Price vs Age - D3 or D4?

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Originally Posted by Disco-tastic

Hi Tomo!

Haha fuel consumption is the thorn in the side of what is otherwise an excellent vehicle. At worst im getting 22L/100km around town. At best is 10.5 on the freeway. Generally it sits between 17-20 around town, though a short stint on a highway will get that down to 15.

I think some of it is due to extra fuel required when the motor is cold. It doesn't take long to warm up, but i have noticed if it's just doing 5 minute trips the fuel consumption is higher than if it was doing similar driving for a longer period. But one of the reasons i bought a petrol is 5 minute trips are hell on a diesel.

I originally worked out fuel differences using a 20c/L (or maybe 10, i cant actually remember) difference in cost for premium vs diesel, and a 5L/100km consumption difference (10 vs 15), and calculated that it would take 200,000km to make back a $10k price excess on thw diesel. That doesnt include differing service costs.

Premium has been cheaper up until last week, and my consumptions been a little more, but even if you halve that estimate its still a lot of kays until you break even. But if you need the range the diesel is the way to go.

I do have an ongoing thread which shows some of what ive been up to here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=230572

Dan's D3

It's mainly trip videos as i havent done much to it.

Overall i bloody love it. The permagrin is well and truly in place :D

Cheers

Dan

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I think I get slightly better economy in the V8. Very similar.

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Originally Posted by carlschmid2002

I did the brakes myself. Have you seen this.

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Thanks Carl

Yeah i saw that and read all about it. Just couldn't get the module unjammed lying beneath it. I'm still not really sure how the mechanic unjammed it!

I couldn't get both rear wheels off the ground using my little bottle jack (i don't trust the stabbed jack). I was trying in off road mode, so I will try in locked access next time, as i think my bottle jack is small enough.

Cheers

Dan

I don't even carry the jack anymore. It is rubbish. Mine came with a Kaymar rear bar and ARB bull bar so I just lift it with a Highlift and put stands underneath. I have the highlight on at all times and carry at least one stand at all times. I want a proper floor jack for home but the ones rated to 3000kg are pricey. I have four stands now.I will always put them underneath, even just changing the oil. I don't trust the air suspension.

I just tried to send the workshop manual. Too many files. You can buy it on here on a CD from the shop or it will be emailed to you if you don't already have it. Another tip with the brakes is ditch the low wear sensors. if you cut the wires and join them there is no need for them as long as you check your pads regularly. They will go off when there is still 1/3 wear available and they are more annoying than the no seatbelt tone.

Thanks carl

I ended up buying one over the weekend. Lots and lots of info!

Cheers


Dan

Wow, Dan. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. It was like you had mirrored my search also.

Same as you, wanted the D4 3L diesel, but could not justify the money. Then looked at the 2.7L D3 diesel but worried about issues with high km turbo diesels.

In the end, figured out we did less than 10,000k per year, so with the cost of a D3 petrol around $10k less than a diesel, it made no sense to buy the diesel.

Very happy with the performance of the 4L V6, and fuel economy is exactly what you get. Around 10.2l/100km on the highway, but with short trips around town (wife uses it for school runs etc, and she is a lead foot) can be as bad 20l/100km. I have been running it on RON98 as it seems to get slightly better economy, than RON95.

We had a 6cyl diesel patrol before this and it averaged 15l/100km around town and not much better on the highway, so not a big change with fuel costs.

Researched the V6 engine extensively before buying the D3 and they seem to have no big issues. Made by Ford and used in lots of other vehicles besides the D3.

Like yourself, plan to get a 3L D4 in a few years.

Rub.

Glad it helped Rub!

Mine is still going strong. Ive had the EPB jam on me (the rubber grommets in the rear drums are missing, letting mud and all sorts in), and just had to replace a wheel bearing ($500 a bearing, thankfully fitted).

I'd recommend you get the EPB brakes adjusted at your next service, just in case. A jammed EPB is a pain in the wallet!

Cheers

Dan

Great stuff. I have a good mate with the v6 petrol. Impressive motor and with diesel failures becoming more prominent, unless i was doing huge ks or towing heavily all the time i would get the petrol v6 any day just for refinement.

Cheers

Yeah for what we do at the moment its almost perfect - the fuel consumption is the only bad bit!

We are hoping to do a round australia trip in about 5 years. Not sure whether we'll upgrade to a D4 diesel or have a go with petrol. Diesel just seems a lot easier out there! (Well, until your oil pump casing explodes :p )

Cheers

Dan