How important is fuel economy to you?

[BlueRich]

Really interesting reading the posts from this thread but it also confirms to me that my MPG is way down on what others are experiencing.
I live on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, UK. Driving is mainly on decent undulating B Roads and an average trip to town and back (30 miles return) gives me 21-22mpg once warmed up. I have a Trialmaster Diesel on BF At’s with roof bars. No mods. I do not hoof it around!

However I’ve just been on a 260 mile round trip, 90% motorway with cruise control set at 70mph and got an utterly pathetic 21mpg average .
I’ve done 6500 miles from new. The MPG is getting worse if anything, it was 24mpg avg when I picked her up new 250 miles away !!


Any thoughts on this ?

 

[MileHigh]

Not at all, or really only as far as it affects range. And that’s hasn’t been an issue in a year so far.

 

[Clark Kent]

Really interesting reading the posts from this thread but it also confirms to me that my MPG is way down on what others are experiencing.
I live on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, UK. Driving is mainly on decent undulating B Roads and an average trip to town and back (30 miles return) gives me 21-22mpg once warmed up. I have a Trialmaster Diesel on BF At’s with roof bars. No mods. I do not hoof it around!

However I’ve just been on a 260 mile round trip, 90% motorway with cruise control set at 70mph and got an utterly pathetic 21mpg average .
I’ve done 6500 miles from new. The MPG is getting worse if anything, it was 24mpg avg when I picked her up new 250 miles away !!


Any thoughts on this ?

Tyre pressures
Wind
Weight
Hills

My diesel wagon with 17 inch BFGs returns around 11.5 lts/100km or 24 UK MPG at that speed. 25,000km on the odometer.
I carry very little weight in it day to day and have nothing on the roof. Tyres are 36psi cold.

There has been at least a couple of reports of one of the EGR plastic links breaking on top of the engine. That would tend to increase AdBlue consumption and reduce engine power which could impact fuel economy. It's an easy check to eliminate. This thread has pics of the links. Ensure the plastic ball links are attached at both ends of the two actuators and valves.

 

[Trialmaster]

Really interesting reading the posts from this thread but it also confirms to me that my MPG is way down on what others are experiencing.
I live on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, UK. Driving is mainly on decent undulating B Roads and an average trip to town and back (30 miles return) gives me 21-22mpg once warmed up. I have a Trialmaster Diesel on BF At’s with roof bars. No mods. I do not hoof it around!

However I’ve just been on a 260 mile round trip, 90% motorway with cruise control set at 70mph and got an utterly pathetic 21mpg average .
I’ve done 6500 miles from new. The MPG is getting worse if anything, it was 24mpg avg when I picked her up new 250 miles away !!


Any thoughts on this ?

Get exactly the same. I haven't many miles (7300) and I have logged all my fuel purchase and I get 21.32 mpg for a Diesel on 18" wheels.

Not done much load carrying and usually just me.

 

[BlueRich]

Tyre pressures
Wind
Weight
Hills

My diesel wagon with 17 inch BFGs returns around 11.5 lts/100km or 24 UK MPG at that speed. 25,000km on the odometer.
I carry very little weight in it day to day and have nothing on the roof. Tyres are 36psi cold.

There has been at least a couple of reports of one of the EGR plastic links breaking on top of the engine. That would tend to increase AdBlue consumption and reduce engine power which could impact fuel economy. It's an easy check to eliminate. This thread has pics of the links. Ensure the plastic ball links are attached at both ends of the two actuators and valves.

Thank you, I’ll check that out. It does seem at odds that it’s getting worse rather than better .
We do use it as intended but the figures I quote are not with our livestock trailer in tow, that would make your eyes water ! FYI
My previous 4 vehicles were defenders , the last being a Puma 130 that I converted to a BMW M57 with ZF 6 speed auto which I still have and the MPG is considerably better than the Grenadier.

My post is not a moan but more of a concern that mine may have an issue. The Grenadier is fantastic in all other aspects !

 

[BlueRich]

Get exactly the same. I haven't many miles (7300) and I have logged all my fuel purchase and I get 21.32 mpg for a Diesel on 18" wheels.

Not done much load carrying and usually just me.

BFG’s as well ?

