Fuel economy

[TripleBee]

Yesterday, drove to work.
6 miles, fan spinning when engine off.
Lunchtime drove to Balsall Common and back to work, fan spinning again.
Drive home from work, again fan spinning once home.

If this is an indication of a regen, then surely it’s set to regen far to often...???

The fan spins to cool the engine/exhaust (and the coolant to be more precise). The best thing you can do if the fan keeps spinning, is take the van for a longer ride, preferably at "higher" speeds (90 - 110 km/h) near 2000 rpm. That way the van will regenerate the best and fastest. You may come across the yellow DPF light in the instrument cluster (looks like an exhaust silencer with dots in), this will generate no fault, but means you have to keep driving as I stated above untill the light goes out. That light means there were too many attempts to regenerate that were not completed.
Luckily I have never faced that light up to this date, but my T5.1 had an engine update to regenerate more often, even on lower distances.
The only moment I can feel it regenerates is when driving on a highway on cruise control, when suddenly it feels like the engine somewhat cutting in, and then just continues like normal, a couple of times in a row.

And for the fuel consumption, mine is at a steady 7,7 liters / 100km (30,5 mpg?) all mixed together. And that is as stated by VW.
On journeys, it drops to 7 - 6,5 l/100 km (33,6 - 36 mpg?).

I use Fuelio for tracking that.

 

[2into1]

The fan spins to cool the engine/exhaust (and the coolant to be more precise). The best thing you can do if the fan keeps spinning, is take the van for a longer ride, preferably at "higher" speeds (90 - 110 km/h) near 2000 rpm. That way the van will regenerate the best and fastest. You may come across the yellow DPF light in the instrument cluster (looks like an exhaust silencer with dots in), this will generate no fault, but means you have to keep driving as I stated above untill the light goes out. That light means there were too many attempts to regenerate that were not completed.
Luckily I have never faced that light up to this date, but my T5.1 had an engine update to regenerate more often, even on lower distances.
The only moment I can feel it regenerates is when driving on a highway on cruise control, when suddenly it feels like the engine somewhat cutting in, and then just continues like normal, a couple of times in a row.

And for the fuel consumption, mine is at a steady 7,7 liters / 100km (30,5 mpg?) all mixed together. And that is as stated by VW.
On journeys, it drops to 7 - 6,5 l/100 km (33,6 - 36 mpg?).

I use Fuelio for tracking that.

This again sounds to be confusion between T5 and T6 models. T5s regenerate when you 'drive like to stole it' and T6s regenerate every couple of hours and there is nothing you can do to change that (other than run the tank close to empty).
The hovercraft noise many of us refer to as we walk away from our parked T6s mid way through a generation is much more than the cooling fan running.
I'm not professing to be any expert here... I'm just pointing out the differences in vans I've owned and the professional advice we've been given here.

 

[Amarillo]

I had an opportunity to experiment today.

We live virtually on top of the A20, near the point where it becomes a dual carriageway as it heads out of London. I took the boys on a return trip to the beach at Folkestone, about 55 miles away, all on dual carriageway A road or motorway.

On the way there I set cruise control at 58 mph and achieved a 43 mpg reading on the MFD.

On the return, because of Operation Brock London bound and roadworks the entire journey had speed restrictions of 50 mph in place (except for a few short sections) so I set the cruise control for 45 mph and left it at that. The reset MFD reported 63 mpg, suggesting over 1,000 miles from a single tank is achievable to anyone with the patience to drive at 45 mph for nearly 24 hours!

 

[BeeBee]

Cali Ocean (150 DSG) only 3 months old, just returned from 160 mile trip home on A Roads (back from Campbeltown to Glasgow) and spinning fan and also slight 'burning smell from driver's side when we parked ...any ideas ?

 

[TripleBee]

My T5.1 regenerates when driving 90 / 100 km/h in 6th gear. So no driving like I stole it.
When commuting, only 12 km single trip, there is no way the van will start regenerating because the engine and exhaust don't have the opportunity to get to the right temperature.
I also have never had to experience my fan running when walking away from my van.

 

[2into1]

T5 and T6 are completely different from an dpf regeneration point of view. T6 will regenerate every couple of hours, sometimes that's happening when you arrive and park up. It will behave like a hovercraft for a few minutes, and will then try to complete the regen when you set off again.
T5 has no such process and relies on higher revs to do its stuff. They clearly felt something was wrong with that unless they introduced the T6 'improvements' just to bug us.

 

[TripleBee]

T5 has no such process and relies on higher revs to do its stuff.

I never keep driving in high revs. When cruising I always stay below 2000 rpm, and yet the regeneration takes place.
The only thing I notice is a little stutter, a few times in a row, and then that process stops and I keep driving without that little stutter.

 

[B J G]

I've been watching for the regen process and checking the displayed average mpg displayed figures.

After the before and after regen process the average mpg has dropped by approx 10% everytime, on approx 8 checks.

Not a very technical check just the result of my observation over a couple of months.

 

[Resfeber]

I've been watching for the regen process and checking the displayed average mpg displayed figures.

After before and after the regen process the average mpg has dropped by approx 10% everytime, on approx 8 checks.

Not a very technical check just the result of my observation over a couple of months.

