Fuel Consumption

Dick0 · Guru

RE: Fuel Consumption

Are We Lost · Guru

I have a 2018 Ford Ranger 3.2L diesel, and a high 21 foot van (3.15M to top of AC). When away for more than a week or two it gets loaded to close to the GCM of 6000kg. Shorter trips maybe 5500kg. Typical towing speed would be a true 90+ kph on good highway, varied as road conditions permit. When not towing most of the driving is in the local built up area.

I have monitored fuel consumption since new and have a spreadsheet recording every fill, accurate to 0.1 of a litre. About 45% of total kilometers has been while towing.

Average consumption overall: 13.0 lphk
Average consumption while towing: 15.5 lphk (typical 15.2)
Worst consumption: 21.1 lphk (Dorrigo Mountain and around that area) Also 18.1 lphk in Snowy Mountains, West on Alpine Way, then East to Tumut

Best consumption when towing 14.6 lphk in Central Australia. Speed was typically close to a true 100kph
Best consumption: 9.2 lphk (not towing - mostly highway)

I have been surprised there is not more difference between flat easy country and the mountains.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Sunday 20th of August 2023 05:58:11 PM

The Belmont Bear · Guru

DickO before setting off the first time we invested a few $$ for Auswide a mobile weighing service to check our weights. They told us to load the car and van exactly as if we were traveling including ourselves, clothes, food, everything that we would be taking also to make sure that our water tanks, fuel tank and gas bottles were full. They weighed the car and the van then showed us while still on the scales what effect placing a test weight in different positions had on the scale readouts. When hitched we had 65kg additional possible payload on the Jeep and 155kg on the van everything including axle loading was well within the limits the problem we had was that our towball weight was a bit light. They showed us how to redistribute our load to achieve the 9 to 11% guideline. We received a full written report from them which i always carry with us it probably wont influence anyone but at least it gives the impression that we have tried to do the right thing. Actually we did get stopped by the police as we rolled into Port Augusta a couple of weeks ago but they were only interested in doing breath tests and checking tyre condition. They didnt look like they had any scales so if they questioned me on weights I guess I could have tested my theory about trying to influence them with a report..The van and the car were a bit lighter than that on this trip as I ditched the generator and lots of other stuff that we hadnt used on the Qld trek. Even though the both vehicles were a bit lighter the avg. fuel consumption didnt really change as there were too many other variables influencing it..

BB

mixo · Senior Member

while always interesting to see what people's fuel usage is, I'm of the mantra that if you are worried about it then you should not be towing that caravan...

And now with higher diesel prices it can get pricey, filling the land cruiser and coughing up 240 bucks to fill always hurts.
,
You just have to budget and bear it.

Otherwise you just stay home or do it some other way.

enjoy your travels people you only live once.

mixo

Bulldozer · Senior Member

RIG....2023 Nissan Pathfinder 3.5 Direct injection petrol V6, 9 speed ZF auto.... Van, 2015 Adria Adora twin axle 22f, 2000kg ATM. Select towing mode when towing, 13-14 L/100. All up weight car and van about 4500kg.........Not towing, select ECO mode, 7.5- 8.2. hwy/ motorway. Only done 13000ks all up. No complaints at all.

-- Edited by Bulldozer on Sunday 27th of August 2023 02:51:33 PM

jegog · Senior Member

When towing the fuel consumption will be the unladen rate multiplied by a constant which is van weight, air-dynamics and speed related.

Bulldozer · Senior Member

jegog wrote:
When towing the fuel consumption will be the unladen rate multiplied by a constant which is van weight, air-dynamics and speed related.

That's too much for my little brain to comprehend. biggrin biggrin

Eaglemax · Guru

Bulldozer wrote:
RIG....2023 Nissan Pathfinder 3.5 Direct injection petrol V6, 9 speed ZF auto.... Van, 2015 Adria Adora twin axle 22f, 2000kg ATM. Select towing mode when towing, 13-14 L/100. All up weight car and van about 4500kg.........Not towing, select ECO mode, 7.5- 8.2. hwy/ motorway. Only done 13000ks all up. No complaints at all.

-- Edited by Bulldozer on Sunday 27th of August 2023 02:51:33 PM

Thats good economy. The modern 8-9 speed autos really make the difference. Not towing with under 1500rpm at 100kph its just a fast idle really. And your van is lightweight , love the Adria's. Wouldnt know its behind you dozer

Bulldozer · Senior Member

Eaglemax wrote:
Bulldozer wrote:
RIG....2023 Nissan Pathfinder 3.5 Direct injection petrol V6, 9 speed ZF auto.... Van, 2015 Adria Adora twin axle 22f, 2000kg ATM. Select towing mode when towing, 13-14 L/100. All up weight car and van about 4500kg.........Not towing, select ECO mode, 7.5- 8.2. hwy/ motorway. Only done 13000ks all up. No complaints at all.

-- Edited by Bulldozer on Sunday 27th of August 2023 02:51:33 PM
Thats good economy. The modern 8-9 speed autos really make the difference. Not towing with under 1500rpm at 100kph its just a fast idle really. And your van is lightweight , love the Adria's. Wouldnt know its behind you dozer

You hit the nail on the head Tony, These 8 and 9 speed auto's are a cracker. The gearing in the Pathfinder is perfect for towing. 1st and 2nd are low and close with a low diff/ final drive make off the mark effortless. And at the other end 8th and 9th speed overdrive easy, the engine is hardly ticking over. My van is only 80% of my Pathfinders weight loaded. good combination for a 22f Caravan with all the fruit.

Wazza

-- Edited by Bulldozer on Thursday 31st of August 2023 02:18:16 PM

Eaglemax · Guru

Bulldozer wrote:
Eaglemax wrote:
Bulldozer wrote:
RIG....2023 Nissan Pathfinder 3.5 Direct injection petrol V6, 9 speed ZF auto.... Van, 2015 Adria Adora twin axle 22f, 2000kg ATM. Select towing mode when towing, 13-14 L/100. All up weight car and van about 4500kg.........Not towing, select ECO mode, 7.5- 8.2. hwy/ motorway. Only done 13000ks all up. No complaints at all.

-- Edited by Bulldozer on Sunday 27th of August 2023 02:51:33 PM
Thats good economy. The modern 8-9 speed autos really make the difference. Not towing with under 1500rpm at 100kph its just a fast idle really. And your van is lightweight , love the Adria's. Wouldnt know its behind you dozer
You hit the nail on the head Tony, These 8 and 9 speed auto's are a cracker. The gearing in the Pathfinder is perfect for towing. 1st and 2nd are low and close with a low diff/ final drive make off the mark effortless. And at the other end 8th and 9th speed overdrive easy, the engine is hardly ticking over. My van is only 80% of my Pathfinders weight loaded. good combination for a 22f Caravan with all the fruit.

Wazza

-- Edited by Bulldozer on Thursday 31st of August 2023 02:18:16 PM

Similar here Wazza. Kia Sportage Gtline top of the range 2022. 2L diesel 8 speed auto I tow in 7th in manual paddle sticks. That's 1800rpm just under the beginning of its torque range. Mine is also around 80% of my car weight. Very happy with our lightweight Jurgens . Car- 11-13.5 L/100km 6 L/100km not towing at 100kph weighs 1750kg empty.

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Thursday 31st of August 2023 05:59:51 PM