My car is a little newer and has a manual box, but I suppose my experiences will add a bit of value. I have found the same general trends w.r.t. the factors that influence consumption as those mentioned earlier: load / towing does not affect it too much, driving style and speed does and then dramatically so.
In 10 months of driving I averaged 6.5 (with 31x10.5 tyres, so reads a little worse than with standard tyres) in a mix of highway commuting, weekend town driving and a couple of shortish road trips. Consumption on trips typically heavier than even town driving, generally because I like to cover long distances at 140 instead of 120. This difference in speed increases consumption dramatically, dropping you from around 8km/l to less than 6! So 5.5 sounds about right for an auto on a road trip when driven "to get there". If you stuck to the legal limit and had no roofrack (mileage killer!), 5.5. sounds high - should be closer to 7. Have the car serviced and include all the items some guys might gloss over when selling a car (air cleaner cleaned with compressed air instead of new filter, refitted old spark plugs, used cheap oil). And check plug leads and coils while you're about it.
Not sure if this is your first "groot wiele" but when I first traded my BMW 325 for a V6 Colt I had horrendous consumption and kept on cooking the brakes. If this sounds familiar, slow down, admire the scenery and enjoy the "presence" of your car - it is pretty fast enough without having to cane it. When realised this, my consumption improved from around 5.5 km/l to better than 7 - bloody huge difference!
Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
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vvandamvv
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Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
To give more details to my original post, I was loaded for 10 days away in Namibia.
Fitted with a roof rack and roof-top tent. Spare wheel and 40l petrol on the roof. Mostly did speeds of 80km/h with the aircon going. We travelled ground roads and most times I was in 4H due to the thick sand. The best I got was 5.8km/l.
I contacted SAC. The best they can do is a 10% improvement on fuel consumption. Lots of mods for R10k but only an extra 50km per tank! Not worth it
Chatting to others about a fuel consumption increase, some suggested I fit a low pressure turbo. This will help the engine operate more efficiently. They were saying I could then manage 9km/l.
Suggestions?
Fitted with a roof rack and roof-top tent. Spare wheel and 40l petrol on the roof. Mostly did speeds of 80km/h with the aircon going. We travelled ground roads and most times I was in 4H due to the thick sand. The best I got was 5.8km/l.
I contacted SAC. The best they can do is a 10% improvement on fuel consumption. Lots of mods for R10k but only an extra 50km per tank! Not worth it
Chatting to others about a fuel consumption increase, some suggested I fit a low pressure turbo. This will help the engine operate more efficiently. They were saying I could then manage 9km/l.
Suggestions?
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nino62
- Country: South Africa
- Vehicle: 1) Subaru Forester 2.5 XS Lineartronic
- Location: Western Cape - Cape Town
Post
Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
Hi vvandam
If you find the winning combination / solution, please share it with "we" fellow 3.5 V6 Padge owners. It would be greatly appreciated.
So far got 6.65/6.75 km per lt, careful driving, max up to 120 on highway, and not gunning it in town (this is only on my first tankful used, so......still experimenting). First thing I also did was renew the air-filter, and going to put in Shell HX-7 semi-synthetic in, on the first oil change due in about 7000/7500km time.
By the way, can I put some 2-stroke in the petrol engine to clean, as in the diesels ???
I must say she pulls beautifully and has a dream of a growl, from the exhaust.
If you find the winning combination / solution, please share it with "we" fellow 3.5 V6 Padge owners. It would be greatly appreciated.
So far got 6.65/6.75 km per lt, careful driving, max up to 120 on highway, and not gunning it in town (this is only on my first tankful used, so......still experimenting). First thing I also did was renew the air-filter, and going to put in Shell HX-7 semi-synthetic in, on the first oil change due in about 7000/7500km time.
By the way, can I put some 2-stroke in the petrol engine to clean, as in the diesels ???
I must say she pulls beautifully and has a dream of a growl, from the exhaust.
