280 miles to tank - about right or low?

[larry787]

I have just filled ours up for the first time since we had it, its a 4x4 diesel auto and got 29.27 mpg and that was a mixture of town driving and "A" road cruising and im pleased with that

[Bob]

Pretty much what I get, happy too.

[rita]

Sounds good, what was the method of checking that you used.

[larry787]

I filled it up set the trip meter and filled it up again noting the mileage and did the maths

[johnlewis]

Cheers peoples. So, if I'm looking about 20, what can I do to improve it? Seats are coming out soon so a bit of weight will be gained. Will it be:

Banjo filter
Fuel Filter
Air Filter

Anything else?

[Gasy]

Push it

[philpdr]

Cheers peoples. So, if I'm looking about 20, what can I do to improve it? Seats are coming out soon so a bit of weight will be gained. Will it be:

Banjo filter
Fuel Filter
Air Filter

Anything else?

Trying not to rev over 2500 through the gears makes a big difference to mine.

[mellon man]

Anything else?[/quote]
Trying not to rev over 2500 through the gears makes a big difference to mine.[/quote]

Going to be hard that one as every time I see a VW van with side widows my right foot goes down to show them who's boss

[francophile1947]

Cheers peoples. So, if I'm looking about 20, what can I do to improve it? Seats are coming out soon so a bit of weight will be gained. Will it be:

Banjo filter
Fuel Filter
Air Filter

Anything else?

You still haven't said if you've properly checked the fuel consumption Until you do, it's all hypothetical, but filter changes are a good start.

[al & chris]

We are 4wd but can get 30mpg although average is 25mpg but it can be as low as 22mpg on short runs around home. Don't think 1 in 4 hill helps for setting of up.

[BongoBongo123]

Try and avoid it going down a gear through smooth and gentle acceleration technique, that immediately pushes revs through the roof, smooth driving. Judge distances in front and at junctions and roundabouts so you don't have to unnecessarily overdo the breaking.

Dump your water tank contents if unused before you leave your camp site or rest place for the journey home.

Air filter, Millers Diesel Ecomax diesel additive and regular servicing on the technical side will help optimize fuel consumption in all vehicles.

And a good quality injector cleaner used once every year or so should not do any harm to fuel economy and performance.

[roosmith]

Cheers peoples. So, if I'm looking about 20, what can I do to improve it? Seats are coming out soon so a bit of weight will be gained. Will it be:

Banjo filter
Fuel Filter
Air Filter

Anything else?

You still haven't said if you've properly checked the fuel consumption Until you do, it's all hypothetical, but filter changes are a good start.

As Francolphile says you have to do a proper test first, something would be very wrong to be getting that low. The fuel gauges are renowned for being inaccurate. Mine sits at 1/4 full for ages then just plummets. It could be you half a tank left in there.

Ours is a 4wd and we get more than 20mpg towing the caravan. I do have a heavy right foot and solo, very rarely drop below 25mpg.

[Kelvyn]

I get 20-22 using it as a short run in town daily driver, but have had 35+ on long slow, steady runs.

[the1andonly]

97 4x4
Over 2 yrs get 21-22 mpg towing (980 kg ish trailer)
24-26 mpg general solo stuff
note variable rape seed oil ratio from 0% (on hols) to 30-50% at home or when poss,
within last year also add 300ml of 2 stroke oil to every 2- 3 tanks

[Watty]

Filled up in mine today (2.5 V6 2001 Aero tintop, bought 4 days ago)- I clocked 398km since first fill up and when filling the tank put in 45.75 litres to fill it up again.

Putting that into old money I seem to have got 24.88mpg, which I'm pretty pleased with as I was only expecting about 20mpg from the V6. I drove pretty carefully, very rarely going above 2500rpm. I did put my foot down twice to overtake and was impressed by the power of the V6, but I think the mpg would tank if I drove aggressively all the time. It's nice to know it's got the power if I need it, but ambling along feels more appropriate for the Bongo.