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40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!!

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1.7K views 37 replies 28 participants last post by  newgtiuser  
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#1 ·
hello all. recently i have posted my fuel economy results from my frequent maryland - indiana trips. wellllll....
Today i filled up the tank in my jetta3 2.0 twice. on the first tank, i averaged 35.75 MPG over 350 miles, mixed city/highway (this is about normal for me).
and on the SECOND tank... i managed 40.55 MPG
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This was the average over 307 miles of pure highway driving, with an average driving speed (exlcuding stops) of about 65 mph, and A/C running about 30%of the time.
my previous personal best had been 39.6 miles per gallon on the same route, and i had been trying to break the 40 mpg barrier for a lil while. woot!
btw i run 93 octane with TT chip, magnaflow catback, K/N, etc.
How does this stack up to the rest of ya? Lemme know what you thinK!
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#3 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! ([TERP]Iceman)

oh one other thing... today my cruise control worked for like 20 minutes, and then i turned it off. i wasn't able to get it working again during the ENTIRE TRIP! i shut off the engine entirely a few times to clear the memory, too.
Any ideas/suggestions?
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#6 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! (REON!)

REON:
i haven't always gotten this mileage.
when car was newer, with no mods, i would get about 30-31 mpg on the highway on 87 octane.
then with chip and 93 octane, i was reaching 33 mpg or so.
weird thing is that my exhaust seems to have improved my mileage as well.
a few months ago i changed the spark plugs to bosch copper and replaced the fuel filter. after that my mileage went up considerably.
here are a few tips i've learned:
1. over-fill your tires. on this trip i was running about 36psi front and 37 rear. i have run as high as 38 all around. this makes at least a few MPG difference.
2. COAST in neutral as much as possible, but don't let the momentum of the car get down so you have to stomp the gas to speed up. i think i managed to coast non-stop for like 6 miles today (down I-70 East from Allegheny Mountain), and another 8 or so miles elsewhere.
3. as i have said earlier my cruise control wasn't working today: in ANY case, however, i usually use my foot only and no C/C. if you use your foot instead of C/C you can anticipate approaching hills and create more momentum more efficienty.
4. Know Thine Engine. know where the peak of your TORQUE CURVE is. i try to keep my RPM around 3100, which is where torque is greatest on the 2.0. this provides maximum fuel/engine efficiency.
5. Getting good mileage is ALL about MOMENTUM. it takes less energy to keep an object moving at a steady speed than if speed varies widely. pick an RPM or speed range and try to stick to it.
 
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#8 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! (JettaAE)

another word to the wise.... i like to turn my A/C ON while i'm coasting. since the engine is only idling, and the car is coasting, you can turn on A/C and get cool for FREE! (no loss of mileage).
looking back... i think i may have pissed off this one trucker: i was following him rather closely for a few miles (quasi-drafting, but at a safe distance), and when i passed him he flashed his high beams at me. i know truckers hate it when they can't see who's behind them.


Modified by [TERP]Iceman at 10:31 PM 6-10-2004
 
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#12 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! ([TERP]Iceman)

Quote, originally posted by [TERP »
Iceman]another word to the wise.... i like to turn my A/C ON while i'm coasting. since the engine is only idling, and the car is coasting, you can turn on A/C and get cool for FREE! (no loss of mileage).
looking back... i think i may have pissed off this one trucker: i was following him rather closely for a few miles (quasi-drafting, but at a safe distance), and when i passed him he flashed his high beams at me. i know truckers hate it when they can't see who's behind them.

Modified by [TERP]Iceman at 10:31 PM 6-10-2004

Actually, I think the flashing thing typically means clear to move over. I see truckers do that all the time along 70/71 when they have another trucker passing them... some do it for cars too.
 
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#13 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! (jwfowble)

Quote, originally posted by jwfowble »

Actually, I think the flashing thing typically means clear to move over. I see truckers do that all the time along 70/71 when they have another trucker passing them... some do it for cars too.

i've always seen them do headlights off/on to signal that it's clear to merge over. i think flashing high beams is the universal f**k you signal.
congrats on the mileage though, iceman. since i got my glx 4 months ago and have been playing with the trip computer, i've learned those same techniques you have. lots of coasting, no drastic pedal movements, and definitely keep the rpm's down. i really need to get a chip.
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif


Modified by taurus at 1:10 AM 6-11-2004
 
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#16 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! (taurus)

Quote, originally posted by taurus »

i've always seen them do headlights off/on to signal that it's clear to merge over. i think flashing high beams is the universal f**k you signal.
Modified by taurus at 1:10 AM 6-11-2004

I wouldn't say universal. Just on the states side. I don't know if it is by law, or just a courtesy gesture, but in Germany and I assume other countrys flashing your high beams informs the person in front of you you are passing and they have to move out of the fast lane.
 
