Please help - poor diesel economy

When we first got ours I was getting 9.6l/100kms on hwy and a bit over 11 in town but then I have gone and added a winch, roofrack, lift kit, taller rubber and a heap of gear as well as a long range tank and probably a few extra KG's of mud in places that it doesnt wash out of easilly and now get on average around the 14 mark I think.

I get fuel at work as part of my package so I dont really check it that often.

If it isnt smokey or lacking in power then the mechanical problems will be less likely other than valve clearences.

Keep a close eye on your tyre pressures as well as they can make a pretty big difference in fuel economy.

On page 155 of RAVE, LR say the 300TDi auto gets 13L/100k city cycle - new and standard. So 14L/100K, in a 10 year old car,bigger tyres with a bit of off road work and A/C on is OK.

Well, you're making me feel a bit better about the economy of the car. Thanks for that.

I got a quote yesterday from the local LR expert for the timing belt replacement and did a bad thing and told the minister of war and finance how much it was going to cost :eek::eek::wasntme: $900 :(.

I also used my gps to check the odometer this morning and found on my trip to work the odometer on the car recorded 8.3k's and the gps told me it was more like 8.7k's. Apply that to my fuel economy figures over the past two tanks and it suddenly goes down, that's a bit better :cool:.

I'll be doing tappets this weekend and checking all of my air hoses. The timing belt is due but it can wait till after Christmas I think. That's just rude, cruel and unusual the price they quoted for that. I am reasonably mechanically minded (have torn down and rebuilt numerous engines before) so may just buy the kit and atack the belt myself over the holidays.

Thankyou again gents for your help and suggestions. I do like the disco very much and as it is a long term proposition I want to get it working at its peak.

Cheers
Goldey

Just to add to the above,

I've been getting around 9.8/100km for the last 6 months or so worse consumption since owning the vehicle (300Tdi -98 Defender) was 11.1/100. The leg across the Simpson in 2000 returned 10.7/100.

The Odometer is out slightly so I'd be checking that first (as others have said) with your combination of tyres. Things may not actually be as bad as you think.


Martyn

PS Last 6 months running has been Heathcote - Nth Parramatta & return each day (peak hour).

My last 2 tanks has given me on average 10.9/100km but mine is a 200tdi

I also have 2 inch lift, 32" tyres, rear draw system and roof rack.

I have just had my belt and water pump changed so I will see if it makes a difference

p.s. I drive mine pretty hard


Adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by goldey

Well, you're making me feel a bit better about the economy of the car. Thanks for that.

I got a quote yesterday from the local LR expert for the timing belt replacement and did a bad thing and told the minister of war and finance how much it was going to cost :eek::eek::wasntme: $900 :(.

I also used my gps to check the odometer this morning and found on my trip to work the odometer on the car recorded 8.3k's and the gps told me it was more like 8.7k's. Apply that to my fuel economy figures over the past two tanks and it suddenly goes down, that's a bit better :cool:.

I'll be doing tappets this weekend and checking all of my air hoses. The timing belt is due but it can wait till after Christmas I think. That's just rude, cruel and unusual the price they quoted for that. I am reasonably mechanically minded (have torn down and rebuilt numerous engines before) so may just buy the kit and atack the belt myself over the holidays.

Thankyou again gents for your help and suggestions. I do like the disco very much and as it is a long term proposition I want to get it working at its peak.

Cheers
Goldey

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Hi Goldey,
I dont know where your "local LR expert" is but a quote for $900 is over the top, I was quoted $500 for the 200tdi, a similar job, by LR experts at Marooka in Bris. The pommie forum/site "Difflock" has great stuff on timing belts for DIY. I had leaking diesel from my pump seal but you would have noticed that by now? It sounds like your pump has been fiddled with, hope so, cheap fix.

G'day Goldy :)

What is your location?? as there could be several knowledgable Landrover Mechs. in your area, and at prices a lot cheaper than $900 :o tell us were you are, and see what happens.

cheers

I'm in sunny Newcastle, where the beaches are golden and the bush is close by :cool::cool:

G'day All I would be ringing Modern Motors Dungog 49 921486 and ask for a quote cheers Dennis:wasntme:

Spoke to Murray, he said I should be good for another 20 thou before looking at changing the timing belt. "They should be good for 80 thousand ks", his words. This means that I shouldn't need to do it until I rack up 145000 ks. Cool. Then again maybe I'll still do a DIY on it over the break.
Doing the tappets this saturday and also noticed my main muffler (centre of the car) has got a dirty big ding in it, good reason to chop it out and weld in a straight pipe and only have the rear muffler.

Cheers
Ian