papaindigo wrote:
Back to basics. How are you calculating your mpg? EVIC which is known to be wildly inaccurate. Hand calculating using odometer reading which can be off as much as +-5% and still meet standards.
To be sure of you actual mpg ideally obtain a GPS correction for your odometer (do a couple of 25 miles runs on relatively straight and flat roads); pick a station with a relatively recent pump inspection sticker; fill the tank until you have clear (no foam) fuel at the top of the filler neck; drive at least 300 miles or so; return to the same station and fill the tank to the same spot; hand calculate using the GPS correction.
Expected corrected mpg on stock CRD with stock size tires and no particular tune is 18-19 in town (assumes moderate temps, relatively flat, 10 mile one way commute on city streets, average speed ca. 25 max 45) and 24-25 hwy (windows up, with/without AC, relatively flat roads, steady 62mph/1800rpm) but both can be better or worse by a significant amount. GDE EcoTune figures ca. 23-24 in town and 29-33 hwy.
PS is you temp gauge needle almost dead vertical when warmed up. If not your tstat is shot and costing you ca 10% mpg.
I am hand calculating MPG using odometer reading from full tank to full tank. I am assuming GPS to odometer error to stay constant. Next time, I will correlate GPS miles to odometer miles to find out what is my actual MPG!
The coolant temp is 195 F with temp gauge almost dead vertical. The warm is less than 2 minutes as well.
By the way, my highway commute speed ranges from 70 to 80 mph with average of 75 mph.