[JetTurbo]

Had a CEL last Thursday. Dealer said the VAG showed a misfire on cylinder 2, but they could find nothing wrong Friday, so they just cleared it. It seems to have lost some power, albeit slight, I notice it when starting starting from a stop, I stalled it twice yesterday! and I have never stalled once before, had to adjust my technique to compensate.
I track my fuel mileage carefully, and I have noticed a drop of about about 1-2 MPG on the last two tanks (I'm at about 5,800 mi). Maybe its just my imagination. I am beginning to suspect the gas,

will run this tank out and switch to another source.
I am heading out on a road trip Monday (1200 miles), starting to get nervous ...
Is the mysterious CEL for misfire an indication of bad things to come?

 

[JetTurbo]

Forgot to mention, its 100% stock

Forgot to mention, its 100% stock

 

[LittleRedDrivingWolf]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (JetTurbo)

I was wondering the same thing. My CEL light just came on yesterday.
My mileage has been a bit disappointing..I haven't seen 30 MPG HWY since my 5000 mile service (which the CEL came on and went off after I discovered that they didn't feel like attaching all the clamps) even when making special pains to drive a little slower on the interstate to see if it would help I'm also getting about 22 in town..I don't think I'm too lead footed

The numbers aren't horrible, but I figured that they'd be a few MPG better
I'm at 8500 now and the car doesn't seem as powerful as it did new, I just thought it was psychological and was getting used to the engine

 

[cerwin69]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (LittleRedDrivingWolf)

I had the same issue only at around 10k miles, the misfire occured, the car sat in the shop for 2 days. I figured it was my fault for not letting the car warm up for 30 secs and taking off like a bat out of hell. Dealer, reset, and no problems since except i guess some what of a lag...

 

[JetTurbo]

I should have mentioned the dealer said they sprayed something on connections supposedly to protect against moisture (we've had a lot of rain lately). The stalls occurred after I picked it up, maybe they made some connection worse instead of better?

quote:[HR][/HR]...no problems since except i guess some what of a lag...[HR][/HR]​

that's a fair description of the change I am seeing now.
I am not so concerned about the raw MPG numbers, more the donwnward trend. I know the type of driving involved can have a big effect, but nothing particularly different about that when MPG went down.

 

[F1_Fan]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (JetTurbo)

quote:[HR][/HR]I track my fuel mileage carefully, [HR][/HR]​

I'm at 7500 km and I think your mileage is getting worse than me - misfire or not.
I drive about 2/3 highway and 1/3 city. I'll usually redline the car if it's warmed up at least four times a week, I pull from stop lights medium-hard and I accelerate pretty hard onto the highway.
I'm averaging about 29-30 MPG but that's UK gallons. IIRC, that's about 10.3 km/litre or 9.4L/100km
edit: whoops... just looked at your sig you're running a '01 1.8T, I've got a '02.


[Modified by F1_Fan, 11:15 AM 12-1-2001]

 

[JetTurbo]

Description of driving style (F1_Fan)

quote:[HR][/HR]...I drive about 2/3 highway and 1/3 city. I'll usually redline the car if it's warmed up at least four times a week, I pull from stop lights medium-hard and I accelerate pretty hard onto the highway...[HR][/HR]​

That's actually a pretty accurate description of how I drive in my home area, problably red line it in lower gears a bit more often. I am working on re-training not to do that

(old habits from driving normally aspirated stuff)
I take a fair amount of trips over 200 mi, and in those cases I usually set cruise around 75 mph / 80 mph traffic permiting. Oddly enough, the tank with the best fuel mileage included top speed runs (which are tough because I need open highway, I won't pass traffic more at more than 85, I back off until past and then try again).

quote:[HR][/HR]I'm averaging about 29-30 MPG but that's UK gallons. IIRC, that's about 10.3 km/litre or 9.4L/100km[HR][/HR]​

If I read that correctly you are getting a tad less fuel mileage than I am? Seems about right, the '02 has a bit more power which consumes a bit more petrol.
(Funny the next column in my spread sheet is km/litre but I chopped it in the web post because I didn't think anyone used that.)

 

[F1_Fan]

Re: Description of driving style (JetTurbo)

quote:[HR][/HR](Funny the next column in my spread sheet is km/litre but I chopped it in the web post because I didn't think anyone used that.)[HR][/HR]​

I only use it as an intermediate number... I calc km/L from my receipt then multiply by a factor to get mpg. I do it so often that the km/L number sticks in my head...

10 km/L is the magic number for me, below 10 is bad above 10 is good.


[Modified by F1_Fan, 11:58 AM 12-1-2001]

 

[Craig]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (JetTurbo)

If more than one person in northern states are noticing poorer gas mileage now, I'm wondering if it could be winterized gasoline? I noticed last winter several were stating that this happens. (It happens with winterized diesel, but I was surprised to hear last winter that gassers have the same problem.)

 

[rub-a-vee-dub]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (Craig)

i had a CEL/misfire i little bit back. i atcually misfired in cylinders 1-3. i think it was a freak thing, i know it was user error, if i remember right i cranked it kinda long when i started it up and it was a really cold night and it had sat all day at work and the weather changed drastically from hot to very cold. i'm also noticing gas mileage going down a bit lately, and i've got 21,000 miles on my '01... i might agree with that winterized gas....

 

[REDMR2T]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (JetTurbo)

be careful in your calculations fellow ohioan:
1)up here near cleveland they convert to a "winter mix" of fuel. It has more corn in it. it burns faster and makes less power. (less mpg and less HP)
2) Hot engines with hot fuel charges atomize gas better, therefore you get better gas mpg in the summer.
I dropped 2mpg about a month ago. this is normal in every car I have owned. Wait untill next spring it will come right back.
Dont worry be happy, the poor vr6 guys get worse mpg than you on their best and your worst day. it will come back. also dont bother buying 93 or 94 octane this time of year, cold weather and alcohol will make no diference between 91 and the higher octane stuff.
Cheers
GK

 

[TabulaRasa]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (REDMR2T)

Have you guys tried cleaning your MAF?

 

[prana]

Re: 1.8T Performance deteriorating? (JetTurbo)

Check knock sensor, my 90 Quattro had that same problem.
Just a suggestion...