Towing economy ? V6 Petrol 120 series

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

I posted this in the diesel section, but also relevant to this one due to my conclusion i guess...

Have recently completed the annual 5250km round trip Kal-Pilbara-Kimberly-Pilbara-Gascoyne-Kal. 100km/h on the bitumen, lots of slow dirt roads with ++dips, sand, beach etc. 2007 GXL D4D with Dueller AT 695s, pod, awning, maxtrax on roof, 2 adults 2 children towing 1250kg camper. 14l/100km average.

Did exactly the same trip last year in 2006 GXL 4.0l V6 petrol with the same gear. Wind profile and weight would have been identical. 19l/100km average.

Interesting back of fag packet equation. If you buy a fairly standard 2008 GXL D4D with ~100-150,000km privately, you'll pay ~$40k. The same vehicle in the petrol variant, also privately, will cost you ~$32k tops.

Ignoring servicing costs, and assuming a consistent ratio of diesel : petrol consumption towing v. not towing at Perth's current metro prices ($1.50 diesel, $1.40 ULP), you would have to drive >135,000km in the diesel to realise any savings on fuel over the petrol. By which time you've got a >250,000km vehicle. (The ratio is consistent from our fleet data, we have 6yrs of 1KD v. 1GR data).

That's a long way. And the petrol is for me a much nicer drive....

I have been saying this for years!!


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[hartster Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close hartster]

And hence why I am close to buying a petrol vehicle for an outback touring build project - Hilux GGN25R MY07 SR5. The long-term saving vs. the diesel is quite remarkable. Yes, range will be engineered in. But that's not something for this forum....

[Shimple Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Shimple]

And hence why I am close to buying a petrol vehicle for an outback touring build project - Hilux GGN25R MY07 SR5. The long-term saving vs. the diesel is quite remarkable. Yes, range will be engineered in. But that's not something for this forum....

Agree totally...
My 2 cents........If you keep the car for long periods, i.e. in excess of 10 years, a diesel will eventually pay you back and some.

I prefer the drive of the petrol as well, so much more responsive and smooth, which helps on long drives.

I also do not do many kms...My 05 GXL 4.0 has 104,000 on the clock. This is also a defining factor in my preference.

I am thinkimg of changing over to an FJ as we speak. IMO, and it differs from most, i love the look, and it is virtually a prado anyway...This is for another forum as well.

Cheers,
Paul

[Shimple Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Shimple]

I love my Perol Prado and want to go for a drive right now, but i am at home recoverring from an AC injury - Snowboarding. It will keep me out of the car for 8 weeks and off the trailbikes for 12 months..Poor me

[frederick Member Find all posts View Profile Close frederick]

For the record my average fuel usage update based on 12000k towing jayco discovery outback caravan weighing 2.3 tonne is 15.13 litres per hundred k with the lowest at 13.8 and the highest 17.44 recorded going into and returning from Kulgrera to mt dare in 3rd gear most Of the way. The issue is fuel price really which ranged from $2.25 at mt dare, 2.15 @ Uluru, 1.95 at Kulgera, $1.74 at Tennant creek, and $1.66 at Mt isa today.
D4d 5 speed auto, 3" exhaust, new injectors, roof rack, cooper at3, 2" lift, bullbar, spotties and the usual fruit.

Cheers
Wazza (Frederick)

[TBPrado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TBPrado]

High Country last weekend.
950km round trip which included 5-6 hours of touring up to a couple of huts (1-2 hrs of low range) minus camper.
Camper weighs over 1 tonne. Averaged 16.6 lt per 100km.
Sat on the speed limit entire way.
Easily made it up Pentland hills at 110kmh. Loving the V6 power.

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

My latest figure towing our Jayco swan outback, loaded to the hilt ( both car and van ) got 29 ltr/100, 115ltr travelling a measley 389km. Sitting on 90kph max

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

High Country last weekend.
950km round trip which included 5-6 hours of touring up to a couple of huts (1-2 hrs of low range) minus camper.
Camper weighs over 1 tonne. Averaged 16.6 lt per 100km.
Sat on the speed limit entire way.
Easily made it up Pentland hills at 110kmh. Loving the V6 power.

