Fuel Economy

[indiandme Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close indiandme]

Hi, I have a 2002 TX 3 lt TD auto, I've been keeping a record of my fuel aconomy for the last 32 000 km and am averaging 12.58lts per 100 kms. This includes approx 10 000 kms towing a Jacyo Hawk outback, approx 13 000 kms open road driving (ravel roads/highways) and the rest to and from work, shops, kids soccer, etc. I in no way drive economically eg. like to drive on the speed limit, as I have the right to.

[Guest Close Guest]

Not sure what point your trying to make.

Is it that "this is the economy you can get when you just say "to hell with driving conservatively""

Or "I don't care about the price of diesel, I'm going to drive at the speed limit because I can"

Or perhaps "your all so wrapped aroud the axles about driving slow to save money"

Which is it? Or do you have another agenda?

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

Looks quite clear to me... :?

They're getting 12.58 lt/100 under the stated driving conditions and drives normally, at the speed limit... ie. not driving slower to conserve fuel.

[Yowie in Oz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Yowie in Oz]

Re: Fuel Economy

Driving sedately around the Newcastle/Lower Hunter region, I average 9 litres to the 100 kilometres. That is accelerating effortlessly, change gears at 2000 RPM, and cruise on 80 KPH (yes, I am that mobile speed bump in front of you). I have the 90 litre main and 69 litre sub. I am nudging 800 clicks before the fuel light comes on before flicking on the sub, then to get another 600 clicks before looking for another diesel pump (Caltex preferably).

Yowie

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Fuel Economy

Yowie,

That's great. Must be very satisfying to have a 4WD that seems to do little else apart from potter around Newcastle in an effort to attain fantatsic fuel economy. All the power to you...

You must have conniptions whenever you have to drive anywhere with a load, towing at highway speed or doing sandwork or low speed 4 WDing.

[Yowie in Oz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Yowie in Oz]

Re: Fuel Economy

You must have conniptions whenever you have to drive anywhere with a load, towing at highway speed or doing sandwork or low speed 4 WDing.

Nope, not at all. I do realise that there will always be a time when more Diesel is used when required. For example. The Christmas of 2008, I filled up at Maryborough QLD. There was a severe storm on the coast, so decided to head down through Warrick, Stanthorpe, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Tamworth, through the back of Scone, then continue through to Medowie via Maitland. I travelled on speeds mostly of 100 KPH, except heading through Stanthorpe because somehow the storm followed me and it was rather nasty. Other then that I just cruised on the 100 KPH. That trip alone was just over 1100 kilometres, and when I arrived in Raymond Terrace, I filled up with just a bee's dick over 100 litres of Diesel. I thought that was good. Admittedly, when driving on sand, I do use more, just as any car would do because driving on sand, especially soft sand, with your tires aired down, your motor works harder because it's like driving up hill. Or using low range whilst 4WDing, Yes, I do use more, not as much as sand, but more than driving on the black stuff. When towing I average around the 10 litres per 100 clicks.

As with any vehicle, it depends on a number of things, but, keeping in mind that by dumping your foot on the loud pedal from a standing start, it will suck more fuel/diesel. Bigger wheels will also have effects on economy. Incorrect tyre pressure. Excessive loads. Throttle abuse (taxi driving). I coast up to the speed limit in a manner-able fashion so as not to use to much of something that isn't really necessary. Once coasting, easing off the accelerator, and just feathering it to keep the desired speed helps heaps with economy.

But, the way I look at it, why rush and be in a hurry, when I can leave earlier and enjoy the scenery on the way. I am always more than positive that if I stop at a set of lights, that the driver behind me will never get out of their car, walk up to me and say...."Hey mate, if I pay for your Diesel and wear and tear on your car, could you please speed up?"......I am not endangering anybody's lives or holding up traffic. I am driving at a speed that I feel is reasonable, and if needed, I will do the 100 KPH. But until I do, it's still happy days, and I am arriving at my destination safely in the most economical fashion that I can.

Yowie

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

Re: Fuel Economy

I have a 2000 KZJ95R with 1KZ-TE / manual trans. On one 7hr run using cruise control on highway achieved 9.5 litres/100 km. Usually average highway of around 10km per litre unless towing. With heavy trailer or boat can get down to around 650 - 700 km per tank (90 litres) . I suspect if I really gave it some with a heavy load I could get down to about 500 km per tank - horsepower or work done = fuel/air in appropriate ratio. Can't argue with math. Over here in NZ I couldn't afford to run a petrol prado if I was towing.

[minh Member Find all posts View Profile Close minh]

When I had my Auto 2001 VX model I got around 15.8l/100kms.
Now I get 14.5l/100kms in my 1999 Manual Snowy.

Amazing what manual does in the 90 series prado.

My drive to work is only about 9 minutes too..

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

Probably about time for a quick update from me. My 98 3.4V6 manual always seemed a bit on the thirsty side. Especially so when I towed a huge 2000kg furniture trailer recently (which may have weighed slightly more than that). I got about 23l/100km towing the trailer over about 950km (Wagga Wagga to Adelaide).

Now I'm driving to work and back (about 15km) using mainly some back roads to Parafield Airport, and the last two tanks were quite good. I got 12.8l/100km on the last tank, and the one before was 12.4l/100km. Admittedly there's not a lot of traffic or stop/start driving involved.

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

When I had my Auto 2001 VX model I got around 15.8l/100kms.
Now I get 14.5l/100kms in my 1999 Manual Snowy.

Amazing what manual does in the 90 series prado.

My drive to work is only about 9 minutes too..

My auto gets around the 12L/100Km quite regularly, even better on the long journeys.

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

My auto gets around the 12L/100Km quite regularly, even better on the long journeys.

Lucky

My personal best was 13L/100km and avg 16-17L/100km in Sydney traffic

[minh Member Find all posts View Profile Close minh]

My auto gets around the 12L/100Km quite regularly, even better on the long journeys.

Are you doing 9 minute drives to work though? My was stop start. No room for a steady pedal

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

Don't talk to me about fuel economy

Currently sitting at between 16 & 22 l/100!
Hopefully tomorrow I'll find out if the engine is still returning an error code. New mechanic... new set of eyes. Hopefully I might get to the bottom of my fuel use soon.

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Sounds familiar Snaga!
Can't remember if I've posted in here before.
Used to get approx 20L/100km, now with the Airaid and Unifilter in, consistently around the 18L/100km mark. This is driving with a car full of tools, with roofrack and the extra weight of bullbar/winch etc.
Doesn't really bother me, I get to claim all my petrol on tax =D

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

Thankfully the Prado is 96% tax deductible as well Makes it a bit easier to bear...
I have a power delivery issue up around the 2800 - 3900 rpm range... makes it frustrating to tow at the moment and the fuel usage is a byproduct of that I suspect.
I'm having the brakes overhauled tomorrow and he's going to throw the computer on it to see what shows up.
Fingers crossed...