Discovery 4 fuel economy and tank size irregularities

[jonv123]

Hi all,

I've recently purchased a 2015 discovery and im curious to see what people have to say about the numbers im getting for fuel.

As quoted by Red book the fuel tank size is 82L with an average fuel range of around 932km. I understand you have to take that figure with a grain of salt but the two times I have now gone to fill the tank, I have not been able to put more than 70 litres ( thats with a range of less than 10km both times). On checking the range when filled up it has said with a full tank the range is around 660kms. The best fuel range I've gotten has been 640kms of standard driving with no load at all, mostly freeway and a bit of city driving. Now this seem quite irregular to me for figures to be this far out. Does anyone know if there is an issue here?

Thanks in advance guys and girls.

[scarry]

The most i have ever got in mine has been 76L,which at times is a PITA.

As for range,don't really know,generally gets 9 to 11L/100 on a run,and 12 to 13l/100 around town.

[Victim]

The unfortunate news is that sounds about right to me.

I usually cover between 500-600km per tank (indicator down to zero km or beyond), and it usually takes around 70 Lt. to fill. The most I've ever managed to fit was around 77lt, but that was after covering around 50km beyond the 0km warning...

Note - most of my driving during the week is in stop/start city traffic, rear of the vehicle always heavily loaded up with shelves, fridge and work tools, I have a full length roof platform & awning, and running LT A/T tyres, so I don't expect great economy.

[John_D4]

Here’s a screen shot of my fuel record. The high figures were towing the 1.5-1.8 ton camper. Most of the time I’m driving around town, and I have Maxxis 980 AT tyres which east the fuel by an extra 1-1.5lt/100km.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201004/b45480a2a164491988a081ddc2d7894d.png

[DiscoJeffster]

The tank still has around 100km of travel (10L) in it when the range indicator hits 0Km. As for the range on a tank itself - overly optimistic they were for sure

[ATH]

I get much the same figures for driving when not towing, about 9 -11 per 100. Up to 18 when towing our small van and more with a headwind..... try Port Hedland to Broome when the easterly is howling along in the early morning. :( Why they can't put a bigger tank in these things I don't know.
But I never allow the level to drop below a quarter as I don't want muck from the bottom of the tank being sucked up, so don't know how much a fill from empty is anyway.
AlanH.

[Dagilmo]

I

But I never allow the level to drop below a quarter as I don't want muck from the bottom of the tank being sucked up, so don't know how much a fill from empty is anyway.

I had this discussion with my brother the other day. I haven't seen the fuel pick up system in a tank but I would guess it's at the bottom of the tank? If so, isn't the 'muck' potentially being sucked all the time?

[101RRS]

So what is the difference in the tank arrangement between the D4 and D3/RRS. Many people have complained about the D4 issue but I have no issue with my RRS as regularly put over 80 litres in its tank which is the same as a D3.

As there does not seem to be an issue with the tank system in the D3/RRS it would seem unlikely that they would have needed to change for the D4 - but clearly something is different.

Garry

[Ferret]

Like some others here I have never been able to get much more than ~70 litres into the tank when supposedly empty.

Supposedly the diesel fuel tank has a capacity of ~82 litres. I suppose it retains ~10 litres for 3 reasons

1 To maintain some additional range when indicated empty. I'm guessing but maybe you get 5 - 6 litres for this.
2 After that ~5 litres is used the engine begins to simulate running empty. I guess you get to use a litre or so of fuel during this carry on.
3 After simulating an empty tank for a bit but before actually running empty the engine will shut itself down. The manual says it needs ~4l of fuel in the tank to restart. So I guess it retains that 4 litres of fuel.

~70 + ~5 + ~4 + ~ a bit adds up to near 82 litres.

[INter674]

With fantastic fuel figures like that when towing a brick you'd save enuf to put in a long range tank or rear bar or roof rack...and no more complaints. Or buy a cruiser fill up the massive tanks and see 22 plus l/100ks☺..oh and modify the suspension b 4 hand...just saying🙄

[scarry]

The issue is LR clearly say "usable" fuel capacity,of 82L,which is incorrect.

Wait until you tow a block of flats, that is around the 3 to 3.5T,at the speed limit,if you get any less than 20L/100,and worse, with a head wind,you will be doing extremely well.Below the speed limit you may get slightly better,but not much.

Thats when you will work out the ridiculously small fuel tank is an absolute PITA[bigsad][biggrin]

Luckily you don't have a petrol.

Fitting a larger tank is expensive, then the issue is what to do with the spare.More $ for a rear wheel carrier,more weight,inconvenience every time the rear is opened,or just throw it in the back or on the roof.

For remote travel,i have strapped the second spare to the cargo barrier,its out of the way,and doesn't move,and is another option,if you have the room.

[ATH]

We only tow a small van so no brick. I wouldn't waste the money on a long range tank but do occasionally carry 2 jerries. I agree about the 200 series fuel consumption...got talking to a bloke in Karratha some time ago and his fuel usage against the easterly compared to ours was horrendous.
As to the suspension upgrade, yes our son had to do that to tow his boat. Took 3 years for Toyota to fix his oil consumption and the transmission which as the old saying said "Couldn't pull a soldier off your sister" after a week of sitting idle. :)
97 grand of soft snot.
AlanH.