Negativety and Non-enthiusiasm are the only obstacles we shouldn't encounter "
1) Pajero 2.5Tdi SWB Gen 2, 1998, JUST SOLD - 1/2014
2) Subaru Forester 2.5 XS 2017
1) Pajero 2.5Tdi SWB Gen 2, 1998, JUST SOLD - 1/2014
2) Subaru Forester 2.5 XS 2017
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ChrisBCh
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I know the speedo is influenced by the size of your wheels.
If the odometer is also affected then how much of the increase in consumption is actually because it's using more fuel as opposed to a km being longer than it would have been with smaller wheels. Hope this makes sense and is not a very silly question.
Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
Very interesting.Scubadude wrote: ...
In 10 months of driving I averaged 6.5 (with 31x10.5 tyres, so reads a little worse than with standard tyres) in a mix of highway commuting, weekend town driving and a couple of shortish road trips.
...
I know the speedo is influenced by the size of your wheels.
If the odometer is also affected then how much of the increase in consumption is actually because it's using more fuel as opposed to a km being longer than it would have been with smaller wheels. Hope this makes sense and is not a very silly question.
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McnoogleMc
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Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
My Pajero seems to like the number 20,
even more now that hes been taken of Anton's Top 20 list,
I swear, no matter how I drive, and whether its in town (2-6km trips for a whole month) or if its a 500km return trip, whether I drive as carefully as possible, slow to rev, keeping top speed under 110, or hammering it,
20km/100km's, and Bismark will not have it any other way.
even more now that hes been taken of Anton's Top 20 list,
I swear, no matter how I drive, and whether its in town (2-6km trips for a whole month) or if its a 500km return trip, whether I drive as carefully as possible, slow to rev, keeping top speed under 110, or hammering it,
20km/100km's, and Bismark will not have it any other way.
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nino62
- Country: South Africa
- Vehicle: 1) Subaru Forester 2.5 XS Lineartronic
- Location: Western Cape - Cape Town
Post
Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
Hi Ned
Sounds like it might be worth your while (and financially prudent), to take it to a SAC-type establishment, to do a full fuel economy / power / dyno-tune?? You do seem to be spending a lot of "possibly wasted petrol money" in any case.
Mine so far seems to be in the 6.6 - 6.8km/lt range, and I believe it might have a uni-chip-type add on. I too will look, to taking it in to a reputable testing/diagnostic firm (as I did with the 2.5 Tdi - with good results in increased off-road power, though not on the tar higher speed - past 100km/hr
).
I think, if there can be immediate improvements in economy, and the bonus of slightly improved power, the "reasonable" added expense of having the 4x4 seen to, is almost always justified.
Sounds like it might be worth your while (and financially prudent), to take it to a SAC-type establishment, to do a full fuel economy / power / dyno-tune?? You do seem to be spending a lot of "possibly wasted petrol money" in any case.
Mine so far seems to be in the 6.6 - 6.8km/lt range, and I believe it might have a uni-chip-type add on. I too will look, to taking it in to a reputable testing/diagnostic firm (as I did with the 2.5 Tdi - with good results in increased off-road power, though not on the tar higher speed - past 100km/hr
).I think, if there can be immediate improvements in economy, and the bonus of slightly improved power, the "reasonable" added expense of having the 4x4 seen to, is almost always justified.
Negativety and Non-enthiusiasm are the only obstacles we shouldn't encounter "
1) Pajero 2.5Tdi SWB Gen 2, 1998, JUST SOLD - 1/2014
2) Subaru Forester 2.5 XS 2017
1) Pajero 2.5Tdi SWB Gen 2, 1998, JUST SOLD - 1/2014
2) Subaru Forester 2.5 XS 2017
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tontonto
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Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
I just did a round-trip through Cederberg.
On tar (speed 120km/h where possible) I got 7,5 km/l, and off-road 5 (Sounds like Ned's "magical" figure of 20!).
Off-road included the "track" between Wupperthal and Matjiesrivier, which is a combination of a fabulous 4X4 track (Grade 1) of about 30 km and rather crappy corrugated dirt roads elsewhere in the Cederberg. I had it in low range for 10 km of the 4X4 track (Wupperthal to Elandsbank), and everywhere else (corrugated dirt roads) in 4HLC. I went as fast as safely possible.
