How to drive a TDi efficiently?

[Noodoo]

Mornin', folks.

Does anyone have advice on how to drive the TDi's efficiently?

I haven't owned a TDi before and I'd like to make sure I'm getting the best mileage out of it (since that's the whole reason that I moved over to Diesel). The method I'm using at the minute is to accelerate gently and change up as soon as the revs are high enough revs that the engine will drop to 1,000 RPM when I hook the next gear.
That obviously works well on a petrol engine, but I'm wondering if it is more efficient to let the turbo do some of the work?

I know that's a bloody geeky question, but, hey; give me chance to get used to driving it before I start with the electronics mods!


I'll be stripping that EGR valve/manifold to clean out any crap that's restricting airflow, this weekend. At 70,000 miles, there must be a build up in there by now.

[d_austin974]

I find mine (1.4 tdi) to be most economical if you change gear as soon as possible, as you have been doing, keep the revs low and let it just sip at the juice.

[f6had]

If it's a PD engined car and you have bought it for economy, have it Remapped. We tune these day in day out and we can tune the ECU to introduce the torque earlier allowing you to hold it in higher gears for longer - translating into more economy.

Of course the new power gains are a nice bonus

Is this your car? :

http://eliteremaps.com/detay.asp?ProdID=2063

I can see we haven't tested this one for economy yet, but generally speaking a remap will give you 30% power increase and 10 - 15% economy gains.

Hope that helps.

[Noodoo]

Thanks for the reply.
It's actually a 1.9 Estate. I believe it's a 6n/6n2 changeover. It has the new interior but I don't know whether it's the PD type of engine... How can I tell?

[f6had]

Even the 1.9 are tunable, PD or not.

Best way to check is to get the engine code - should be on your logbook (normally the first 3 letters of your engine number).