How Far Can You Drive on a Tank of Diesel?

5696 Views 19 Replies 17 Participants Last post by swagled, Feb 18, 2015

AutoGuide.com

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2015

For the most part, diesel engines achieve superior fuel efficiency compared to their internal combustion gasoline counterparts.

When fitted with a sizable fuel tank, they can offer bladder-busting range. This makes diesel vehicles great for long road trips with minimal stops.

But just how far can you really stretch a single tank of diesel? Well, that is a bit of a loaded question. Semi-trucks can carry hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel and travel thousands of miles between fill-ups. But what about passenger vehicles, especially those in the more affordable price range?

To find out, I’ve grabbed a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Refreshed this year inside and out, the big news for the Jetta is a redesigned 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine. Making 150 HP and 236 lb-ft. of torque, at first glance it may not seem like much has changed with this engine, but most of the internals are new. The largest noticeable improvement is fuel economy which is now rated at 45 MPG on the highway when equipped with the dual-clutch automatic transmission.

That’s up three MPG compared to last year’s TDI which, combined with a 14.5 gallon fuel tank, should net a 652.5 mile range. So why even test this out when the range easily be calculated using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) figures? Because those are optimal condition results. What happens if I test this out in the real world, where it isn’t always 75 degrees and sunny (unless you live in California of course).

For this test, it’s the dead of winter in Ontario, Canada. The temperature during my evaluation today will be a chilly 1F to start, going up to 14F, then back down to 1F by the end of my 11-13 hour drive. The all-season tires that come equipped on the Jetta TDI have also been swapped out for less efficient Continental ContiWinterContact winter rubber.

This should all add up to reduced range, but just how much? Well, my plan is to leave this morning with a full tank of fuel and spend the day on freeways, highways and secondary country roads. Keeping with the real-world testing theme, I will drive roughly 5 MPH above the speed limit most of the time. My goal is to still achieve a total range of 650 miles, which is just over 1,000 km for the metric readers out there. Will I achieve it? Following along with my travels on twitter (#TDIDrive) as well as checking back here often throughout the day.

For more information on this story, How Far Can You Drive on a Tank of Diesel? and for regular updates please visit AutoGuide.com.

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650 miles? That's not good for a small lightweight car - I can get 590 miles out of my 2 ton 4wd slush-box automatic SUV, with aerodynamics of a brick, cruising at 75mph GPS - no doubt it would be better if I drove slower.

I'd be looking for 1,000 mile range from a Jetta with a DCT transmission.

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bballr4567

· #3 · Feb 17, 2015

Ruperts Trooper said:
650 miles? That's not good for a small lightweight car - I can get 590 miles out of my 2 ton 4wd slush-box automatic SUV, with aerodynamics of a brick, cruising at 75mph GPS - no doubt it would be better if I drove slower.

I'd be looking for 1,000 mile range from a Jetta with a DCT transmission.

14.5 gallon tank to a what, 36 gallon?? Oranges meet apple.

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Cobaltss_King

· #4 · Feb 17, 2015

They should have tested cars with a bit of miles on them. I went from around 850 to well over 900 miles on a full tank. Nearly all highway miles.

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Ruperts Trooper

· #5 · Feb 17, 2015 (Edited)

bballr4567 said:
14.5 gallon tank to a what, 36 gallon?? Oranges meet apple.

36 gallons, I wish!

In the UK, the 2.0 diesel Jetta DCT gives 67.3 MPG Combined which from a 12 gallon tank gives 808 miles/tankful - that's calculating using Imperial gallons but the range would be the same however calculated.

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70eldo

· #6 · Feb 17, 2015

I get about 6.8L/100km combined with my 3.0L 241hp V6. I can get down to about 5.4L/100km when I drive highway only.

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AMcA

· #7 · Feb 17, 2015

My big-ass Audi A8 gives me around 700 miles a tank driving around Phoenix. Put it on a long road trip at 38-39 mpg (which it will happily do, at a cruise controlled 80+), and you're looking at closer to 800.

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lkimura

· #8 · Feb 17, 2015

How far can you drive on a tank? Here's what you can do with a Cruze diesel.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/05...om-single-tank-with-chevy-cruze-diesel-video/

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Perian

· #9 · Feb 17, 2015

lkimura said:
How far can you drive on a tank? Here's what you can do with a Cruze diesel.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/05...om-single-tank-with-chevy-cruze-diesel-video/

Amen. I was just getting to that. Why is this article about a VW?

