2012 Defender puma 2.2 fuel consumption 13.5l/100??

[Chazzwozzers]

G'day

*
First of all I must say what a great forum I have stumbled upon here, I've been soaking up all the info from this

place for the last month or so like a sponge.


I've recently purchased a 2012 Defender and I'm really happy with it save for one thing.

When I bought the vehicle and drove it home I achieved about 160 km out of a 1/4 of a tank which I was pretty happy

with mostly highway driving. But since I've filled up again 3/4 of a tank has only taken me to 300 km. if I average

that out over a full tank that adds up to be just over 400km until the fuel light came on which means I'm using

13.5L/100 which what im lead to beleive is what I should be expecting if I was towing a camper van or heavy

trailer.

*

I mainly use it for commuting to work which is 26km of mostly straight roads mostly spent in 5th and 6th gear.

*

So land rover vets, where should I start looking to fix the problem?

*

The vehicle has 48k on the clock the air filter is new, wheels are aligned and the tyres are inflated correctly and

no roof racks.

*

Thanks in advance.

[dromader driver]

For a fuel check fill it right up and refill to the same point before doing the numbers . Fuel gauges are notoriously non linear. :D

[simmo]

Hi , welcome to the forum, I'm sure you enjoy and find a wealth of information here.
It looks like you have a problem alright. Have you noticed any smoke from the exhaust while your driving? is there any "wet patches" under your car? that could indicate a fuel leak.
48,000kms is "only just run in", and the daily drive sounds like a drive in the country, I'd expect no more than 10 l/100 kms on that run.

My fuel economy only exceeds 11 l/100kms with fully loaded roof rack at highway speeds. the later defenders with CRD technology and 6 speed gearbox their fuel economy is superior. Some of the CRD defender guys are recording excellent fuel economy. Don't rely too much on the fuel gauge try filling up into the neck of the filler so you can see the fuel. the diesel can foam up a lot when youre filling and give false impression that the tank is full. good luck,

[Pickles2]

I reckon you should easily get 10.5/11 L/100K,....28/30 MPG or thereabouts.
As far as an accurate figure is concerned, "300k on three quarters of a tank", is not the way I'd be calculating.
I'd fill up the tank, take the odo reading, use up half three quarters of a tank etc, then take odo reading again, & work out consumption from there.
Gracie is the first Defender we've owned & unlike other cars, we often find that we get the same, or even worse consumption on a trip maintaining say 100kph, because the Defender is "Hard to push through the air". This is unlike other vehicles we've owned where invariably country cruising obtains much better economy.
Pickles.

[Chazzwozzers]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.

As for the 3/4 a tank check I understand that it's not the most accurate but it's what I had to go off but even just driving and owning other bigger four wheel drives I was expecting a little better economy.

There is no black smoke unless I put the foot down or leaks in the garage.

I'm really hoping the first tank of fuel I filled it up with was just dodgy and nothing else.

[DiscoMick]

My 2007 2.4 110 with Steinbauer chip is using around 9.5 l/100km in a 110 litre tank and doesn't rise much when towing, so I reckon you have a problem. Maybe it needs tuning. Going over 100 km/h also pushes up the consumption.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[Aguy]

My MY14 90 was getting between 10.0-10.8 L/100km around the end of last year at about 70000klm, but now has gone up to about 10.8-12.0 L/100km at 11000km.

I have also noticed that every now and then, I can see a puff of smoke in the side mirror when reversing. (don't know what colour)

Is a puff of smoke every now and then normal for a car with only 11000km?

Hope it's not at GVW with all the soundproofing installed stuffing my economy! :D

[Chazzwozzers]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I filled up today as much as it would sensibly take it took 51 liters so I assume it had 9 liters spare roughly even though it was right on empty, I'll see how I go this tank.

It's been great getting feedback from other users giving their usage compared to generic statistics.

[PAT303]

Mine drunk like a sailor when new,14l per 100 and I thought something was wrong,now it has a few miles on the clock it's settled down to 10l per 100. Pat

[loneranger]

We get between 10 - 10.5L per 100km from the 90 depending on who does most of the driving. That's with 5k on the clock.

I haven't checked the 110 yet but will work out the economy when we're towing on our trip to Shark Bay in a few weeks.

[LouisW]

Mine drunk like a sailor when new,14l per 100 and I thought something was wrong,now it has a few miles on the clock it's settled down to 10l per 100. Pat

Funny Pat I found the same, the first two tanks I did not get much milage from and now on the third found the full economy increased significantly. I did not measure the milage just an observation because it was quite an obvious improvement.

