jglamarre72

I have a 2011 A3 TDI. What should I expect for fuel economy? Drove 15km in the city and I go 9.7L/100km. It can't be! How should I be driving it? In manual mode or automatic mode? Also when I take the foot off the gas, the car slows down. Is that right?
Jglamarre72

FourCircle

I have a 2012 A3 TDI. I drive my TDI since last October.

The diesel consumption is influenced by many factors:

a) weather: because there is no spark plug (only compression that causes the motor's explosion), the TDI engines are more affected by cold temperatures (below 10 ° C, it consume more diesel. I suggest to you to plug your vehicle 3 hours before taking when the weather is bellow -10°C (help to have better consumption);

b) city driving increases the consumption (30% or more);

c) distances: a TDI engine takes longer to heat than a traditional gasoline engine. It is only fully efficient when it is warmed (90°C);

d) speed: to have a good economy, watch out for sudden acceleration, sport's driving, high speed, etc.. Above 100 km/h, every 10 km/h is 10% more fuel.

e) tire pressure;

f) maintenance of the vehicle (you have a 2011, it should not be the problem);

g) equipment : A / C, heated seats and head lights significantly increase the consumption (10% or more);

h) windows down, sunroof open or roof rail also increases consumption;

For cons, I do not necessarily respect these tips. Since October, I drove 18000km, 75% on highway, almost in the winter, between 120 and 130 km/h and with an average course of 45 km (one way). I have an average of 7.2 l/100 km, You can follow me on fuelly.com and see my progress since October. My best full was 6.6 l/100 km.

https://www.fuelly.com/driver/fourcircle/a3

For the 65 other A3 TDI Fuelly users, they are mostly between 5.5 and 7.0 l/100. I am a little above the average of the other. If I lowered my speed, I could drop by at least 1 liter per 100. https://www.fuelly.com/car/audi/a3/diesel%20l4

Finally, use the Drive (D) mode. Your DSG transmission will always change gears at the right time. If you are using the sport mode and manual mode (as sometimes I do, I like my Audi... ), you will increase your fuel consumption.

HAVE FUN,

FourCircle

FourCircle

Finally, the onboard computer provides only an estimate (close enough) of actual consumption, but often a little below the reality. It is best to use software, or a site like Fuelly.com do the math at each fill.

Fourcircle

jglamarre72

SO the numbers of 4.6/6.5 hwy/city are bogus then? When you say connect my vehicle, do you mean plug it in? For what temps do I need to do that? I do alot of short runs (less than 5k). So I assume that will mean higher consumption.

I don't jackrabbit and I usually feather the pedal.

I looked on fuelly and those A3's 2011 getting mostly city driving are still in the 6-7 range.. no where near what I am getting

Also what about this "braking" that occurs when I take the foot off the gas. Is that normal?
Thanks

FourCircle

I am a french user and I'm not completely bilingual. I am sorry. Yes, I suggest to plug your car 3hrs before you take it when the weather is bellow -10°C. The engine will warm much faster. Also, Short run (5km) give higher consumption, because the engine is never warm (90°C).

You can't use the Canadian EnergyStar Fuel economy. In Canada, the automaker make test inside, no a/c, no wind and head lights close, at 70km/h for the highway. For the city, they accelerate the car quietly and make very long braking along a track predetermined by the Canadian government. It's totaly ridiculous. The Government will change the rules in 2014-15 and they will use USA Fuel Economy (more relaistic).

2011 A3 TDI: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Power...A3&srchtyp=ymm
7.8 City
6.9 Combined
5.6 Highway

Is you check fuelly.com, it's possible to have the estimated fuel economy (www.fueleconomy.gov), but to do... you need to go easy, check your speed and other tips. 29 of 65 users (almost half) have a combined consumption of 6.0l/100 and less.

FourCircle

FourCircle

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jglamarre72

No your English is great!
Thanks for the info. It's amazing that there are many out there can be in the 6's. Do you accelerate from a stop slowly or accelerate quicker to get to a cruising speed faster?

Also, what about that deceleration when I take my foot off the gas?

coolmo

i just picked up brand new 2012 a3 tdi yesterday, and yes. my car also decelerate when i take my foot off the gas pedal. but that only happens in a really low speed (such as in parking lot)

by the way, this question would be really stupid but since this is my frist tdi i will just go ahead and ask.

can i just fuel this car with diesel in any gas station? i only see one kind of diesel and i guess that's what i should put?

FourCircle

Since 5-10 years, the diesel's quality in Canada has changed (without sulfur). The oil companies have had to inject several hundred million to be under the new canadian standards.

Whatever the distributor is the same quality. You do not need to add ADDITIVE.

4Circle

jglamarre72

So no Cetane boost additive? I was thinking using the Diesel Kleen with cetane boost.