET

· #2 · Jan 25, 2014

My 99 2.0 with a5 speed can get up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway maybe a little bit more. If, and only if I keep it under 65 miles per hour. Car runs very nice, it has 180,000 miles on the odometer. I usually average about 24 to 25 miles per gallon. That's about half highway and half city.

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tedybear

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 25, 2014

So it's a little low....Should be interesting to see what the fuel trim values are.

The Tiburon we retired with a 2.0 and the 5 speed actually managed about 35 MPG, both highway and city...

Going to need more work it seems. After the fuel smell? I'm concerned about leaking injectors. (The Bronco did that when I first purchased it...wound up rebuilding all 6 just to keep the engine power balanced)

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Smileybug

· #4 · Jan 25, 2014

What kind of driving is that in? That is a big factor.

You also may want to give it some time for things to get warmer. My GTI is running a bit sluggish and MPGs are down a little in this super cold weather.

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red99

· #5 · Jan 25, 2014

Your mileage doesn't sound too unusual to me. I have a 2.0 with the 5-speed and on my last tank got 24 mpg. That was for 6 mile trips and 10-20°F temperatures. In the summer I get around 30 mpg on long trips and around 26 mpg for short ones.

My mileage did improve by 1 or 2 after I added return springs to the parking brake mechanism. See my post #14 in this thread:

http://newbeetle.org/forums/1-8-liter-turbo/59778-2002-glx-turbo-gas-mileage.html

I have long suspected that my fuel injectors stick after the car has sat unused for 3 days or more. It will run rough for a couple of minutes and the exhaust smells of gas. It will smooth out and be OK after that. Cold temperatures could have the same effect. It seems the injectors are prone to sticking. I have noticed that Valero brand gas does make it worse, so you might try switching brands.

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tedybear

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 26, 2014

red99 said:
Your mileage doesn't sound too unusual to me. I have a 2.0 with the 5-speed and on my last tank got 24 mpg. That was for 6 mile trips and 10-20°F temperatures. In the summer I get around 30 mpg on long trips and around 26 mpg for short ones.

My mileage did improve by 1 or 2 after I added return springs to the parking brake mechanism. See my post #14 in this thread:

http://newbeetle.org/forums/1-8-liter-turbo/59778-2002-glx-turbo-gas-mileage.html

I have long suspected that my fuel injectors stick after the car has sat unused for 3 days or more. It will run rough for a couple of minutes and the exhaust smells of gas. It will smooth out and be OK after that. Cold temperatures could have the same effect. It seems the injectors are prone to sticking. I have noticed that Valero brand gas does make it worse, so you might try switching brands.

We normally use either Kwik Fill or Exxon. I refuse to use Valero. (I'll explain why...let just say it has something to do with who actually owns that company.)

We get it about the fuel injectors acting up. If I do not drive my Bronco II each day for at least 30 miles? It runs like portable crap until things smooth out. The injectors are seeping when it sits. I can watch the fuel pressure slowly drain back..and the intake plenum smells like raw fuel.

The car does slightly improve when I drop in some heavy duty injector cleaner. We do not drive this one daily, so I think that's part of the issue. Drive my Bronco daily? It does well. Forget to drive it for a few days? Craptastic.

I might check into injector 'rebuild' kits for it. I'm fairly sure the nozzles are slightly gummed. (that and the mesh socks for the final filter? Probably bunged up too)

Just wondering about the mileage per gallon at this point. Sounds like we are running about average for the temps. You're in Rochester, NY---and we're in Fulton, NY. Pretty much the same lousy temps....

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tedybear

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 26, 2014

Smileybug said:
What kind of driving is that in? That is a big factor.

You also may want to give it some time for things to get warmer. My GTI is running a bit sluggish and MPGs are down a little in this super cold weather.

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Colddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd kinda driving.

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jfoj

· #8 · Jan 26, 2014

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You also cannot really relay on Winter fuel economy values due to fuel additives and longer warm up requirements. Tires also may be lower, ever 10F change in tire temp is 1 PSI change in pressure.

So you have to be very careful to monitor tire pressures and they also do not increase as much when running on the highway as the blacktop is not over 100F!

The only way to confirm fuel economy is to take a good 2-4 hour road trip and calculate the mileage.

Any in town driving will kill the economy.

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