 

[Clark Kent]

Thank you, I’ll check that out. It does seem at odds that it’s getting worse rather than better .
We do use it as intended but the figures I quote are not with our livestock trailer in tow, that would make your eyes water ! FYI
My previous 4 vehicles were defenders , the last being a Puma 130 that I converted to a BMW M57 with ZF 6 speed auto which I still have and the MPG is considerably better than the Grenadier.

My post is not a moan but more of a concern that mine may have an issue. The Grenadier is fantastic in all other aspects !

That converted Puma 130 must have some giddyup. Nice!

Does your vehicle do a lot of DPF regenerations (burns)? Any black or white tail pipe smoke? Black smoke is a sign of excessive fuelling. White smoke could be a DPF problem.
Your economy should be improving with time and use so it does sound like something is amiss with your vehicle.

 

[Skydance]

Really interesting reading the posts from this thread but it also confirms to me that my MPG is way down on what others are experiencing.
I live on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, UK. Driving is mainly on decent undulating B Roads and an average trip to town and back (30 miles return) gives me 21-22mpg once warmed up. I have a Trialmaster Diesel on BF At’s with roof bars. No mods. I do not hoof it around!

However I’ve just been on a 260 mile round trip, 90% motorway with cruise control set at 70mph and got an utterly pathetic 21mpg average .
I’ve done 6500 miles from new. The MPG is getting worse if anything, it was 24mpg avg when I picked her up new 250 miles away !!


Any thoughts on this ?

The roof bars makes it worse and personally I would take them off if not using. My Rhino bars are now sat in the garage. Getting avg combined 24 mpg and 27 mpg on the motorway at a steady 60 mph. Same setup, diesel, 17 inch BFG, no raised air intake and no load.

 

[Michael_in_Baja]

I average 18 with a piggyback tuner 325 hp 350 pounds feet of torque with a best of 20.7 mpg.

 

[Clark Kent]

I average 18 with a piggyback tuner 325 hp 350 pounds feet of torque with a best of 20.7 mpg.

Is that the freedom US 3.8 litres per gallon or the imperialist UK 4.54 litres per gallon?
Thank goodness 1 mile = 1 mile.

 

[CRH]

The roof bars makes it worse and personally I would take them off if not using. My Rhino bars are now sat in the garage. Getting avg combined 24 mpg and 27 mpg on the motorway at a steady 60 mph. Same setup, diesel, 17 inch BFG, no raised air intake and no load.

I'm the same, best I got on the screen average reading was 30mpg on 200mile trip over M62 from West to east and back again. Very short bits not.on motorway or dual carriage way, steady 55-60mph.
Generally get the same as yourself.
The effects on economy have put me off getting a roof rack and why I didn't want the raised air intake. Would have preferred the more road biased tyres but do occasionally do some green lanes.

 

[Clark Kent]

I'm the same, best I got on the screen average reading was 30mpg on 200mile trip over M62 from West to east and back again. Very short bits not.on motorway or dual carriage way, steady 55-60mph.
Generally get the same as yourself.
The effects on economy have put me off getting a roof rack and why I didn't want the raised air intake. Would have preferred the more road biased tyres but do occasionally do some green lanes.

Anything on the roof will add drag but @BlueRich says his economy is getting worse. I'm assuming he's had the Rhino racks fitted since new so what has changed?

 

[CRH]

Really interesting reading the posts from this thread but it also confirms to me that my MPG is way down on what others are experiencing.
I live on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, UK. Driving is mainly on decent undulating B Roads and an average trip to town and back (30 miles return) gives me 21-22mpg once warmed up. I have a Trialmaster Diesel on BF At’s with roof bars. No mods. I do not hoof it around!

However I’ve just been on a 260 mile round trip, 90% motorway with cruise control set at 70mph and got an utterly pathetic 21mpg average .
I’ve done 6500 miles from new. The MPG is getting worse if anything, it was 24mpg avg when I picked her up new 250 miles away !!


Any thoughts on this ?

When in Cornwall my mpg is the same. Your motorway trip killed the economy by doing 70mph. Drop it down to 55-60 and the further you travel on the motorway the better it will get. As soon as you hit the A roads and especially the A30 it will start to drop. Mines now on over 17,000 miles. 350 miles drive to Cornwall and i will average 27mpg including a good chunk of A30. During a week or 2 driving in Cornwall the average drops, there isn't any long flat driving.

