Remap For Economy?

[Torq]

Hi Guys,

I've just bought a 2002 Seat Alhambra 1.9tdi (AUY engine code, 115bhp) and do around 450 to 500 mostly motorway miles a week. Previous to this I had a 03 BMW E46 320d touring but it wasn't big enough for the growing family! I was used to its 50+ mpg, super performance and great handling, now I don't expect the alhambra to measure up to the beemer except in boot space where it wins hands down but I'm really disappointed in the fuel economy. I'm coming in at 41.9mpg and it's just not high enough for me. Has anyone had a remap to increase mpg? If so what's the gain?

Many thanks.

Torq

[Mirez]

Its just over half a tonne heavier then the beemer! You can't carry that much weight economically and most MPV's of the age struggle to get anywhere near 42mpg, I can't imagine a remap will help get you much more then a 5mpg increase tops.

[matt1e]

Hiya,

 

I have a Pd130 and do Blackpool - Bradford each day and back.

 

I am averaging 50-55Mpg at an average of 70-75mph.

 

I think that if you have a remap then you should see an improvement but with everything there is no guarrantee as most of it depends on the right foot and driving technique !

 

A remap for the 115 should bring you up or above my torque and power so should relatively increase the economy ?

 

only my opinion though.

 

Matt

[Torq]

Hiya,

 

I have a Pd130 and do Blackpool - Bradford each day and back.

 

I am averaging 50-55Mpg at an average of 70-75mph.

 

I think that if you have a remap then you should see an improvement but with everything there is no guarrantee as most of it depends on the right foot and driving technique !

 

A remap for the 115 should bring you up or above my torque and power so should relatively increase the economy ?

 

only my opinion though.

 

Matt

 

Hi Matt,

thanks for the reply, your daily drive is about the same distance as mine and at the same speeds give or take a couple of mph.I've started driving more conservatively, no more powering down the sliproads or blasting for 70 to 90 in 6th. If you are getting that kind of economy then it looks like a remap may be the way to go for my car, I'd be happy to get back to the high 40's.

Thanks.

Torq.

[insider]

A simple calculation:

 

500 miles/week at 42mpg =

[seatkid]

At that age the first thing you should do is service it well, use a good quality synthetic 5-30W PD oil (505.01/507.00) which will give you about 3-4% extra economy over the standard 5/40W oil. Make sure air and fuel filters are clean/changed within last 20,000 miles. Make sure your tyres are pumped up toward the maximum end as stated on the filler flap. That will give you another 2-3%.

 

Then use any of the following to clean your injectors

 

1. Run on a premium fuel such as BP Ultimate or Shell V-power - it will unfortunately take about 4 tankfuls before the injectors are cleaned up nicely (expensive)

 

2. Alternatively use something like DIESEL POWER ECOMAX I can testify this really does work - but again it will take at least 4 or 5 tankfuls to see the benefits (you can increase the dosage to speed it up a bit) but its a fair bit cheaper than 1.

 

3. You can use FORTE or a whole host of other cleaners (REDEX etc) - I don't know how effective these are and personally I would be wary of using these.

 

Injector cleanliness is important for optimum spray pattern and optimum economy/performance.

 

You could remap "for economy" but I personally think its a fallacy that economy can be improved on a PD - the remap would probably just fool you by giving optimistic fuel computer readings that are just false. ALL REMAPS/TUNING BOXES carry a 50/50 chance of medium/long term damage to cylinder head, particularly on a shalaxy where the engine is loaded more than a normal passenger car. Plenty of posts on this forum about unresolvable heating problems (due to micro cracking of the head). Also you NEED TO GET APPROVAL OF YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY for a remap. Fewer and fewer companies will allow modifications.

 

The best you can reasonably expect from your car is mid 40's for motorway (70mph) speeds. The other way to improve economy is to SLOW DOWN.

Edited October 20, 2010 by seatkid

[Torq]

Thanks again guys.

 

She is due a service and she'll be getting all filters as I reckon the previous owner was fastidious with his oil and iol filter changes but I'd bet the fuel and air were never changed.

 

I'm in Ireland so the choice of fuels is not great, most people (myself included) go with the cheapest available as price can vary by 7c per litre depending on where you go.

 

On one occasion I was bringing a van that I'd just rebuilt the engine on for a DOE test, and it smoked like a trooper. I thought the turbo seals had gone so I swapped the turbo but it was still the same, a bloke in a garage advised me too try LiquiMoloy diesel cleaner not by putting it in the tank but filling the diesel filter with it. It worked superbly and the smoke was gone in minutes so I reckon I'll give it a go.

 

And.... I'm driving like a pensioner on a sunday with my eye constantly on the realtime mpg readout. But it's the urban driving that kills the mpg, 130miles of carefull economic driving will be negated by a couple of miles around town.

 

Thanks.

 

Torq

[Torq]

Hi Guys,

Got a set of filters and the 5W30 oil yesterday. Will be changing oil and diesel filters at the weekend, but did the air filter yesterday. I've never seen such a dirty air filter in my life, it had leaves, dead insects and snails on it!! Now to see if it makes any difference. WIll be getting the injector cleaner on saturday too. I've noticed that the idle is ever so slightly rough, so if the injectors are dirty causing this then they can't be performing to their optimum and hopefully the service and clean inijectors will sort that.

