The fuel consumption comparison thread

Wild Brambles

Wild Brambles

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I'm not sure if this has been done here already,but I'm interested in optimising my fuel consumption. I'd like to post my mileage and fuel purchase details, together with any changes made to the van or travel characteristics. This may help me to reduce my travel costs, and, if others post similar information, it will help me to know if I am getting good value from my van.

I've just filled my tank the the first cut off bang, and the mileage is 96,385. It's an '05 High top LDV convoy van with a 2.4 litre Duratorq engine. It's rear wheel drive, to twin wheels. It also has a small turbo
 
Wild Brambles said:
I'm not sure if this has been done here already,but I'm interested in optimising my fuel consumption. I'd like to post my mileage and fuel purchase details, together with any changes made to the van or travel characteristics. This may help me to reduce my travel costs, and, if others post similar information, it will help me to know if I am getting good value from my van.

I've just filled my tank the the first cut off bang, and the mileage is 96,385. It's an '05 High top LDV convoy van with a 2.4 litre Duratorq engine. It's rear wheel drive, to twin wheels. It also has a small turbo
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When I had the pickup version of that it did 30 mpg regular as clockwork, loaded or not made no difference (y)
 
Speed, wind resistance and the presence of a trailer seem to have more effect than load. At least that is the impression I am getting. I want to use old pallet wood for internal cladding next year, and despite several comments to the contrary, I am not sure it will affect fuel consumption by much.
 
Wild Brambles said:
. I want to use old pallet wood for internal cladding next year, and despite several comments to the contrary, I am not sure it will affect fuel consumption by much.
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Pallet wood... How American.
Maybe not fuel consumption, but it will affect your weight.
 
So many variables affect fuel consumption. It is going to be difficult to get a clear picture.

Tyres, speed, hills, traffic, wind, and in our case whether we use the Truma boiler that runs off the main diesel tank which in turn depends on how cold it gets at night and how many nights pitched up.

A while ago there was an interesting thread on the Bongo Fury forum about optimising fuel economy on these little campervans, that are notoriously thirsty for their size. I think the goal of 40 mpg was achieved but it involved a lot of fettling and modding.

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SpeedyDux said:
So many variables affect fuel consumption. It is going to be difficult to get a clear picture.

Tyres, speed, hills, traffic, wind, and in our case whether we use the Truma boiler that runs off the main diesel tank which in turn depends on how cold it gets at night and how many nights pitched up.

A while ago there was an interesting thread on the Bongo Fury forum about optimising fuel economy on these little campervans, that are notoriously thirsty for their size. I think the goal of 40 mpg was achieved but it involved a lot of fettling and modding.
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Is there a dictionary that explains northern talk. I have to keep looking on my phone to translate. Fettling. To work with metal or pottery wtf does modding mean? To bring up to date?
 
Wild Brambles said:
I'm not sure if this has been done here already,but I'm interested in optimising my fuel consumption. I'd like to post my mileage and fuel purchase details, together with any changes made to the van or travel characteristics. This may help me to reduce my travel costs, and, if others post similar information, it will help me to know if I am getting good value from my van.

I've just filled my tank the the first cut off bang, and the mileage is 96,385. It's an '05 High top LDV convoy van with a 2.4 litre Duratorq engine. It's rear wheel drive, to twin wheels. It also has a small turbo
Click to expand...
There can't be many (if any) with a similar base vehicle who post on here so I'm not sure any comparisons will be useful. My 3 litre Fiat is 3.5t and I get a fairly constant 32 mpg now after 44,000 miles - but I can't see that being of any help to you.

Just keep your own records in a notebook. :)
 
Vipar said:
Is there a dictionary that explains northern talk. I have to keep looking on my phone to translate. Fettling. To work with metal or pottery wtf does modding mean? To bring up to date?
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Whas on bout? Yer, oi liv in Zummerzet.

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1986 fiat 2.5 A-Class.
Did 30 mpg on a 500 mile trip, before service n new tyres.
Pleased with that!
 
DBK said:
There can't be many (if any) with a similar base vehicle who post on here so I'm not sure any comparisons will be useful. My 3 litre Fiat is 3.5t and I get a fairly constant 32 mpg now after 44,000 miles - but I can't see that being of any help to you.

