25 replies to this topic

[gypsydan]

A friend is in the British Isles has told me their Diesel engines avg. 40 mpg. Then I heard they use a Bosch (?) control system behind this great mileage. Anyone familiar with this, and maybe why it is not in the US?

[Mark & Dale Bruss]

We have the EPA with different monitoring rules

[M_S]

A friend is in the British Isles has told me their Diesel engines avg. 40 mpg. Then I heard they use a Bosch (?) control system behind this great mileage. Anyone familiar with this, and maybe why it is not in the US?

My 2006 VW Jetta gets around 45 mpg on the highway the same as the European version, hard to imagine a R.V. would be capable of that.
Our Jetta is only a 1.9 liter diesel which uses the direct rail injection system and does not have a particulate filter. The current engines use a particulate filter but have the same mileage ratings (42 EPA highway).
Something to keep in mind is that in England the gallon is larger (equivalent to 1.2 U.S. gallons), but 40 mpg in a R.V. would be interesting.
Mike

[mrfrank]

They are probably referring to passenger vehicles and maybe smaller RV's similar to the Sprinter based RV's that we are seeing here in the US. I looked at the Jeep United Kingdom web site recently. They sell three Jeep models there, The Grand Cherokee, the Wrangler, and the Compass. The Grand Cherokee is ONLY available in diesel. the Wrangler is ONLY available in diesel. You can get the Compass in either gas OR diesel. I'm pretty sure that these vehicles are built in the US and shipped overseas. I know that diesel Mercedes Benz ML's are built in Tuscaloosa, AL and shipped to the rest of he world from there. I believe that we can blame General Motors and their junk diesels of the 70's for the reluctance of the US market to embrace diesels. Can't be the EPA, European standards are stricter than ours.

[Rif]

Here are a couple articles by reputable sources that describe the issue:

http://www.scientifi...ean-diesel-cars

http://www.popularme.../diesel/4330313

[Mark & Dale Bruss]

Can't be the EPA, European standards are stricter than

Note I said "different." For example recently the EPA testing for the CAFE average lowered the mileage rate of a lot of small cars by closing a loop hole.

A 2006 Jetta couldn't be sold new in the US today because of the EPA standards. Just because something is built in the US doesn't mean it can be bought here. Each country has its own rules.

I always amused when I see discussions on mileage without any context. What is the capacity of the vehicle? A 1600 lb car with a 400 load getting 40 mpg seems pretty good, that is 40 ton miles to the gallon. My Volvo only gets 7.5 mpg at 44,000 lbs for 165 ton miles to the gallon. From a cargo viewpoint, my Volvo is 4 times more efficient. A motor scooter at 400 lbs plus rider at 2000 lb gets 80 mpg for a ton mile rating of only 4 tons miles per gallon or almost half as efficient as the car.

Mileage without context of the job at hand (just people, people and baggage, people.baggage and house) is a useless discussion.

[Rif]

A motor scooter at 400 lbs plus rider at 2000 lb gets 80 mpg for a ton mile rating of only 4 tons

I'd like to see that scooter with a 1 ton rider on it ....

Just joshing. I know you meant a 200 pound rider.

[M_S]

My 2006 VW Jetta gets around 45 mpg on the highway the same as the European version, hard to imagine a R.V. would be capable of that.
Our Jetta is only a 1.9 liter diesel which uses the direct rail injection system and does not have a particulate filter. The current engines use a particulate filter but have the same mileage ratings (42 EPA highway).
Something to keep in mind is that in England the gallon is larger (equivalent to 1.2 U.S. gallons), but 40 mpg in a R.V. would be interesting.
Mike

To clarify a little further, the 2011 Jetta's still have a highway EPA rating of 42mpg. They are available in the U.S. with the diesel and meet all of the current emission standards. To achieve current standards a particulate filter was required as was not the case in 2006.
The Jetta while a smaller car, is approx 3200lbs curb weight and if my experience with my 2006 is valid for today's version 45mpg @ 75mph is common.
Mike

[BayouCajun]

the problem with any mpg or diesel/gas discussions….

you have to recognize the politics….otherwise the discussion has no value….similar to the results of object of same discussions…

in the meantime…we give our money to result of failure to tackle these man made problems that have political solutions…or to state acurately….

these are politically created problems that cost us more money….

but….then again….can't talk about the problem….only the results….

[gypsydan]

Here are a couple articles by reputable sources that describe the issue:

http://www.scientifi...ean-diesel-cars

http://www.popularme.../diesel/4330313

Thanks, these are very good clarification articles.

