Thread: Discovery TD5 fuel consumption

If you've changed to 32 inch tyres, where are you getting your km readings from? The speedo/odometer is now out by somewhere in the region of 13% from standard tyres.

Which would make your economy about 14L/100km if you haven't corrected for that, not really that unusual for a td5 auto around town...

The roof rack and awning will add a heap of drag at any sort of speed, and the 32s will take more power to turn... If you can dump any or all of those, that's your biggest economy gain there - assuming your engine is free of faults....

Originally Posted by AJD3671

Hi Everyone, first time poster, long time reader.

I recently purchased an 02 TD5 Auto Disco Ex Brisbane after owning 4 V8Auto's over the past 10 years. I drove it back to Sydney in stock factory trimon highway tires using a little over 9lt/100km. After getting back to Sydney Imoved most of the modifications over from my last V8 to the TD5. CDL, 2"lift,32 MTR's, full length roof rack and awning, ARB winch bar and a dualbattery set up. Clearly I assumed this would have a detrimental effect on fueleconomy but it has blown out to near 16lt/100km with or without my 1200kgcamper on back.

So my questions are what fuel consumption should I be seeing ? What ifanything could have gone wrong or should I be looking at to explain such a bigjump ? What can I change that will bring consumption down to a more acceptablelevel ?

12L/100km I could live with. So I'm hoping someone has a similar set up to provide some guidance but any help suggestions etc... will be most welcome.


Cheers Andrew.

I'd say 9 was exceptional to begin with, not unheard of but exceptional. 10-11 l/100 would be about average IMO.

Unless the transfer case is locked by mistake with no warning light, the roof rack and tires would be having the greatest effect at a guess. Is the roof rack one that follows the couture of the Disco roof or the one that is high at the front?

Obviously you have had plenty of experience with D2's, what was the difference in economy with the same accessories fitted to he V8?

Maybe try fitting the old tires and see what difference it makes, i assume you have them on other rims so it wouldn't be too hard to swap. Then remove the roof rack to see what is making the most difference.

About what I see on 02 td5 auto. Approx 12ish around town. Gets down to 10ish clean highway cruise light load. Full load with roof bag 14-15.

Hello,
with all that extra weight I would be looking at re-map form TD5-Inside you will have a lot more power. Putting 32's on without changing any gearing either diff or transfer box will sap the power around town hence more fuel. Like EvilGTV said where are you getting you speedo reading ??
Ian

OK so a little more info/background.
* Always filled to the top of the filler neck.
* GPS tracked and corrected mileage over 5 consecutive fills. Even filled from same pump at same servo. Odometer showing 480km average from 85L adjusted to 530km
* Roof rack is full length flat rack.
* CDL fully functional including dash light so definitely not locked.
* Same set up on previous two V8's saw consumption go from 21 to 23L per 100km.
* The car is not a daily driver so mostly country driving and returned 880km from 80L uses on the way back from Brisbane.


Cheers Andrew.

In my experience - highway driving td5 2004. Fully laden, wife 3 kids and c.r.a.p.

10lt/100 clean
11lt/100 with roof racks empty
12-13 lt/100 with full roof racks
15 lt/100 as above pulling camper trailer.

I've recently(ish) bought a 2004 TD5 D2 and have been keeping fuel usage stats for that. Unfortunately I don't use it too much and have only done a couple of big trips and refuels since ownership.

With new 31" (245/75R16) BFG AT tyres, full length TJM alloy roof rack, 2" lift I am getting just over 14l/100km (though I recently found my odo is over-reading by about 5% so adjust for this it should probably be nearer 13.5l/100k).

I was a little bit disappointed with these figures as my old 2003 TD5 Defender with an almost identical full length roof rack, 2" lift and running 33" muddies returned 12l/100km (or better).

I suspect the difference in economy between my Disco and the Defender is due to one being an auto and the being manual.

Also, the Disco has been chipped which is meant to give better economy but I've yet to be convinced of this but I've certainly experienced the extra power that is available on demand!!

I'm wondering how much of difference a reprogram or chip would make ? I understand it improvers the towing abilities but will it effect fuel economy or do you need to be upgrading intercoolers and exhaust to see an improved result ? One of the main considerations with switching to the TD5 is that I'm running a trip for our club to Cape York in July and wanted to cut the V8 fuel bill for the 8500K round trip.