[Micksbig62]

Hello everyone. Long time reader first time posting.

After reading about the great fuel economy you guys are getting from your y62 patrols I took the plunge in Oct and bought one to tow my caravan with. We used to tow with a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Anyway, it's been a good car but my fuel economy is never as good as you guys seem to get especially when towing. If I'm on the highway it's ok but as soon as it gets hilly or in/out of 80 zones the fuel use jumps up significantly.

I've only got 7000ks on the clock so how long do you think it will take to break it in?

As a comparison we just got back from a trip with another couple towing the same van with his diesel Toureg and mine used consistently double what he was using. That hurts when we are driving the same distance with the same load.

Other than waiting for it to break in..has anyone got any suggestions?

Mick

 

[Trav_Patrol]

i havent' done a lot of heavy towing with a van etc, just trailer's and furniture trailers, i still haven't gotten around to calculating my trip up here with my loaded trailer, however it's pretty much a given that you'll never match a euro diesel, or even a late model jap diesel, apart from a crd GU anyway, i've had 6 seperate mates with them complain that i get better economy than them, there are a few guys on here that tow a fair bit though so they'll be able to help you out, mine has gotten worse as i go along as i keep modding it, jumping to 35 inch mud tyres increased it a bit as did the winch and bar work etc.

 

[notorious_benny]

It wont get much better as it runs in.

Are you towing in manual mode or letting the auto do the shifting?

I make sure to tow in manual, including around town, I short shift it everywhere at 2500rpm unless I am in a hurry. If I am not in a rush I am happy to hold a high gear and let it roll over the hill rather than kick it back and hold 100kph up any hill which it will easily do if you want it too.

I believe in auto mode its far too eager to kick down, and when it does it makes it feel like its doing it easy. But remember if your using all those ponies you have to feed em!!

I use about 5 or so L/100km more than a good friend who tows same boat in same country 18-19 vs 23-24L/100km. His tow vehicle is a L/C 200. I don't think any of our Y62's will ever compare in the economy stakes to the modern euro diesels. But I am glad I am not servicing/fixing a modern Touareg either!!

Also remember your comparing what is essentially a soft roader with unitary body and the latest greatest TD motor tech to a ladder chassis, very heavy and capable off roader with a 5.6 litre V8 petrol!!

 

[patroly62]

A racing v8 at that!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joohnooo]

Hi Mick

I bought my y62 specifically for towing, and to date in 12 months Ive clocked op 65 000 km of which towing was about 40 000. My van is full height and about 2.4 t.

My fuel use runs between 19 and 22 l per 100 regularly and I travel at about 95 to 100 kph.

I always use the manual side and basically run in 5th 90% of the time. The usual factors about terrain shape and prevailing wind directions are all important in the final use of fuel.

I would say based on information provided on other forums that the euro diesels are particularly frugal ie between 13 and 16 litres per 100; the japanese diesels eg toyo L200 and Prado run between about 16 and19 lit per 100. I am referring to towing vans similar to mine about 2.4 tonnes.

Heavier vans will add up to 3 lit per 100 to the diesel figs above and a bit more to the petrol figures.

Diesel utes fall between the two mainly because I suppose they are relatively light ie 2.2
tonnes with reasonable power.

And this brings me to the point of the reply. Fuel use will improve a little as the vehicle clocks up a few kms. But the overall weight ...3 tonnes of the y62 and motor size plus the weight on the back is never going to be a frugal scenario.

But its stability when towing, reliability, relaxed towing style and the value for money purchase price that adds up to a vehicle I plan to keep for a longer period. This is something I was not confident about with the previous 7 turbo diesel that I owned before this vehicle. They were really working hard at about 60 000 to 80 000 and started to show it.

This lack of confidence appears often in the other tdi forums where owners are frequently ditching before the warranty expires.

I hope this assists as you get into towing more and you feel relaxed that knowing there are enough service agents to fix the vehicle whenever needed, you are not harassed by continuous recall notices and your not worried about fuel quality the injectors or the fuel pump.