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#17 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! ([TERP]Iceman)

Quote, originally posted by [TERP »
Iceman]...here are a few tips i've learned:
1. over-fill your tires. on this trip i was running about 36psi front and 37 rear. i have run as high as 38 all around. this makes at least a few MPG difference.

Nothing new about this. However, over-filling your tires will produce uneven tire wear AND reduce your tire's contact patch which = decreased handling and BRAKING performance. I would never recommend this to anyone.
Quote »

2. COAST in neutral as much as possible, but don't let the momentum of the car get down so you have to stomp the gas to speed up. i think i managed to coast non-stop for like 6 miles today (down I-70 East from Allegheny Mountain), and another 8 or so miles elsewhere.

Actually, leaving the car in a higher gear would save more because fuel injection does not squirt during over-run. If you are coasting in neutral then the engine is idling which means it's using gas.
Quote »

3. as i have said earlier my cruise control wasn't working today: in ANY case, however, i usually use my foot only and no C/C. if you use your foot instead of C/C you can anticipate approaching hills and create more momentum more efficienty.
4. Know Thine Engine. know where the peak of your TORQUE CURVE is. i try to keep my RPM around 3100, which is where torque is greatest on the 2.0. this provides maximum fuel/engine efficiency.
5. Getting good mileage is ALL about MOMENTUM. it takes less energy to keep an object moving at a steady speed than if speed varies widely. pick an RPM or speed range and try to stick to it.

http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
 
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#18 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! (1997 Golf GL)

Quote, originally posted by 1997 Golf GL »
... I don't know if it is by law, or just a courtesy gesture, but in Germany and I assume other countrys flashing your high beams informs the person in front of you you are passing and they have to move out of the fast lane.


I wish more idiots could somehow grasp the understanding of something like that...
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Nice mileage. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
On sane road trips, I've seen 36-37 mpg, but nothing that high.
 
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#19 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! (1997 Golf GL)

Quote, originally posted by 1997 Golf GL »

I wouldn't say universal. Just on the states side. I don't know if it is by law, or just a courtesy gesture, but in Germany and I assume other countrys flashing your high beams informs the person in front of you you are passing and they have to move out of the fast lane.

Same here in Canada... out drivers handbook actually states that you are supposed to flash the driver ahead when passing at night. More and more it seems to be taken as f-you tho. I'm starting to hate driving in Canada - sooooooooooo lazy and ignorant of the road/other drivers. People are out for themselves.
I really need to look into my fuel economy. My 95 Jetta 2.0 (AT) averaged about 8.9km/L mixed driving which works out to about 21MPG. Eek! Driving in the city really kills it tho... on the highway, I can do nearly 200km on 1/4 tank @ 130kph... provided traffic isn't stupid. I should check the fuel economy again tho... it's been a little while.
 
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#24 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! ([TERP]Iceman)

truckers flash their accessory lights to signal to other truckers that there is sufficient room to pull over after passing. i don't think this is a law, but it is universal among american truckers.
flashing high beams is another thing.
also, about the tires, i really don't think that 2 psi is going to make a huge difference in handling. i can see where it could make a difference in the wet, however. i was running about 34-34 psi and getting alot of edge wear on my tires, so i upped to the current pressure and have been quite pleased.
now that i've broken 40 mpg i'm wondering what the upper limit is. if 40 is possible, why not 45? maybe more? the mind boggles...
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also i'm not sure if i'm 'obsessed' with mileage but i do receive a certain satisfaction when i fill up next to some guy driving an SUV. makes me laugh to think that basically i'm paying $1.10 for the same gallon of gas that he is paying $2.20 for (20 mpg/40mpg). sucka!
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#25 ·
Re: 40 MPG in Jetta 2.0 !!! ([TERP]Iceman)

Quote, originally posted by [TERP »
Iceman]also i'm not sure if i'm 'obsessed' with mileage but i do receive a certain satisfaction when i fill up next to some guy driving an SUV. makes me laugh to think that basically i'm paying $1.10 for the same gallon of gas that he is paying $2.20 for (20 mpg/40mpg). sucka!
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and both of your vehicles do the same thing; transport people, groceries, and the like. you know 95% of SUV's on the road have never touched mud or really gone off road.
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