My best MPG so far...
09-27-2017, 07:23 AM
#21
AudiWorld Super User
Well I know the answer now after all this research. AAA tested brands. Turns out that TOP-TIER has 5x the EPA-mandated detergents, and that makes a significant difference. And it also turns out that, while it is possible for a maker to add those detergents without paying for the TOP-TIER license, none of them do! So get TOP-TIER gasoline. All of the major brands are TOP-TIER, as far as I know. And all TOP-TIER companies have agreed to use the same level of detergents in their 87 as in their premium.
However, with a Q7 at least, 87 vs 91 is just personal preference on if you want to pay extra for the octane, which the car sometimes, but not always, needs to make the maximum rated HP. The hotter and drier it is out, and the more often you load the engine close to 100% (especially towing), the more often the car benefits from the extra octane. I am trying to measure the difference with my iPhone accelerometers. I have not finished my testing yet, but I would bet a lot that no one reading this could detect which gas is in the car from driving it.
AAA: Not All Gasoline Created Equal AAA NewsRoom
However, with a Q7 at least, 87 vs 91 is just personal preference on if you want to pay extra for the octane, which the car sometimes, but not always, needs to make the maximum rated HP. The hotter and drier it is out, and the more often you load the engine close to 100% (especially towing), the more often the car benefits from the extra octane. I am trying to measure the difference with my iPhone accelerometers. I have not finished my testing yet, but I would bet a lot that no one reading this could detect which gas is in the car from driving it.
AAA: Not All Gasoline Created Equal AAA NewsRoom
09-27-2017, 07:43 AM
#22
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Analyzing/testing things is what I do for a hobby. It's not actually about money as one trip to the grocery store is about the same price of one year's difference in fuel cost. But it is about optimizing / testing things that I find interesting. Basically, I would like to be the the people who designs these cars and the one coming up with the recommendations, based on actual testing.
09-27-2017, 09:06 AM
#23
AudiWorld Super User
Analyzing/testing things is what I do for a hobby. It's not actually about money as one trip to the grocery store is about the same price of one year's difference in fuel cost. But it is about optimizing / testing things that I find interesting. Basically, I would like to be the the people who designs these cars and the one coming up with the recommendations, based on actual testing.
09-27-2017, 09:11 AM
#24
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
No I was not suggesting there was anything wrong with Audi's advice, or that I would have written it any differently if I had access to their data. I was simply replying to you not having time to do tests, and saying that I enjoy it and do it for fun.
Last edited by rsilvers129; 09-27-2017 at 09:14 AM.
09-27-2017, 12:37 PM
#25
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Join Date: May 2017
Location: Dallas Texas
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I just did 2,100 miles in my Q7 Prestige and got 25.5 mpg for the whole trip. We did Dallas to Taos NM, to Vail Colorado, and back to Dallas. When we left Taos headed north, we were downhill for the first 15 miles, and got over 35 mpg before we headed uphill. I tend to get better mileage in high altitudes than closer to sea level.
There was plenty of this trip that was stop /. start around town stuff too.
I was very pleased with this mileage, as my last 2 Durango Citadel's got me closer to 21 mpg in the same roads.
There was plenty of this trip that was stop /. start around town stuff too.
I was very pleased with this mileage, as my last 2 Durango Citadel's got me closer to 21 mpg in the same roads.
09-27-2017, 02:28 PM
#26
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
10-11-2017, 08:57 AM
#27
AudiWorld Senior Member
2. My total "long term" MPG for this trip was 26.0, as indicated by the car. A minute before I pulled into the gas station, it went to 25.9, so I know it was really at the threshold of 26.0. Fuelly reported 23.7. Is there a way for me or my dealer to adjust the car's indicator to match the actual MPG? Why is the Audi off by 9%?
Friend hooked up VCDS and we changed a setting from 100 to 109 so I should get a better estimate now it should also give a better range estimate as well. I'll try and post back in a week or two to validate if it works. (need to burn through my current tank and a full one).
I can post instructions on how to do this if you're interested (of course you need access to VCDS first).
10-11-2017, 10:27 AM
#30
AudiWorld Member
So I finally put all my fuel logs into a spreadsheet (25 fill ups) and found each tank was off between 6.5% and 13%, with a 9% average.
Friend hooked up VCDS and we changed a setting from 100 to 109 so I should get a better estimate now it should also give a better range estimate as well. I'll try and post back in a week or two to validate if it works. (need to burn through my current tank and a full one).
I can post instructions on how to do this if you're interested (of course you need access to VCDS first).
Friend hooked up VCDS and we changed a setting from 100 to 109 so I should get a better estimate now it should also give a better range estimate as well. I'll try and post back in a week or two to validate if it works. (need to burn through my current tank and a full one).
I can post instructions on how to do this if you're interested (of course you need access to VCDS first).