Fuel saving measures... maybe worth a shot

[Lagerfan]

Hi all,

We've been suffering with ever increasing fuel consumption on our MY13 90, after initially dropping to under 10.5l/100km as it ran in, it started to increase slowly but surely 11/11.5/12l per 100km. Everyone was telling me it's because of our bull bar, roof rack, MTRs etc. and I was happy with that explanation as we weren't talking big numbers and the increases did seem to coincide with the upgrades... settled about 12.5l/100km, high but not ridiculous.

I tried all the usual things, checking tyre pressures, cleaning the air filter, backing off a bit (I already drive like a granny) but nothing helped. After a particularly bad run a couple of weeks ago, when unloaded and taking it very easy we were well over 13l/100km! Enough was enough, so I did a bit of research and I got myself some MAF cleaner (http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/CRC-Mass-Air-Flow-Sensor-Cleaner-300g.aspx?pid=157339) and some of this CRD enhancer from Cost Effective Maintenance (http://www.costeffective.com.au/Product/32/crd-fuel-enhancer-for-common-rail-engines) (I think one of our fellow members here) and low and behold the last 450km we've done at under 11.5l/100km! Most importantly I've noticed the Ultragage instantaneous usage has really dropped, never below 6.5 before it is now seeing lows of 4-5.

It's not conclusive and I'll keep monitoring over the coming weeks but very happy with these two simple things - if they are in fact the reason! The only other "change" is the slightly warmer weather now down here in Vic.

Interested in others' experience with trying these, they are not cheap... the CRC cleaner is $25 from Supacheap and the additive $50 for 250ml (gets you approx 34 full 60l tanks in the 90) but the extra range and better mix running in the motor might be worth it.

[PAT303]

So you spent $75 to save how much?. Pat

[Lagerfan]

So you spent $75 to save how much?. Pat

Well saving 1l/100km is about 41km extra per tank. Over 33 fills that's around 1353km, which compared to previous best case 12.5l/100km I was getting = potentially 169l diesel saved. Around here that's about $250.

But cost aside I was more worried about high consumption effect on longevity, burning more = bad right? But then I read somewhere that a richer mix actually burns cooler and is better long term for the motor. Can anyone enlighten me?

[DieselDan]

Well saving 1l/100km is about 41km extra per tank. Over 33 fills that's around 1353km, which compared to previous best case 12.5l/100km I was getting = potentially 169l diesel saved. Around here that's about $250.

But cost aside I was more worried about high consumption effect on longevity, burning more = bad right? But then I read somewhere that a richer mix actually burns cooler and is better long term for the motor. Can anyone enlighten me?

On a petrol, but not on a diesel. A diesel runs un-throttled (i.e. there is always more than enough air to burn whatever diesel gets put in the cylinder), so more diesel simply means more power, which means more heat.

My Puma has seen wildly varying fuel consumption, but is still less than 4k kms, so not even run in, but I'll bear the MAF cleaner and CRD stuff in mind for later on!

[isuzurover]

OK, you say you have spent $75 on these two products.

If we assume they both last ~33 fills and on average you refuel 50l...

Then you will save about $140 over ~15000 km (fuel at $1.50/l). Or 0.97c/km.

[Iain_B]

I can't talk about the MAF cleaner, it seems like a good idea as it is meant to be clean.

The CRD stuff works, I have been using it for the year almost, and have just bought a big bottle as I intend to carry on using it. The rattle I used to have on the injectors which was starting to worry me is gone. The engine is a lot quieter, I have not had any problems with the engine getting hot up steep gradients like I did before and I my fuel consumption is pretty steady at around 10lt/100km and drops down to 9lt/100 if I am just doing my stop start trip up the SE freeway. This is great considering I have a roll cage/roof rack, and weigh around 2.8ton normal. I have the new BAS remap, bigger intercooler, no centre muffler, and cold air/snorkel mods and I tend to use all the extra power and keep to the speed limit or slightly over on the freeways :)

[ProjectDirector]

Yesterday I travelled from Melbourne yo Mt Gambier SA. The winds were absolutely crazy, 4 people in the 110 roof rack loaded with some gear, and the back loaded with luggage and recovery gear. Got to Mt Gambier and filled up at night after some touring and 466km and 59 Litres=12.7L/100Km. Never seen it this way but I think it was expected considering the gusty head winds. I generally manage 11.

[Lagerfan]

The CRD stuff works, I have been using it for the year almost...

Hi Iain, those are pretty impressive figures considering you must be carrying at least a couple of hundred more kg than us at a guess.

Obviously not all down to the CRD with those other mods but do you mind if I ask how you use it? Every fill up? Every second? Dose based on how much you refill etc?