 

Torq

[sotal]

Hows it gone since the filter changes etc? Sounds like it had been neglected a bit? I change the air filter at the correct intervals and it always still looks new!

 

 

The fuel economy was one of the things I was most impressed with, with the galaxy.

 

We tend to get around 40mpg just running around, if we go on motorway journeys and cruise along in 6th gear then we tend to get 50+. If I drive like a grandad I can get above 55mpg.

 

In the Summer we drove down to the South Coast about 300 miles, we then drove around for a week down there then drove back up, the overal average for the whole week was 51mpg.

 

I do notice that economy suffers a little in winter though with the aux heater running. Around town at the moment instead of 40ish we're getting around 35ish.

[Torq]

Hows it gone since the filter changes etc? Sounds like it had been neglected a bit? I change the air filter at the correct intervals and it always still looks new!

 

 

The fuel economy was one of the things I was most impressed with, with the galaxy.

 

We tend to get around 40mpg just running around, if we go on motorway journeys and cruise along in 6th gear then we tend to get 50+. If I drive like a grandad I can get above 55mpg.

 

In the Summer we drove down to the South Coast about 300 miles, we then drove around for a week down there then drove back up, the overal average for the whole week was 51mpg.

 

I do notice that economy suffers a little in winter though with the aux heater running. Around town at the moment instead of 40ish we're getting around 35ish.

 

 

The jury is out at the moment! I've done the filters, cleaned the injectors and put in the lighter/thinner oil but haven't done enough driving yet to be able to give an answer yet. I've also got the issue of stripped threads on the sump drain which plumbers tape is holding together at the moment.

 

There is also a good vibration at 120Kph (75mph) which is down to worn inner cv joints (next on the repair list) and I'm wondering if they are also sapping power and causing a reduction in mpg.

 

I dream of 50mpg days again, if I can't get her up to at least 45mg then she's going back on the market!

 

Torq

 

 

P.S. Is your frugal Galaxy a 115bhp?

[sotal]

Yes our galaxy is a 115bhp - not sure if it makes much difference on the economy side of things?

[Mirez]

Officially, the 130 and 150 models are MORE economical then the 115. Certainly our 130 is a good couple of MPG higher then our previous 115 over the same journey.

[Torq]

She's still rubbish!! Only got 38.5Mpg over the last 450 miles. Looks like it's goodbye to the Alhambra!

 

Torq

[Bigjeeze]

She's still rubbish!! Only got 38.5Mpg over the last 450 miles. Looks like it's goodbye to the Alhambra!

 

Torq

 

 

Are you using the on board computer to check your figures? If so I would do a proper check. Fill the car up to the brim then check and see what it has actually used. The computer is not totally trustworthy.

 

Also turn off the air con if not required that may save you some fuel and don't forget you will lose some fuel to the booster heater in this cold weather so that may reduce your MPG by 4-5 mpg.

 

Lastly - keep the right foot off the pedal - if you have cruise control - use it on journeys.

 

 

BJ

[Torq]

Are you using the on board computer to check your figures? If so I would do a proper check. Fill the car up to the brim then check and see what it has actually used. The computer is not totally trustworthy.

 

Also turn off the air con if not required that may save you some fuel and don't forget you will lose some fuel to the booster heater in this cold weather so that may reduce your MPG by 4-5 mpg.

 

Lastly - keep the right foot off the pedal - if you have cruise control - use it on journeys.

BJ

 

Nope, the onboard is actually being optimistic! I check the MPG by the fill and calculate against distance method every week

 

Aircon and the aux heater are off.

 

Cruise contol is always used on the motorway and set to 72mph give or take or at 2.3K rpm. It's poor on the motorway but any sort of around town driving absolutely destroys the little economy it has!

 

Tyre pressures are also correct so am I missing something totaly obvious?? The one thing I can think of is that the idle is not totally smooth so maybe there is an issue with an injector, the maf, egr? Something like that. The car passed the Irish equivalent of the MOT last week and the emissions were well within limits.

 

At this point I'm considering a 106bhp 1.5dci megane tourer. Big boot and 60mpg.

 

Torq

[seatkid]

Check your rear brakes are not binding - a common problem is the handbrake mechanism on the caliper doesn't release fully - often affects o/s rear. Check when you pull up - carefully!! touch the rear discs (watch you don't burn your fingers) - If they are stinking hot, you probably have a problem.

 

Don't expect to get much more than 40 mpg at this time of the year unless you drive on perfectly clear flat roads with CC set at 50mph and no crosswind!

Edited December 8, 2010 by seatkid

[Torq]

Check your rear brakes are not binding - a common problem is the handbrake mechanism on the caliper doesn't release fully - often affects o/s rear. Check when you pull up - carefully!! touch the rear discs (watch you don't burn your fingers) - If they are stinking hot, you probably have a problem.