Anton
On tar (speed 120km/h where possible) I got 7,5 km/l, and off-road 5 (Sounds like Ned's "magical" figure of 20!).
Off-road included the "track" between Wupperthal and Matjiesrivier, which is a combination of a fabulous 4X4 track (Grade 1) of about 30 km and rather crappy corrugated dirt roads elsewhere in the Cederberg. I had it in low range for 10 km of the 4X4 track (Wupperthal to Elandsbank), and everywhere else (corrugated dirt roads) in 4HLC. I went as fast as safely possible.
Anton
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RoelfleRouxRo
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Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
Gents,
I think what we all agree on is that 5km/l isn't all that strange.
We agree that driving style, load and roofrack will affect the consumption.
Making sure that you have decent oil (in particular the Gen2 3.5 motor with the potential noisy "tappets") is good sense all round. If you were to spend a few bucks on decent plugs and filters, you will be spending money wisely because not only can you save quite a bit of money on fuel, you also improve the general reliability/longevity of your car. A decent tune-up by a professional outfit should also cut a percent or so off your consumption.
4ePikanini had a thread going where he systematically managed to reduce the consumption on a 3.0V6. Worth a read. In the end he solved the consumption problem by buying a DiD.
Personally, I wouldn't stick a turbo on that motor in an attempt to save money!
I used 2stroke oil in my 3.8 V6 (60 000km on the clock) from Barberton to Port Nolloth. With a full load inside (camping in the Richtersveld) and a trailer in tow, we averaged 12l/100km - sticking to the speed limit. In the Richterveld that changed to 20l/100km (5km/l). As a matter of fact, in the Richtersveld the consumption is 5l/hour.
Roelf
I think what we all agree on is that 5km/l isn't all that strange.
We agree that driving style, load and roofrack will affect the consumption.
Making sure that you have decent oil (in particular the Gen2 3.5 motor with the potential noisy "tappets") is good sense all round. If you were to spend a few bucks on decent plugs and filters, you will be spending money wisely because not only can you save quite a bit of money on fuel, you also improve the general reliability/longevity of your car. A decent tune-up by a professional outfit should also cut a percent or so off your consumption.
4ePikanini had a thread going where he systematically managed to reduce the consumption on a 3.0V6. Worth a read. In the end he solved the consumption problem by buying a DiD.
Personally, I wouldn't stick a turbo on that motor in an attempt to save money!
I used 2stroke oil in my 3.8 V6 (60 000km on the clock) from Barberton to Port Nolloth. With a full load inside (camping in the Richtersveld) and a trailer in tow, we averaged 12l/100km - sticking to the speed limit. In the Richterveld that changed to 20l/100km (5km/l). As a matter of fact, in the Richtersveld the consumption is 5l/hour.
Roelf
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McnoogleMc
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Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
You bring up a point here, could be that Bismark is getting old, and as such his eyesight & hearing is failing, and that combined with the Mud terrain tyres.... Maybe he does not realize when I'm driving on Tar, and thus thinks we're always off-road, hence the 5km/Ltonton wrote:
..., and off-road 5 (Sounds like Ned's "magical" figure of 20!).
Anton
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bosaapbo
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Re: Fuel Consumption on 3.5 V6
So what would be the best options then. I have a 3.5 V6 that spends some serious time in the transkei over holidays.
Ive heard that a snorkel hels as your air intake is cleaner
Ive heard that you can put in a freeflow exhaust system that decreases that factor
and ive heard that i should rather just have a normal roadcar but thatoption is not even to be considered at all.
I have a roofrack withe gear, some big MT's aa well as a bullbar and its a automatic, but surely there must be something that can be done.
any views on this issue....anybody?
Ive heard that a snorkel hels as your air intake is cleaner
Ive heard that you can put in a freeflow exhaust system that decreases that factor
and ive heard that i should rather just have a normal roadcar but thatoption is not even to be considered at all.
I have a roofrack withe gear, some big MT's aa well as a bullbar and its a automatic, but surely there must be something that can be done.
any views on this issue....anybody?