[AndyG]

iI wonder if it could be something like a binding hand brake, or a dodgy wheel bearing. Not sure how to check this safely with the nature of the hand break, maybe lists of chokes.


or fuel filter?
Bloody auto correct

[Lagerfan]

Also note the tanks are not as per the "showroom" specs. In a 90 for example it is actually a 56l tank I think and not 60, can make quite a difference to your calcs.

[numpty]

I reckon you should easily get 10.5/11 L/100K,....28/30 MPG or thereabouts.
As far as an accurate figure is concerned, "300k on three quarters of a tank", is not the way I'd be calculating.
I'd fill up the tank, take the odo reading, use up half three quarters of a tank etc, then take odo reading again, & work out consumption from there.
Gracie is the first Defender we've owned & unlike other cars, we often find that we get the same, or even worse consumption on a trip maintaining say 100kph, because the Defender is "Hard to push through the air". This is unlike other vehicles we've owned where invariably country cruising obtains much better economy.
Pickles.

These figures correspond to around 27 and 25.5 mpg ;)

[Chazzwozzers]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm pretty sure it was dodgy fuel I've had a bad batch from this place before in my golf but I filled up with BP and it seems to have settled down a bit and not smoking anywhere near as much as it was.

[PAT303]

I've found mine likes Caltex diesel,road speed and wind,wind is the economy killer with deefers.With diesel engines don't pander them,drive the suckers,remember that diesels use heat and pressure to burn the fuel,if you drive like Miss Daisy you'll just carbon it up. Pat

[carlschmid2002]

How fast do you drive? When I first got my 2012 2.2 90 I used to drive the Hume often between Syd and Melb. Going over 110km/ph often saw 15l/100km. Defenders don't like to go over 100km/ph. I used to get better fuel economy around town. Bit different in a V8 Discovery. I get 11l/100km on the highway and around 18l/100km around town.

[carlschmid2002]

Another word of warning. When the fuel light and tone comes on, fill up. You will be lucky to go another 40kms. Trust me on this.

[Chazzwozzers]

How fast do you drive? When I first got my 2012 2.2 90 I used to drive the Hume often between Syd and Melb. Going over 110km/ph often saw 15l/100km. Defenders don't like to go over 100km/ph. I used to get better fuel economy around town. Bit different in a V8 Discovery. I get 11l/100km on the highway and around 18l/100km around town.

Most of my driving is country road sort of stuff on the back way to work, usually sit on between 80-90km/h

[PAT303]

My 110 does 70k's once the light comes on,I've run it out of fuel twice,at or around 100km/hr gives best economy. Pat

[MrLandy]

Yeah anything over 100km/hr and the Puma drinks like a fish. Uses 12-13l per 100km. At 110km/hr 14-15 depending on the wind. And I drive him! ...20,000km on the clock now, hoping for improvement. ...Puma still uses more than my 300tdi! How does that work with a more 'advanced' albeit smaller engine'? Quieter, a bit more power, but thirstier! So much for lower emissions.

[simmo]

over 100km/hr? rarely been there , except the occasional passing maneuver.:D a rare pleasure in a defender, to pass another moving vehicle.

For the first few years i wondered why my 300 tdi 110 got such good fuel economy, then I found out he speedo was reading 5 km/h r high . ( checked by GPS with friends car beside over 20 kms.) Used to get 10 l/100 kms , I once drove 1100 kms between fuel stops, including a 3 days Victorian high country camping trip on my 120 liter tanks.
The engines are efficient, but those brutally handsome looks don't come without a price. As a few guys said, over 100 km/hr you to pay. IMV the 300tdi defender never seems as happy travelling as it does when on a secondary road, sealed or gravel at 90 kms/hr, it feels completely in its element. Comfortable, confident ,quiet, economical. :cool:

[MrLandy]

My 300tdi loves doing 110km/hr (115 on speedo) still gets 10/11L per 100km but noisy, pretty loose and needs work after a long hard life in the bush up north. 2.2 puma uses 14L at 110km/hr. Does 110kmh easily, as a new vehicle should. 89-90kmh on dirt is sweet too, although 100 is sweeter on the road in 6th gear , but still uses 12L/100k.

[AndyG]

over 100km/hr? rarely been there , except the [U]occasional[/but those brutally handsome looks don't come without a price. :cool:

The Charles Bronson of Motor vehicles ?
So other makes are".......

