Fuel Saving Tuning: Improve MPG Now!

Hi, I think your tips and tricks are really great.

I own a 1997 Passat with a 110 horsepower TDI engine (AFN).

Do you have any good technical tips to reduce consumption?
to further reduce?

I don't want to buy a power strip.

Hi.

Rotate the injection pump slightly "too early" (see link to Rainer's website). This prevents the "very late" injection timing from being set for the lower load range, which can improve fuel efficiency somewhat.
"You may optionally solder a 100 nF capacitor and a 470 Ohm resistor in parallel between input pins 11 and 12 on the motor controller; this will advance the injection timing, even under slightly higher loads."

If your average boost pressure is slightly too low for optimal fuel consumption, slightly shortening the VTG rod might still make a difference. I once extended it for experiments with a highly tuned power box and immediately noticed a slightly higher fuel consumption.
However, for such experiments, a boost pressure gauge is absolutely essential to avoid overloading the turbocharger.

Hello,

If you are planning to buy new tires soon, you should choose the narrowest possible tire size. There are also certain "fuel-optimized" tires with lower rolling resistance.
But don't forget: if they are much more expensive, you will have to drive for a very long time to make up for the price difference.
In addition, increase the tire pressure by 0.2 bar compared to the normal value.
It's clear that the car won't grip the road as well afterward, and the braking distance will also increase slightly, but if you want to save fuel, you won't often drive fast .

Best regards, Rainer.

Also ich habe einen 96er Golf Variant AFN mit AHK, Klima, Standheizung, Netztrennwand, echtem Ersatzrad und 195er Bereifung (Normaldruck). So, approximately 1300 kilograms.

Okay, on the country road, I'm getting 3.7 liters per 100 kilometers. What more or less could you possibly want? In my current tank of fuel, I've driven over 800 kilometers with an average consumption of 4.1 liters.

@Ulf:

Who wants a completely bare car? MFA (Multi Function Display), heated seats, standing heating, climate control, electric front windows, remote central locking, rear headrests, luggage compartment divider, and Gamma are things you need.

Does the fuel consumption refer to your car's onboard computer (MFA) or to real-world measurements?

Hi!

The Passat is quite heavy and has a long gear ratio. Paradoxically, with a chip tuning device and the corresponding driving style, you can save fuel. The chip provides significantly more torque. This allows you to often drive in a higher gear or stay in it when accelerating. Furthermore, even stronger acceleration doesn't necessarily increase fuel consumption because you are accelerating for a shorter period of time to reach the same speed. In addition to reducing engine RPM, the chip also improves efficiency. Ultimately, it's up to you (with your right foot) whether you want to drive fast or aim to reach your destination economically.
I would like to add that my A3 with a chip tuning, which has a 1.4L engine, never consumes more than 6 liters per 100 km. I always drive as fast as possible. Attempts to save fuel have never resulted in consumption lower than 5 liters.

Best regards,
Uwe

Thank you for the tips.

... in which one inevitably has to concentrate on driving .

Varianti wrote:

@Ulf: Who wants a completely bare car? MFA (Multi Function Display), heated seats, standing heating, climate control, electric front windows, remote central locking, rear headrests, luggage compartment divider, Gamma is something you need.

Everyone does what they like...
I certainly don't want to constantly pay for gimmicks that, in my opinion, have nothing to do with actual transportation.
Additional costs, increased consumption due to extra weight and power/electricity usage, repair costs if the conveniences start malfunctioning...

But even my basic Golf has 3 extras: comfort seats, heat-insulating glass, and a new safety vehicle (NSW). And it also has a self-installed stereo (!!) remote control.

Hey Ulf, what about the alloy rims and the GTI front spoiler? Any news?

@Stukov

'Both and.' I used to have the 1Z engine. With that one, the MFA (Multi Function Display) was always off by about 10%. With the AFN engine (conversion to the same vehicle), the MFA is accurate within 0.1-0.2 liters, so a maximum of 5% error. This is all based on my driving style. A different driving style might result in different discrepancies. In my opinion, the MFA is quite accurate when driven smoothly and consistently. However, if you drive aggressively, the inaccuracy increases significantly.

@Ulf:

You're right about that.

I have already had:

- The sports seats are worn out (this usually happens much later with the standard seats).
- Heated windshield washer nozzle is broken.
- Wiring harness for heated mirrors and windows broken.
- Clutch plate of the air conditioning compressor is broken.
- Seat heater plug broken.


But it's still nice to have something like that.

Michael748 wrote:

Hey Ulf, and what about alloy rims and a GTI front spoiler?

Hi Michael,

I bought the GTI front lip myself. But it doesn't constantly use fuel, and generally it won't break down any faster than a regular one.