Just keep your own records in a notebook. :)
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Same here if doing 55-58 mom its about 32 mpg
 
Vipar said:
Fettling. To work with metal or pottery
Click to expand...

My understanding of fettling is to use the side of a grinding wheel to shape metal. If you look at a cutting disk for an angle grinder, then it often has a printed warning stating that it should not be used for fettling. This is because it thins the disk, and if it is subsequently used for cutting, then it can explode, and that isn't a fun event.
 
bigtwin said:
You must be a bloody awful driver if your consumption reduces using cruise control.
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I had cruise control on my Scorpio, and I had to turn it off. It was constantly feathering the throttle, and that is the worst thing you can do to optimise fuel consumption. I didn't get a speeding ticket though. :)
 
Got 30.5 mpg today Chester to Wellingborough 136 miles 20.4ltrs.
 
I haven't tried to check my consumption so far, but my guess is that it is around 30 mpg, and that is staying below 55mph.
 
23mpg overall in the last year, regardless of what I do, including mostly towing. 3L V6 Auto. When you are used to getting less that 8mpg. and best ever 13mpg. Then that`s a win win!!.:xThumb::xThumb:

bigtwin said:
You must be a bloody awful driver if your consumption reduces using cruise control.

Ian
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There was a series of tests conducted more than 10years ago, on LGV`s, it was proven that maximising the use of the cruise control actually improved mpg. They ran it against some quite sophisticated hardware and software. Not just estimating, but actually measuring. The Cruise software has better control than any hominid!.

On SWMBO`s car we can run the MPG as a readout. The best figures are definitely when cruise is used.

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I think wind resistance is the biggest factor for me , speed causes wind resistance, I try to keep my 5 ton , 3.3m high & 8.6m long MH at about 50 mph or less , that gives me a max of 25mpg , if I travel closer to 65-70 mph the mpg goes down to 20-22mpg
 
Averaging 30 mpg on a L4/H2 van conversion 2.0l 130bhp running at just short of 3.5t driving at 70mph on our roads and 28mpg at 85mph in France. Can't complain with that!
 
I use an Excel spreadsheet I downloaded off here some time ago - still got a blank copy if anyone wants one (it might even be in Resources).

A few inputs every time I refuel and it gives me mpg since last refuel, running average mpg, cost per mile, average cost of fuel and a couple of other interesting details. I usually add a note after each entry to explain any significant variances such as serious headwinds, discounted fuel, not refilled to full (it averages out itself next fill) etc.

'07 Fiat 2.3 multi-jet 130bhp low-profile coachbuilt 3850 kg MAUW (which it's usually close to). I cruise at an indicated 60mph (= actual 58mph) at 2200 rpm and average 26.66 mpg. I only use cruise control on reasonably level roads as the lag causes the engine to labour then overrun once over the top - I occasionally leave the dashboard indication on current consumption and can almost always do better manually.

But there is no "one fits all" consumption figure - we all drive differently, as well as umpteen other variables.
 
Never been concerned enough to do actual ‘brim to brim’ calculations, but the long term average consumption on the dash of my 2017 Peugeot Boxer based AutoSleeper is sitting at 26.5 mpg.

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When buying a motorhome I have never considered mpg to be a deciding factor. Layout is all.

Once we have decided on the one we want we accept it’s mpg. Driving at sensible speeds, after all we are on holiday, gives us better mpg than rushing everywhere. That does for us.
 
Another factor that seems to affect mpg is tyre pressure. It pays to make sure that the pressures are kept at the manufacturer's recommendations. If they are too low, it reduces mpg and increases tyre wear.
 
As there are so many variables will the posts help and would it make you change your mind about how to build anyway if not there's no point knowing!!!!! Ours just uses what it uses I know it uses a lot more if we do over 65 but if we are short of time or patience I go quicker. I know it probably uses more when I fill in with wine but still do anyway!
 
I only get about 20 mpg, but my van doesn't depreciate which is usually by far the biggest cost, so overall not too expensive .
 
30 plus mpg, we can only dream . Dot4 UK Petrol 9mpg, lpg 14mpg equivalent.

Our Sprinter TazBox in Oz, dirty diesel gets 26mpg. 4cyl 2.1.

We were once told, keep around 2000 rpm to get decent fuel use. First trip out to then doing 2000 rpm. Around 40 miles different on a tank.

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