How do I improve c5 2.2L HDi mpg?

[SaabC5]

If i stick to 60mph on motorways i've seen 60mpg (trip computer over 250 miles) in my 2.2. It does however involve driving like a granny and planning ahead for hills etc. I tried the EGR blank off and no difference, best result i had was from cleaning the EGR valve with some Wynns spray cleaner and also cleaning the DPF out so the engine could breath better.

[c.morewood]

You could try searching "hypermiling" you'll find tips on coasting and engine braking, planning your driving etc. you may get 5mpg

[addo]

I don't understand the obsession with fuel economy when so many discretionary expenditures can be pruned from peoples' lives. Less central heating, less bought food, less use of electronic entertainment can all make an impact on the budget.

[Northern_Mike]

I don't understand the obsession with fuel economy when so many discretionary expenditures can be pruned from peoples' lives. Less central heating, less bought food, less use of electronic entertainment can all make an impact on the budget.

Agree with you 100% Addo. We've decided to buy an 07/08 plate Impreza 2.5WRX Wagon just after Christmas. Adriana wants a "red estate car" and I want something with some power again. The Berlingo will be going, followed by the C5 in April - that'll be replaced by a Honda Jazz.

We'll be lucky to see 30mpg out of the Impreza, but it'll be a lot of fun and much more reliable.

[daviemck2006]

At the average mileage of 250 miles a week the difference between 40 and 45 mpg will make less difference to your budget than turning your heating down 1 degree and wearing a jumper.

[Northern_Mike]

£36.25 @ 40mpg, £32.70 @ 45mpg at the price I paid yesterday for diesel, a difference of £3.35 for those hard of thinking

[daviemck2006]

Not much saving really. What was worth the saving was when I sold the 2.2 c5 at 40 mpg over 700 miles a week to the pug 107 at 65 mpg on cheaper petrol. Over to Mikes calculator haha

[Peter.N.]

My first C5 was a 2.2, lovely smooth engine and pulled well but I couldn't live with the fuel consumption, driving in my usual glass slipper way I could only get about 50mpg at 60 mph on a flat section of motorway, driving the 2.0 in the same way will give well over 60mpg in fact I once got nearly 68mpg coming back from Scotland an a very hot day. The 2.2 would only average about 40mpg the 2.0.is well in the '50s.

A few people do report good consumption from these and according to the published figures they should be a lot better. In theory they should be at least as good as the 2.0. he gearing is higher and for a given power output you are using less throttle so the efficiency should be better, the majority of 2.2. owners both with C5s and 406s complain about the poor consumption. If someone can explain why I would be very interested as I'm sure would be many others.

Peter

[RichardW]

Not much saving really. What was worth the saving was when I sold the 2.2 c5 at 40 mpg over 700 miles a week to the pug 107 at 65 mpg on cheaper petrol. Over to Mikes calculator haha

If Diesel at £1.30 and UL at £1.25.... C5 = £103.30/wk 107 = £61.11/wk saving of £42.19/wk or £1940 over a working year.

I've been trying to get my 307 up this week from it's normal 53ish - look to be up towards 60. Nearly dying of boredom though.... Will only save about £135 / year - but that is enough to pay the road tax. I strongly suspect I will go back to 'normal' driving on the next tank

The difference between a petrol at mid 30s and the diesel at mid 50s makes it worthwhile over a (15k mile) year though £820 - not quite as much as Davie's saving, but enough to cover the cost of new turbo when required

[daviemck2006]

I think if I get back to work and doing huge mileage again I'm going to change the c5 for a c4 1.6hdi. The fuel difference should cover a possible strip down and turbo. Or go back to a 107 or C1 again

[Northern_Mike]

Not much saving really. What was worth the saving was when I sold the 2.2 c5 at 40 mpg over 700 miles a week to the pug 107 at 65 mpg on cheaper petrol. Over to Mikes calculator haha

If Diesel at £1.30 and UL at £1.25.... C5 = £103.30/wk 107 = £61.11/wk saving of £42.19/wk or £1940 over a working year.

I've been trying to get my 307 up this week from it's normal 53ish - look to be up towards 60. Nearly dying of boredom though.... Will only save about £135 / year - but that is enough to pay the road tax. I strongly suspect I will go back to 'normal' driving on the next tank

The difference between a petrol at mid 30s and the diesel at mid 50s makes it worthwhile over a (15k mile) year though £820 - not quite as much as Davie's saving, but enough to cover the cost of new turbo when required

I have worked out the difference between getting the 40-ish mpg I'm getting out the C5 (I've got bored, of going slowly and try as I might, I can't get my wife to drive remotely economically) and getting 26mpg out of an Impreza would be about £800 a year, which I can cope with for the fun factor, seeing as I don't drink or smoke any more.

[Northern_Mike]

My first C5 was a 2.2, lovely smooth engine and pulled well but I couldn't live with the fuel consumption, driving in my usual glass slipper way I could only get about 50mpg at 60 mph on a flat section of motorway, driving the 2.0 in the same way will give well over 60mpg in fact I once got nearly 68mpg coming back from Scotland an a very hot day.

I got a similar high 60s figure from my 2.0 when I was pottering back down from picking it up back in August, I was quite amazed. Cruise control at "just faster than the wagons" speed..

[Northern_Mike]

Surely I could squeeze an extra 5mpg out of it somewhere? ERG cleanout/blank & FAP removal etc?

Console yourself with the thought that my 2.0 only gets 32~34 mpg, just like the last one. And the Accord before that.

Mine's showing 36.2 on the trip computer, which equates to about 40 in reality.

I got bored with all that driving slow nonsense, life's too short!

[daviemck2006]

Fuel economy or lack of it only really matters if you are doing lots of miles, like more than 20000 a year. That's my opinion. Personal preference is different though. I like the good diesel for its good low down pull. For example my c4 2.0 petrol was much faster in acceleration from rest than the hdi, but in 5th gear, despite being low geared couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. In real world I find the hdi a better drive.

[Northern_Mike]

Fuel economy or lack of it only really matters if you are doing lots of miles, like more than 20000 a year. That's my opinion. Personal preference is different though. I like the good diesel for its good low down pull.

Yes, I agree with you there Davie. The C5, and more so the Berlingo, presumably because of it's shorter gearing are surprisingly nippy at low revs. A good petrol turbo will also give the same result at the expense of economy, but, I do prefer the driveability through the rev-range of a petrol turbo.