[PAT303]

It's very impressive when you think that Tojo/Nissans don't get near that economy when they are stock standard let alone fitted with roof racks etc. Pat

[Iain_B]

I have a 120lt tank, and the light comes on around 100lt. In normal driving I only fill up when the light comes on. I put in about 12ml in each tank before I fill up. Bottle says 10ml/80lts, but I am not that fastidious about getting it exact, so might be 10ml or 15ml each time.

[noogie]

I have a 110 running 33 BFG km2 Bar and rack and consistently get 11.5/100. I'm happy with that.

I don't use those additives but I do use Chemtech diesel additive and IMO it is a good product. $35 for 1litre and I add 80ml per fill.


Cheers Mick

[Tombie]

Simpler is to use decent quality fuel sources - not supermarket stations.

If such young vehicles are suffering fuel system issues (clogging etc) then your primary fuel source must be crap...

Better to pay slightly more for quality diesel then cure symptoms of poor fuel..

[Iain_B]

My injector/engine rattle occurred whether I used Caltex Vortex diesel, BP Ultimate Diesel, in fact any diesel on the East coast, I remember it not being so bad over in WA and NT though. I never used to fill up at the cheaper servos, as I thought it was not worth the risk, so maybe the rattle would have been much worse on the cheaper stuff. I never had any clogging problems or water, fuel filter is renewed every 20,000km give or take.

For the past 6 months I mainly bought diesel from my local independent servo, and have not noticed any difference from their diesel to when I have used BP Ultimate diesel but then I always add the CRD now, their prices are around 8c per litre cheaper than the BP Ultimate on the other side of the highway.

[Tombie]

How much bio is in the independent?

[Iain_B]

None, biodiesel is pretty rare over here, only available from special servo's and not added to normal diesel like they add ethanol to petrol

[PAT303]

The rattle is normal CRD fair,people need to move on from it. Pat

[Tombie]

The rattle is normal CRD fair,people need to move on from it. Pat

Correct! And the damped noise is the lower Cetane from bio or additives eg.CRD

For a small sound I'd be buggered if I would pay extra for additives.


Iain, where is "here"?

Because diesel in Australia can now have up to 10% bio without advising the consumer (labelling the fuel)

[isuzurover]

Correct! And the damped noise is the lower Cetane from bio or additives eg.CRD

For a small sound I'd be buggered if I would pay extra for additives.


Iain, where is "here"?

Because diesel in Australia can now have up to 10% bio without advising the consumer (labelling the fuel)

I assume he means WA? Almost all fuel in WA from Geraldton to Esperance comes from BP Kwinana. Last I asked they do not add bio to any of their diesel.

Gull import (or used to) a small quantity of B20 from the east coast.

[Tombie]

Better still...
MSDS for BP Ultimate Diesel
84818

MSDS for CRD
84819

Look at that! Over 90% of it is OIL...

The rest is very similar to the BP fuel- which contains cleaners, anti corrosion etc...


And that's where your CRD is quietening the engine - struth - it's like adding 2 strike :D

[Iain_B]

Tombie, you are not quite right there, biodiesel is not sold in normal servos, and even B5 is marketed pretty heavily as a "green fuel" - the production facilities for biodiesel are pretty few and far between, mainly at meat processing works etc, and they tend to use all they can make for their own fleet or sell it to bulk fuel users who want "green" credits in their annual report. Very few servos sell B5 or B20, just not enough made. A company I used to work for did a very comprehensive study on biodiesel as we were going to build a plant - turned out not to be economically viable until oil hits around $180/ bbl. Funny thing is that tallow or canola oil use as the feed stock, is more or less all used for other purposes and if you pull 100 ton per day out of the market, the price for the feed material skyrockets and cost more than oil.

You are thinking about ethanol and petrol.

If you like the noise from your injectors, feel free to enjoy it :D. I prefer not to listen to that racket and since my fuel consumption seems to better than most despite my roof rack/roof cage, heavy load and lead foot, something seems to be working, I record fuel consumption at every fill, and know the something helped reduce the consumption at the same time I started using the CRD. Maybe after 100,000km TCDi Defenders start to use less fuel :p

If you want to add two stroke, go ahead, might work for you.

[PAT303]

There's a big thread on defender2 about 2 stroke in the TDCi if anyones interested,those who use it swear by it. Pat

[Tombie]

That's basically all the CRD is anyway..

As for bio in diesel... Yes they can add a small portion without advising it...
http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/environment-protection/fuel-quality/standards/diesel

[isuzurover]

I have never seen B5 labelled at the pump, yet most refineries produce it: Caltex Australia: Biofuels, bio fuel production and bio diesel blends (http://www.caltex.com.au/ProductsAndServices/Pages/BioFuels.aspx)

Biodiesel improves the lubricity of ULSD, and is often the lowest cost means of doing so.