Paul from SVS fame has a query for you……..
Back when I started my blog I made a real effort to monitor the real world mpg of my Saab 9-3 TTiD 200bhp. Over the course of a year it had highs and lows, never really moving from 40 – 43 mpg with regular daily driving, that’s around 550 miles from a full tank.
I can push it seriously hard one day and take it easy the next, sit at high speeds on the motorway or fly along country lanes, but the figures remain pretty constant. Over the past few months however, I’ve seen a real drop in these figures, down to 38 – 39 mpg, that’s between 450 – 500 miles per tank.
This is an mpg trend that’s happened for the third Winter running, here in the UK we don’t get harsh Winters, we may get snow or extreme weather for a few days but nothing for a prolonged period, so I wonder what changes?
If it’s abusing the Saab heated seats then I’m fully to blame, say no more.
Winterdiesel combined with lower outside temperatures does this.
+1
I have tracked the mpg on my US specification, manual transmission base FWD NG 9-5 from day one.
120 fill ups and 47,000 miles later, these are the results.
http://www.fuelly.com/car/saab/9-5/2011
We do use a special winter blend of fuel here on the east coast of the United States, thus the mpg variations.
@Perian: Nice tip about fuelly.com – I’ve signed up!
I get the feeling that a car’s overall fuel consumption gets worse with age / miles, but yes, it’s reasonable to expect seasonal differences.
Regarding different driving conditions, I have a 9-3 120bhp TiD SW doing c. 18k miles pa. I get quite a bit of difference between town ~40 / country ~46 / motorway ~50.
Try this, you should get around 700 miles out of a tank with this on, more bhp and torque as well http://saabwaterfuel.co.uk/
Joke, right?
You only need to do 5 minutes Googling to get the answer to your question.
Does it really look like a joke? Go on ebay and search for HHO. 30% saving is pretty standard at present.
I used to see very similar MPG and mileage figures on my TTid Sportwagon (standard tune) up here in Scotland on a 140 mile daily round trip…..pretty much all motorway. Also saw a similar MPG drop off in winter.
Seen loads of explanations as to why it might be…….engine less efficient when cold and takes longer to warm up, different diesel mix supplied in the winter to prevent gelling, use of heaters, heated seats etc etc etc…….could be a factor of all of these I guess?
Keep up the good work with SvS.
Thanks for the feedback Colin. Most of the 9-3 owners I know get a similar mpg, except my wife of course 🙁
With her careful driving she seems to manage far better mpg for her 170,000 mile SportCombi, typical.
is real that abusing the saab heated seats may affect the health,
Hi there,
I am driving of a good old 9-3 TiD 1.9 Linear Diesel, 2006, 88 kW (120 PS), 360.000 km ( 224.000 miles)
In average over the last 80.000km (50.000miles), I achieved 42mpg (5.6l/100km). Did 630 miles with a full tank (1050km)
Check it on http://www.spritmonitor.de/fr/detail/530426.html
Happy New Year
Nice app, thank you, the best I’ve ever achieved was 640 something (Summer trip).
Hi Paul,
is this the first winter where your milage has dropped, or the first winter where you have checked your mileage?
Diesels are no short distance cars. Is your tyre pressure OK? Are you refuelling on the same gas station? I would ask if they have changed to winter diesel, but I don’t think you do thin in England.
Hi Red J, no, it seems to have happened for the past 3 Winters since the car was brand new.
New Michelin PS3s all round too so pressure fine. Didn’t know they altered diesel for Winter though!
no cabin heater as standard on the UK spec diesel sadly
I’m not known for my careful accelerator use, the sound from the Hirsch exhaust doesn’t help that either.
Fuel wise, our local garage has changed supplier recently, could easily be part to blame, great feedback, thank you.
Saab gas mileage never ceases to amaze me. When I was driving to the 2013 Saab Convention in Albany, NY I drove from Milwaukee to Eire , PA in my Stage III 2001 9-3 Viggen. This was the best consumption figures ever with 545 miles on a tank of gas.
As ever, hugely grateful and a little humbled by the feedback and knowledge of our Saab community, loads of stuff here I’ve never even thought could make a difference to the mpg.
Thanks all, of course, I blame Saab, if they hadn’t made their cars so exciting to drive…
Back in the 80’s the handbook for either my 99 or 900 turbo, can’t remember which, gave details of how fuel consumption could vary with ambient temperature (I think there were figures or even a graph unless my memory is totally shot) Very scientific, very Saab 🙂 Any one else recall this or have a handbook? Another factor.. the level of grip between the tyres and road will be possibly be less in wet/cold conditions? Any physicists out there with thoughts on that one?
Saab owner’s manual (2008 9-3) says warm up period during cold weather and short trips reduce mpg.
@SteveW You ain’t dreamin’ unless I am too! I remember that rather scary graph for my classic 900’s. Plus I remember the section on ABS and winter, with the comment to the effect that, good though it was, it couldn’t change the laws of physics 😀
Thank you Romac for confirming my memory isn’t playing tricks on me 🙂
Maybe NEVS will announce that their EV will not be adversely affected by Winter blend.