1998 P38

[98se40]

Hi Guys,
am now the proud owner of a 1998 P38 and have been reading the site for a few months now. Just a Hi to all, and I do appreciate all your expertise on here. The P38 I have bought has everything standard and working 100%. So, from what I read in here lately, that may be rare....
One thing I would like the opinions of, the screen display shows me that Im currently getting between 22 and 27/100km. In the short time I have owned the car, i have filled up, approx 8 times. Full service books, history is excellent....but should this be lower or its standard for a car like this/
Any help would be appreciated
Cheers

[Psimpson7]

Welcome,

First thing to do would be to get some accurate fuel usage figures. Fill it to the brim - zro trip meter, drive it for a bit, refill to same level ideally at same servo and then work out consumption from litres/K's

The results from the screen could be nonsense.

[98se40]

Cheers Psimpson....will do....as it seems way too high.....but I still wouldnt get rid of it, always wanted one, finally got one.....:D

I hope I can keep that smile on my dial

[MEANZ06]

Pics of said 1998 P38? :)

[98se40]

Actually havent taken a pic as yet, will do ...its a 4.0 litre, Silver, log books, one owner, 140,000ks, has the original tow bar on the back, West Germany I think it says where it was made. Plastic still on the 4 x door entry area ( where it says Range Rover ), not a mark inside, owner never had kids, passengers etc etc...nothing ever been in boot area.....its original in all ways. My kids couldnt beleive what a cassette player was!.....

[MEANZ06]

moved! bummer! :(

[Keithy P38]

That fuel consumption is a tad high for a 4.0! Mine around town with bigger than standard muddies gets 15.5l/100km according to the computer and it's a 4.6 HSE!! Highway mileage drops to about 12l/100km at 100km/h.

Are your tyres flat or your speedo very inaccurate? That will make a difference!

Cheers
Keithy

[redandy3575]

Bear in mind if the trip computer hasn't been reset, then there's a good chance that is a long term average. Says a bit a bout the driving of the previous owner. Cause 22 lt/100km for a 4.0L is quiet high. Maybe check the HT leads and plugs as they may still be the original and possibly worn.

[98se40]

Tyres are new, rangie mechanic ( Sam, from Hurstville ) checked all and said everything is great...........just the readout keeps telling me approx 22-29/100kms......runs like a dream.......so I will try PSimpsons advice and do a check manually..........

[RR P38]

Bad news buddy, but with a 4.6 around town i show pretty much 22-23L per 100km around town.
I guess the 4.0 might be a tad better.
I just did a trip over the week end from inner Sydney to the ZIG ZAG track and back (2 hours off rd) 16L per 100km was the round trip average.
I had mine Dynoed at Coopers 3 months ago picked up 5 KW and she is running like a sowing machine:)

[Rupert Prior]

these cars do use a lot of fuel but sometimes they do have hidden problems.
it would be worth telling Sam your worries about the fuel consumption and getting him to check the thermostat and O2 sensor function, plus getting the car on a gas analyser to see what the state of tune is. if he has problems with access to gas analyser he can use mine.(he knows me and we both work in the same area).

[98se40]

Thanks Rupert.......filled up last night, and reset the comp, so Im going to see what it does at the end of the tank, do the maths and if its still costing me a mortgage, then uptake your suggestions. Much appreciated

[PaulP38a]

Mine is also a 4.0, but is a 99 model that uses the updated engine management system. Also, my speedo is out by 10-15% due to oversized tyres so 22L is more like 19.5-20L/100Km...

22L/100km around town is not uncommon for me either, but I drive in a mostly binary manner ;)

Highway driving is usually around 15-16L/100Km, but has been as low as 12.5 if I behave.

Off-road I've had it up past 35L/100Km if memory serves.

Take it for a 100Km run down the motorway, reset the trip computer at the start of the run and see what you get.

Cheers, Paul.

[98se40]

Cheers Paul, I really appreciate this site and all the hard earned information you guys are willing to share with others!. Will give it a go.....again thanks!

[parasnoop67]

Dont use mine much round town but on a run always between 13.5 and 15l/100
Bigger tyres seem to show higher consumption.
Cleaning the MAF sensor did help mine some.

[wanglemoose]

34690 for the win. when you re set the L/100k you actually have to travel 1k before it gives you a reading, this was in traffic it took 2 hours to travel the 1k. the best thing you can do for your fuel consumption is ditch the garden hoses in your manifold and replace them with late model bosch injectors. did this with mine and went from average 24 L/100 to 13. also replaced the oxy sensors.34691

[RR P38]

That is a scary number 96L/100km.
Run your tank dry in no time LOL. Something not right there.

While on the fuel subject do any other owners notice that their exhaust has a rather nasty/noxious odour?
Mine has always been the same.
It has been tuned and runs beautifully but if them fumes come in the cab it is pretty nasty.
Mine is a pre O2 sensor model. Does this make a difference?

[whisky_mac]

Last Friday (Week or so back) I towed the Tvan down to behind the Catherdral Ranges just out of Melbourne, went the back way from Wodonga to Wangarrata and then Tatong Swanpoole Booniedoon. It was when we had a very very strong southerky wind. Returned 19.2L/100km with the camper on and running about 95km an hour. Came back and went over the Mansfield Whitfield road which is one of the bike riders favourite roads, lots of bends and fair climbs, got 18.2l/100km. I have 1998 4 litre S and the trailer is about a tonne.

Jim

[DT-P38]

While on the fuel subject do any other owners notice that their exhaust has a rather nasty/noxious odour?
Mine has always been the same.
It has been tuned and runs beautifully but if them fumes come in the cab it is pretty nasty.
Mine is a pre O2 sensor model. Does this make a difference?

Mine is pre O2 sensor (1995) as well. I get strong smells from her as well... I have always thought of it as being a rich burn smell... like unburnt fuel. I also had a shocking experience in the first year I had her of a mad exhaust manifold leak that pumped that same fuel rich stench (and I suspect some pretty strong CO) straight into the cab for about half an hour. Didnt black out, but did get a weird little "high" out of it... have sworn off sniffing exhaust fumes for now though (or, at least until the kids leave home!).

[98se40]

thanks for the replies. Probably a very stupid question, but comfort me please .....what is the " garden hose in the manifold" and the " oxy sensor " to Bosch injectors.

Cheers

[Junosi]

what is the " garden hose in the manifold" and the " oxy sensor " to Bosch injectors.
Cheers

garden hose = the stock standard petrol fuel injectors, they are a single hole model. Replace them with later model ones with 4 holes resulting in a much better spray pattern.

oxy sensors = o2/lambda sensors in your exhaust - which may or may not be fitted to your vehicle. Early Australian models tended to not have them (which is fine as long as it's tuned) Worth replacing if they're faulty otherwise I'd leave em alone