Gas mileage/Tank reading

[newjettagirl]

I bought a Jetta in August of last year - just the basic model - and my gas mileage is horrible! I average around 200 per tank. Is that because I'm using the "regular" gas rather than "premium"? Does that make a difference? Any ideas?

Also, when I fill up, the tank doesn't ever show as full, it looks like it's 3/4 full. Does anyone else have this problem? The pump clicks, like it's a full tank, though.

[veedubmechanic]

VW has problems with new cars where the fuel level sensor rod is bent when installed at the factory, if its a new car have the dealer check it out and see.

[vwjetta96]

I think its the fuel level sensor. My 96 Jetta's fuel level sensor is messed up too. Sometimes it shows me Im ie quarter tank, then after driving for a long time it seems like my fuel level stayed the same. Its kinda silly but kicking the tank gently sometimes helps but its temporary so get it checked out.

About the bad milage, check that out for sure. These cars can do way better than 200! My fuel efficiency was kinda bad when my cat converter went. I changed that and got platinum spark plugs and its seems better now. But something is still burning my fuel so its still not perfect. (thats why my cat went).

Do you have manual or auto?

Hope that helped a bit!

[newjettagirl]

Thank you so much! I actually took it to the dealer this morning to get it checked out. It's having some other little "quirks" as well, so it was time. I have automatic, so I know that's less...but still, 200 can't be!

Thanks for all of your info, I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by vwjetta96

I think its the fuel level sensor. My 96 Jetta's fuel level sensor is messed up too. Sometimes it shows me Im ie quarter tank, then after driving for a long time it seems like my fuel level stayed the same. Its kinda silly but kicking the tank gently sometimes helps but its temporary so get it checked out.

About the bad milage, check that out for sure. These cars can do way better than 200! My fuel efficiency was kinda bad when my cat converter went. I changed that and got platinum spark plugs and its seems better now. But something is still burning my fuel so its still not perfect. (thats why my cat went).

Do you have manual or auto?

Hope that helped a bit!

[vwjetta96]

You welcome I hope your car will be fine soon. Im having headaches with mine too:S But you are absolutely right 200 is not at all normal. Get that checked for sure regardless what kinda gas you use

[04Jetta]

Bought my jetta 1.8T last June. having same problems? After 5 trips to the dealer they finally
replaced the unit with one out of a GLS.They are well aware of the problem and have said they finally have come up with a solution according to "Volkswafon of America"

[newjettagirl]

Well, they said that 18-20 miles per gallon is normal!!! that is shocking. i think that's horrible gas mileage. It says it's 24 on their website. Had I known it was so bad, I never would have bought one!

Originally Posted by vwjetta96

You welcome I hope your car will be fine soon. Im having headaches with mine too:S But you are absolutely right 200 is not at all normal. Get that checked for sure regardless what kinda gas you use

[newjettagirl]

Were you getting bad gas mileage as well?
They told me 18-20 mpg is normal, which I think is horrible!

Originally Posted by 04Jetta

Bought my jetta 1.8T last June. having same problems? After 5 trips to the dealer they finally
replaced the unit with one out of a GLS.They are well aware of the problem and have said they finally have come up with a solution according to "Volkswafon of America"

[SnoopisTDI]

Which engine? And what kind of driving? If you're doing a lot of stop and go or city driving, and short trips, that will give you terrible mileage in just about any car.

But anyway, if you're getting 200mi to a tank, at 20mpg, that means you're only putting in 10gal. The car has a 14.5gal tank, so you can probably drive a little farther than the 200 you've been driving before you need to stop and fuel up again.

How many miles are on the car? Most new cars don't get great mileage from day one, but after you put some miles on them they get better. But seeing that you got it in August, it should be broken in by now. Hmm..

[vwjetta96]

I thought that your car was a 1.8 but SnoopisTDI brought it to my attention that this information wasn't known. Also he made a very good point about the kind of driving you do too. Very true. Also I apologize because I was thinking in litres not in gallons.

However If you still suspect that your car's mileage is not normal I would get a shop or dealer just scan it real fast just to be sure. I wrote before that when ie my cat. converter went my car became veerrrryyy hungry. The engine was burning fuel really bad and it just killed my cat. The computer showed the problem exactly.

good luck

[vwjetta96]

I did a little bit of research for you in my big car book and I found this information on Jettas (basic model, assuming your car is a 2.0 now):

* average gas consumption: 8 litres/100km
* tank size: 55 litres

That means that in average your car should get 687.5km with full tank. But that of course depends on the kind of driving you do etc. I always put mine in neutral and just roll so I get good mileage

Let me know if your car is not a 2.0 but this information helped because I have everything written down.

[phattyc75]

um...just so you know, putting your car in neutral and coasting is terrible on your tranny. its not so bad when you have a manual, but if you have an auto...you'll eat up the money you saved in gas about 10 times over when you buy a new tranny to go in it. just a tip...take it or leave it.

[vwjetta96]

Originally Posted by phattyc75

um...just so you know, putting your car in neutral and coasting is terrible on your tranny. its not so bad when you have a manual, but if you have an auto...you'll eat up the money you saved in gas about 10 times over when you buy a new tranny to go in it. just a tip...take it or leave it.

Thank you for your tip. I do have a manual car, and didn't have anything but manual all my life. I got no problems so far, I was lucky... I am not doing that every time I get a chance though and not for too long. I could not really do that with auto anyways because I'd have to push the brake before shifting and if Im not on a hill then Id just stop. Aside with the cat problem my gas mileage was always good.

But thank you very much for your concern and your tip its definitely something to think about!