[MrLandy]

My 2.5L 300tdi always had more pickup than a Tojo troopy 4.2L 6 I drove for work and I reckon the puma 2.2 has better pickup than a V8 troopy too. So in that comparison the fuel economy is still way out in front.

[Pickles2]

over 100km/hr? rarely been there , except the occasional passing maneuver.:D a rare pleasure in a defender, to pass another moving vehicle.

For the first few years i wondered why my 300 tdi 110 got such good fuel economy, then I found out he speedo was reading 5 km/h r high . ( checked by GPS with friends car beside over 20 kms.) Used to get 10 l/100 kms , I once drove 1100 kms between fuel stops, including a 3 days Victorian high country camping trip on my 120 liter tanks.
The engines are efficient, but those brutally handsome looks don't come without a price. As a few guys said, over 100 km/hr you to pay. IMV the 300tdi defender never seems as happy travelling as it does when on a secondary road, sealed or gravel at 90 kms/hr, it feels completely in its element. Comfortable, confident ,quiet, economical. :cool:
Love your first line,.....in terms of which, I find that overtaking a B Double does require a bit of "planning"!
Pickles.

[DiscoMick]

Driving Brisbane-Sydney over the last two days my 2.4 averaged 9.9 l/100kms over 850 kms beween fills of the 110 litre tank, so that's pretty good considering some of that was at 110 km/h. Better than my BIL's 80 series which is using 16-17 l/100kms.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[simmo]

Last Christmas we went camping on Fraser island the daughters and their spouses, I hired a a new Toyota 76 series V8 diesel station wagon for them, (same shape as a troopy) .

Fantastic car to drive, so much torque, good AC, etc. We were traveling together so i filled up when they did etc. I was surprised to that the fuel consumption was 40% more than my defender. I was expecting maybe 10% because of the V8 right foot factor. Both cars are similar size, similar weight (cruiser is about 300 kg heavier) But it has a CRD engine so i was expecting better.

[quaddrive]

My 2009 2.4, as all defenders, is not great on fuel if driven at highway speeds. The aerodynamics are 60 plus years old and at that time they were not expected nor were they really able to exceed 60mph.

Keeping up with traffic and without being the slowest car on the road my car will return 12ish l/100km. If driven at 110kmh or so it will use 14's.

Towing a 1.5 tonne trailer at 100 with the odd overtaking of a road train thrown in will yield 15's.

All cars are different and your mileage may vary but in any case they are much better than some other makes on the road.

Interesting that I have a mate with a 6.2l chev efi v8 in a defender and driven at the same speeds as I go it will use no more fuel than I do.

Cheers

[gamma505]

Likewise 2013, 90. 44k km. 10.2lt per 100km.
As I started on a lease I have ever single drop of fuel and each odo/trip recorded for each refuel stop. (yes I feel a bit weird about that obsessive compulsive activity).
A puff is normal.....you should go for a good long drive every so often with the revs up a bit to clear out the soot.;)

[LouisW]

Doing 10L to 10.5L per 100km after 1300km

[EastFreo]

Recently did a trip back to my parents (500km round trip) and found my fuel consumption seems to have improved significantly recently. I was travelling at a constant 110kph and a bit above for long sections and got about 10.75lt per 100km.

I have a six month old 110 and before I was more around the 12 to 13lt/100km.

I didnt use AC this time but I was also driving faster. Will be interesting to compare next drive.

[Grappler]

You mentioned you drive in 5th or sixth
You can expect about 15-20% less economy in 5th compared to top

See this post with instantaneous fuel usage results from Ultragauge measurements comparing 5th or sixth gears http://www.aulro.com/afvb/2187098-post44.html

[Longtimer]

G'Day All,

Mine varies.
Around the city (so to speak as I live 35Km out of it) I usually get around 10.5 L/100Km. What needs to be taken into consideration is that there is a 10 km stretch at 110 km/h and it's all big hills for the 35Km trip to the train station.

I have cruise control, which is much thirstier than your foot will be. And I have a weight problem with my right foot anyway..... :-)

I often do a run down to Bunbury which about a 450km round trip (never bothered to measure it), and that is a pretty flat run. But, I am doing the majority of the trip at 110 Km/h. I generally get 10.6-10.8 L/100Km.

