Thread: General Fuel Economy (since I keep getting asked, first post is my disco)

Daphne Discovery's best ever was 8.9L/100km.
(21-May-03, 12.41L, 139km, 128,854 odometer, Alice Springs to Jim's Place, Stuart Highway - via Rainbow Valley, two passengers, camping gear, tools, fridge etc)

Worst ever was 19.4L/100km.
(29-Mar-08, 27.00L, 139km, 248,968 odometer, Innisfail to Atherton via Palmerston Highway, two passengers, full long-term travelling gear - and towing a 2300kg caravan)

Camping Vehicle
101 FC Ambulance. 3.9v8. 4 Speed Auto...
Sitting on 80-85 -> returns about 25ltr per 100km...

Daily Driver
2015 Skoda Octavia Station Wagon - 2.0 Diesel TDI - 6 speed Auto
Mixture of country/city driving...
6.0lt/100km (averaged over 15,000km so far)

Just to put things into perspective, and to bring aerodynamics into the mix...

The Scania I drive has a cubic capacity of 1000 cubic inches, or 16.4 litres. On a trip from Melb to Bris, with 4.3 metres high flat floor trailers loaded with our usual freight so around 45 tonne all up,
I can get 42 litres per 100. Not bad for 730 HP and 3500 nm. Put on the 4.6 high, double drop deck trailers with the same load, but now closer to 48 tonne cos the trailers are heavier and that can blow out to 55 litres per 100.
It's not the extra mass, believe me. it's the wind.

Originally Posted by johntins

It's not the extra mass, believe me. it's the wind.

Very true, especially on the flat. But hit a hill with a heavy trailer or caravan behind and, oh boy, then it's the mass!

Hmmm, Daphne's best ever 8.9 L/100km moving, say, 2.3 tonnes. So, that's 3.86 L/100km/tonne.
John's Scania, 55 L/100km moving 48 tonnes = 1.15 L/100km/tonne - somewhat better!
Seems I need to buy a Scania - I'm sure 750 HP and 3500 NM would get our caravan up the Palmerston a bit easier too.

Originally Posted by Leo109;2513317
Seems I need to buy a Scania - I'm sure 750 HP and [B

3500 NM[/B] would get our caravan up the Palmerston a bit easier too.

Yep, only $275k with three years free servicing and drivetrain warranty. Diff locks included....... Only two seats though.

Originally Posted by johntins

Yep, only $275k with three years free servicing and drivetrain warranty. Diff locks included....... Only two seats though.

Two seats is just fine, as long as there's also room for a well-travelled cat - and I'm sure the Scania cab would be roomy enough...

Originally Posted by Leo109

Two seats is just fine, as long as there's also room for a well-travelled cat - and I'm sure the Scania cab would be roomy enough...

Probably room for a male African lion if he was house trained. Oh, and the fuel consumption gets a LOT better without the trailers.

Hmm... wonder how John's car (Scania) would run with NO trailers... ever...and suitable high ratio diff...
- Would be awkward at the supermarket... but Bunnings normally have decent sized parking areas... a small price to pay for a... formidable Daily Driver!