Yep, it's certainly possible.

The variation in engine condition, driver's technique, and vehicle speed can cause variability that we observe.

31 is certainly exceptional. I've done it once with the SD..........probably never to be repeated. Speed must be held to less than 65mph and 95% of the miles must be highway. The tires must be inflated to spec and the engine must be operating in perfect condition.

I also use Power Service conditioner at about 6 oz. per 20 gallons and have a suspicion that it helps slightly.

I must agree that driver technique (especially cruising speed) means a lot.

I drove a 2003 Jetta TDI for 45,000 miles and averaged nearly 10% better mileage that the current owner - and our driving cycles are nearly the same. That 10% amounted to 5mpg! Quite a difference.

The current tank is looking like 32mpg...I'll know in a couple days.

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Another tank bites the dust...505.1 miles (corrected by GPS)/15.953 gallons to the brim. 31.66mpg

Mostly 62mph on the highway.

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Wanna trade engines?

We have seen videos of your driving.... Mileage on the engine has nothing to do with it


I get about 21mpg 50/50 mix of highway/city but mines a Cali car

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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

'nuther data point.

100% Houston commute - never more than 20 miles from home on this tank.

510.3 miles, 17.1 gallons = 29.84mpg.

I have about 13 stoplights in the 12 miles between my house and my office. Some days I seem to hit most of them . On a bad day I'll sit through one of them three cycles .

Quite a change in economy from my locked, lifted, armored Land Cruiser. Of course, Millie is not too hot off road!

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

trading engines isnt as important as trading right foot

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

My MPG should go up since I got my injection timing set where it should be now. Runs like a whole new engine. No smoke or misfiring.

Instead of the proper 26*BTDC, it was set around 22*BTDC.

What was the before and after?

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Couple more tanks in the record book. Best so far is 32.3mpg. Average is now just shy of 31mpg over 10 tanks.

I currently have B50 in the tank and am at a corrected 350 miles and the none-too-accurate gauge is just above a half. I will fill up Friday (should be at about 500 on the tank) in anticipation of a nice drive to Berry Hill Farm and will see what the biodiesel does for me. I guess the BTU content is lower, so I suspect I will take a little hit.

Just a reminder - I inertia drive, anticipate lights, coast, flap my arms and otherwise do most anything I can to increase mileage. I avoid short trips like the plague. My average per turn of the key is probably at least 15 miles. I think this really helps me.

I am also running all synthetic fluids now (just recently in the crankcase - I couldn't resist trying Schaeffer's S-9000 5W-40).

It is kinds fun trying to pull everything out of the beast that I can. No, I am not going to join Joe in an oil marathon!


Tim

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)