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Bravada

· #10 · Feb 17, 2015

I did 1100 km once over a combination of German and Polish highways and winding country roads and city streets when I went on a 5-day trip across East Germany. I think I have a 55 l tank, at least that's the most I can get in. This makes an average of 5.0l / 100km. I believe I often achieve that or better according to my trip computer (actually in the summer it tells me I get 4.9 in the city, city driving affects fuel consumption less than speeding 200 kmh on the Autobahn apparently), but that was the only time I filled up and drained the tank in one go that I cared to count the kms.

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doh

· #11 · Feb 18, 2015 (Edited)

The last thing I would want to do is run any Diesel engine with High Pressure Injectors, is run it out of fuel. The injectors pound them self to death.

I have seen customers do 1100 KM's 1/3 loaded, 4 days of stop and go, the rest highway. on 1 tank in an F150. But yes that is a 136L tank. Reg Cab 4x4.

I have once made 1200 km's on 150 L's in my wife's truck, with some trailer towing.

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Toto

· #12 · Feb 18, 2015 (Edited)

Bravada said:
I did 1100 km once over a combination of German and Polish highways and winding country roads and city streets when I went on a 5-day trip across East Germany. I think I have a 55 l tank, at least that's the most I can get in. This makes an average of 5.0l / 100km. I believe I often achieve that or better according to my trip computer (actually in the summer it tells me I get 4.9 in the city, city driving affects fuel consumption less than speeding 200 kmh on the Autobahn apparently), but that was the only time I filled up and drained the tank in one go that I cared to count the kms.

I can confirm this: 12.2l/100km or 19.3mpg US average mostly Autobahn.

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mikmak

· #13 · Feb 18, 2015

I did better with a Malibu diesel. I got 1089km from a tank without running it dry (because the injectors beat themselves to death

). My best was 4.8L/100kms [49USMPG] over a 104km commute. I'm sure that DCT is worth it.

#instapurpldrank

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megeebee

· #14 · Feb 18, 2015

How Far Can You Drive on a Tank of Diesel?

How long is a piece of string?

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isszy

· #15 · Feb 18, 2015

I was going to say about 150 metres. That's about when my petrol powered cars would splutter to a halt due to the motor basically flooding with diesel

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VS Ute 5Litre

· #16 · Feb 18, 2015

isszy said:
I was going to say about 150 metres. That's about when my petrol powered cars would splutter to a halt due to the motor basically flooding with diesel

LOL

Yeah I love that

One thing the local Holden dealer would advertise is that all it's cars come with a full tank of petrol

When I questioned them how big is the tank of Petrol they were going to put in the back of the Colorado they just looked at me weird

Then it dawned on them

The advertising has since changed to say a full tank of fuel

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mikmak

· #17 · Feb 18, 2015

In other news, a co-worker bought a new petrol Mazda CX-5 last week. They didn't want the diesel because the wife was sure she would accidentally put petrol in it.

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Ruperts Trooper

· #18 · Feb 18, 2015

doh said:
The last thing I would want to do is run any Diesel engine with High Pressure Injectors, is run it out of fuel. The injectors pound them self to death.

I have seen customers do 1100 KM's 1/3 loaded, 4 days of stop and go, the rest highway. on 1 tank in an F150. But yes that is a 136L tank. Reg Cab 4x4.

I have once made 1200 km's on 150 L's in my wife's truck, with some trailer towing.

If you let a modern diesel run dry, the very high pressure fuel pump lets go before the injectors - fuel pump lubrication is a major issue given the very high pressures unvolved.

But equally bad to mis-fuel a diesel with petrol/gasoline !

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Oldsmobile stopped

· #19 · Feb 18, 2015

You will get 1100 miles from 63 ltrs out of the new BMW 320d Efficient 2.0L diesel at an average speed 60mph, it would be no problem on a long straight run.

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swagled

· #20 · Feb 18, 2015

There are several threads on CruzeTalk from people trying to get the maximum range. Ideal conditions can take you to about 750 miles. I generally get 450 (mixed city/hwy) to low 500s (mostly highway on mildly hilly terrain) on my Cruze Diesel.

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