Thread: V8 vs 300tdi Ruel consumption

G'day Guru,

According to my fuel card reports my Rangie Tdi Auto is doing 12l/100ks - but this is understated as the speedo is under reading. I usually fill up when the odo says about 500kms.

HTH

LRH

not having owned an auto but based on my experiences with the 3.5 pushing a manual not much more than 2-3 l per 100k worse providing you drive it sensibley.

9.08l/100k tdi auto, last trip back from Adelaide i got 885klms for the tank before the light came on and i was doing 110-115 where i could with 2 adults, 2 kids and packed to the roof with stuff ( 3/4 kids stuff).

3.5V8 doesnt know the meaning of the word economy where as the 300TDI knows nothing else.

My 300TDI disco, even with a roof rack with tent, loaded to the roof, lifted running 235 85 16 rubber I still get 11 to 12l/100kms on a long run.

I aslo have 135ltrs of fuel and normally fill up around the 1000km mark.

As far as cost goes, a 3.5V8 on gas works out about the same from other posts that I have seen but you have the range issue from needing to fill up more often.

I've said it once and I'll say it again.... don't buy a V8 if you want fuel economy full stop Enjoy it, still cheap fun to be had and $$$ cheaper to buy initially

Back on topic, with 33' tyres, suspension lift, body lift and all the adde gear such as dual batteries and winches, etc.. and std gearing, my 87 Rangie Hi-Line 3.5 EFI 'crapper flapper' system gets around the 22l/100 kms and on avg about 320-kms to 70 liters (about 350kms on a run, not much difference to be quite honest)

For outback touring and long distance work, tdi is the go (as much as I hate to admit it). But give me a V8 Rangie or Disco anyday of the week otherwise, bugger the fuel economy

Trav

don't think I've ever got worse than 12l/100km out of the 130 with 33" MTF's, roof racks, pump tweaked right up and sitting on 115km/h (genuine speed and milage, the 33" tyres correct the speedo/odo, but that doesn't include towing)

Gets better fuel economy running around town than the open road. Defenders have a shocking aero package

Yeah when I got my rangie It was for weekend use and long trips, and towing my series II comp rig around, with fuel consumption not an issue. I really enjoy driving it (even though it's an auto) but with my missus getting here licence she will be driving the little run around car and the Rangie will be used more often, that and weekly expenses going up is making me look at the 300tdi option more and more.

Also will allow me to do bigger trips into remote places in the future

In good conditions they are about the same...

I have both an '89 RR (3.5 auto) and a 300Tdi manual disco. I've used both to tow our 1.3t camper down to Albany and back from perth.

I get around 14.0lt/100km with the disco on the trip and 14.5lt/100 with the Rangie (I went from albany to armadale on one tank!), both doing around 100km/hr. Yes - almost IDENTICAL! And the Rangie is more comfortable and maintains higher speeds up the hills.

However if there is a head wind then the Tdi is much better in terms of consumption. It's also much better when not towing - it returns around 8lt/100km (7.2 being the best).

When travelling up north however I always take the disco... it has a 110lt tank and I get around 800km range when towing no matter what the conditions, and that means a lot to me. In the rangie it can be as low as 320km.