John b

 

[joohnooo]

Another thought.

Much as im tempted, I have kept the vehicle as standard with only 2" lift and airbags fitted to the rear.

As mentioned above, changing tyre size and sizable chunks of extra weight will be reflected in extra ongoing fuel use...the same for all 4x4s.

John b

 

[simmoevo]

Basically if you don't use your Y62 for offroad work you were better off going a Toureg..................................................................................................................................................................... until you have to service it.

 

[joohnooo]

Simmo

Brings to mind I was crossing Tom Groggin in the Snowies...about 600 deep.

Toureg went through. ..and just managed to clear the crossing. ...then the light show. The dash had all warning lights going an eventually restarted.

Toureg wont be doing Davies High Plain track that way again !

John b

 

[bullo]

Hi Mick, I have worked out the fuel I use is 19/100 tail wind, 21/100 no wind and 23/100 head wind. My van weighs 2.8 ton and is a high wide off road Explorex. I usually have a kayak on the roof.
All the above forum tips are quite accurate.
Basically I stay in 5th and only flick across on longer downhill runs to auto and then back when the road levels out. I slowly take my foot off the gas as I reach the tops of hills and not keep pumping the gas only to take my foot off a little after I have breached the hill. I tow at around 95-100 and will get up to 120+ getting a whip up getting to the bottom of a hill before a steep ascent.
Probably best to slowly accelerate not try to get your rig running at cruise speed to fast. That also goes without towing where I usually average 13-13,5/100. (Roof racks and bull bars use extra fuel as well.)
After 10-20,000k's spray your MAF and use injector cleaner to keep your peek power .
The extra 2litres/100 we use costs less than a cup of coffee at a cafe!!!
You also wont have to try and sell a second hand jeep or Tourag when you replace this one!!! cheers!

 

[joohnooo]

Just for interest. .I've just returned from a canberra syd return trip at highway speeds 100 but mostly 110 kph.

Just other half and myself ...a little luggage , fuel use 12.5 lit per 100km.

Im happy with that !!

John b

 

[Micksbig62]

Guys thanks very much for the replies. I will try holding it in 5th and see what difference it makes. I appreciate that some of you guys prefer to sit on 95-100kph and driving to conserve fuel but I'd rather not have to. On long trips I always set the cruise to the speed limit and let the vehicle do the rest. Having to consciously focus on driving for economy is going to be a chore I could do without.

Another mate has a 200 series and I seriously considered one of those. It does drive very well.. actually it feels like it's doing it easier than my y62, just seems to tow with a bit less fuss. But I can pull harder when I open up the big v8...even if it does drain the tank doing so lol. But the Toyota interior is so outdated and plastic and they are way over priced for what they are. Interestingly though he still uses about 6-7l/100 less than me on average.

We don't do much 4wding but I would like to put a lift in and some decent tyres when these ones wear out. They just look better with a lift and tyres, especially when I park next to my mates 200 with 2" lift and 33s he makes mine look like a shopping trolley. Although the VW is even more so. The other reason is to fix the dump ass I get when the van is on the back...I'm looking into airbags to see if that helps. I'm bit worried about the fuel use increasing even more if I do these upgrades too.

Anyway I'll experiment a bit more with it and see how it goes. I just don't want to be the guy in the group who has to say "guys can we all drive 15kph under the speed limit" so I can conserve fuel and reduce the embarrassment of having to stop for fuel while the others mock my patrol.

 

[Micksbig62]

Just for interest. .I've just returned from a canberra syd return trip at highway speeds 100 but mostly 110 kph.

Just other half and myself ...a little luggage , fuel use 12.5 lit per 100km.

Im happy with that !!

John b

Thanks John. Yes on the highway at 100-110kph with no load seems to be their sweet spot. Don't you wish all driving could be like that!

 

[notorious_benny]

You cannot really expect any vehicle to be set and forget with 2500kg plus on the back!

