V8 Cruiser on Gas

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 20:12

ThreadID: 27032 Views:2536 Replies:6 FollowUps:8

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Barks

Hi

Has anyone put a 2003 IFS V8 cruiser on gas?

I've made many enquiries and it seems that the spare tyre underneath may have to go to make room for the gas tank? maybe? All installers have there own different setups..............

Seems like the pre 2003 (pre IFS) models were able to fit two small tanks along the chassis rails (2 X 40L tanks)? This would be perfect for me - has anyone done this?

Has anyone removed the main tank or sub tank to fit a gas tank?

Names of any good gas fitters in Melb (who have done this) would be appreciated...

Thanks & Cheers
Barks

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PS - For those of you who love fuel econ stats!!!

I've tracked my V8 cruiser fuel econ for over 13451km. (bush, town, towing, city, h/way) most is counrty town stuff 60 - 80km/h.

Best - 11.27 (L/100km) (Karratha to Broome - 1100km on a tank)
Worst - 18.88 (233km sand at coral bay)
Avg - 15.62 (over 13500km, including two trips from Melb to Karratha with roof box and camp trailer)

I'm very happy with the V8, had two factory 80 Series turbo diesels prior and wouldn't go back........

Stats on other cars I've had/used:
Factory TD Diesel 80 series (over 10843km recorded km) - 13.85 L/100km
STD Diesel 80 series (over 3996km) - 14.78 L/100km
3L V6 Pajero (over 3233km) - 17.45 L/100km (guttless & scary!)
brand spanker 2005 3L TD Hilux (255km) - 13L/100km

So in summary, at todays fuel costs in Vic, the V8 cruiser will cost me $599 extra to do $25000km when compared to the TD cruiser - given the extra purchase price and maint cost, diesel loses big time.

Want more proof, go to the NRMA web site and compare vehicel running costs - V8 cruiser is a lot creaper to run over 5 years than cruiser TD. Amazingly the V8 cruiser is only $3 per week more expensive to run a week than a TD prado!!!!

4.2L TD Patrol is $6 per week dearer to run than the V8 cruiser.
Poor old Troopy is dearest to run out of them all at $28 per week more than the V8.

V8 cruiser spreadsheet details below (NB took out a section of figures when pulling a 3.5T boat and roof box 1500km - used 25L/100km which I thought was pretty good):

km Litres km/L m/g L/100km % Tank Used
Range (km)
245 41.5 5.90 13.89 16.94 29% 856
555 78 7.12 16.74 14.05 54% 1032
259 44 5.89 13.85 16.99 30% 854
448 68 6.59 15.50 15.18 47% 955
588 89 6.61 15.54 15.14 61% 958
306 45 6.80 15.99 14.71 31% 986
665 108 6.16 14.48 16.24 74% 893
432 83 5.20 12.24 19.21 57% 755
304 36.8 8.26 19.43 12.11 25% 1198
233 44 5.30 12.46 18.88 30% 768
257 40 6.43 15.11 15.56 28% 932
275 31 8.87 20.87 11.27 21% 1286
980 134 7.31 17.20 13.67 92% 1060
867 130 6.67 15.69 14.99 90% 967
494 91 5.43 12.77 18.42 63% 787
597 118.5 5.04 11.85 82% 731
218 44.5 4.90 11.52 31% 710
559 114 4.90 11.52 79% 710
172 45 3.82 8.99 31% 554
117 30 3.90 9.17 21% 566
361 95 3.80 8.94 66% 551
525 128 4.10 9.65 88% 595
506 107 4.73 11.12 74% 686
566 90 6.29 14.79 15.90 62% 912
194 28 6.93 16.30 14.43 19% 1005
735 115 6.39 15.03 15.65 79% 927
490 84 5.83 13.72 17.14 58% 846
482 79 6.10 14.35 16.39 54% 885
323 51 6.33 14.90 15.79 35% 918
318 47 6.77 15.91 14.78 32% 981
470 74 6.35 14.94 15.74 51% 921

13541 5.96 14.01 15.62 863.96

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Reply By: Exploder - Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 20:19

Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 20:19

15.88 per 100, that is most impressive, I always got the impression that these thing’s were guzzlers 15/100 for a V8 pulling 2+tonns of 4WD can’t complain about that

AnswerID: 133330

Reply By: warthog - Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 21:27

Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 21:27

That economy is better than I expected however slightly worse than my td42t patrol gets whilst towing the camper trailer. Interesting you left out the heavy towing figures. If you were to do a lot of this you may find the diesels stack up a bit better, which is why most large machinery is diesel. Hard to justify the HUGE premium you pay for the 100 t/d though.

AnswerID: 133344

Follow Up By: Barks - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:15

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:15

yeah agree with your towing comment, diesels will probably be a lot better, wish I had some figures - surprisingly (to me anyway) my V8 got better economy the faster & harder I pushed it - the first time I towed the boat (3.5T+) was at night (heaps of roos) so I sat on 60 - 70 and the figures were about 30L/100km. next day sat on 90 (WA towing speed limit) and got about 25L/100km (over 1500km) - had to work hard (dropping back to second and redlining) love that sound!!! It takes a while to get used to revving the v8 petrol engines after having a diesel for sooo long..........but once you start you can't stop!!!

