XC60 D4 VEA - MPG has gotten gradually worse

[Gilesme]

My average on my trip to work today was 12mpg.... as it sat idling to defrost, then a quick 2 mile blast down a dual carriageway !

Personally i never thought i'd get 60mpg from my car - it's averaging just over 40, but average speed is 36, over 4500miles - some of which with roofbox and 4 bikes on the towbar. (I always turn start/stop off).

The manufacturers build to do well in the tests - no different from days of old when fuel injected cavaliers had a bit of a lean spot at 75mph, as that was one of the speeds used for the mpg ratings at the time.

[Flux]

I also remember reading recently that manufacturers are putting software in cars that can detect the conditions for an official MPG rolling road test. The car then automatically adjusts the telemetry to maximize fuel efficiency. So basically they will never ever get anywhere near replicating the optimised conditions in the real world and the telemetry changes once in 'normal' driving conditions - and emissions (allegedly) increase! So maybe we're all being hoodwinked, along with the laboratory that tests new cars for their 'official' figures.

[ptesweeney]

Originally Posted by Lamp Swinger

I'm wondering if your fuel consumption issues may be the early signs of impending EGR failure? Did members who have had their EGR's replaced, find a fuel consumption improvement afterwards?

David

Funny you should mention that, I had the EGR replaced just last week.
I'm going reset my trip and see if there's any improvement.

Cheers

[andymcp]

If it helps keep the faith I just finished a 250 mile blast from Glasgow to yorkshire, not sticking to speed limits, barely above zero temp and still got 52mpg door to door. Sure, I probably got closer to 60mpg in summer for the same trip but I'd expect to drop a lot given the drive started with 20mins idling to defrost everything while I extracted Mrs McP's car from under the snow!

[Rustyfrog]

Somebody put me out of my misery....

What is an EGR?

[K5 Gus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhaust_gas_recirculation

[Harvey1512]

Originally Posted by Rustyfrog

Somebody put me out of my misery....

What is an EGR?

Something that reduces your mpg and then goes wrong.

[Roland_F]

The only fuel consumption figures that any manufacturer is legally allowed to quote are the official EU figures.

Also, bear in mind your road tax is calculated on the basis of official figures, so if you campaign for more realistic figures, you would be indirectly campaigning for higher road tax.

If you want realistic figures, try What Car's True MPG or Honest John's Real MPG. The former is based on their road test figures, the latter on figures reported by owners.

[Rustyfrog]

Originally Posted by Roland_F

The only fuel consumption figures that any manufacturer is legally allowed to quote are the official EU figures.

Also, bear in mind your road tax is calculated on the basis of official figures, so if you campaign for more realistic figures, you are indirectly campaigning for higher road tax.

Never thought of that!

However if the mfrs were honest with the figures then we also know the actual figure for road tax.

We could then make an educated choice.

[Roland_F]

Originally Posted by Rustyfrog

However if the mfrs were honest with the figures then we also know the actual figure for road tax.

The manufacturers are being honest - they're not allowed to be anything else. Where they are a bit disingenuous is ensuring their cars get really good figures during the official tests, but it's a competitive world and once one does it, they all have to.

However, I do think that dealers and sales people should warn that the EU figures for all cars are unrepresentative of day-to-day driving.