Clubman Diesel - Not happy with MPG

[ianneedshelp]

Not happy with the MPG.

I've just changed from a Grand Cherokee V8 jeep, was getting around 19 mpg.

Same journey in my new Mini Clubman only 42 mpg.

If I knew I wouldn't be getting the 60+, I'd have gone for a POOPER S

[Scrogg]

How many miles have you done so far?

[ianneedshelp]

600

[dlpruk]

And what sort of journey are we talking about? (42mpg would be about right for a succession of short commutes around town and I only get 60+ on long journeys taken fairly gently. But 56mpg at 56mph ave is more typical for me!)

[supa-dupa-cooper]

What is your driving style like?? What sort of journies do you do??

My Dooper did 3000 miles in the time I had it and was getting 54mpg average.

My new S has done 450 miles and is on 36mpg

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by ianneedshelp (original)

600

In which case it will get better.

All new cars have worse than expected fuel economy to start with.

Also, have you ever driven a diesel before?

[dlpruk]

Quote: Originally Posted by ianneedshelp (original)

600

So it'll still be as tight as a ... .

I'd wait until you've finished running-in and added a couple of thousand more; then reset when you fill-up with BP Ultimate and see what it says after that tankful.

[ianneedshelp]

400 of the miles are motorway driving, only got the car last week so took it for a run.

Never driven a diesel before, should I be doing something different.

Was don't around 75 + mph, M1 though so had to spend a lot at 50 mph on cruise control.

Hope it gets better, chose Diesel over Petrol to save on fuel and possible congestion charge.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by ianneedshelp (original)

Never driven a diesel before, should I be doing something different.

Apparently.

When I got my first diesel I was getting terrible MPG, until a friend told me to stop driving it like a petrol.

Basically you need to change up through the gears much more quickly than seems natural to keep the revs down, as the torque of a diesel will do much more in a higher gear than a petrol will.

It may not be the most accurate way to describe it, but I was told that apart from low-speed manoeuvres to always be one gear higher than I thought I should be, and it worked!

[dlpruk]

The D has a very different torque curve so try keeping the revs in the 1500/3000 band to exploit it - and don't floor the pedal - to engage overboost - until you are finished with running-in.

I found the gear-change indicator useful with mine, which is my first diesel too.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by ianneedshelp (original)

Was don't around 75 + mph

Top mpg figures are always achieved at a constant 56mph. Above that they do drop considerably.

Quote: Originally Posted by ianneedshelp (original)

M1 though so had to spend a lot at 50 mph on cruise control.

Doesn't cruise control use more fuel?

[M111 CGC]

If this is your first diesel definitely look at the gearshift indicator as this will help you learn to shift up much earlier than you would in a petrol. We are getting a consistent 51mpg out of our Dubman after 5000 miles but it was low 40s early on.

Chris

[Mejy Poo]

Quote: Originally Posted by dlpruk (original)

So it'll still be as tight as a ... .

I'd wait until you've finished running-in and added a couple of thousand more; then reset when you fill-up with BP Ultimate and see what it says after that tankful.

You know BP Ultimate really does work, and I'm not imagining it. Car feels so much smoother and i'm getting more mpg too.

[Yoastie]

- It will improve. Give it a bit of time
- Follow the tips here
- Make sure the car is warm before doing anything (let the engine warm up)
- Cruise Control is a good thing
- Plan ahead and decide what speed you will be travelling at well beforehand

and finally:

- Never, ever brake


These are the tips that do it for me

[Andy Wilson]

Sorry, but cruise control is a bad thing!
Because the cruise control is always trying to keep the car at a constant speed, it has been shown that you can save up to a further 10% on fuel consumption by not using cruise control and not racing up inclines.