Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Hi Newbie here :?

I am new to the Prado ownership ranks.
I was a little worried about fuel consumption before I bought a Prado (or any 4WD for that matter) however, I am ok with figures ranging from 12-15 L/100km for a stock 3.4 auto with no load in 50/50 conditions.
I am a little concerned when after filling the 90 litre tank (with 72L after the light came on, that I have already used up 1/4 of the tank and only just hit 100km. I am no lead foot and have been very cautious but if the tank and guage are accurately calibrated, then I am expecting that this tank full will average out at 20L/100km which is horrific.

This might not be the right thread to bring it up, but does the computer and auto transmission 'learn' from the driver, and can I reset it back to factory settings so it can learn my drving styles ? Can it be done without disconnecting the battery, because if I do that I will have to enter a pin into the Radio, and I don't have it (so wanting to avoid that little annoyance).

cheers for any help/advice ops:

Welcome BirdMan

It's so hard to gauge the gauges I've thought what you're saying before but it never really calculates that way.

If it does turn out to be 20lt however... I'd be searching old threads about improving fuel consumption as that's not right for a stock 90. Things like, clean air filters, MAF sensor etc...

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

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

13ish lts... that's about right for what I was getting........ b4 all the extras went on
If it's ALL h/way driving you could probably expect a little better but with around town as well it sounds right.
But it's only lifted to 15ish with all the extra weight and meatier tyres.

Yeah, I'm quite happy so far, but there's always room for improvement. Best I got on a tank so far was 7.8km/l (12.8l/100km). I'm sure the little bit of lift has a small influence, as well as the 265/75/16 Dick Cepek F-C II tyres. I have not checked the odometer yet, but the speedometer is now indicating the same as GPS with the slightly bigger tyres than standard.

It should also go for a 160,000km service soon, which might improve consumption by about 0.00001 l/100km... :lol:

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

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

I don't know how many litre's per 100k's mine uses as I've never sat down and worked it out. I get around 330-360 k's out of the sub tank and around 500-550 k's out of the main tank, this is generally every day around town driving with a bit of highway and a bit of beach.

Cheers,
Alan

[BirdMan Member Find all posts View Profile Close BirdMan]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

I just read a thread about the fuel return to the other tank. This may explain a few things. Will have to do a 2 tank fill test to get accurate fuel economy figures.

cheers

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

I just read a thread about the fuel return to the other tank. This may explain a few things. Will have to do a 2 tank fill test to get accurate fuel economy figures.

cheers

Yeah, the only way to get an accurate measurement is to fill both tanks till full. Drive around recording any amounts filled and then tally all amounts after the next total fill and the kilometres since the last total fill. I fill to the top every time as I do so many k's each week so it makes keeping track of fuel figures nice and easy.

[bmurray2250 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bmurray2250]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Normal driving around Brisbane I get 600KM on the main and 300KM on 3/4 of the reserve. Estimating around 1000KM for fuel load.
Highway is 700KM and 450KM per tank. Estimate 1150KM +
I drive the Prado easy on the road. I am about to drive Brisbane to Sydney without fuel stops and 2- 3 days driving within Sydney.
I have recently serviced the vehicle and changed from the standard NGK plugs to the Bosch spark plugs. I have roughly worked out I am getting 7KM/l since the change. This includes city driving and 4 hours offroad in low range. I will be testing the results over the next full tank load.
Talking to some other Prado only recently, one is getting 10-11L/100km on his economy. He was using a good quality 15W/40 oil and K&N filter on a Grande VX.

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

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Hi bmurray2250, are you running a 4 or 6 cyl petrol or a diesel ?

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

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Hey guys,

(3.4 V6 Auto on 91RON)

Got the calculator out at the servo here the other day.. Combined suburbs / 80-90kph freeway result was 14.4 l/100kms. It's actually better than I anticipated, but we'll try again after I pull that bloody flap out of the main muffler! :twisted:

[bmurray2250 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bmurray2250]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

I have a Prado 1998 V6 3.4L Petrol with BFG AT tyres, 2" lift, bull bar, etc.

I use a K&N filter and have been using 15W/40 oil in the vehicle for the last 8,000KM. Recently did the service which included, oil change (15W/40 oil), greasing the CV's and then changing the plugs from the standard NGK to Bosch.

L/100KM

15.662
13.693
13.613
14.690
11.837
13.843
15.424
17.861
14.780
18.943
25.756
17.036
16.727
12.967
13.729
16.545
17.056
13.854
14.018
13.605
16.034
15.423
15.097
15.928
15.296
15.326
14.580
22.604
20.631
16.152
16.962
17.560
15.382
15.352

The high fuel use over 17l/100KM include offroad, beach driving and with a trailer. I am averaging around 6.5KM/l which isn't to bad when Fraser and Moreton Island trips in there. Present fuel load which is coming up a refuel on Tuesday is giving good signs. Main tank: used 45l (roughly) for 250KM which is bad. Changed the spark plugs just below half and then went bush of a day. Drove over the great diving range to get to the club meet. Ran out of fuel on the main tank at 574KM (which include 4 hours of low range driving). I just about half on the aux tank (I have the 60L Aux) and have 780KM. I can tell you I have imporved my fuel since the plug change and have more power.

The next 2 loads of fuel will be interesting

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

That range of figures looks familiar... glad I'm not the only one who has the occasional +20l/100 moments.

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

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

well the last 2 full tanks(both Tanks Full) , the first before i replaced the airflow meter and the second after, first tank, Canberra to Griffith return. the second tank was Canberra to sydney return.
15.6 first tank, 13.8 second tank. Pretty happy with the second tank.

[bmurray2250 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bmurray2250]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Getting 7KM/L (14.2L/100KM) in the city and 6.9KM/L from the Jenowen Hill (includes small amount of highway and city driving). The Prado is running the best I have seen since recording the fuel usage

[bmurray2250 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bmurray2250]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

The K&N air filter is good as long as you maintain it correctly. The difference in performance and economy between the standard and K&N was zip which may change when the snorkel is fitted in the next few weeks. I talked to other 4x4 owners and mechanics that I know and they said it should help the breathing of the vehicle and they had changed to the K&N. The cost of the OEM filter for 3 replacements equal a K&N with recharge kits. Comes down to your perferance but I feel I made a good decision but only time will tell.

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

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Hey again dudes!

I'm now on my third fill of 95RON Premium and fuel consumption's dropped to 13.6 l/100km (from 14.44 on 91RON).

Still hasn't offset the cost yet, I calculate I'm getting 7% greater efficienct but spending 8% more on fuel.

Can't win eh!

[bmurray2250 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bmurray2250]

Re: Fuel consumption... Petrol 90 series only

Recent fuel usage has improved and besides driving in Gold Coast traffic and off-road trip my Prado is showing good ecomony running standard unleaded fuel. A friend also with a Prado V3.4 has changed back to standard unleaded from E10 and getting much better fuel returns. Recommend to clean the MAS which is between the air filter and engine if it hasn't been done for a while, it will cause issues with the fuel use.

L/100KM Type of driving
14.463 City driving and Jenowen Hill 4x4 trip. Service done with new spark plugs.
14.264 City driving
14.208 City driving and short trip on highway
12.410 Snorkel Installed - Hervey Bay trip
15.423 Gold Coast, Gatton 4wd trip and city driving and cleaned MAS
12.689 Esk, Kilcoy and city driving