100 series petrol cruiser fuel consumption on tour

Submitted: Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 20:59
ThreadID: 54797 Views:2613 Replies:6 FollowUps:6
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Hello All,
My wife and I are currently organising a trip around Oz in our 100 series petrol 98 model.
We intend to tow a van weighing approximately 2.5 tonne.
I am concerned about the fuel consumption, so we stuck gas on it.
I seem to be getting 330km to 80 litres, which is around the same economy as a diesel. Fuel is returning approximately 175km to the sub tank of 50litres, pretty ordinary, all this when it is empty and not towing. I have never towed anything heavy, so I have no figures to compare.
Now this cruiser is a dual cab conversion, so I want to keep it.
My question is:
Are there any 100 series petrol owners currently towing a van of this weight or have towed one that can advise me on approximate fuel consumption.

I have 3 options:
Stick another 100 litres of gas under it,have a gas range of approximately 600 km and fill up at nearly every servo

Sell the cruiser and buy a turbo diesel wagon and have a dual cab conversion done

Rip the petrol out and toss a turbo diesel in

Now if there is anyone who can offer some real advice, I would be forever grateful.

regards
Brendan...
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Reply By: Tony - Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 22:04

Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 22:04
I would stay with the present vehicle, and put in the 100 lt gas tank as well as the present 80. With that sort of range you will find a service station that has gas.
AnswerID: 288730

Reply By: Nav 8 - Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 22:10

Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 22:10
330Km to 80 Ltrs would equate to one very sick diesel. From your stated fuel figures towing a 2.5 tonne van around Oz you would want to own an oil well. I see no cheap fix to your problem. If you go gas your fuel consumption will be higher than petrol but gas is cheaper, but not always available in remote areas. To engine change to a diesel is also an expensive exercise and if not done properly can result in a number of problems. I would suggest a trade to a turbo diesel vehicle with fuel costs going in the direction of up, it could be an investment for the future. Regards Nav.
AnswerID: 288734

Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 22:26

Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 22:26
I think when he said "which is around the same economy as a diesel." he was talking in dollar terms not litres.

PeterD
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Follow Up By: Rodeo-jayco - Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 00:12

Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 00:12
Nav...80L for 330 km is 24.2 L/100km..that is high even for a petrol 100 series cruiser...I think you should be looking at around 16- 18 L/100k...now what sort of LPG set up is it? Sequential Injection system or the older system?, if the first you can expect about 12 - 20% penalty in consumption, if the later, maybe 30%.
My suggestion would be to take the vehicle to a reputable mechanic/LPG installer..get them to go over it.

LPG is now available at 3500 servos all over Australia, go to teh oli company websites and down load a trip planner, you will be surprised just where teh stuff can be brought nowadays.

Good luck.
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Follow Up By: brendood - Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 20:40

Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 20:40
Yeah I was talking in dollar terms peter.
I worked out with the assistance of a web site the following formula:

Diesel - distance - 120lt of diesel - $180.
Gas - distance 330km - 80lt of gas - $60

Based on these approximate figures, the gas returned 0.18 cents per km and the diesel returned 0.18.8 cents per km. The gas was 24lt/100 and the diesel was 12lt/100.

Now, I have yet to tow anything over 1.5 tonnes behind the cruiser yet, so I have no idea of what the figures will be then for the gas. I assume there will be little change as surely the cruiser fuel consumption can't be much worse under tow.

Now based on the above figures, and I have been kind to the diesel at 12lt/100, I have heard the diesels under tow use around 15 - 16lt/100. If that is true and the I am about right for the gas figures, I am better off staying with the gas for reasons like less service intervals.

Thanks Rodeo - jayco for your reply, you are right there are more gas servo's than people realise. I heard there is even gas in the centre. I have still yet to look further into ways to extract some more economy from the petrol like exhaust and a foam filter.
The injectors have been cleaned and the motor is serviced every 10 thousand.
I probably will not part with the petrol as I am a sucker for power and the 4.5 has plenty of that on tap, especially helpful when towing Nissan's out of the glue.

Thanks again gentlemen.
Regards
Brendan
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Follow Up By: brendood - Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 20:55

Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 20:55
Whoops, forgot to put in the distance for the disel, 1000km.
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Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 09:34

Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 09:34
Brendan, those consumption figures appear woeful, especially
on petrol. Was the consumption this bad before the gas addition?
You dont state how many k on motor. Perhaps a compression test, filter overhaul etc may reveal something of value. Certainly
worth a go before comitting to engine swap or whatever.
cheers...oldbaz.
AnswerID: 288777

Follow Up By: brendood - Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 21:01

Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 21:01
oldbaz, the figures are crap.
I cant remember what the figures before the gas were, bugger.
I believe 23-24 is the norm, unless someone else can correct me.

The motor has 204 thousand on the clock, so she has plenty of life left, I heard these motors are bullet proof if well looked after.

Yeah a compression test is next on the list and some further investigation.

I have woken up to the engine swap idea, too costly.

Regards
Brendan...
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Reply By: Mainey (wa) - Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 09:53

Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 09:53
Another question to ask is: how far apart is gas available in the NT and the Kimberleys, I don't know the answer as I drive a crapheap with a "real engine" yes a diesel.
I know what I would choose to drive, with all the extra torque available in a diesel engine !!!

Mainey . . .
AnswerID: 288781

Reply By: timothy - Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:13

Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:13
Brendan,
This is about the same economy as my brothers LPG landcruiser. We took it for a trip with 4 occupants towing a 600kg trailer with two crates on the roof from Sydney to Melbourne and found it returned about 300km for 80L of LPG but this depended on the terrain. In hilly country it was worse again, but I don't have the figures.

I think putting an extra 100L of gas on would be a good option.

Tim
AnswerID: 288791

Reply By: westozal - Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 12:07

Friday, Feb 22, 2008 at 12:07
Hello Brendan,
I have a 1996 gxl 4.5 auto pet/gas which I think will have the same motor as your vehicle.
I tow a 5.8 m poptop(body Length) with 2 lge male teenagers , two adults and associated gear on board. I get between 3 and 4 ltrs per km towing staying at speeds of 90 to 105 kmph roughly.
Non towing is 5 to 6 lkm per litre. Petrol usage would improve consumption by about 1 km per litre overall on these figures.
My 80 has 90 ltrs usable gas and retains main petrol tank approx 90 ltrs too.If no gas available I simply use petrol and fill at next gas station. Be aware that some stations run out/have pump issues and are recalcitrant regarding fixing their pumps at times.....mainly roadhouses etc.
I use petrol in very hilly conditions but mainly gas with no problems.
If you were prepared to go a bit slower maybe max 90 kmph im sure consumption would improve markedly. I did let my wife drive to give her some towing experience and she went about 80 to 90kmph which without checking gave us about another 30 to 50kms out of the tank of gas.
Hope this helps
Alan.
AnswerID: 288799

Follow Up By: brendood - Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 21:06

Friday, Feb 29, 2008 at 21:06
Thanks Alan, I have heard on numerous occassions that towing at 90-100 saves fuel, but in reality its obvious.

Everything you have said makes sense, thankyou.
Regards
Brendan...
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