Thread: 300Tdi Fuel usage

I have a 1995 300 Tdi 130 Defender that has had been getting about 13 l/100 km with our normal camping load and no trailer. I had put this down to a leaking intercooler and inlet manifold.

I then found that the hose that runs from the turbo to the fuel pump had split. I fixed this, and the car runs better but the fuel usage went up to about 15l/100 for a 2000 km round trip with about 600 kg in the ute and a 1000 kg tandem trailer one way and empty 130 and trailer coming back. Interestingly it used slightly less fuel loaded than empty.

I then had the Intercooler and manifold leaks fixed, the timing belt replaced, the injectors overhauled (they were thought to be the fuel usage problem) and a whole lot of other things done at the same time. Before and after dyno tests show a 42% power increases, it's now MUCH better to drive as you can imagine.
The latest trip again loaded with 1000 kg or more in the 130 and a trailer of 1500 kg I got about 17l/100 loaded and about 14l/100 empty with the empty trailer.

It has a new air filter in it.

It "seems" to pull hills better if I back off a little from full throttle.

The hose from the air cleaner to the turbo is quite soft under the manifold, but there is no real evidence that it's sucking flat, and it it did I would think it would blow LOTS of smoke and really die.

The fuel filter is not due for replacement but if it were blocked could it account for the fuel usage and the seemingly better performance when backed off a little from full throttle?

Fuel pump is the only other thing that I can think of, but I don't like this idea as it sounds expensive.

All the above fuel numbers are for 90-100 KPH open road.

What consumption figures are people getting from 300 Tdi Defenders, and do 130s use more fuel than 110s. I would have thought mid 10 l/100 to be about right.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Tony

check everything you dont need to have mechanical expertise to start with then move up from there.

the boost compensator is the bit on the top of the fuel pump proper that connects to the manifold after the turbo.

depending on how they play up will depend on the faults it causes from memory ( I really must get my rave cds back) its a cap thats held down by 4 screws with no surprises under it take it off clean it out and put it back.

Theres more than one thread about working on that bit and tweaking it while your at it on the forum.

Checking the timing uses a similar concept as doing the static timing on a petrol engine with point but will seem a black art unless you know whats happening with the adjustments your making. Best leave that for some one whose done one before, I use the rule of watch one, assist one, Do one for this kind of thing, its not exactly rocket surgery but its not changing a tyre either.