fuel usage

magraret · Senior Member

fuel usage

petengail · Guru

Attached is a fuel calculator which you can use to find out what your fuel consumption is. Our tug is a 3 litre Rodeo Diesel Auto and uses 8.7 ltr per 100 k's highway driving and about 13 towing a 14ft van.

http://motormouth.com.au/myvehicle/consumptioncalculator.aspx

-- Edited by petengail on Saturday 7th of January 2012 09:23:11 AM

magraret · Senior Member

as our rig is new we found that we where 18lts per 100kl we are hoping to get better how can we drive better

Pejay · Guru

We have a 2003 GU Nissan 3Lt Turbo Diesel pulling a 2000, 17'6" Mayfair by Regent van, and on our recent trip to Tassie (July/Aug) from Brisbane and covering around 8,800 Kms , using 1,197.64 Lts, we averaged 13.6 Lts per 100 Kms. Mind you there was some very hilly and windy roads we went over as well as good straight highway driving between Brisbane & Melbourne. Pete sits around the 90k/h mark and finds this gives us the best consumption.

PS We also use a fuel additive called Fuel Tech, it is good for cleaning your fuel jets as well as inhibiting the growth of 'sludge' in the fuel tank - Pete used to make the stuff, so knows all about it.

-- Edited by Pejay on Saturday 7th of January 2012 09:28:11 AM

ozi2 · Guru

magraret wrote:
as our rig is new we found that we where 18lts per 100kl we are hoping to get better how can we drive better

Hi Margaret, could you provide us with a little more detail, ie, is the vehicle new, used, turbo diesel/petrol/lpg, manual/auto? Does it have extra weight like bullbar/long range tanks, roof racks, internal draw system....all the things that increase weight increase fuel use. After that there is the way the vehicle is driven...above 100kph then your fuel use really increases. I think you will find that our forum members that tow vans have a speed below 100kph, say around 90kph.

Please be aware also if you have auto of not towing in 5th (overdrive) as this should be avoided to prevent damage to the transmission.

Keep your questions coming, there are lots and lots of knowledgeable GN's willing to share with you to help make your journey a good one.

cheers,

ozi2

magraret · Senior Member

hi it is a brand new set up nisson ST 2.5lt auto diesel turbo we have a bull bar, weight distribution tow bar system with towing capacity of 3000kg towing a 20ft starcraft and have ony done 2300ks on the speedo of our new car we did use 5th gear and cruise control but not all the time just on the flat and down hills as we ae still learning how to drive. before we towed we where getting about 7.8lts 100kl then we we had our first service it went up to about 9lts 100ks and when we drove with the van it went up to 18lts 100kl

how can we better that please

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Welcome Margrarat
Our Prado is auto and Mr D drives with it in Drive while towing, and the automatic gearbox selects 4th gear when its suitable. That said, he chooses 3rd or 2nd or even low gear on downhills or winding roads. Is 4th gear overdrive? He didnt think so. He drives at around 90kph, mostly maintaining the revs at 2000 for best fuel economy. We tow 1850kg van, get around 15.5 lt diesel per 100k.

Cruise control is a whole different matter, you can get yourself into trouble using it when towing... not recommended at all. And it can increase fuel consumption as well, by forcing the vehicle to go faster up hills where you would otherwise slow down. Theres been several threads about this, type "Cruise control" into the search facility and you should get lots of info.

patrolst · Senior Member

Hi Magraret

We have a 2002 GU 3lt Manual Patrol and tow a 17.6 regent full van, and averaged 14.3ltrs on an 18,000+ trip from Brisbane to WA.

When I took the average on each tank between fills it use to vary between 13.6 and 17.3 and once went to 19.7 but the higher reading was when we spent the day towing through a mountain range.

So I feel your performance for an Auto in not to bad, and you may find you will get better performance as the engine wears in. Try doing your average over longer distances and you will find you may get a more acceptable result.

On the whole I'm happy with the performance of our vehicle.

You may find you could get a bit more efficiency if your speed is in the lower range (85 to 95klm's per hr). Try not using cruise control and lock the vehicle out of 5th gear.

Jim

-- Edited by patrolst on Saturday 7th of January 2012 10:05:14 AM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Brand new motor with only 2,300km on it will use more fuel until it has had a bit time (kilometres) to 'free up'. Therefore, I think 18ltr/100km at the moment is not too bad. Just use the throttle gently and sensibly - don't let it get too low in the revs up hills (or rises) and as the kms get on the clock it will perform better.

And because it is so new, I would definitely recommend to only tow in 4th gear and not 5th - even down hills. Maybe when it has got some more kms on the clock you could judiciously use 5th gear. Apart from motor 'freeing up' it is not usually wise to use 5th gear, as stated before, it does put extra strain on the transmission - especially if a manual.

I think your economy will improve over time.

Cheers

John

Dougwe · Chief one feather

You should be happy with the comments so far Margaret? I was talking to our diesel mechanic at work about an hour ago (I drive buses) and he said it is normal to use more when new and like RL just said it will improve, speed, tyer air pressure and being light on the pedal as I mentioned elsewhere all helps as well.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hi just a related question, I find my deisel ute in 4th gear gets to around 3000 towing at 90km - this seems to high. It drops down to 2500 or less when I put it into 5th which I have mostly avoided doing when towing. I think 3000 reves is not all that good for fuel consumption as everyone else on this thread seems to do around 2000. I haven't towed the van much and am only just starting to record fuel consumption etc.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

When towing, sometimes the rpm can be misleading. If the motor is 'ticking over' and feeling 'free' at 3000rpm at 90kh up hill and dale without stressing(may drop back a bit on some hills though), it may be more economical than sitting in 5th at 2500 and it will 'lug' on hills and rises.

Of course, on flat, endless QLD/NT/WA/NSW roads with little or no wind, 5th gear may give the better economy. A matter of trying various road/weather conditions and gears and speed and see what gives the best overall. And despite understanding the need for "good economy", where the motor works best and 'feels free' is more important for longevity.

I assume you have one of the 4X4 'utes'.

cheers

John

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Thanks John I am very mindful of the general principle never to use 5th. The ute is a 4x4 non-turbo deisel so I always have to be careful to get a good speed going up hills. It will invariably lose speed and its a matter of picking the best time to change down a gear. But often it will make it up a hill in 4th.

ginakeith · Newbie

We have a 06 Prado petrol our van is about 2000kg all up our fuel use has veried from as high as 24L/ 100klm as low as 18L/100lm the last trip. We travel at about 80-95kph this time we kept it in 4th no overdrive this gave us the 18L/100.Is this good or bad looking forward to some feed back

thanks Keith