other-power

Ideal, thanks, very helpful.

The SDI is not the most efficient engine out there, the 1.4 tdi will use less fuel, but both will use a lot more fuel then a 1.9tdi in a golf etc (VE or PD engine) if you rag it and carry loads of weight, so dont by the SDI expecting 70mpg, you wont get it, not unless you live on a marsh and are prepared to go stupid slow. The main reason the 3L uses so little fuel is it weight is very low, the engine is very light also, the car has a small TDI engine with variable vain turbo, unlike the 1.4tdi, note TDI not SDI, and has a computer controling the gear box, including putting the car into cruise, ie not in gear. the clutch on the sdi is cable and very heavy to keep knocking in and out of gear. people will tell you they get this mpg and that mpg and about so many miles per tank, but unless you track every tank you wont know. I have an SDI and I have had it chiped as the SDI without it is not a safe car for moden day traffic. I get about 55mpg and I dont get in other drivers way but I had a mk3 tdi golf estate with 120hp and got 50mpg. For what I lost in space and power, the sdi economy is not much of a saving. oh and heres the evidance: http://www.fuelly.com/driver/otherpower/golf http://www.fuelly.com/driver/otherpower/lupo Cheers Jon

If you have a tray, keep it on, they keep crap out the engin bay, make things quiter, help improve fuel economy and handling at speed. Cheers Jon

The nut was lose, cant be much left the last owner didnt tighten up propper tight like. Cheers Jon

What milage is it, do you know the history of the car, what wheels do you have on it? What engin lupo did you have before? I would say, put the right oil in it (fully synthetic 10W30 - for PD) and do the filter. Clean out the inlet mainifold and block off the EGR. RAG IT for a bit (20 miles once hot) after doing the above, get the engine to breath, really rev it and get it hot. Cheers Jon

Lost the last tank, the tank befor that was ~54mpg and I did go a bit faster. I have just changed the oil now, we shall see for this tank. Cheers Jon

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?764870 FYI to complete thread Cheers Jon

I know who owned it before me, I am 95% sure its losse, we shall see

Dent out, Can you take a picture of your setup please? Jon

Theres an additional switch on the brakes to stop left foot braking and to kill cruise control, you can just unplug it, pull it out the way, if your driving that fast dont crash. Jon

Hello, I need to do the steering nut up on my wheel as its losse, not fun. Can someone tell me what screw head it is on the screws holding the air bag on please? Thanks Jon

Well the last tank is in, 347 miles ~ 55mpg, still nothing to write home about. I must get my thermostat done though as temperature is sitting at 75. The chip is helping out, I am feeling safer in the car. Looking at my dash cam videos, in third I am almost flying with the increase in power Going to set the laptop and VCDS up tomorrow and see if I can work out best speed VS economy for the car. I would like to put steelies on but all the tyres are good on my alloys and I would have to save a lot of fuel to make my money back. Ill keep up dating this with my tank mpg. Cheers Jon

Forget the boxes, they just mess with the engine sensors. I can give you the email of a guy who will sell you a chip that is a propper re map for £40. To be honest though, I came from 115hp to now 70hp and that was bad enough so a drop from 172hp must drive you crazy. Cheers Jon

I have an UltraGauge but the MPG setting is crap it geusses widley, manafactures not fused about it at all. I go by %foot pedal. I will take a picture.

Hazy, do you think the difference in the cost between 10W40 and 5W30 will be saved in improved economy? What do you think to engine flush when changing the oil? Jon

Sorry, removing trumpts increase power and increase the boom/drone of the engine. I think my thermosst needs changing, the gauge sits under just under half way and my ultra guage says 75 degrees C most of the time. I think the thermostat is ment to open at 87 degree c, that will make a big difference I bet!

Sorry, doggin up an old post, yes torque is what gets you of the line. I thought we can assume we wont be reving the engine any more so the increase in bhp is only going to come from increase torque.

