Any upgrade options for MPG display? (2016 Fiat)

[Bertilak]

Hi, the Yorkshireman in me wants to get the best speed/mpg, but the engineer in me wants to see real, real-time data to understand if our van has a sweet spot for economy, before it decides there's work to be done and just pumping diesel.
Despite the van having the aircon and reverse sensor upgrade, the dash display doesn't have any consumption option (afaik).
so
Is it possible to upgrade this dash? (How, where, who?),
Or would I be better with an old phone and an OBD app (Torque, Carista etc, any others?)

 

[Lofty1]

There is a setting in the menu that will give you Mpg for trip and also actual mpg while running, have you got a Manual?

 

[Bertilak]

Yes, Manual.
I'll have to look at the trip option again, I thought it was just a milometer so hadn't really bothered.

 

[Sue and Rick]

I think he could mean a manual for the operation of the van lol.
Keep pressing the trip button at the end of the right hand stalk.

 

[Bertilak]

Right: sorted! Although I've had the van since January, I usually get in from the LHS, either parked tight at home or in camping mode, and I'd never noticed the "trip" button subtlely hiding on the end of the wiper stalk, out of view.... duh
Many thanks for your help

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[Stealaway]

This Yorkshire man has never been happy with my 2019 Ducati MPG.
Rarely more than 30mpg even when I'm driving Miss Daisy.
Best you can expect is to keep the revs below 2000. Max torque and max MPG.
Unfortunately it has the aerodynamics of a broken brick and you are always running fully loaded - 3.5 tonnes in my case.

 

[Bertilak]

That's where I'll feel smug, my one go at measuring mpg (via the pump) on a run was getting 35mpg cruising around 65-7, to Portsmouth and then through Spain, mostly with the aircon on. That's one reason we're happy with ours as a campervan, viz a low-roof mwb pvc, probably running about c2.6T.

 

[Lenny HB]

This Yorkshire man has never been happy with my 2019 Ducati MPG.
Rarely more than 30mpg even when I'm driving Miss Daisy.
Best you can expect is to keep the revs below 2000. Max torque and max MPG.
Unfortunately it has the aerodynamics of a broken brick and you are always running fully loaded - 3.5 tonnes in my case.

You trying to wind me up Alex?
I get all excited if it goes above 24 mpg.

 

[Stealaway]

You trying to wind me up Alex?
I get all excited if it goes above 24 mpg.

You could always buy a smaller model.
Have a look at the Germany show, I've heard that you were going to -- "Have a look"

 

[chaser]

That's where I'll feel smug, my one go at measuring mpg (via the pump) on a run was getting 35mpg cruising around 65-7, to Portsmouth and then through Spain, mostly with the aircon on. That's one reason we're happy with ours as a campervan, viz a low-roof mwb pvc, probably running about c2.6T.

Our Renault master returns 34 + whether doing 80 on the motorway or tootleing about at 30 on country lanes, according to the thing on the dash, I have tried this manually and it always backs it up.

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[Hettie's Crew]

I’ve learnt from our six speed diesel manual car that has a constant mpg display to change down. I always thought keeping it in the highest gear was best for economy but if we’re doing under 50 it’s more economic in 5th and below 35 in 4th. It’ll happily run at 30 in sixth though if you want it to.
In the motorhome, Fiat 150 EU5 A class 3850kg manual, I’ve found around 2200 revs to be about the most economical cruising revs. We average 30-32 mpg which I think is very good.
Working it out from tank filling is the only accurate way, though the dash figures agree with my workings out.

 

[dunnah01]

Trying to work out the point at which French tolls become viable - 35mpg on the motorways and 26mpg avoiding tolls - if I allow for the extra wear and tear when braking to go at 50kph through the frequent villages when avoiding tolls I'm getting a headache figuring out at what point I hit the Peage

 

[Barti Ddu]

My 3.5t Fiat-based PVC, 2.3 140hp euro 6, currently averages 36mpg. It's a year old with 8k on it, and the economy has slowly improved from new from about 33mpg to 36mpg as the engine loosens up, and I have adapted my driving style to it.

The dash display also concurs with my own calculations.

 

[Guigsy]

I’ve learnt from our six speed diesel manual car that has a constant mpg display to change down. I always thought keeping it in the highest gear was best for economy but if we’re doing under 50 it’s more economic in 5th and below 35 in 4th. It’ll happily run at 30 in sixth though if you want it to.
In the motorhome, Fiat 150 EU5 A class 3850kg manual, I’ve found around 2200 revs to be about the most economical cruising revs. We average 30-32 mpg which I think is very good.
Working it out from tank filling is the only accurate way, though the dash figures agree with my workings out.

I've found that too. I think it's an air pollution emissions rather than fuel consumption thing. Even if you're getting slightly better economy in a lower gear, higher revs run the engine warmer and produce more NOx. As Volkswagen discovered, air pollution targets (NOx and particulates) is currently harder to pass than economy and greenhouse gas (CO2) targets.

 

[acropolis22]

So, Hettie's Crew gets 30-32 mpg from a 3850kg A class, and Lenny HB gets 24 mpg from his A class, which I think is 4 tonnes? Confused about these wide variations. I can see that PVC will be getting 30+, but a 3850 kg A class? Our dash reading says 25 mpg. No idea how accurate that is.

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[Furry Paws]

You trying to wind me up Alex?
I get all excited if it goes above 24 mpg.

