Altea economy - normal or not?

[newbuyer17]

Apologies for yet another economy thread, but hopefully with a little more detail than just 'whats your fuel economy?'

I've just got a 1.9TDi and am not blown away by the economy. If I take it really easy I can get over 50 but that is on motorway cruises at 60mph most mornings.

I've driven 2 other cars this week (one a 1.8 vectra petrol, the other a SMAX diesel)
What became apparant is that both of these cars will freewheel really well on a motorway if you lift off the accelerator. However, the altea really slows down. So I find that I to maintain a steady 60 or 70 I need to constantly have my foot down a little on the pedal, even on downhill slopes. The instant MPG even with a light touch drops down to 40mpg. However, the other cars could be allowed to freewheel, using no fuel, with the result that the average MPG climbed and climbed.

Hope this makes sense so far. At first I wondered if it was wind resistance, but the SMAX sort of blows that theory. I have also tried freewheeling down a slope in 5th gear at about 40mph. It doesn't get any quicker, and it feels like the engine is pulling it back. Putting it in neutral it speeds up as expected.

Has anyone else noticed this? Its fairly subtle and only really apparant when drivin other cars, but I believe it could be the reason for the economy. Is it just the way the engine is? Or does yours not do this? I believe the engine is efficiant, it just seems to have to be working all the time to keep the car moving. What else could be causing this - maybe in need of an oil change? I know mine has been sat idle for at least 3 months.

 

[Toxic]

how many gears does the altea have in comparison to the other cars?

 

[newbuyer17]

5 speed - as were the others. You are correct though, I believe it is 'engine braking' as you'd feel in a low gear, it just seems more prominent that other cars. The revs at the speed I mentioned were very low.

 

[Leistrum]

Hi

I recently bought a 1.9tdi Stylance with 122,500 on the clock! On a 60 mph motorway run up then down the M3 (Soton - Sunbury and back) I got first 65mpg, then 63mpg on the way back. If yours is a brand new or newish car with under 10k on the clock the engine may still be loosening up a little.

I find that the constant mpg readout can be quite surprising on long downhill gradual sections of motorway in that the mpg readout can be quitelow! What I mean is that ususally you'll get a high figure but all it takes is a strong crosswind and all of a sudden its doing 47mpg not 185 or something. First drive of mine was back on the a36 from Bath to Soton and I averaged 51mpg on rolling roads observing the speed limits.

On the Isle Of Wight it can be 48 mpg on a short journey or 55mpg on a longer run with not much stopping and starting.

Maybe if the low mpg you are acheiving persists all the time, and yours is a higher mileage vehicle, then its time to find out if something is amiss. I think you should easily get 60mpg in that model on a 75 mile motorway run at 60mph on cruise control - unless you are head on to a force 9 gale. Hope this helps,

cheers Ian

 

[newbuyer17]

Hi,

I've not had it long and when I first posted I had only filled it once with Total diesel. Filled second time with shell extra and noticed the difference - quieter and seemed better.

Its got around 30K on it. Dealer tested it and drove it at 70 and got 45mpg, which is about what I get, and reported it as being OK. Thats pretty much what I get. I'd have hoped for 50+ on a 70 mph cruise, but it has also been very cold which may not help. For reference I had a audi A4 with the same engine which would easily get 50+ whilst hammering it, so I thought the altea would be the same. Perhaps the height makes a bigger difference, or perhaps all engines are not the same - the audi had done high miles too.

I was also prompted to post after driving a 1.8 petrol vectra and getting 45mpg on a long run - about the same as the altea, which just didn't seem right.

I think you should easily get 60mpg in that model on a 75 mile motorway run at 60mph on cruise control

I must admit, I haven't tried that length of journey. A short journey at that speed on cruise I did get 55, so I guess it would manage 60 over a longer journey when warmed up. Looks like the extra 10 mph makes a big differnce.

Looks like the shell diesel has made a difference though, and I also know it was stood idle for 3 months, which may not have helped.

I might try giving it a tank of BP ultimate and see if that makes any difference, even if it is just once to clean it out.
Thanks

 

[Leistrum]

I must admit, I haven't tried that length of journey. A short journey at that speed on cruise I did get 55, so I guess it would manage 60 over a longer journey when warmed up. Looks like the extra 10 mph makes a big differnce.

I think it will be fine on longer runs when the engine warms up. Just think when you have the current mpg read out, all the time you see it above the average mpg the average is going up, so on a longer journey it (the average) just keeps going up. I had 75mpg once (in a Skoda Fabia VRs) over 70 odd miles from Stansted to Staines via M11 and M25 on a Sunday afternoon (plenty of traffic but no hold ups) at a constant 60 mph. I was going very easy with the right foot!