I note from time to time some make enquiries with regard to fuel usage figures on the 200 series.
I recently towed a 2 tonne boat from Adelaide to North Queensland approx 2850 klms.
As a matter of interest I got 17.3 litres per 100 klms towing the boat up there and got 10.3 litres per 100 klms on the return trip not towing.
I sat on 100 kph towing where it was safe and legal and on 110 kph when it was also safe and legal on the return.
My vehicle has standard wheels and tyres and an aluminium bull bar.
It has a Richards torque convertor lock up kit which I believe does help with achieving slightly better fuel economy.
It has no other modifications that would affect fuel consumption although it has received a Lovells suspension upgrade.
This info may help someone considering one of these vehicles.
patrol03 said
12:53 PM Jan 22, 2019
How long do you think it will take to recoup the cost of the converter lock up kit and fitting in terms of fuel savings.?
Dickodownunder said
04:20 PM Jan 22, 2019
patrol03 wrote:
How long do you think it will take to recoup the cost of the converter lock up kit and fitting in terms of fuel savings.?
That is a great question and certainly one that I asked prior to the modification.
Most reports state that an improvement of approxirately 3 litres per 100 klms is achieved and from my own observation that for the most part is pretty close.
Lets take a cost per litre on the above trip of $1.50 per litre for diesel. It was dearer in some towns and a bit cheaper in others.
If we were to save 3 litres per 100klms then it would amount to $4.50 per 100 klms.
Lets not argue or gloss it up and use 2 litres per 100 klms at a saving of $3.00 per 100 klms.
Therefore for every thousand kilometres there would be a saving of $30.00 so for every ten thousand kilometres there would be a saving of $300.00
From memory the cost of the modification was about $400.00 when I had mine done so for under 15000 klms you would have recouped the cost. Remembering above the figures were skewed on the side of NOT overstating results.
I hope this helps.
Dickodownunder said
04:23 PM Jan 22, 2019
I might add that the reason I used this trip as an example is because I did not unhitch the boat over the entire trip as opposed to travelling with the van when at times it is unhooked and the vehicle driven bob-tail which again, alters the result.
blaze said
06:19 PM Jan 22, 2019
I might be dumb, but why do you need to fit a TC lockup to a LC200. surely at the price they are Toyota would fit them standard.
cheers
blaze
Dickodownunder said
07:11 PM Jan 22, 2019
blaze wrote:
I might be dumb, but why do you need to fit a TC lockup to a LC200. surely at the price they are Toyota would fit them standard. cheers blaze
Hi blaze, you are not dumb and you contribution is yet another great and most definitely warranted enquiry.
The 200 series is sold on a world market and unfortunately Aussie roads are far less than what most consider World Class.
Compared to overseas our road system and motorways are a joke and an embarrasment.
In 6th gear at 110 kph the 200 engine is operating at 1550 RPM. Lets not split hairs here... this is with standard wheels and tyres as supplied in Aus. In Europe and some other countries 130 kph is more the norm and as such the big old Toyota actually gets into top gear.
Unfortunately in Aus we are on the most common highways subject to not much more than a goat track which legally we cannot exceed 100 kph.
So where do we go from there, for example when driving without towing, a driver of a 200 series may choose to select D, and drive the vehicle. Without any modification it will continually try to select the gears either fifth or sixth depending on the terrain.
So to the layman that is not a problem, after all, the car is driving and it is doing as the manufacturer designed it to do.
If you are on the Bruce Highway for example and the speed limit is only 100 kph then your 200 series will lope along in entire comfort for you and your passengers.
Lets connect a caravan or a boat or a heavy trailer and see what happens at our Highway Speeds in Australia with this vehicle that is designed to travel at greate speeds than what is permitted by law in Aus.
First up the transmission is flaring between 4th 5th and 6th gear depending on the terrain, the push of your right foot and the actual vehicle speed. The reason for this is that the vehicle is designed for much better roads that we may ever imagine here in Aus.
Some astute operators who do not wish to fit any modifications to their vehicles decide just to select fourth gear and travel in that gear which provides a great operating engine rev range provided they are not wanting to take advantage of the better fuel consumption and cooler transmission temperatures offered with the modification of the Torque Convertor Lock Up Kit. They also will not gain any reduction in Transmission Oil Temperature and that is not so much a problem because their highway speed is generally around 85 kph (90 on the speedo)
These lock up kits may only to be judged on a fuel economy figure but, if you consider the saving in Transmission Operating Temps then they more than pay for themselves.
Yes blaze I agree that the Lock up kit should not be needed if the 200 series could be re programmed to suit Aus road conditions but up until the present time the reprogramming of the ECU is not an acceptable procedure at the Toyota level.
I guess I did not need to mention the fact that my personal vehicle has a Torque Convertor Lock Up Kit but it is better in my opinion to be transparent.
I have already stated in other posts that the Lock Up Kit makes the 200 series drive as I wish Toyoata should have made it.
