Fuel Consumption : How Low Can You Go?

[rmp]

Busy researching an article about fuel consumption. My usual was around 11.5L/100km in my '04 TD5 Defender 110.

I'm now down to 8.4L/100km, or 35% better. Previous best was 750km before the warning light came on which worked out to be 8.7. My Defender has quite a few mods which I'm not taking off, like a winch, dual batteries etc. I reckon I could get sub-8 in a stocker with road tyres.

What I did was dump all my offroad recovery gear and tools (150kg all up), increase tyre pressures to 50/60 f/r, ditcedh the roofrack and changed driving style to short-shifting, cruising at 90-95 instead of 99-103 and generally driving as smoothly as possible with as little acceleration as I can manage.

So all you people hurting for fuel prices; up the pressures, drive gently and see how you go!

Also did a quick run around five local servos today and the prices varied by a few cents. Pays to know which is the lowest.

[Bushie]

Originally posted by rmp

What I did was dump all my offroad recovery gear and tools (150kg all up), increase tyre pressures to 50/60 f/r, ditcedh the roofrack and changed driving style to short-shifting, cruising at 90-95 instead of 99-103 and generally driving as smoothly as possible with as little acceleration as I can manage.



Not sure that would be that comfortable, or necessarily that safe for an empty vehicle.


Bushie

[rmp]

What I did was dump all my offroad recovery gear and tools (150kg all up), increase tyre pressures to 50/60 f/r, ditcedh the roofrack and changed driving style to short-shifting, cruising at 90-95 instead of 99-103 and generally driving as smoothly as possible with as little acceleration as I can manage.


Not sure that would be that comfortable, or necessarily that safe for an empty vehicle.


Bushie

The pressure differential between cold and hot is 4psi, the benchmark. It's a slightly harder ride but not too bad. The never-exceed is 80psi. The D130's recommended pressures are around 48/65, and my accessoried 110 weighs around the same as a stock 130.

[Ace]

I have been driving like this for quite a while, it is making quite a difference. Having said this its still up on what is should be as the fuel system is in dire need of a service, that will be a holidays job for the Injection mob in Katoomba. Matt

[Bushie]

What I did was dump all my offroad recovery gear and tools (150kg all up), increase tyre pressures to 50/60 f/r, ditcedh the roofrack and changed driving style to short-shifting, cruising at 90-95 instead of 99-103 and generally driving as smoothly as possible with as little acceleration as I can manage.



Not sure that would be that comfortable, or necessarily that safe for an empty vehicle.


Bushie
The pressure differential between cold and hot is 4psi, the benchmark. It's a slightly harder ride but not too bad. The never-exceed is 80psi. The D130's recommended pressures are around 48/65, and my accessoried 110 weighs around the same as a stock 130.
Robert,

What tyres are you running, that are rated to 80psi ?

Just checked mine out

Goodyear wrangers 8PR are 65 psi max
Michelin XZL 10PR are 75psi max
Michelin XPC 6PR are 54psi max
Michelin X 4x4 6PR are 55psi max


Bushie

[DEFENDERZOOK]

probably the original equipment general grabbers....max pressure 80psi

[rmp]

I'm running light-truck Cooper ST-Cs in 235/85/16. They're rated for some crazy load like 1380kg or so but if I did that I'd exceed the GVM for sure and so will never take them anywhere near 80.

[George130]

I have my TD5 130 down to 11.4 by sitting at 100 in the 110 zones 90 in the 100 zones and otherwise the speed limit. Hi had been pumping my 285 75 r16 bf muddies at 40-50 psi. I hadn't noticed any comfort issues but since rotating the tyres they are noisier and rougher but I have put that down to them needing to wear in again.

[camel_landy]

IIRC, the manual states 65 for the rear on a 130....

I'm running 45/60 f/r in the 110 (I've got the HD front & back end on the Camel) and I'm on Michelin XZLs. The truck is weighing in at approx 3500kg when full and so far those pressures work the best. When empty, I use 40/45.

Mark

[VladTepes]

Busy researching an article about fuel consumption. My usual was around 11.5L/100km in my '04 TD5 Defender 110.


The Tdi gets about 10l/100km unladen or thereabouts. As the odometer is failry buggered now, it's hard to know for sure. Given diesel consumption is so good (compared with petrol anyway) I still drive it hard (ish).




So all you people hurting for fuel prices....; up the pressures, drive gently and see how you go!