[RayIN]

rif, those articles verify what I read about the Ford focus diesel (50mpg) sold in Europe. Ford was asked about selling that car in the U.S. and their reply was compatible with those articles.

Edited by RayIN, 27 November 2011 - 07:29 PM.

[Connie B.]

We were just in Germany and Scandinavia and were in a rented 24 ft Fiat RV (28 days). It had a diesel engine and stick shift. We traveled up from Germany through Denmark, Sweden, Norway and back. Lots of different kinds of driving (city, interstate like highways, 2 lanes, windy roads). We got around 22-25 mpAmericang (after converting from liters).

[kemo]

What does the M/B Sprinter get for mileage. I bet that it is close to the Fiat that you rented.

We were just in Germany and Scandinavia and were in a rented 24 ft Fiat RV (28 days). It had a diesel engine and stick shift. We traveled up from Germany through Denmark, Sweden, Norway and back. Lots of different kinds of driving (city, interstate like highways, 2 lanes, windy roads). We got around 22-25 mpAmericang (after converting from liters).

[mockturtle]

One imperial gallon is equal to about 1.2 U.S. gallons. Not that 0.2 gallons would make that much difference....

[BooneDocks]

One imperial gallon is equal to about 1.2 U.S. gallons. Not that 0.2 gallons would make that much difference....

Did someone mention imperial gallons?

[Dave W]

I'm on my second Sprinter - the first averaged 21.1 MPG over the 60K miles I drove it. The present, for some reason, is only averaging ~20MPG.

Remember the OLD VW Rabbit diesel ? --- 50 MPG

Now, you new VW diesel owners, Google "HPFP failure". This ultra low sulphur diesel is raising havoc on them - ask my daughter about a $10k engine repair.

Edited by Dave W, 28 November 2011 - 09:37 AM.

[Connie B.]

Had an old VW diesel Rabbit during my working days. My Dad drove it for awhile then I drove it back and forth to work on I-95 in FL. Kept records. Dad did mostly short trips in town. He got just over 50 mpg. When I drove it, I got 53-54 mpg at 55 mph. Those were the days!!!!!!

[Boo]

Read your post and thought I'd put my two-cents in. I've been researching this for several months now since I plan to retire and shoot for the 35 miles per gallon mark !...of course this can be obtained with me being single and having just a German Shepherd as a traveling mate ! The tow vehicle is a Jetta turbo-diesel 2.0 L. TDI Sportwagen 4 cyl. 6-spd. manual transmission....the trailer comes from Canada...no U. S.A. distributors yet. The trailer is the Alto Safari or the 16' Trail Manor Sport series...both are very aerodynamic. Wondering about a 4-cyl. doing the job?...check out this website...www.rvlifemag.com they have been towing 25' Airstreams with the P.T. cruisers and V.W. Jetta...getting 27-32 mpg regularly...so I figure with a set of great steel-belted radials...proper alignment with camber adjusted for maximum mileage...sensible driving habits...I'll sacrifice about 20 % fuel mileage loss...the Jetta is rated 41 mpg. highway...so that's 8.2 miles loss leaving 32.8 mpg and that's towing a 25' Airstream...they're "wind catchers" compared to the two trailers mentioned above. In closing the trailers mentioned have hard walls no canvas and all you need...frig. a/c ,heat,holding tanks,bathroom...their 19' sport deck model even has a porch !...P.S. ...check out the website GOODYEAR Tires have and you'll see why steel belted radials are the only way to go...especially if you're going to put serious mileage on the road...if you're just a weekender don't worry about it....this site talks about wind resistance and science behind "roll resistance"...very informative. Lastly, driver's contribute up to 30 % of your overall calculations on the type of driver you are...so be safe and save money at the pump...Boo & L. j. quote name='M_S' timestamp='1317131751' post='489636']
My 2006 VW Jetta gets around 45 mpg on the highway the same as the European version, hard to imagine a R.V. would be capable of that.
Our Jetta is only a 1.9 liter diesel which uses the direct rail injection system and does not have a particulate filter. The current engines use a particulate filter but have the same mileage ratings (42 EPA highway).
Something to keep in mind is that in England the gallon is larger (equivalent to 1.2 U.S. gallons), but 40 mpg in a R.V. would be interesting.
Mike

[mockturtle]

Did someone mention imperial gallons?

That's what they use in the UK, which was the OP point of reference.

[dmcb]

Unless Canada's Imperial gallon is different, it is 5 american quarts. And it does make a difference.
1 Imperial gallons = 4.80380169 US quarts to be exact.

Edited by dmcb, 15 December 2011 - 07:30 AM.