I might add that the 200 series is not everyones vehicle as it is an expensive tow vehicle and it does have other problems with weight compliance but this post was about FUEL CONSUMPTION and was in now way meant to be a promotion of the 200 series but more a contribution to any who may enquire about fuel consumption through the Search Function on this forum.
I hope I have explained things to satisfaction.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 07:12:02 PM
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 07:33:07 PM
blaze said
07:57 PM Jan 22, 2019
Still seems pretty slack, must be one of the few auto vehicles without a lock up. When I was driving disco 1 the lads used to buy a TC lockup kit after market. My disco 2 come out standard with TC lockup both using the same roads as a LC 200.
For the record I do drive a range rover, a p38 that loves a drop of fuel (18.3 towing 24 foot van, 4.6 v8 petrol), so not too pick on brands, I also have a Toyota coaster motor home, just sold the van
Cheers
blaze
Dickodownunder said
08:48 PM Jan 22, 2019
blaze You are absolutely correct in as much as most manufacturers could make all our lives better if only by embracing technology and the useage conditions.
Your choice of vehicle is Your Choice and should not be influenced by anything other than your needs. It is the same with my choice....
I am not going into the reasons for my choice in this topic
Aus is a very small country and no matter what we will all never benefit from technology based overseas but that was not the intention of my initial post.
My post was only meant to provide some figures for any interested persons who may be doing a search on our forum for fuel consumption details relating to the 200 series.
Noelpolar said
10:08 PM Jan 22, 2019
FWIW.... the 200 series does have a TC lock up ..... operates in 4, 5 and 6th gear. When towing heavy (3.3t in my case).... locks in 4th no worries... 80km/h on.... locks 5th from 95km/h ... on the flat..... best to drive it by selecting s4 or s5 when towing...... programing of auto box was improved with 2016 model. Some still add a after market lock up controller for even better performance.... like people add off road tyres, roo bars etc. I tow without a TC lock up kit... as most do.
The most anoying auto box attribute occurs when the box changes down under load, say from 5th to 4th.... it goes from 5th locked to 4th unlocked and revs go up a fair bit..... with a after market lock up kit it keeps the tc locked wnen changjng down form 6th to 5th to 4th.... some feel this is better. I assume Toyota are somewhat conservative and chose to unlock the TC to protect mechanical things for some reason. Also... holding it locked at high load and lowish revs sends EGTs through the roof if abused... something to watch when modifying in this way.
-- Edited by Noelpolar on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 10:14:04 PM
-- Edited by Noelpolar on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 10:49:54 PM
Dickodownunder said
11:01 PM Jan 22, 2019
Noelpolar wrote:
FWIW.... the 200 series does have a TC lock up ..... operates in 4, 5 and 6th gear. When towing heavy (3.3t in my case).... locks in 4th no worries... 80km/h on.... locks 5th from 95km/h ... on the flat..... best to drive it by selecting s4 or s5 when towing...... programing of auto box was improved with 2016 model. Some still add a after market lock up controller for even better performance.... like people add off road tyres, roo bars etc. I tow without a TC lock up kit... as most do.
The most anoying auto box attribute occurs when the box changes down under load, say from 5th to 4th.... it goes from 5th locked to 4th unlocked and revs go up a fair bit..... with a after market lock up kit it keeps the tc locked wnen changjng down form 6th to 5th to 4th.... some feel this is better. I assume Toyota are somewhat conservative and chose to unlock the TC to protect mechanical things for some reason. Also... holding it locked at high load and lowish revs sends EGTs through the roof if abused... something to watch when modifying in this way.
-- Edited by Noelpolar on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 10:14:04 PM
-- Edited by Noelpolar on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 10:49:54 PM
Again, this is another great explanation of the the op of a TC but it is not about fuel consumption results of my trip.
my info on only included the T C lock Up Mod so as to indicate what was done to my vehicle.
I note from time to time some make enquiries with regard to fuel usage figures on the 200 series.
I recently towed a 2 tonne boat from Adelaide to North Queensland approx 2850 klms.
As a matter of interest I got 17.3 litres per 100 klms towing the boat up there and got 10.3 litres per 100 klms on the return trip not towing.
I sat on 100 kph towing where it was safe and legal and on 110 kph when it was also safe and legal on the return.
My vehicle has standard wheels and tyres and an aluminium bull bar.
It has a Richards torque convertor lock up kit which I believe does help with achieving slightly better fuel economy.
It has no other modifications that would affect fuel consumption although it has received a Lovells suspension upgrade.
This info may help someone considering one of these vehicles.
That is a great question and certainly one that I asked prior to the modification.
Most reports state that an improvement of approxirately 3 litres per 100 klms is achieved and from my own observation that for the most part is pretty close.
Lets take a cost per litre on the above trip of $1.50 per litre for diesel. It was dearer in some towns and a bit cheaper in others.
If we were to save 3 litres per 100klms then it would amount to $4.50 per 100 klms.
Lets not argue or gloss it up and use 2 litres per 100 klms at a saving of $3.00 per 100 klms.