Aluminum rims ???
These are the standard steel rims (originally black, with silver/gold paint and washed for the photo) in size 6 J 14 ET 43, fitted with 15mm spacers (all registered). This is the cheapest way to fit 195/60 R14 tires, which helps to slightly extend the overall gear ratio and improve the appearance of the tires.

For me, that doesn't fall under the category of "comfort toys" with potential for causing frustration, but we could certainly discuss it.
See above: everyone does it their own way .

Hello,

In addition, increase the tire pressure by 0.2 bar compared to the normal value.
It's clear that the car won't grip the road as well afterward, and the braking distance will also increase slightly, but if you want to save fuel, you won't often drive fast .

Greetings, Rainer .

Hi!
You can increase the tire pressure by significantly more than just 0.2 bar to reduce rolling resistance. Over the last three tankfuls, I've been driving with 3 bar in the front and 2.5 bar in the rear, and I've used about 0.2 liters per 100km less (now 5.5 liters / 100km, A4 AFN).

According to the ADAC brochure 'Save Fuel' (or something similar), there's no need to worry about the tires. However, they don't mention how higher tire pressure negatively affects driving characteristics; you'll just have to try it out yourself.

To get a sense of what higher pressure is like, try this with a bicycle .

Otherwise, to save fuel, avoid high RPMs like the plague. The best efficiency for TDIs should be somewhere between 1600-2200/min, and even lower at partial load! (Source: VW Industrial Engines Documentation AFD).

Best regards, Udo.

Udo wrote:

Hi! You can increase the tire pressure much more than just 0.2 bar to reduce rolling resistance. Over the last three tankfuls, I've been driving with 3 bar in the front and 2.5 bar in the rear, and I've used about 0.2 liters less per 100 km (now 5.5 liters / 100 km, A4 AFN). Regards, Udo

You can go up to 5 bar , nothing will burst.
but I would be happy to sell you a few more tires quickly because yours will wear out rapidly in the middle, which will shorten their lifespan .
but in relation to those, the fuel consumption is extremely low .

My conclusion: driving economically with more power.
"However, this also necessitates the use of wider tires."
Try to inflate the tire as much as possible so that it wears down more in the center than on the edges.
Want to try Michelin tires? The extra cost pays for itself in fuel savings and tire longevity.
Empty the trunk. Don't use oil that is too thick, try 5W...
and most importantly: leave earlier .
verschandeln and lubricate brake caliper housings annually - Brake = rolling resistance.

Thank you for this very detailed answer. I've now found a gas station that can provide pressure up to 6.3 bar. The car bounces a bit on uneven roads, but the fuel savings are worth it to me.

Meanwhile, "0" oil has also been invented. It's even thinner than the "5" oil. The brake pads are aerodynamically angled. This creates an air cushion between the disc and the pad. That saves me another 0.03 liters.

But seriously, what does early skiing have to do with my willingness to save money?

Best regards, Uwe.

@Varianti

Hi, tell me how you manage to get your AFN engine in the G3 Variant to consume only 3.7 or 4.1 liters. How do you drive to achieve such fuel consumption? I also have a 1998 G3 Variant with an AFN engine and ASD transmission. I usually get between 4.6 and a maximum of 5.0 liters with normal driving. I often drive on the highway, mostly at an average speed of 120 km/h.

Regards,
Reuselkopp.

PS: Have you made any modifications to your car's fuel efficiency system?

Uwe wrote:

Meanwhile, "0" oil has also been invented. It's even thinner than the "5" oil. The brake pads are aerodynamically angled. This creates an air cushion between the disc and the pad. That saves me another 0.03 liters. But seriously, what does early skiing have to do with my willingness to save money? Greetings, Uwe

.

I know that there's the 50601 standard, but I was trying to explain that there's always a compromise. For me, it's a 5W oil with the 50501 specification, not the more expensive 0W oil. That also saves money, and that's what it's about here – not so much about fuel consumption. And even when it comes to tires, someone who wants to save money can go for the Eco 195 series; Rainer mentioned this in his post!
And those who leave early have time to drive at just 85 km/h (approximately 53 mph) – which saves a significant amount of money.
My conclusion is meant to be taken seriously.
"The asking price is €0.3 higher, which should be a good compromise – or not?"
Even the easily replaceable lining isn't without its drawbacks – see the number of problems reported with the rear brake systems on Polos and Golfs.
For me, the driving pleasure is also important, as Ulf says: less is more.
Everyone always wants more for free – convenience, climate action, etc., but sorry, I'm not going into too much detail about that now, it's a fundamental issue!
With the chip, you're on the right track – it can save you money if you want it to.