[NavyDiver]

The tank still has around 100km of travel (10L) in it when the range indicator hits 0Km. As for the range on a tank itself - overly optimistic they were for sure

My 2005 with the warning light on was good for 100 again and again. My 2009 is not. I found out the hard way and not trying a second time. [thumbsupbig]

[Eric SDV6SE]

I try to avoid running the tank down to the absolute minimum, the system needs 4l to run ( i.e. prime the lp and hpfp properly) not counting in tank level for the fuel sensor, and not pick up any rubbish in the tank. I carry extra 40l when touring, and fill up every opportunity, usually its 2-3 hours between stops anyway on a long trip, so regular breaks are good too. I don't really see it as an issue.

[discorevy]

pfft , asking a bit much wanting to put fuel in there as well , it' just somewhere they could hide more plastic n wires . This is looking into a supercharged RRS I did today but similar to diesels165174

[dirvine]

I tow a off road van (weight 2.8T) and I do not drive slowly, just at the sped limit. On dirt road I regularly pass others towing van going at 30-40kph and feeling every bump. 2 years ago I went away with friend with same van and a LC200 a bit newer than my 2016 model. He laughed saying I would have to stop at every town to fill up. I also carry 60 litres of fuel on the van (20 ltrs is for heater notionally). When we started out, driving on bitumen and at speed limits, I was getting nearly the same distance in my tank as he was in his 120 lr tank. I was getting 15-16lph and he was in the mid 20's. He complained I was in too much of a rush so we slowed to max of 90kph, and my fuel dropped to 14 and his hovered around 20. On dirt roads, we would agree where we were going to stop and I would just leave him, set up and be drinking my 2nd can when he would finally pull in. In remote areas, I have resorted to using the gerry cans just to avoid the expensive fuel costs (ie Docker River) but in reality, have not yet taken the car to really remote areas (where I would not even take the van) I have not missed a LR tank. Planning to do the Gibb next year and all the offshoots, so that is where a LR tank maybe missed. I thought long and hard about a LR tank, but the cost plus all the other mods need to fit, just for that one or two trips where it would be needed, I felt was not justified. Also the extra weight reduces the carrying capacity of the Disco, and also effects fuel economy. In all probability offsetting the savings in the purchasing of cheaper fuel.. I have driven the car to "empty" just to see what happens. When the distance to empty was 0, I still drove another 105kms, then it went into limp mode for 5.2kms, then stopped. The idea of the small tank is also levelled at the Jeep Cherokee. It also get good fuel economy. So IMHO a LR tank is not justified for the trips I plan and my intended use. But each to his own.

[Dagilmo]

Planning to do the Gibb next year and all the offshoots, so that is where a LR tank maybe missed.

Doubt you'll miss it there. I did 5 weeks in the Kimberley (including Cape Leveque and Mitchell Falls) in a Navara that was getting 20ltrs/100. Carried 40ltrs and didn't use any.

[INter674]

I had a similar fuel conundrum when crossing the Simpson in the TD5 with std tank. Took one 20l can extra and all the yota and nissan drivers with lr tanks said you'll never make it. Well we did easily and managed to avoid a massive fuel bill at Mt Dare. Averaged 15l/100klms over the trip..the others... 25s and over..

What about saddle tanks..my old SC D1 V8 had 2 of them?

[cripesamighty]

The D3 I bought was a spur of the moment purchase (well, over a week actually) and luckily it came with a long range tank (plus ladder, bull bar and rear swing arm for the spare). Although it can take 190L from completely empty, I usually put 100L in it around town and only fill it to capacity when doing long trips.

[scarry]

I had a similar fuel conundrum when crossing the Simpson in the TD5 with std tank. Took one 20l can extra and all the yota and nissan drivers with lr tanks said you'll never make it. Well we did easily and managed to avoid a massive fuel bill at Mt Dare. Averaged 15l/100klms over the trip..the others... 25s and over..

What about saddle tanks..my old SC D1 V8 had 2 of them?

The TD5 D2, was excellent on fuel,i could get in the 8L/100 stuck behind grey nomads on a long run,loaded.The fuel tank wasn't a bad size either,i could easily get over 90liters in it.Maybe 96 from memory?
We almost made it from Birdsville to MT Dare on a tank,i put a jerry in just in case.
The actual engine was brilliant,it was all the gear bolted to it that caused the continual grief.

[Barraman]

For my 2015 D4 tdv6 I work on a 'safe' 600km range on the highway, and 400km when towing my 2500kg boat. I have never put more than about 70L into the tank on a fill. I think it will do at least another 100km once the low fuel light comes on - say 50km when towing.

[ian4002000]

I thought the diesel D4's were supposed to get better economy than this. My Puma 130 seems to be slightly more economical and when towing the van it averages around 16 litres a 100 km's.
I now have a D3 petrol and i think the fuel bill will only be a bit higher than the figures quoted by the D4 diesel owners.

Ian
Bittern