Topic: Real-world fuel consumption

[tortoise]

I'd be in the low 6's in the Golf at 80 mph.

[rrocket]

I'd be in the low 6's in the Golf at 80 mph.

With a 40km/h crosswind?

[tortoise]

I'd say so. It's in the 5's at 120 km/hr.

How much of an impact does a cross wind have?  Can't be much vs a headwind.

[ktm525]

I'd be in the low 6's in the Golf at 80 mph.

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

[Bubba]

Uh oh, I've been doing a little reading. 

A crosswind increases the effective front area of a vehicle to include the side.  Add to that, the steering corrections needed to keep the vehicle on course will increase your fuel consumption as much as a headwind.

[tortoise]

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

I have the TDI wagon. It's rated at 5.6 L/100km (42 MPG) highway, and has been known to do better in real world driving.

And I've always been in the 5's on the highway no matter how fast I drive. The roof box and winter tires and winter fuel add about 1L/100km.

I did also read that a cross wind can increase fuel consumption, but I still say I'd be at 6.5, max.

[Gurgie]

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

I have the TDI wagon. It's rated at 5.6 L/100km (42 MPG) highway, and has been known to do better in real world driving.

And I've always been in the 5's on the highway no matter how fast I drive. The roof box and winter tires and winter fuel add about 1L/100km.

I did also read that a cross wind can increase fuel consumption, but I still say I'd be at 6.5, max.

The diesel still just lopes along at that speed.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

[Bubba]

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

I have the TDI wagon. It's rated at 5.6 L/100km (42 MPG) highway, and has been known to do better in real world driving.

And I've always been in the 5's on the highway no matter how fast I drive. The roof box and winter tires and winter fuel add about 1L/100km.

I did also read that a cross wind can increase fuel consumption, but I still say I'd be at 6.5, max.

The diesel still just lopes along at that speed.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

The Corolla's 1.8 revs at 3200 rpm at 80 mph. 

[warp]

I'd be in the low 6's in the Golf at 80 mph.

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

Nothing extraordinary. Modern gasoline engines do as well without the emission control and regulatory baggage of the diesels, and turbocharged gasoline engines even provide almost as much low rpm torque per displacement as equivalent diesels:

From Car & Drivers, 75 mph, 200 mile loop test:

We're pleased to report that both manual and automatic Jetta's exceeded their EPA Highway estimates in our 75-mph fuel-economy route. The manual Jetta returned an impressive 44 mpg while the eight-speed automatic returned and equally as impressive 42 mpg. For more information about the Jetta's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

That 44 miles per US gallon that C&D got on the 2024 manual transmission Jetta is 5.4 liters/100 km.

[ktm525]

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

I have the TDI wagon. It's rated at 5.6 L/100km (42 MPG) highway, and has been known to do better in real world driving.

And I've always been in the 5's on the highway no matter how fast I drive. The roof box and winter tires and winter fuel add about 1L/100km.

I did also read that a cross wind can increase fuel consumption, but I still say I'd be at 6.5, max.

That explains it. Is it one of those "cheating" ones? or did VW reflash it?

[rrocket]

So at 130 km/h you are seeing 6.25L/100km or  38 MPG (US gallon) ? That is bang on with the EPA numbers but i thought they were done at 60 mph?

I have the TDI wagon. It's rated at 5.6 L/100km (42 MPG) highway, and has been known to do better in real world driving.

And I've always been in the 5's on the highway no matter how fast I drive. The roof box and winter tires and winter fuel add about 1L/100km.

I did also read that a cross wind can increase fuel consumption, but I still say I'd be at 6.5, max.

The diesel still just lopes along at that speed.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

I can easily better TDI numbers in the Prius on the highway...
 
Unsure what it would do with a very stiff headwind though.

[tortoise]

That explains it. Is it one of those "cheating" ones? or did VW reflash it?

Well, they were ALL cheating ones,  but this had the EPA approved fix applied.  Didn't realy hurt the fuel consumption from what I've read.

Nothing extraordinary. Modern gasoline engines do as well without the emission control and regulatory baggage of the diesels, and turbocharged gasoline engines even provide almost as much low rpm torque per displacement as equivalent diesels:

The Jetta with the 1.5T is up 8 hp, but down 50 lb-ft of torque. The new 1.5T is crazy efficient while still having a sufficient amount of power.  I realize that's comparing a 2.0 TDI vs a 1.5 TSI, but the TDI is sitll getting better fuel economy numbers than the smaller gasser in this comparison.  So, a 1.5T would be better on fuel still, while having comparable torque (less hp though).

I can easily better TDI numbers in the Prius on the highway...
 
Unsure what it would do with a very stiff headwind though.

I wonder if there's a speed that the TDI would best the Prius on the highway.

[Seafoam]

 Just think what you could get if you didn't drive like Muppets.  You have to pay if you are going to play.

And I'm not saying hold up traffic. I'll put my flame suit on now. 

[tortoise]

I generally don't drive faster than 125 km/hr on 4 lane highways.  The cost of a ticket isn't worth it.

Also, we Muppets like to get there eventually.

[Bubba]

Just think what you could get if you didn't drive like Muppets.

 

[rrocket]

That explains it. Is it one of those "cheating" ones? or did VW reflash it?

Well, they were ALL cheating ones,  but this had the EPA approved fix applied.  Didn't realy hurt the fuel consumption from what I've read.

Nothing extraordinary. Modern gasoline engines do as well without the emission control and regulatory baggage of the diesels, and turbocharged gasoline engines even provide almost as much low rpm torque per displacement as equivalent diesels:

The Jetta with the 1.5T is up 8 hp, but down 50 lb-ft of torque. The new 1.5T is crazy efficient while still having a sufficient amount of power.  I realize that's comparing a 2.0 TDI vs a 1.5 TSI, but the TDI is sitll getting better fuel economy numbers than the smaller gasser in this comparison.  So, a 1.5T would be better on fuel still, while having comparable torque (less hp though).

I can easily better TDI numbers in the Prius on the highway...
 
Unsure what it would do with a very stiff headwind though.

I wonder if there's a speed that the TDI would best the Prius on the highway.

Really fast??   150+ I'd guess? 

The shape of the Prius is supposed to be quite slippery. But at some point the smaller engine will be wheezy and the VW better.

But it would be quite fast IMO.

[quadzilla]

Between expensive tickets, horrible lane discipline, and so many trucks on the 401, it rarely makes any sense to do more than 120 kph, At least in my area (Windsor - Kingston). Pass and wait, repeat.

With my 2022 Corolla, the sweet spot is 120 kph for speed and efficiency.

My Mazda 6 Wagon was an amazing highway cruiser. If I remember correctly, it was turning over at 3K going 140 kph, it ate up the miles.

Wind is a huge factor for f/e.  You can lose 10% for every 15 kph of headwind. Then add in resistance the faster you go, which is exponential (or was it cubed?).

[Seafoam]

I generally don't drive faster than 125 km/hr on 4 lane highways.  The cost of a ticket isn't worth it.

Also, we Muppets like to get there eventually.

You are not getting to your destination that much quicker. I'll leave it at that.

[tortoise]

It all depends, and I'll leave it at that.

[ktm525]

I drive slower now typically 120-130 km/h but I used to drive quicker. When I was going to Saskatoon a bunch (650k kms drive) An extra 20 km/h was an hour's less driving time. YMMV.