MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: rf860 on February 01, 2013, 06:14:05 pm

Title: Gear changes for economy
Post by: rf860 on February 01, 2013, 06:14:05 pm
Firstly, i'm sorry if this has been asked a million times but i thought i would just share my experience of the last few days of driving my ed30. When changing gear, how are you guys maximizing mpg by changing at the correct revs?

So far generally, i've not been going over 2k revs and selecting the gears at the following speeds

1st - up to 10mph
2nd  after -10 up to 15 mph
3rd - after 15 up to 25 mph
4th - after 25 up to 35mph
5/6th - after 40mph

On my way home tonight consisting of some town roads with about 8 stops/starts, dual carriageway, motorway and b road not going about 60mph i averaged 37.0mpg exactly over 26 miles. I think this is pretty good tbh. Just trying to max out mpg for going to work so i can have some fun at the weekends without feeling guilty about it!
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: camfollower on February 01, 2013, 08:04:21 pm
Don't use 1st gear (within reason of course), coast in gear to junctions, be bored, anticipate slowing down to not have to accelerate as much, check fuel computer, think of a way of ending the boredom, keep your windows up above 35mph and A/C on (if required), less than 35mph windows down A/C off (if required)... finally pull to stop with 20MPG reading on the dash... and realize that you we're only day dreaming of being sensible and you've been hooning about in your wonderful MK5 Golf GTI. :driver: :laugh: :driver:

Some of the above constitutes a sensible answer. :happy2:
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: rf860 on February 01, 2013, 08:43:19 pm
Don't use 1st gear (within reason of course), coast in gear to junctions, be bored, anticipate slowing down to not have to accelerate as much, check fuel computer, think of a way of ending the boredom, keep your windows up above 35mph and A/C on (if required), less than 35mph windows down A/C off (if required)... finally pull to stop with 20MPG reading on the dash... and realize that you we're only day dreaming of being sensible and you've been hooning about in your wonderful MK5 Golf GTI. :driver: :laugh: :driver:

Some of the above constitutes a sensible answer. :happy2:

Ha ha, sounds a like what i've been doing! What's the most somebody has ever got on here? I'll try and better it!
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: scopes on February 01, 2013, 08:50:06 pm
I have seen 43 mpg, driving like miss daisy, funny enough i havent been able to get anywhere as close to that for ages now.....  :fighting2:

But does no harm to try now and again.

At the min im lucky to see over 30mpg  :driver:
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: camfollower on February 01, 2013, 08:51:13 pm
Don't use 1st gear (within reason of course), coast in gear to junctions, be bored, anticipate slowing down to not have to accelerate as much, check fuel computer, think of a way of ending the boredom, keep your windows up above 35mph and A/C on (if required), less than 35mph windows down A/C off (if required)... finally pull to stop with 20MPG reading on the dash... and realize that you we're only day dreaming of being sensible and you've been hooning about in your wonderful MK5 Golf GTI. :driver: :laugh: :driver:

Some of the above constitutes a sensible answer. :happy2:

Ha ha, sounds a like what i've been doing! What's the most somebody has ever got on here? I'll try and better it!

I had 41.1MPG on a very boring mixed run of 70/50 straights (40miles) with some little blasts of 85mph overtake... with Stage 1 pre-cat delete (247bhp / 295lb.ft) K03 turb.
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: MC71 on February 01, 2013, 09:01:08 pm
Got 40 odd mpg once and also got 16 mpg once (maybe twice  :evilgrin:) but no one bought an Eddy for its economy! 

Seriously, I am averaging  27.8 mpg over the time I've owned my Stage 1 Eddy, so I sometimes get 6-8 mpg more, sometimes get 8-10 mpg less. Long motorway runs (with Cruise Control on) I usually get 32-34 mpg at around 70 ish mph.
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: rf860 on February 01, 2013, 09:04:53 pm
Cheers guys. My BMW 120d averaged only 41mpg (actual) using moderate acceleration but in the ed30 it's comparable to how fast i'm getting up to speed using light acceleration.

I'm getting cruise fitted, so once up to speed, i'll stick it on to maintain 60mph on the way to work, and keep some fuel for weekend fun :)

Used a smidge over half a tank and done 250 miles so i don't think 360 out the tank is unreasonable.
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: flashp on February 01, 2013, 09:09:05 pm
Couldn't give a monkeys tbh. I used to pay attention to this when the cars I drove did nothing else for me and there was no other way to measure them. The Golf, with light mods, is so much more than many many cars.