Look up "Hypermiling" on Google and follow the recommendations, I get approximately 36 MPG from an Iveco Daily 35s12 Bus conversion which is about 3.5ton with a 2300cc engine and 5 gears. I also use Dipetane in the tank, available from Halfords.

 

[Barti Ddu]

So, Hettie's Crew gets 30-32 mpg from a 3850kg A class, and Lenny HB gets 24 mpg from his A class, which I think is 4 tonnes? Confused about these wide variations. I can see that PVC will be getting 30+, but a 3850 kg A class? Our dash reading says 25 mpg. No idea how accurate that is.

Its down to driving style. Mrs B-D doesn't drive the van, so I can't compare; but in the car which we both drive, I can get 10 to 15 % better economy than her.

 

[Lenny HB]

So, Hettie's Crew gets 30-32 mpg from a 3850kg A class, and Lenny HB gets 24 mpg from his A class, which I think is 4 tonnes? Confused about these wide variations. I can see that PVC will be getting 30+, but a 3850 kg A class? Our dash reading says 25 mpg. No idea how accurate that is.

Mine is 4.5t we do a lot of mountains, flat roads with no head winds can get 26, used to get 1 to 2 mpg more before I fitted winter tyres.
My dash reading is ½ mpg low so if it reads 24 I'm getting 24½, quite a few have reported the dash reading to be 20% high, which could account for a lot seeing 30+.
Doesn't really matter I bought a Motorhome I don't expect it to be cheap to run.

 

[acropolis22]

Its down to driving style. Mrs B-D doesn't drive the van, so I can't compare; but in the car which we both drive, I can get 10 to 15 % better economy than her.

Are you saying Lenny HB and me have a heavy right boot? Seriously, pretty sure it's not that in my case. I drive very sedately.

 

[acropolis22]

Mine is 4.5t we do a lot of mountains, flat roads with no head winds can get 26, used to get 1 to 2 mpg more before I fitted winter tyres.
My dash reading is ½ mpg low so if it reads 24 I'm getting 24½, quite a few have reported the dash reading to be 20% high, which could account for a lot seeing 30+.
Doesn't really matter I bought a Motorhome I don't expect it to be cheap to run.

I'm not that bothered either, but just curious about what I should expect.

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[Lenny HB]

Are you saying Lenny HB and me have a heavy right boot? Seriously, pretty sure it's not that in my case. I drive very sedately.

I've got lead innersoles.

 

[Guigsy]

Weight does make a difference. But I think van type and what you consider cruising speed are far bigger factors.

I'm guessing, but I think coachbuilds to 3-4mpg worse than panel vans just due to the frontal area.

Also, cruising at 50mph gives far better mileage than at 60mph. Personally it doesn't seem to make that much difference above 60mph... I may as well do 70mph. Especially as the engine is nearer its powerband at that speed, so I'm not changing down as often.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

So, Hettie's Crew gets 30-32 mpg from a 3850kg A class, and Lenny HB gets 24 mpg from his A class, which I think is 4 tonnes? Confused about these wide variations. I can see that PVC will be getting 30+, but a 3850 kg A class? Our dash reading says 25 mpg. No idea how accurate that is.

Manual gearbox allows you to learn about your vehicle, what revs feel best in what gear at what speed. Free reving is always better than labouring. You preplan what gear is required not react after the event like an auto box does.
There was some talk a while back about EU6 Fiat engines being a bit worse for MPG than the previous EU5. I’ve done around 19/20 thousand miles in ours and got to know it quite well

 

[Lenny HB]

There was some talk a while back about EU6 Fiat engines being a bit worse for MPG than the previous EU5. I’ve done around 19/20 thousand miles in ours and got to know it quite well

Our last van was a Euro 5+ similar size van it was a lot better 26 - 28.
This van I'm pulling about 500 kg more, consumption was better when it was new, done 35k now.

 

[acropolis22]

Manual gearbox allows you to learn about your vehicle, what revs feel best in what gear at what speed. Free reving is always better than labouring. You preplan what gear is required not react after the event like an auto box does.
There was some talk a while back about EU6 Fiat engines being a bit worse for MPG than the previous EU5. I’ve done around 19/20 thousand miles in ours and got to know it quite well

As an experienced driver, I'm pretty sure the difference is not down to driving technique. Our A class is a Euro 6, which may explain it. Also, I'm only going off the dash reading.

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[Stealaway]

I'm not sure it's true but I read a road test on the Servel made vans

Ducato
Citroen
Peugeot
Vauxhall Movano

They said that Fiat keep the best MPG engine technology only for their vans, to help sales.

 

[doug harding]

our jalopy Carthago 143le with fiat 160 motor and 9 speed auto is averaging 26.8 overall at 6000 miles. not that good but hopefully will improve slightly with miles.

 

[Guigsy]

I'm not sure it's true but I read a road test on the Servel made vans

Ducato
Citroen
Peugeot
Vauxhall Movano

They said that Fiat keep the best MPG engine technology only for their vans, to help sales.

As they are all owned by Stellantis now, I expect they'll end up with the same engines pretty soon.

 

[chaser]

Our last van was a Euro 5+ similar size van it was a lot better 26 - 28.
This van I'm pulling about 500 kg more, consumption was better when it was new, done 35k now.

Not trying to start an argument but with those figures, are you sure they are right or is there is something amiss with your driving style, im sure white van men wouldn't be putting up with those figures.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not trying to start an argument but with those figures, are you sure they are right or is there is something amiss with your driving style, im sure white van men wouldn't be putting up with those figures.

A 4.5t van shaped like a brick, 3m high 7. 5 m 24 mpg is not that bad.