FollowupID: 388411

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 23:53

Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 at 23:53

Unfortunatly the running costs of new vehicles is of little intrest to me as i could never justify the 50 to 60 grand. I just buy second hand vehicles like my 2nd hand diesal 80- same price as a 2nd hand petrol 80 so i just start saving on fuel bills straight away - But that isnt why i got it ------------ More range !

AnswerID: 133374

Reply By: pathfinder - Friday, Oct 07, 2005 at 12:42

Friday, Oct 07, 2005 at 12:42

barks - that V6 pajero economy figure surprises me - I thought they were supposed to be about the most economical V6 around - are you sure it wasn't in a bad state of tune?

AnswerID: 133435

Follow Up By: Barks - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:00

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:00

Sorry for the delay - changing computers at the moment - I had it for about 2 years and got it serviced at the right places regularly - had to drive it hard to get to 100km/h. no roof rack and no trailer - stock std car. Auto.

Cheers

FollowupID: 388404

Reply By: Steve - Friday, Oct 07, 2005 at 19:22

Friday, Oct 07, 2005 at 19:22

Barks, nice to see somebody else explode the myths. To be fair, it does of course depend on the type of driving you do.

re: the conversion. I did mine earlier in the year with a 100 series 4.5 (live axle) 6cyl. So not an ideal comparison for you, but pretty close I reckon. First of all you'll find that you'll use about 10% more fuel. Bearing that in mind, those tanks that go under the sills only hold a combined 70L usable. Not much when you bear in mind (that 10%) the thirstier LPG effectively gives you a petrol comparative 63L. Won't take you far. Apart from that, the tanks actually hang a bit below the sills, thus reducing your ground clearance. Probably best to let them remove the spare and subtank, leaving your 90L main tank, and put you a new 90L LPG tank there. You'll have to find a new home for your spare. Usual options being a) lay flat strapped down in rear b) install cargo barrier and strap it upright to that c) rear wheel carrier.

Had mine done in April for $2200 and have got back about $850+ of that outlay so far with fairly moderate mileage. I suppose during that period petrol averaged 118c as opposed to lpg @ 40c in my area. btw, envy those fuel consumption figs. What speed, for instance would you average Melb/Broome or Karratha/Broome?

AnswerID: 133514

Follow Up By: Matt S - Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 16:41

Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 16:41

Hi steve, It sounds like there is a deffinite cost advantage in the conversion. I'm thinking seriously about one for my 2000 cruiser but would really apprreciate any advice you could give on what to do or not to do. I'm in Brisbane currently and have been given a quote of around $3500 to do the job, this includes the spare wheel carrier. As you suggested in your email your recouping the cost pretty quickly but I'm still baulking at the initial outlay. Would really appreciate any feedback.
Matt.

FollowupID: 387931

Follow Up By: Steve - Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 18:09

Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 18:09

matt: what more feedback do you want? Tanking up for around $36 for 90L is pretty convincing, but happy to answer queries. Get a few more quotes or spend $420 on a cargo barrier and $30 on a strap and you're home for $2,700/2,800. Rear wheel carriers do vary in style and price. $1400 that you've been quoted is top end. i went the cargo barrier route because I wouldn't get the beast in the garage with a RWC on the back. There's a mob in SA who advertise (Aust. 4wd Monthly) RWCs for $570+ $50 cartage to Sydney. Get your local smash repairers or 4x4 gadget shop to quote you installation.

FollowupID: 387937

Follow Up By: Matt S - Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 19:18

Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 19:18

Steve, does the 90L gas tank give you similar km's to the 90L petrol tank? I'm just trying to compare apples with apples. Must have the RWC as I need to fit the kids in! Also is there a noticeable power loss?
Thanks Matt.

FollowupID: 387940

Follow Up By: Steve - Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 20:23

Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 20:23

Matt: you'll use about 10% more gas than petrol. So if you get 500ks out of a tank of petrol, count on 450 on lpg. Still well in front. As for power loss, the difference is similar to having the air conditioning on/off.

FollowupID: 387944

Follow Up By: Barks - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:08

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 at 15:08

Thanks for the info Steve, I found out that a direct injection gas system will be out for the cruisers early in the new year (I hope). A lot more $ to fit but benefits are meant to be pretty good.

How fast? basicall as fast as I can go with out getting a fine (just a flick of the cop cars lights and a wave of Mr Policemans finger.. LOL) 115km/h in WA and 110km/h in other states (cruise control on)

FollowupID: 388409

Reply By: bigalaktms - Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 11:11

Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 11:11

my 4.2 patrol with aftermarket turbo and pipe get 12.5 litres per hundred nearly
every where, your figures are great ,but in the middle of no where where there is
a lack of petrol the diesel win hands down.

AnswerID: 133748

Follow Up By: Steve - Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 17:56

Sunday, Oct 09, 2005 at 17:56

we've been thru that old chestnut. The few places you can't get lpg, you simply get petrol. Most of us don't go to the middle of nowhere often enough to force us to buy (shock horror) petrol. If you spend a lot of time in the middle of nowhere get bloody diesel not lpg.

btw, back in April I could get lpg for 38c. Last week there were places around Sydney/N'cstle charging 53c although most were around 42c. But 38 to 53 (without the aid of a calculator) must be about 40% increase. Is that because of demand in China forcing the Arabs to force us to raise the cost of lpg? Where's Ray Martin when you need him?

FollowupID: 387935