 

Don't expect to get much more than 40 mpg at this time of the year unless you drive on perfectly clear flat roads with CC set at 50mph and no crosswind!

 

 

New discs fitted front and back 1.5K miles ago. All calipers floating freely and plenty of copper grease in the right places. I'm not even getting 40mpg anymore!

 

Torq

[chrispb123456]

Check your rear brakes are not binding - a common problem is the handbrake mechanism on the caliper doesn't release fully - often affects o/s rear. Check when you pull up - carefully!! touch the rear discs (watch you don't burn your fingers) - If they are stinking hot, you probably have a problem.

 

Don't expect to get much more than 40 mpg at this time of the year unless you drive on perfectly clear flat roads with CC set at 50mph and no crosswind!

 

 

New discs fitted front and back 1.5K miles ago. All calipers floating freely and plenty of copper grease in the right places. I'm not even getting 40mpg anymore!

 

Torq

I think your expecting to much, 20+ years ago 40MPG would have been thought exceptional for the size and weight of vehicle, these days this is pretty average though you will notice an increase when the weather is warmer, don't compare you previous vehicle with galaxy there's no comparison.

[dieseldogg]

Could i add that our 1998 Galaxy 110HP TDI is remarkedely economical for the size/weight of a vehicle it is.

I can get( and have got) 52.5 mpg over 100 hours mixed driving , photos too ( but I hasten to add only on the trip, but it was only 5% optmistic when carefully checked against fuel put in miles travelled all checked against Motorway mile posts, sigh sad arnt I)) but mostly 50 odd mixed driving in the summer, dropping to say about 45 in the winter, this includes a bit of trailer towing too.

For the versility /usefulness of the vehicle I think this is very very acceptable.

M

[Torq]

Could i add that our 1998 Galaxy 110HP TDI is remarkedely economical for the size/weight of a vehicle it is.

I can get( and have got) 52.5 mpg over 100 hours mixed driving , photos too ( but I hasten to add only on the trip, but it was only 5% optmistic when carefully checked against fuel put in miles travelled all checked against Motorway mile posts, sigh sad arnt I)) but mostly 50 odd mixed driving in the summer, dropping to say about 45 in the winter, this includes a bit of trailer towing too.

For the versility /usefulness of the vehicle I think this is very very acceptable.

M

 

 

How I hate posts like yours :) I dream of 50mpg again! Last week over 250miles, (120 motorway and the rest urban) the average was a very disappointing 36.4mpg. Am I missing something, do I have an underlying problem with the car that I just can't see?

 

 

Thanks.

Torq

[seatkid]

Are your tyres properly inflated? - the fronts should be ~36psi (even more if they are the standard skinny 195 tyres) - rears at least 32 psi - more if you carry a load.

The tyre pressures are on a sticker on the inside of the fuel filler flap.

 

Just a thought As you indicated that your car hadn't been serviced very well by its previous owners (state of air filter etc) then its possible it had wrong oil type used which may have damaged the injector cams - the consequence is poor running and economy.....

 

I too get 55mpg+ in summer (slow driving) falling to just under 50mpg in winter - mine is a 90bhp Tdi with 110k on the clock. From what I read, these old hat Tdis are the most reliable and economical engines that VW ever made. The PDs were a variable bunch and the new CR engines are downright terrible as far as economy is concerned (compared to manufacturers claims)

[Torq]

 

Just a thought As you indicated that your car hadn't been serviced very well by its previous owners (state of air filter etc) then its possible it had wrong oil type used which may have damaged the injector cams - the consequence is poor running and economy.....

 

 

 

Tyre presures are bang on.

 

It was oil serviced very regularly but what you are saying about the oil type may ring true. At idle she is not smooth, there is a slight lumpiness and it could be what you say about a worn injector pump. If she's giving a wrong mix at idle she's bound to be out at higher revs. There's a lot to be said for common rail engines over mechanical injection, my 2.8hdi citroen relay van and the (regretfully sold)320d touring, both common rails were silky smooth!

 

Torq.

 

P.S. Apart from the fuel economy issue, (and not having 150bhp) she's the highest spec'ed car I've ever owned.

[seatkid]

If you can take the rocker cover off, examine the camlobes that drive the rollers for the injectors for scoring/wear.

[Torq]

If you can take the rocker cover off, examine the camlobes that drive the rollers for the injectors for scoring/wear.

 

 

Now you've got me thinking.... wonder is the timing out!! Once had a petrol astra that had jumped a couple of teeth (valve timing, not injector) it would just about start but run really roughly. Ran diagnostics etc and only found the problem by trial and error. So is the injector cam driven by the same belt as the valve camshaft and could she be running a tooth out since the timing belt was changed 25k ago...... interesting.

 

Torq

 

 

Update Question. Sorry these VW AUY engines are new to me. Are the valves bucket and shimm and the injectors opened by rocker arms off the valve camshaft?

Edited December 14, 2010 by Torq

[seatkid]

Look here to get the general idea - I'm sure theres some pics on the forum as well. Yes Timing is critical.

More

Edited December 14, 2010 by seatkid