Hello, Just leading on from my other recent post where I have chipped my SDI. I am looking to get some stats about mpg from the SDI and TDI Lupos, I know tdi is better yad yad. I would like any one who knows thier mpg to post it here please with type of driving and style - ie I have a tdi/sdi/3L and around town, going easy I get XXmpg or ragging it all the time I get XXmpg I have done this to my car.... I use fulley.com https://www.fuelly.com/driver/otherpower/lupo to keep an eye on mine and in doing so it records it for others to see so maybe a good place to register. I would also like to here what you have done to help improve mpg? My list so far includes: Clean inlet mainifold from crud: Pumped tyres up - 42psi rear 40psi front. Removed trumpets from inlet box - rueduces power but increase booming dron of the engine! Stuck in some Redex to clean injectors. Installed re mapped chip taking from 60ps to 70ps - increased torque. Installed an Ultra Gauge http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm to see % throttle, actual RPM and speed rather than the clusters guess. Things I would like to do: Fully synthertic oil change Make engine under tray smother Make front grill smother Put back the originial 13" wheels as the tyres on these are narrower and cheaper to buy. Would be great if any one with a derv can post here please. Cheers Jon

I have only changed like for like with mine, I did not feel the need to drop it as the ride is harsh enough wth the standard setup. If your going to keep the car then install polurethane, they will last longer and stay tight for years but they dont have as much give in them. I would recommend changing the rear axel bushes to polly watsit as the job is a pain in the ass and you dont want to have to do it again in two years time. ill keep this post up to date with my mpg and thoughts on the chip. I dont have a link to the guy as I emailed him through another listing and then went personaly. If its of interest my fuel mpg records can be found here: https://www.fuelly.com/driver/otherpower/lupo Cheers Jon

The fronts are 30mm 12 sided, suspect the rears will be the same.

Hello all. After having the cam belt re done, sorting bushes and suspension out and cleaning out the inlet mainifold I have got around to chipping my SDI. The chip cost £40 from a chap on ebay and I had to solder it in myself - surface mounted, i would suggest you get this done by someone who knows how to do them. The quoted power gain is 10hp and so far I am impressed, the car is pulling from lower down (1400RPM) in all gears, much smover and keener to rev. I have a ultraguage and can see my percentage throttle position has dropped by ~10% at most speeds. I am yet to do a tanks worth of driving but my bench mark is so low it has to help, I do drive fast and the SDI suffers so I only get ~ 330 miles from a tank - just over 50mpg I dont want to put the chaps email address right here so if you want details PM me and I will forward on. Cheers Jon

Try adjusting the cable and see if it helps, its a cheap and easy possible fix compared to new oil and or replacing the box.

Are you saying the start motor is not engaging? If so, chances are its the stater motor not engaging, tap it with a hammer and see if that helps. Jon

three in the back is not fun, I did spot the three seat Lupo on the bay mind and though for a second, hmmm, i drive so no skin of my sholders but the SDI might complain a bit...... It looks a bit bland being a bench seat, one of the nice things with the Lupo, they are so comfey in the back for a small car. Cheers

Its getting to be an old car now, the rubber bushes in the wish bones, drop links and the front anti roll bar bushes would have all worn out. If you go around a corner fast ish does the car jerk in and the progressivly lean? I would suggest you take one of the front wheels off and have a look at the bushes on the wish bone, get a large screwdriver or braker bar in there and have a wiggle about, realise that you are putting on 30/40kG of presure on at best and your 1 tonne car is forcing into these bushes at speed. £60/£70 for parts off ebay and if you can use a set of spanners, its an easy job. Redo the whole lot in one go on both sides and then have the tracking done, it will feel like a new car. If you are feeling keen, do the rear axel bushes too, but fit polyurethane bushes as this will help the car to be stiff and they will last a lot longer, plus they cost only a tinny amount more than normall rubber £50 over £40 check out ebay again. I have just done this lot on my car, it feels like a different car, I would say this is the first point of call on any non mega money car nearing 10 years old. Cheers Jon