That's how I feel  :P
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: flashp on February 01, 2013, 09:11:52 pm
Don't use 1st gear (within reason of course), coast in gear to junctions, be bored, anticipate slowing down to not have to accelerate as much, check fuel computer, think of a way of ending the boredom, keep your windows up above 35mph and A/C on (if required), less than 35mph windows down A/C off (if required)... finally pull to stop with 20MPG reading on the dash... and realize that you we're only day dreaming of being sensible and you've been hooning about in your wonderful MK5 Golf GTI. :driver: :laugh: :driver:

Some of the above constitutes a sensible answer. :happy2:

Ha ha, sounds a like what i've been doing! What's the most somebody has ever got on here? I'll try and better it!
And I'll have a go at beating the least mpg.  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: rf860 on February 01, 2013, 09:17:21 pm
Couldn't give a monkeys tbh. I used to pay attention to this when the cars I drove did nothing else for me and there was no other way to measure them. The Golf, with light mods, is so much more than many many cars.

That's how I feel  :P

That's ok if you want to spend a fortune on petrol just driving boring roads, but me personally, i'd rather stick to 60 on the motorway with blasts now and then to overtake and save fuel for proper fun driving - bombing along at 90 on the motorway isn't much fun, and in my experience, in traffic, you don't get there any quicker.

Also, i get paid 40p per mile for business miles, so may as well maximise the profit when driving to jobs :)

Boost is quite addictive tho haha!
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: flashp on February 01, 2013, 09:22:09 pm
True enough B roads for me. Take your point re m'ways fully.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: camfollower on February 01, 2013, 09:34:29 pm
Really depends on your mileage and requirements, if your doing 60mph on a MW over a long distance day in day out, then really, wouldn't a TDI / TDCI / CDTI be more suitable for you?

I grabbed 70 MPG out of one of those Volvo Eco things the other day over 20 miles or so being boring!
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: rf860 on February 01, 2013, 09:38:59 pm
I've had 3 diesels and they are BORING!! 1.9tdi Ibiza FR was a good litte car tho, went well for the power after a map. 1.7 cdti astra, decent but slow, 120d couldn't get on with it - needed worked hard which isn't nice in a diesel.

Also, used to drive diesels all the time at work and they are just dull. Something like a 330d or 335d is quite appealing tho....
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: j dog on February 02, 2013, 12:47:21 am
Got 40 odd mpg once and also got 16 mpg once (maybe twice  :evilgrin:) but no one bought an Eddy for its economy! 

Seriously, I am averaging  27.8 mpg over the time I've owned my Stage 1 Eddy, so I sometimes get 6-8 mpg more, sometimes get 8-10 mpg less. Long motorway runs (with Cruise Control on) I usually get 32-34 mpg at around 70 ish mph.

Haha I got an eD30 for it's economy, I did come from a 400bhp Evo 9 though!
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on February 02, 2013, 10:25:36 am
TFSI engine is designed with economy in mind, direct injection & lean burn is not required to make 230bhp  :stupid:

I regularly got 40+mpg on a run, 70mph with cruise control. . . .
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: GTI5 on February 02, 2013, 11:14:34 am
I think I have seen 40 mpg once and that was with a virtually empty tank on a 40 minute journey but I don't have cruise.

I averaged 34 (Computer) on a 112 mile journey yesterday which I'm content with.

When I first bought the car I was bothered but not now. I typically sit around 28-32 mpg and its rarely below 25 mpg.

Just enjoy the car and been glad you went for the GTI and not the TDI :P

Its already been said its very dependent on your mileage and type of roads you drive on, if your motorway crunching then you wont see the best of the GTI.

I don't think I could stick to 60 on a motorway, I just get bored.
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: homesqueeze on February 02, 2013, 05:45:13 pm
45 mpg is the best I've ever got and didn't have to try too hard. Gears wise I quite often block change, 2nd to 4th or 4th to 6th, using every gear is nor always necessary. If I'm taking it easy I'm in 6th by 30mph  :drool:
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: RedRobin on February 02, 2013, 06:15:16 pm
.
The idea of using the gears to improve fuel economy is directly opposite to the way of driving which I have been taught and which I enjoy practicing.

I select the optimum gear for a situation in order to maximise either instant acceleration or instant deacceleration. The only times I ever use D-mode and therefore let the DSG decide on best economy is in 20/30/40 mph zones or built-up areas.

As a result I very very rarely see over 30 mpg and usually around 28 mpg even on a long journey of several hundred miles with strictly a private average speed. I didn't buy and modify my Mk5 GTI for fuel economy reasons.
Title: Re: Gear changes for economy
Post by: dmac1969 on February 02, 2013, 06:32:28 pm
I have seen 43 mpg, driving like miss daisy, funny enough i havent been able to get anywhere as close to that for ages now.....  :fighting2:

But does no harm to try now and again.

At the min im lucky to see over 30mpg  :driver:

Thats probably due to the cold weather , you will see more when temperatures rise in the Summer - if we get one!