Yes well, now we are talking Range Rover V8 :cool:
I no longer measure in litres/100km but rather in barrels of crude/week. :cool: :excl: :lol:
And I refuse to increase the tyre pressures - who wants a hard-riding Rangie :question:
Rather defeats the purpose, old chap :excl: :)

[PCH]

Consumption on the D3 TDV6.

Around town with the road tyres unladen I get 11.3 lt/100km

On a trip with the AT and laden running 33 PSI front & 40 PSI rear I can get around 10.1 - 10.5 lt/100km. I haven't seen below 10 on any trips yet.

I'm sure it is getting better as I only have 11,000 kms on the clock and the consumption around town seems to be dropping to the low 11's now.

Chris

[rmp]

During my D3 test the lowest I got was I think 11, based on the trip computer. Usually 13-15. Then again I wasn't trying for economy and the terrain wasn't exactly suited to a fuel run. Really fuel economy is one of the D3's very few weak points.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Our fender seems to do about 10l/100km now. It is still getting better though as it loosens up. It's up to 8k now :)

[DiscoTDI]

Lets see,

towing 18L per 100km

unlaiden 15L per 100km

:lol:

[sclarke]

Shiet. no wonder i get 13l/100km or worse... Roof rack, tires at 30psi... Drive like its stolen...........

[timberwolf_302]

My 3.5 Rangie gets around 16-20/100km, thanks to the use of a lumpier than stock cam from a 4.3L stroker kit...definitely not suited for a 3.5 in 2 tonnes of Range Rover.

Sure, above 2500rpm it goes like a rocket, but anything below that it has bugger all power, or torque, and you really have to work it to get it to move...hence the **** fuel economy. And I suppose my impatience and heavy feet would have a small part in it too.

Actually, I have adjustable timing gear as well. Does anyone know if I would be able to get the power to happen earlier in the rev range if I advance or retard the cam a notch?

[DEFENDERZOOK]

it will make some difference.....

but your engine is built to deliver at higher revs....



you will need to replace your cam to gain power lower in the rev range....


have you tried just adjusting the timing.....?

[timberwolf_302]

Yeah, if your referring to ignition timing, its running at 6° BTDC, it runs best at this. I suppose i should just stop whinging and just get a stock cam from somewhere.

Im just sick of having to take the front of the car apart. It would be the 4th time Ive had to do it in the last 3 months!

[51jay]

Retarding the exhaust cam a couple of degrees should give more torque in low and midrange

[Rovy]

I run mine at 36/42 and get 13L/100km around town with a massive lead foot. I will see how I go on a long highway run.

[numpty]

New Defender TD5 first tank 9.5l per 100k's. Can't complain about that. Have dropped pressures to 35 all round unladen and when laden will experiment. Don't see the sense in running higher pressures in rear unless it's laden as it must weigh less than the front empty.
Perry

[BigJon]

As mentioned in another thread, the best has been 13 litres per hundred, I don't even want to know what the worst has been... 3.5 EFI Rangie Classic.

[cewilson]

I run my tyre pressures at 250kPa front, and 350kPa rear. I've never really had much of a problem running them pressures. I am running Hankook muddies, which are rated very similar to Robert's, with a speed rating of 160km/h.

I find with my fuel consumption, that sitting around 100km/h gives me pretty damn close to 10litres per 100km's. However if I speed up to between 140-150km/h, my fuel consumption sits around 25-28litres per 100km's. That's when it kinda hurts. But the look on the drivers faces of Ford Falcons etc is priceless when they see the old girl hauling past them. :twisted:


That's in a 93 200tdi BTW.

[dobbo]

In the disco I have always averaged around the 10l/100km. When towing and low range this seem to double. I haven't worked it out but it can get costly. Hey it still beats a v8 though.

[crash]

I did not do the figures but was able to make from Mt Isa to Longreach on one tank in the Disco while pulling a Jayco Hawk camper. We filled it to almost running out when we left and when we got to Longreach filled it to top of neck again, put 98ltrs in (tank rated to 95ltrs) The only reason i did not stop and top up with the jerry can before was it was raining that hard I would have got more water than diesel in the tank.