Here I'm thinking that's pretty ok.......... Considering truck, towing, offroad stuff......

My latest figure towing our Jayco swan outback, loaded to the hilt ( both car and van ) got 29 ltr/100, 115ltr travelling a measley 389km. Sitting on 90kph max

Then I read this............ Nasty that un economy eyyyyy

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Righto people's, I'm now considering burning our Prado and claiming a bit of insurance . My fuel economy scenario is getting worse.just used a tank of fuel to travel 267km, sitting on 90kph. From the previous post above I cleaned the MAF sensor, made no difference, cleaned my K&N filter that was clean, again no difference and I'm now averaging 30-32 ltr per 100 (or worse) towing or not, grrrr. At this rate, my trip round OZ is going to become very short (or long, as ill have to get another job to fill the tanks in each town)
I'm may e starting to think that the oxy sensors are shot, your thoughts here would be appreciated. Also on another note, my auto shifter has become very sloppy and I have to hold it in drive or she keeps jumping to third. Is there a pin on the box that may have come adrift??
I arrived in Karratha today, will see if Toyota is open tomorrow

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

i would get the O2 sensors checked to see if they are working
can you see if it is blowing Black smoke? or should be very fummee out the exhaust
do you have a scan guage ? what is the water temp running at ?
pull the plugs to se what color they are
does the car run propperly with the van off? does it feel powerfull or sluggish?
also check to see if you have any brakes dragging on the van & rear brake on the prado

james

[Guest Close Guest]

1tuff4b,
I can help with the shifter problem.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ver-repair-kit

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

[QUOTE=Razorback81;405259]i would get the O2 sensors checked to see if they are working
can you see if it is blowing Black smoke? or should be very fummee out the exhaust
do you have a scan guage ? what is the water temp running at ?
pull the plugs to se what color they are
does the car run propperly with the van off? does it feel powerfull or sluggish?
also check to see if you have any brakes dragging on the van & rear brake on the prado

cheers for your reply. will check the above mentioned. the car does feel slightly sluggish with and without van, blows no smoke and smell is good from its rear. I have noticed that the exhaust seems to be getting rather hot tho. after crossing yardie creek, I couldn't touch the side step on the drivers side, seemed rather odd.
no, I don't have a scan gauge and the car runs fine without the van

[Austo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Austo]

High fuel consumption

Hi Stevo,
I have the same issue with my 120 Prado... (Dual-Fuel) a whopping 39ltrs per 100ks therefore had a dyno tune which only dropped it a little down to 24.5 per 100ks towing a 2.5tonn van Moreover, I will be taking it back to the mechanic to see what is wrong with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not Happy at all with my figures, need help!!! Just done a trip to the Murray on the Hume Hwy, towing a 17 foot Jayco Heritage pop top, 3 adults on board. Started on Gas only got 230 k's on 63 litres!!! Driving between 95 to 100 kph in drive and not using cruise control.Switched to petrol and results the same!!! Just watched the guage dropping as I was driving!!! Have checked if brakes on caravan are sticking and same with the car, everything is fine there, new air filter 4000k's ago, can't explain this at all, it seems incredible that some of you guys are getting brilliant fuel economy on petrol, I have never got anywhere near your figures even without the van, would like to think there is a problem with the car but it seems fine, so can anyone come up with a few ideas before it goes to Toyota?

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Well after my rig going back to the mechanics for a third time, I've now dropped to 20/100km unloaded and not towing. That has included the use of high range 4wd along the beach and up at cape leveque. My rear brakes where sticking and the handbrake was on constantly ( the handbrake on the car fellas ). My handbrake cables where also sized and needed replacing

[Austo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Austo]

Hi all 120 V6 40L PETROL Prado owner's... Can anyone tell me where there is a good mechanic experienced with working on LPG in the Central Coast area of NSW... Thanks heaps if anyone can help me with frustrating issue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!