 

[CRH]

Anything on the roof will add drag but @BlueRich says his economy is getting worse. I'm assuming he's had the Rhino racks fitted since new so what has changed?

As you get used to a vehicle you do tend to drive faster and accelerate harder. Therfore your economy will drop. New vehicle unsure of how it performs/works, don't want to damage and you take it easy pulling out at junctions. Get used to it, see a gap and go for it. Where he is in Cornwall is full of narrow lanes and junctions, also.in summer, is also full of tourists so even more stopping and starting, crawling behind caravans and lost tourists.
I should also have pointed out, I always turn the stop/start off, obviously that won't make a difference on long straight drive.

 

[MRO]

Really interesting reading the posts from this thread but it also confirms to me that my MPG is way down on what others are experiencing.
I live on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, UK. Driving is mainly on decent undulating B Roads and an average trip to town and back (30 miles return) gives me 21-22mpg once warmed up. I have a Trialmaster Diesel on BF At’s with roof bars. No mods. I do not hoof it around!

However I’ve just been on a 260 mile round trip, 90% motorway with cruise control set at 70mph and got an utterly pathetic 21mpg average .
I’ve done 6500 miles from new. The MPG is getting worse if anything, it was 24mpg avg when I picked her up new 250 miles away !!


Any thoughts on this ?

I have the same spec minus the roof bars (and have taken off the slightly ridiculous raised air intake). 21-22mpg in Devon lanes and main roads. 23-24 MPG at 70-75 and 25-26 MPG at 60-65. Even off road it doesnt go materially under 20mpg. I think our tyre choice has a material impact but it does sound as though yours is not far off.

 

[BlueRich]

Great to hear it’s not just me. Cornwall driving isn’t very economical I grant you that, lots of hills and a fair bit of stop start.
I’ve recently been really concentrating on driving steadily to see if that makes a difference to economy and it barely does, perhaps 1-2mpg at best.
My DPF burn is pretty frequent, sometimes less than 150 miles in between. Always when I’m on the peaceful chain ferry and everyone stares at me in irritation. Either that or the school car park, mothers gripping their children in terror that I’m about to roar off !
However I’ve put that down to the reasonably short journeys . I imagine if you’re doing regular motorway trips then the DPF would be less frequent.
Roof bars haven’t been on since new and I’d be amazed if these RAI makes much difference to economy but happy to be proved wrong. Either way they’d surely on make a difference when wind resistance becomes part of the equation ie over 50-60mph

 

[CRH]

Great to hear it’s not just me. Cornwall driving isn’t very economical I grant you that, lots of hills and a fair bit of stop start.
I’ve recently been really concentrating on driving steadily to see if that makes a difference to economy and it barely does, perhaps 1-2mpg at best.
My DPF burn is pretty frequent, sometimes less than 150 miles in between. Always when I’m on the peaceful chain ferry and everyone stares at me in irritation. Either that or the school car park, mothers gripping their children in terror that I’m about to roar off !
However I’ve put that down to the reasonably short journeys . I imagine if you’re doing regular motorway trips then the DPF would be less frequent.
Roof bars haven’t been on since new and I’d be amazed if these RAI makes much difference to economy but happy to be proved wrong. Either way they’d surely on make a difference when wind resistance becomes part of the equation ie over 50-60mph

I do seem to get more DPF burns on short trips, or it's that i don't notice on the motorway at 55mph?
Either way, I'd rather have them than the replacement cost. I do have a small petrol car for short trips to try and protect from this problem

 

[Cheshire cat]

My diesel has never given more than 28 MPG (UK). Careful driving on mainly A roads, gives me 25/26 at best. Shorter journeys see around 22
BFG’s at 37psi cold.

 

[mcdoogs]

I care about fuel economy more as a function of overall range. The Grenadier has a fairly pedestrian fuel tank capacity and I'm getting ~17-18mpg so far. So that combines to not be really all that great from a range perspective. More frequent fill-ups especially on long road trips, which is annoying.

Oh and I haven't towed my travel trailer yet, but I guessing that'll cut mpg in roughly half. That's gonna give a useable range of like 150 miles which is pretty terrible. Luckily for me this is a backup tow vehicle at most.

 

[Krabby]

I average 18 with a piggyback tuner 325 hp 350 pounds feet of torque with a best of 20.7 mpg.

Manually calculated or the number the truck provides?