[dobbo]

Last night drove to work 56km's and got there with the reserve light just illuminating as I drove in the driveway. Reserve fuel light according to the manual comes on at 9L. Driving home this morning I realised that I'd left my wallet at home so drove into the servo approx 3 km's from work in opposite direction and raided the coin box. $7.45 diesel was $1.45/L giving me 5.13L
I drove home without the reserve light coming on



59Km's on 5.13L= 11.50km/1L


Do that in a v8 on gas or petrol

[Maggot4x4]

I run my tyres between 20-25 PSI, I vary the pressure every 5000km. 315x75x16 Procomp Xterrains

[Stepho_62]

:D

I've only just put the 2nd tankful in the bloody great green thing (I'm Thinking of calling it Princess Fiona but thats a different story) and I acknowledge I,m not the easiest on the right foot but I've got a pleasant surprise.

67l for 690k :). Now someone validate my maths plz but thats 10.29k per litre and therfore 9.7 per 100.

This is mixed driving, out on the road no more than 105k max, I short shift 1st and then pick up 2nd and run all of the gears through to no more than 2500 RPM using the boost from 1600 to 2500. If I put my mind to it I probably could cut it even further but I love forced induction :twisted: so the sound of the little turbine spooling up is irresistable.

I'm going to put on a Snorkle and have a good look at the induction system and exhaust soon too in an attempt to open them up and make it breath a bit easier.

;)

[Stepho_62]

I run my tyres between 20-25 PSI, I vary the pressure every 5000km. 315x75x16 Procomp Xterrains

:o Bloody Hell, thats low.

[dobbo]

:o Bloody Hell, thats low.

Thats what I thought

[Maggot4x4]

Thats what I thought
Comfy but :)

[dobbo]

wouldn't it wear them out fairly quickly and cost more in fuel. It might be cheaper in the long run to get a suspension seat

[Maggot4x4]

wouldn't it wear them out fairly quickly and cost more in fuel. It might be cheaper in the long run to get a suspension seat
Did you see my fuel consumption in the other thread? I regulary get better than 9L/100k

As for tyre life, My last set of BFG muds got 120k. Like I said I adjust the pressure regulary and rotate them every 5000k without fail.

[dobbo]

impressive

[disconut]

Toowoomba to Maroochy return last weekend with some local running: 9.1 / L100! :):)

Trev.

[barryj]

I think it was Defenderzook who stated in one post that if you keep the revs under 2000 rpm the Td5 forgets to drink. My auto Td5 won't change gears at this rpm but I don't rev higher than 2300 where possible around town. I get much better economy than I used to. It pays to read posts regularly.

thanks Tony :D

[dobbo]

This thread should be renamed "The Tightarse Competition"

Do you think if we filled our tyres with Helium we could save on fuel?
:p


Before anyone replies No I don't want to fill my tyres with Helium
Tis a poor attempt at satire

[Michael2]

Best in a 3.5 RR is 13.1 litres per 100 km at 100kph :o :thumbsup:


compared to 14 litres at 120kph:arms: :thumbsup:


compared to 25 litres urban cycle:mad: :no2:


Best in the 2.25 SIII is 17, average is 22 :rolleyes:

(the above were all with 50psi front & rear - I like the firm ride)


I've done about 300km in my 300Tdi, haven't refuelled yet, but It'd better be better than those figures.


:burnrubber:

[loanrangie]

I have just replaced my dual fuel 85 3.5 3spd auto rangie with a 98 tdi auto se disco so i am looking forward to the first run on a tank of smelly stuff :D
My old 2dr rangie used to get 370 k's out of 70 ltrs lpg and about 420 k's to 81 litres petrol but the auto rangie was shocking, lucky to get 250 k's out of 70ltrs lpg and petrol - forget it :(.

[Ace]

I havent read all 4 pages i only just walked in the door but we just did a 1800km round trip down to the riverina and back we have over 500km of luggage and crap in the car plus stacey, myself and Marcos and rarely did the speed drop below 110, for most of the trip around the riverina we did 120 plus and on the hay plains sat on 130km/hr and we averaged 11.5km/100km, i reckon if we did the trip again and sat on 100km/h it would have been at or below 10l/100km. Matt

[disconut]

:D500 klms of luggage is a lot of luggage!

Trev.

[dobbo]

:D500 klms of luggage is a lot of luggage!

Trev.

At what rate do you measure it? Dropping a bag every kilometre or what?

[Captain_Rightfoot]

:D500 klms of luggage is a lot of luggage!

Trev.
You know what they say... better quality luggage goes a long way :D:D