Therefore for every thousand kilometres there would be a saving of $30.00 so for every ten thousand kilometres there would be a saving of $300.00
From memory the cost of the modification was about $400.00 when I had mine done so for under 15000 klms you would have recouped the cost. Remembering above the figures were skewed on the side of NOT overstating results.
I hope this helps.
cheers
blaze
Hi blaze, you are not dumb and you contribution is yet another great and most definitely warranted enquiry.
The 200 series is sold on a world market and unfortunately Aussie roads are far less than what most consider World Class.
Compared to overseas our road system and motorways are a joke and an embarrasment.
In 6th gear at 110 kph the 200 engine is operating at 1550 RPM. Lets not split hairs here... this is with standard wheels and tyres as supplied in Aus. In Europe and some other countries 130 kph is more the norm and as such the big old Toyota actually gets into top gear.
Unfortunately in Aus we are on the most common highways subject to not much more than a goat track which legally we cannot exceed 100 kph.
So where do we go from there, for example when driving without towing, a driver of a 200 series may choose to select D, and drive the vehicle. Without any modification it will continually try to select the gears either fifth or sixth depending on the terrain.
So to the layman that is not a problem, after all, the car is driving and it is doing as the manufacturer designed it to do.
If you are on the Bruce Highway for example and the speed limit is only 100 kph then your 200 series will lope along in entire comfort for you and your passengers.
Lets connect a caravan or a boat or a heavy trailer and see what happens at our Highway Speeds in Australia with this vehicle that is designed to travel at greate speeds than what is permitted by law in Aus.
First up the transmission is flaring between 4th 5th and 6th gear depending on the terrain, the push of your right foot and the actual vehicle speed. The reason for this is that the vehicle is designed for much better roads that we may ever imagine here in Aus.
Some astute operators who do not wish to fit any modifications to their vehicles decide just to select fourth gear and travel in that gear which provides a great operating engine rev range provided they are not wanting to take advantage of the better fuel consumption and cooler transmission temperatures offered with the modification of the Torque Convertor Lock Up Kit. They also will not gain any reduction in Transmission Oil Temperature and that is not so much a problem because their highway speed is generally around 85 kph (90 on the speedo)
These lock up kits may only to be judged on a fuel economy figure but, if you consider the saving in Transmission Operating Temps then they more than pay for themselves.
Yes blaze I agree that the Lock up kit should not be needed if the 200 series could be re programmed to suit Aus road conditions but up until the present time the reprogramming of the ECU is not an acceptable procedure at the Toyota level.
I guess I did not need to mention the fact that my personal vehicle has a Torque Convertor Lock Up Kit but it is better in my opinion to be transparent.
I have already stated in other posts that the Lock Up Kit makes the 200 series drive as I wish Toyoata should have made it.
I might add that the 200 series is not everyones vehicle as it is an expensive tow vehicle and it does have other problems with weight compliance but this post was about FUEL CONSUMPTION and was in now way meant to be a promotion of the 200 series but more a contribution to any who may enquire about fuel consumption through the Search Function on this forum.
I hope I have explained things to satisfaction.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 07:12:02 PM
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 07:33:07 PM
For the record I do drive a range rover, a p38 that loves a drop of fuel (18.3 towing 24 foot van, 4.6 v8 petrol), so not too pick on brands, I also have a Toyota coaster motor home, just sold the van
Cheers
blaze
Your choice of vehicle is Your Choice and should not be influenced by anything other than your needs. It is the same with my choice....
I am not going into the reasons for my choice in this topic
Aus is a very small country and no matter what we will all never benefit from technology based overseas but that was not the intention of my initial post.
My post was only meant to provide some figures for any interested persons who may be doing a search on our forum for fuel consumption details relating to the 200 series.
FWIW.... the 200 series does have a TC lock up ..... operates in 4, 5 and 6th gear. When towing heavy (3.3t in my case).... locks in 4th no worries... 80km/h on.... locks 5th from 95km/h ... on the flat..... best to drive it by selecting s4 or s5 when towing...... programing of auto box was improved with 2016 model. Some still add a after market lock up controller for even better performance.... like people add off road tyres, roo bars etc. I tow without a TC lock up kit... as most do.
The most anoying auto box attribute occurs when the box changes down under load, say from 5th to 4th.... it goes from 5th locked to 4th unlocked and revs go up a fair bit..... with a after market lock up kit it keeps the tc locked wnen changjng down form 6th to 5th to 4th.... some feel this is better. I assume Toyota are somewhat conservative and chose to unlock the TC to protect mechanical things for some reason. Also... holding it locked at high load and lowish revs sends EGTs through the roof if abused... something to watch when modifying in this way.
-- Edited by Noelpolar on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 10:14:04 PM
-- Edited by Noelpolar on Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 10:49:54 PM
Again, this is another great explanation of the the op of a TC but it is not about fuel consumption results of my trip.
my info on only included the T C lock Up Mod so as to indicate what was done to my vehicle.