K.I.T.T.

Hi guys, new user here

Been reading around a bit before I joined and it seems like a friendly, helpful
community

Bought my first car, a '53 reg Polo 1.4 TDi Sport with only 23k on the clock from a main VW dealer (I know this is a Skoda forum, but Polo, Fabia...same difference, right?)

First of all, I think I've got an issue with fuel economy...When driving like a saint around town, the most I can average is around 38 - 45 MPG and when I want to have a bit of fun, It can dip down as low as 28 MPG I'd have thought with 'normal' driving I would get no less than 45 and when I'm really careful, 50 - 55 in town? On A road runs, I seem to be able to get around 50 - 55 MPG when being careful with my right foot...something seems fishy, don't you think? I thought at times when it was being ragged around a bit in town, I might see high 30s as a minimum.

Well, now the more exciting bit...In around a year or thereabouts, I'm looking to getting the car chipped. I know custom-code can do a generic remap for £300, but say I have around £600 to play with tops, what else can I do? A generic map should give around 105-108 BHP from reading around, would 120 BHP be achievable? I know the 160PD air intake mod seems to work pretty well with the PD130 engine when remapped, but since the price has been jacked up recently to over £70, I'd like to know how effective it would be combined with a remap on the 1.4 TDi engine. I know this is the bit where it starts to get more expensive, but isn't the 1.4 TDi like a 1.9 PD100 unit sans 1 cylinder and a smaller turbo? Does that mean it uses the same injectors as the PD100? If so, would PD130 nozzles help? Just asking as I haven't come across anyone who's fiddled with the injectors in the 1.4 TDi (possibly for a very good reason...what do I know?)

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help!

Cheers,
Ash

paulk22

Hi Ash, your mpg does seem abit on the low side for a 1.4TDI! My fabia vRS is running at 170 bhp and only goes down to 35ish if i floor it for an hour or so! You may need a new panel filter as the ones on PD130 need changing every 20k! Skoda says 40k but this is far to long!

Dont no much about playing with the 1.4TDI sorry! But im sure someone here will be along soon to give you some advice

Paul

K.I.T.T.

Thanks a lot for your help Paul

According to the service history, the air and fuel filters were changed back in 2005 when the car had done 14.7k miles and haven't been changed since. Would you recommend getting them changed again? I don't think the air filter should be to hard to change (?), not sure about the fuel filter though.

If it's any help, the figures I gave above were according to what the trip computer said. Flooring it in fifth to get it from 50 to around 75 - 80 causes it to say 27 MPG But after that, it levels off to around 60.

Cheers,
Ash

ric04vrs

air filters are reasonably cheap , and easy to fit (2 screws) so a good idea to replace it

re fuel consumption , you need to be looking at the average consumption , not the figure thats constantly changing as you drive along

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not so bored now

paulk22

Yeah you need to look at the average MPG not the one that constantly changes as Ric says, if i floor when that ones on the computer i can get it down to 8's & 9's no problem but if i ease off it can go up to 100+

K.I.T.T.

Ah right, thanks for the heads up guys

Drove just under 80 miles today (70% A roads) and managed a combined of 50ish according to the computer. Still feel that It should be higher... Got my mum to rev it to around 3700 RPM (in neutral) and couldn't see any signs of black smoke, nor any hissing sounds from the engine bay.

Still think the air filter may be worth changing for the sake of a tenner. I'm assuming you just remove the two screws holding the cover of the airbox and it's a straight swap? Are there any other factors which could lead to the lower than expected fuel economy?

Sorry if I'm boring you with some of the more simple questions...I really appreciate your help

Now all I need someone who knows what sort of power increase I can expect with my given budget.

Many thanks!
Ash

dervdoctor

sounds poor on fuel, my sister has a 80 bhp 1.4 TDi polo, We map'd it when it was a few months old. I will ask her what MPG she gets.

You can tune these alot, but they are not too popular to do as most people tune the 1.9 TDi

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cjb

We had a 2000 1.4 TDI Polo.Got about 50mpg average, but that was a lighter body.

skudmissile

I had a polo 1.4tdi and i mapped it to a proven 100bhp. MY running average was 52mpg and i used to boot it everywhere

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Run out of CASH

KenONeill

Sounds kind of thirsty to me. My Octy TDi110 (heavier body, bigger engine) will get 50 to 55 depending more on how far I drive than on traffic (but I don't do "town driving" as a rule).