Have same issue. My Cali Ocean is used as my daily driver and due to the fixed route to work and consistent traffic, I have a good handle on mpg for each commute.
During DPG regeneration the first clue even before parking is the mpg drops dramatically and even the instant consumption cannot come close to usual values.
Eg fixed 3 mile run from cold 43 mpg all day long. In Regen mode 33mpg on normal route.
Park up and the “Hovercraft” noise is present and my co workers comment on the Cali being ready for takeoff as can be heard through closed dg windows.
The hot air exiting from the engine bay via wheel arches is impressive together with the cooked paint on metal surface or hot rubber smell.
Interestingly, frequency of Regen and heavy duty van running seems to go up when we hit air temps of above 20 deg.
Interested in others views on the mpg drop when in Regen mode.
Small price to pay for low emissions and excellent mpg in normal running.
Tank after tank returns over 38 mpg

 

[babble]

i suspect that the air quality around the van when in regen mode is not remotely taken into account when it comes to the emissions test. i also suspect, have sniffed cars parked in regen mode, that they are producing something pretty horrendous in terms of toxic substances. I have a friend working in this field, so i will ask him and get back to you. i think the whole regen thing may just been a bit of a way of passing the tests and just producing the pollution later/somewhere else.

 

[2into1]

Here goes with a odd thing I notice with my T6. I drive to my daughters (about 40 miles away). The start is gently downhill for a few miles, then generally flat. That way, I get well over 40mpg, usually around 44, sometimes edging 50.
Coming back, I struggle to get 36mpg. My house is a couple of hundred feet ‘higher’ than hers, but over 40 miles, that can’t be the answer. I do it enough times to see the same pattern repeated and exclude those when I get a regeneration as discussed here.
I’m generally pretty practical and engineering minded but this has me flummoxed. The prevailing winds would suggest the opposite outcome.
It seems that a gentle start to any journey sets the scene for a very economical journey. Confused.

 

[BeeBee]

latest trip .....505 miles, 56 litres to brim up (single tracks, B roads, ~ 60% dual carriageway and motorway) 150 Cali Ocean DSG. (new in April 2019) that would suggest 9.01 km / 1 litre .... ~ 40 - 41 mpg ....I'm pretty happy !

 

[babble]

latest trip .....505 miles, 56 litres to brim up (single tracks, B roads, ~ 60% dual carriageway and motorway) 150 Cali Ocean DSG. (new in April 2019) that would suggest 9.01 km / 1 litre .... ~ 40 - 41 mpg ....I'm pretty happy !

i think 9km/l is 25 mpg...

 

[BeeBee]

i think 9km/l is 25 mpg...

Should have said 9 miles / 1 litre

 

[Eber123]

Good evening,

I just calculated the cost for diesel during our holiday in Europe (I will put up more information about this at a later stage).

We drove 6,287 km in 3x weeks 65% motorway (120 km or 130 km/h depending on the country's motorway limit) and 35% country roads / very small roads. The van was fully loaded and with 2x people.

According to the my calculation the average of diesel usage was 7.8 l/100 km (which, according to Goolge, 30.16 mpg/100 km).

The dashboard said something like 7.1 to 7.8 km, thinking about it actually not so far off.

Regards,
Eberhard

 

[Amarillo]

My long term average is 33.8 mpg, and has taken a big hit since changing wheels and tyres from the 16” Beach standard to the 17” Ocean standard wheels in December 2018.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Hantshog]

57.8 mpg. Achieved Cheltenham to Bristol last Sunday. Beat that.

 

[soulstyledevon]

57.8 mpg. Achieved Cheltenham to Bristol last Sunday. Beat that.

Were you in Amarillo’s 55mph slip stream...

 

[TripleBee]

57.8 mpg. Achieved Cheltenham to Bristol last Sunday. Beat that.

And I thought I was doing well at 48mpg

 

[kp64zl]

Just over 1100 miles to /from Scotland fully loaded with bikes and fishing gear on the back.

not going particularly slowly

approx 32 miles per gallon

 

[westfalia]

i think 9km/l is 25 mpg...

You might be using USA gallons with your conversion
cos i get 9l-100km = 31 mpg.

 

[GSX1300R]

When we take our van on it’s summer hols in France and Spain it normally shows 38-39 average on the computer... Actual consumption is about 1-2 mpg less... I’m happy with that...I have no idea how some get 48 mpg....After all its a 3 ton van...Must be a lot of down hills an no up hills.lol..

 

[2into1]

My long term average is 33.8 mpg, and has taken a big hit since changing wheels and tyres from the 16” Beach standard to the 17” Ocean standard wheels in December 2018.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Interesting. What size and brand of tyres are on the new wheels?

 

[Eber123]

When we take our van on it’s summer hols in France and Spain it normally shows 38-39 average on the computer... Actual consumption is about 1-2 mpg less... I’m happy with that...I have no idea how some get 48 mpg....After all its a 3 ton van...Must be a lot of down hills an no up hills.lol..

Good afternoon,

Following these posts puzzles me a bit. Claims that the van uses around 5 l / 100 km of diesel is astonishing. I didn't get this on the VW Tigan which I had before the California.

I assume a California Ocean, with 2x adults loaded for a 2 or 3 weeks holiday (including a full water tank) weights up to 2.8 or 2.9 t.

A 2 liter engine with 150 HP and front wheel drive driving on a flat motorway cursing with 90 km/h might (just might) achieve this kind of consumption. Driving 120 or 130 km/h on a motorway with some hills, slowing down to 100 km (because of a truck which can't be overtaken at the moment) and accelerating to 120 or 130 km/h will bring up the fuel consumption to 7 to 8 l / 100 km. Which I believe is good.

A 2 liter engine with 204 HP or 199 HP and 4Motion might need a bit more.

I might get the wrong end of the stick .

Regards,
Eberhard

 

[Amarillo]

Interesting. What size and brand of tyres are on the new wheels?

I know next to nothing about wheels varieties and tyre varieties.

I think I had Claytons replaced by Devonports and the tyres are whatever came with the factory wheels.

I inflate to the full load pressure as we are often four in the van with luggage and bikes, especially now we have the Skoda for shorter local trips.