Landcruiser 200 series Fuel Consumption

Tony, its good to see your new one is doing better!

Yes normally the fuel economy doesn't worry me too much. As I am sure you will understand Phil, it's all about range for me. I was surprised to see the fuel economy of the new one. I'm still a little sceptical to be honest.

Towing, I was getting about 960kms out of 163l ( inc the Longranger tank) and in theory will get about another 80kms out of the standard 138l tank in my new one. Fingers crossed. With the 2 Jerries in my rear carrier and 2 in the TVAN i hope to get about 1670 km as opposed to 1470 km in the old vehicle.

These calculations are based on extrapolation of the fuel economy I have seen so far and not too important on the road. Importantly I think the new one drinks less under load. My next desert trip isn't till September. I'll be interested to see the consumption then. I previously used about 30l/100km towing across the Simpson and 21l/100km on the ABH / CSH / GBH trip. If I calculate the improvement in towing economy that would be 24 and 17l/100km. I cant believe it could be that low but here's hoping.

I am modifying my 200 slowly and considering everything I put on it wrt weight. I just had my Smartbar installed and so far it seems great. It is 73KG all up with the winch, my old ARB one was 130kg with the winch. No bloody wobble on the Smartbar either.

So between the bullbar and not having an aftermarket long range tank I save about 120kg including the fact that I now carry less fuel.

I think the same as you - its all about the range and the weight given the 200 holds less fuel than the 79series or the Prados I had previously.
Last year we towed the Tvan from Nullarbor through Cook, Voakes Hill and out at Coober Pedy and got 16 L/100k. That's better than I expected and I put that down to the grading of the road and the new Beaudesert Exhaust.

Well I'd be very happy with that consumption on that section of road.

Hi Mark,
Am interested in the consumption however, there comes a time in life when comfort becomes the over-riding factor v a litre or so fuel. Time for auto, time for upgrade.
Cheers

That's my personal experience so far too.
13.5 vs 16 - 17 towing a TVAN.

Early days though.

Thanks Wicket, checked that out, but think maybe comfort factor in there as well.

Phil, I have often seen claims that people have better fuel consumption than the manufacturers post on their vehicles. Things like 8.6l/100k when the manufacturers figure with be around 9.5l/100k. I reckon those people should be employed as consumption test drivers.

Some also use the litres/ hundred readouts on the dash which I have found are a joke in most vehicles.

Others go on a big trip and include all their distance, even though only a percentage is spent with the van on the back.

I know exactly what I return on my vehicle, both towing and not towing and those figures are averaged over nearly 100,000 kilometres.

From what I have gleaned talking to 200 owners and doing a couple of long trips in one, your figures are about the average.

What some don't tell you is how they calculated their figures ?
Only accurate way is to log how many litres you put in and how many K's you did on the odo.
But the odo can be out a bit also....even with OE tyres.....but also with bigger diameter tyres like a 285/70/17 that many fit as a replacement.
I have 285/70/17's and the speed reads spot on now, but I don't know how accurate the odo now is ...or ever was ??

Gronk, on standard tyres on the 200series, the speedo over-reads by 3% and the odometer is pretty close to accurate.
With the 285/70R17 I find there's about 3.5% difference, so the speedo is now spot-on and the odometer underreads by about 3%.
All compared to GPS and posted kilometres.

"I cannot fathom how people with a similar setup can average less than 20l/100k,"

They run unmodified vehicles - Grandtrek tyres, no bullbar, no roofrack, no snorkel and have a caravan with perfect wheel alignment and 50psi in the tyres.
Sadly I usually don't have any of that!!!

Same same when I had the 33" tyres on.

2 - 3l/100km less with the OE size tyre.

But I got 30 towing across the Simpson. :-(

Speaking of economy, or lack thereof, crossing the Simpson, I travelled down Birdsville Track, across Warburton then along Rig Road in Oct. 2015.

Changed tanks at Purnie Bore, and on refuelling at Lyndhurst, took 78L for 603 kilo-metres. 12.9L/100 in 79 series ute, only moderately loaded, and just moi on board.Rig Road was in particularly good order.

Bob