Defender Long Ranger fuel tank

[landy]

Hi all,
I have read a thread recently about the amount of fuel left in the LRA tank when the gauge reads empty. Someone said they thought there was 30 letters left when the light comes on.
I filled my tank yesterday in Brisbane. I was under the impression that the tank is 127 litres but others have said 130. Let's say 130 if filled to the brim. I ran from full to the brim to light on and refilled the tank. It took 102 litres. So I can say with reasonable certaincy that there is 28 (ish) litres left with the fuel light on.
I also noticed that my fuel consumption has taken a beating with the roof top tent on. I have an app on my phone and I keep it up to date. I normally get 11.3 - 11.9 towing the camper. With the RRT on and camper I'm getting 13.9 L/100 km so worst case I have 200km left when the light comes on and 935km with a full tank. I can expect about 1150km from a tank without the camper. I also think that the car gives the best all round performance/economy at around 90kph and I can see the needle drop when at around 110kph.
I have a Td5 with a chipped ECU. I hope this helps anyone with aN LRA tank in their Defender.
Cheers.

[Robmacca]

With that 28ltrs left, how much of that do u really reckon u can use b4 the engine starts showing signs of running out of fuel? Then there's the issue of what happens when driving up/down hills.....

[130man]

Hi Landy, I also run a chipped ECU, Bruce Davis, I believe, in my 2001 TD5 Trayback Extracab. My fuel economy figures are similar to yours and the fuel tank is also 127 litres. I am told that the fuel pump is cooled by the diesel in the tank and that it is unwise to run the tank low as the pump can run hot. No pump issues so far. I also have found that the best economy occurs at about 90 kph and drops off rapidly as speed increases. I frequently carry my Trayon camper, which markedly increases the drag as it projects wider and higher than the cab, making the 90 kph cruising speed even more desirable. Cheers, 130man.

[jboot51]

I've got a 1995 130 300tdi with the same vintage LongRanger tank.
I always thought it was 132 litres


Actually drained the tank last week to see if there was any crud in the bottom.
Fuel gauge was sitting on Empty for 80 Km's


Drained 14 litres out.
Refilled to brim of the filler with a total of 124 litres.


Makes me think it's a 120L tank.

[landy]

With that 28ltrs left, how much of that do u really reckon u can use b4 the engine starts showing signs of running out of fuel? Then there's the issue of what happens when driving up/down hills.....

And that's a good point! I'm not aware that the pickup is modified to the bottom of the tank. So although the tank sits lower and holds more fuel, the last 20 litreis is probably useless. Except that it's a great place to hold the water and crap that gets in your tank.

[Robmacca]

And that's a good point! I'm not aware that the pickup is modified to the bottom of the tank. So although the tank sits lower and holds more fuel, the last 20 litreis is probably useless. Except that it's a great place to hold the water and crap that gets in your tank.

I know when I bought a LR Tank for one of my old 4WD's, I took it down to a bloke who works/repairs fuel tanks and I got him to modify it so I could pretty much use 100% of the tank capacity. This was done by adding a small bowl shape under the tank and repositioning the fuel pickup into this bowl, worked a treat. Obviously I had an extra fuel filter installed to protect me from any dirty fuel in the tank.....never had any issues with it over the 5yrs I had the vehicle for....

[Witchdoctor]

Landy,
What fuel app are you using?

David

[PAT303]

Best advice is take a jerry with you and run it till it coughs,you know exactly how much and exactly how far. Pat

[landy]

Landy,
What fuel app are you using?

David

Hi David.
I'm using "Road Trip" it's free but the ads **** me so I paid the couple of bucks. Works well I think. I keep all my servicing stuff and insurance details on it.

Nino.

[Jeff]

Best advice is take a jerry with you and run it till it coughs,you know exactly how much and exactly how far. Pat

Do the TD5 and the Puma self bleed?

I ran the TDi out the other day because I knew I had a jerry and hoped I would make it to the next town. I also wanted to see how far into the red it would go as I hadn't run it dry for about twelve years. As always happens, it stopped at the most inconvenient place on an uphill with no breakdown lane :eek:

Jeff

:rocket:

[Michael2]

And that's a good point! I'm not aware that the pickup is modified to the bottom of the tank. So although the tank sits lower and holds more fuel, the last 20 litreis is probably useless. Except that it's a great place to hold the water and crap that gets in your tank.


The pick up point on an LRA TANK is a small "pool area" that holds fuel even with the vehicle on a bit of an angle.

I have a 150 litre LRA tank in my 300Tdi 110 and I normally refill 135 litres, but have refilled 147 litres.

By using most of the tank of fuel before refilling, I reduce the risk of fuel stagnation.

When I bought the car (with the tank already fitted), the gauge read full to zero from full to half a tank. I removed the sender float and bent the wire, so now it reads full till it's almost half way, then gives me a linear decline to empty. The needle starts to move at between 600-700km and if I refill before 1,300km, I know I still have some reserve capacity.

A mate with the same tank on a lightly loaded 300Tdi D1 who wouldn't drive at over 92kph found his warning light came on at about 1,760km. He filled up in Alice Springs and the light came on a few days later in Litchfield NP - 7.6 litres per 100km.

[BilboBoggles]

Do the TD5 and the Puma self bleed?

I ran the TDi out the other day because I knew I had a jerry and hoped I would make it to the next town. I also wanted to see how far into the red it would go as I hadn't run it dry for about twelve years. As always happens, it stopped at the most inconvenient place on an uphill with no breakdown lane :eek:

Jeff

:rocket:
The td5 and the later 2.2 puma both have an in tank lift pump and will self bleed. the 2.4 puma does not, and will do all sorts of tricks to stop you running dry, but cannor self bleed.

[DiscoMick]

I think the LRA tank in the Defender we just bought is 110 litres, but I could be wrong as the dealer couldn't tell me. I filled it up when the needle was on one-quarter and it took 88 litres, so I'm guessing 110.
Since filling it up, it has done about 900 kms and the needle is sitting on one-quarter, so I expect to get over 1000 kms. The needle stayed on full for 450 kms before it started moving.
The Puma 2.4 seems happy to idle along at 100 km/h in sixth when it is doing 2000 revs. Below 2000 revs it starts to struggle and I have to change down.
So, I'm pretty happy with it.