Petrol economy differences - Towing not towing

[bdee Member Find all posts View Profile Close bdee]

Hi All,

When I considered buying a Prado I looked at both Petrol and Diesel ultimately deciding on the Petrol after the wife stepped in and said the diesel sounded to much like a truck. Driving around town I love the power of the Petrol and on the open road fuel economy is not that bad.

I have found that the average of 11.5 quoted near on impossible overall however to and from work about 13-14 and on the open road in the 11's is about right.

Towing however my rig drinks. I find that sitting on a 100km I average about 21 litres per 100 towing a 5.5 m boat and closer to 22 litres per 100 towing a 21ft caravan.


Are these figures consistent with what others are achieving and interested in how much better the Diesel is?

Brett

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

Hi Brett

I don't have accurate numbers but I think I averaged early 20's towing a Kimberley Kamper, with the Prado cargo areas and roof-rack pretty full.
That was over pretty flat dirt and bitumen,

Trev

[bdee Member Find all posts View Profile Close bdee]

Thanks Trev,

My Commodores gets about 2/3litres better when than my Prado which surprises me a little? My father 90 series was also about 2 litres better towing my boat.

Brett

[Chaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chaser]

I get 12-13 in my t/d with a fair amount of gear on it all the time also gets driven pretty hard all the time. When towing our 1400kg camper we average 16-18 depending on the terain, always doing the speed limit and towing in 5th too.

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

My modified 150 manual turbo diesel does 12.4 with five people and a fully loaded camper, about 4.3 tonne total.

I have a roof rack and side awning fitted also.

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

Brett,

Sounds about right with a petrol when towing a weighty van. Mine is similar, a 2010 GXL auto.

Don't tow a lot, so when the van is not there, the Prado moves along very nicely on country roads.

Changed the exhaust back from the extractors, 2.5 inch system with a straight flow muffler. Tows the van with ease on the flat, but uses the juice up a hill.

I just fill it up and don't worry about the cost.

Dave.

[Geoffury Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffury]

I've just come back from Coral Bay, towing a 6.5mtr ridgid inflatable boat. Thats a 2600km round trip for you easterners. Sitting on 100-110kms/hr. overtaking slower cars & trucks as we went.

Have since found out the boat is over the towing rate of the Prado. Empty, it's 2655Kilo, add fuel and water plus extra gear we put in there, I was over the 3 Tonne mark.
On the way up I averaged 24L/100kms. That's about half flat and half hilly terrain. On the way back with a bad head wind, I got 29.5L/100kms. Not good.

The section from Kalbarri to Geraldton, 155kms and fairly hilly, I got 2.5km per ltr.

So I used a fair bit of petrol, but It did let me take the Prado places the diesels couldn't!

[okkanui Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close okkanui]

I went for the 150 series VX petrol because the cost differential on the diesel didn't cut it for me given the annual km's I do (and usually only keep vehicle for 3-4 yrs max). I have averaged 12.5L/100kms city driving (Melbourne) over past 3yrs, and can quite easily get 10L/100 highway driving. Towing my 2 tonne boat/trailer normally returns 14-16L/100. This can be worse if pushing into a strong headwind. I must have a light touch on the accelerator lol.