How to drive a diesel
Discussion
A serious question! I've just picked up a MK4 Golf TDI. It's my first diesel. Do I drive it like a taxi - 1200rpm everywhere, or do they like a few revs to keep them clean. It seems happy enough at low revs, but I am loving it when it comes on boost, esp in 3rd :-)
I've no interest trying for another few mpg, just whatever is best to keep a TDI happy.
I've no interest trying for another few mpg, just whatever is best to keep a TDI happy.
They are happy & perfectly fine to be driven like a taxi, eg low revs. They will be super eco like it, it will do no harm to it at all (diesel lumps are bombproof) however a good occasional Italian tune up will do no harm either & it will blow any loose soot from the exhaust in the process. Esp handy pre mot time 
I've an 08 Passat TDI on nearly 100k now, most of the time trundling up and down the motorway returning 50-60mpg, gets the odd blast but its a slow diesel so never gonna get the heart racing lol my advice, drive it how you like, bulletproof engines, for best MPG, stick between 1500-1800rpm as others had said.
tmy man-senses say "rev it, let the turbo spool up, then put it around 1800rpm", and I'm happy to do so. I was wondering really why everyone else (bar white van drivers) seem to chug them. I thought as a diesel-newbie maybe there was something I'm missing?
3rd doesn't really compare to the 911, but it's a pleasant surprise every time. I really like the engine. I bought it as a snotter, however I already know I will be keeping it. I need to get brave enough to do the cam-belt now!
Jeep - what else can I say. Its just appalling in every single way possible.
3rd doesn't really compare to the 911, but it's a pleasant surprise every time. I really like the engine. I bought it as a snotter, however I already know I will be keeping it. I need to get brave enough to do the cam-belt now!
Jeep - what else can I say. Its just appalling in every single way possible.
cptsideways said:
They are happy & perfectly fine to be driven like a taxi, eg low revs. They will be super eco like it, it will do no harm to it at all (diesel lumps are bombproof) however a good occasional Italian tune up will do no harm either & it will blow any loose soot from the exhaust in the process. Esp handy pre mot time
Not any more they're not! I would totally agree with you that older non-common rail engines would last a lifetime but CR injectors don't go on forever and are inherently expensive to replace.There's also another issue with modern diesels and that's particulate filters. They work by literally vaporising the particles that come from your engine but only function correctly once they've heated up enough. Short journeys for modern diesels are therefore not good for them and so giving them a good motorway blast is no bad thing as it helps keep the filters nice and clean.
Else, you end up blocking them and having them replaced which again costs a fortune.
I drive my 116d around 1600-2500 rpm and it's very happy around there. 3rd gear is my favourite and can pull me out nicely if needed from 40kph so in the city.
I've said this before on here but I've had loads of VAG TDI's and almost always ragged the nuts off them and have yet to see so much as a warning light.
The ones I have driven that felt sluggish and returned poor MPG were the ones that have been driven by the, erm, more experienced chaps at my company and have been nursed around at 1500rpm. After a few days of blasting the economy and performance seemed to improve (this is on the old PD engines).
The ones I have driven that felt sluggish and returned poor MPG were the ones that have been driven by the, erm, more experienced chaps at my company and have been nursed around at 1500rpm. After a few days of blasting the economy and performance seemed to improve (this is on the old PD engines).
cptsideways said:
They are happy & perfectly fine to be driven like a taxi, eg low revs. They will be super eco like it, it will do no harm to it at all (diesel lumps are bombproof) however a good occasional Italian tune up will do no harm either & it will blow any loose soot from the exhaust in the process. Esp handy pre mot time
This isn't generalising at all?Interesting thread. Any tips for driving 04 Ford Connect van 200t diesel?
Its been a totally 100%-reliable daily runaround for years, mainly town-work or country B-roads, but there are no motorways in my local area and it doesn't see much regular fast open-road travel.
Is sluggish but am willing to accept that for the type of vehicle if they are all like that, 136K on the clock, not serviced quite as often as Ford say it should be but it does get serviced by local car-care garage at least once a year.
I use rev-range 1200 - 3000rpm generally and prefer to torque-along rather than rev it.
Any advice appreciated, thx.
Its been a totally 100%-reliable daily runaround for years, mainly town-work or country B-roads, but there are no motorways in my local area and it doesn't see much regular fast open-road travel.
Is sluggish but am willing to accept that for the type of vehicle if they are all like that, 136K on the clock, not serviced quite as often as Ford say it should be but it does get serviced by local car-care garage at least once a year.
I use rev-range 1200 - 3000rpm generally and prefer to torque-along rather than rev it.
Any advice appreciated, thx.
CapriV6S said:
Interesting thread. Any tips for driving 04 Ford Connect van 200t diesel?
Its been a totally 100%-reliable daily runaround for years, mainly town-work or country B-roads, but there are no motorways in my local area and it doesn't see much regular fast open-road travel.
Is sluggish but am willing to accept that for the type of vehicle if they are all like that, 136K on the clock, not serviced quite as often as Ford say it should be but it does get serviced by local car-care garage at least once a year.
I use rev-range 1200 - 3000rpm generally and prefer to torque-along rather than rev it.
Any advice appreciated, thx.
.Its been a totally 100%-reliable daily runaround for years, mainly town-work or country B-roads, but there are no motorways in my local area and it doesn't see much regular fast open-road travel.
Is sluggish but am willing to accept that for the type of vehicle if they are all like that, 136K on the clock, not serviced quite as often as Ford say it should be but it does get serviced by local car-care garage at least once a year.
I use rev-range 1200 - 3000rpm generally and prefer to torque-along rather than rev it.
Any advice appreciated, thx.
We have one of these for work, no amount of thrashing servicing or long journeys will ever make it more than sluggish. I have sat waiting at junctions until my crystal ball tells me that there is nothing coming for the next 3 weeks before daring to pull out.
As for over taking, forget it, even slight gradients make it necessary to change down, even on the motorway. Should have bought a push bike instead.
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