I took a run to Badgingarra, and back, the other week to pick up my kids. I had the aircon on, sat at 110 Km/h with the cruise control, it was raining, and there are lots of hills (not that you feel them much with cruise control). On that trip (approx 430 Km) I got 11.686 L/100Km. I was not too impressed..... But I did have the tyre pressure at 30 psi. [I have found the best pressure for my tyres, wear wise (most even), was 28psi. Best for stability, wear, and control 34psi. For control (emergency braking) anything above.]

Oh, I have a 2014 90', and have done 27K Km. No roof rack,but Snorkle and roo bar with spotties.


Cheers,

Phill.

[PAT303]

I did Bridgetown,Nannup,Bingarup over the weekend and did 502km's and used 60ltres combined towing and touring. Pat

[DiscoMick]

[QUOTE=DiscoMick;2344223]Driving Brisbane-Sydney over the last two days my 2.4 averaged 9.9 l/100kms over 850 kms beween fills of the 110 litre tank, so that's pretty good considering some of that was at 110 km/h. Better than my BIL's 80 series which is using 16-17 l/100kms.


On the trip home it averaged exactly 10 l/100kms up the Pacific Highway Sydney-Brisbane, which I thought was pretty good. The GG TR tyres were 36 front and 40 rear. I assume the Steinbauer chip improves the economy a bit.
Being a tightarse, I tend to be gentle on the throttle. In the wife's Yaris I drive so that most of the time the economy light is on.

[Jondavball]

I don't have the latest figures handy but as at January my Defender 110 2012 had travelled 32418km in the city, highway, cross country and towing (SIII LWT and trailer - 2600km).

For those km I had purchased 4074 litres of fuel at a cost of $6377.57. If my calculations are correct my 110 therefore averages out at 12.56L per 100km or 7.96km a litre.

Best ever was 9.94L per 100km crossing the Hay Plain and the worse ever was 18.25L per 100km, also crossing the Hay plain but towing the Lightweight. Around Canberra I sit just above 11L per 100km.


The defender is running on Wrangler MTRs, has a snorkel, an ARB bull bar and a 2m roof rack. That probably explains the fuel usage!

[Orkney 90]

I drive a lot of local roads in Western Sydney, and often into the city mainly for work. A stint on the M7/M4 and then the Hell that is Parramatta Road all the way into Sydney Terminal, or through Newtown into Eveleigh. My 2013 90 still averages 8.6 Litres per 100kms. But as I have mentioned before, I do drive like a granny, bit like DiscoMick above, I'm a royal tightarse. But I am certain that I have saved thousands of dollars in fuel and wear and tear costs over my many years of driving. I have never killed a clutch, never had engine or gearbox problems and generally all it has cost me is leaving home a little earlier to be at work on time...

Having written all this, I had better go and touch some wood...

[Lagerfan]

The defender is running on Wrangler MTRs, has a snorkel, an ARB bull bar and a 2m roof rack. That probably explains the fuel usage!

I think the MTRs are definitely the cause of some of the pain. By my guesstimate they add about 1l/100km, maybe more. I have a very light foot and yet can only get 10.5l/100km out of our 90 on average. Will try the Conti ATs next time around.

[loneranger]

So measuring from a full tank at Cataby, refill at Geraldton to Overlander we used 90litres for 550km at 16litres per 100km thereabouts. This was with a fully loaded camper.

[DiscoMick]

I think the MTRs are definitely the cause of some of the pain. By my guesstimate they add about 1l/100km, maybe more. I have a very light foot and yet can only get 10.5l/100km out of our 90 on average. Will try the Conti ATs next time around.



A relation put some Mickey Thompsons (not sure which ones) on his 80 series and reckons the fuel consumption increased by about 2 l/100kms. He's not happy.

[Longtimer]

I recently put Mickey Thompson's on my 90', and at first my fuel consumption was up by 1 L/100Km. But since playing with the pressures to even the wear pattern, and then going the other way for handling (during emergency breaking etc), I have found that I am using less fuel now. If you don't operate at the correct pressure for that particular tyre, on that make/model of vehicle (plus mods), then you are not going to get the best performance.

But in general, wider tyres do require more power to use.


Cheers,

Phill.

[dromader driver]

Going from skinny to fats can increase fuel burn by upto 15% on my defender
. Road tyre to a/t or m/t

[debruiser]

In my 2013 d90 my best was 10l/100km. Normal is around the 10.5 ish... Towing increases depending on load. Worst I've gotten was about 18l/100km.