Just look at all the posts on lcool on keeping the transmission locked up while towing.
It's not set and forget in the cruiser either!

You have to drive it. That means taking control in hilly conditions.

Please let us know how you go when selecting gears manually.

 

[Sheikshifter]

If you use the cruise expect to burn a bit extra. It will hold whatever speed you want, but it will burn more doing it. If you use the cruise lock it in the highest gear possible, it will burn more in 5th than 7th of course.

If you want to run lean then you have to drive it, you don't need to use full manual all the time, but it can help. I find if you move the throttle quickly in drive it goes into full Saudi oil baron mode and kicks down too much. If you try to just open the throttle slow it will hold the gears longer.

My boat is 2.7t, it's 55ks to the ramp and it's not all that flat. The best I have got is 19l/100, worst 28l/100. The 19 was really going easy on it, gentle throttle and keeping it in high gears.

The 28 was running at 130 on the flat and lots of overtaking. Driving "normally" 22l/100 has been the average. My last truck was a ranger and it averaged 18 on the same loop with the same boat. I am really happy with 22-28.. I would easy pay an extra $10 bucks to tow with the patrol instead of the ranger.

Dads boat is 3.5t, its 2m higher than the patrol and he always drives aggressively. I don't think he has ever seen less than 30l/100 when towing. He lives on the far south cost and there isn't a flat road anywhere, you are either climbing or decending all the time, he drives everywhere at 120. If you are doing 90 he can't sit behind you, he will pass you and burn 5 litres doing it. His other car is a merc c63 amg and I don't think he has ever even worked out what that uses. When it's empty fill it. When you burn 100+ litres per day boating an extra 10 or 20 towing to the ramp isn't worth even thinking about.

 

[Johnyfishlips]

I figure I saved 35k buying the TI-L instead of a 200 series Sahara , I will never use 35k worth of fuel the rest of my life so figure what the hell . Still love the sound the Y62 puts out when I am on the go pedal. I certainly didn't buy a Y62 cause I was worried about fuel cost.

 

[notorious_benny]

I mostly agree with your observations sheikshifter, but its not my experience that 6th is always more efficient than 5th.
Using my torque pro app I can watch the instant fuel flow data, on an easy flat run 6th uses less fuel.

On a gentle incline where it will hold 6th at a true 100kph it uses less fuel if shifted back to 5th. (about 2-3L/hr less). Also I notice I need less throttle pedal position for the same situation.

Assuming that the fuel flow figures read through the obd2 port are accurate I think that 5th is probably a better gear for towing something draggy like a van than 6th is.

I have found the cruise struggles with undulating country when unloaded. I wouldnt bother letting cruise try and control speed in undulating country with my boat hooked up!! I do tow on flat road with cruise set and it works fine.


Coasting downhill and then rolling straight up the next one is what catches my cruise out.

 

[notorious_benny]

Having said all that I don't need to drive with my eye on the gauges. I can tell by the position of my right foot when I need to shift up or down. I would hardly call it a chore.

I havn't bothered logging fuel use on the last few trips out. I have done a worst case trip. I know how far I can get to a tank. That's the main thing to know.
If I wanted more range a 140litre sub tank can be fitted

 

[joohnooo]

Hi Mick
Just thinking bout your comments above.

Your friend may be towing a lighter load. ..even a few hundred kgs makes a huge difference along with profile of trailer/caravan.

Also there is a steady flow of complaints by some LC owners of power loss as they accumulate a few k'ms.

A current example is on the caravanner s forum. Probably not a major issue but highlights the need to payout to keep performance on the top edge.

Re the airbags and lift....go for it. Towing control is much improved.

John b

 

[rjhug1]

Another mate has a 200 series and I seriously considered one of those. It does drive very well.. actually it feels like it's doing it easier than my y62, just seems to tow with a bit less fuss.

A very interesting observation. With so much less power and less gears, it seems somewhat of a mystery as to why....

 

[ACMPatrol]

A very interesting observation. With so much less power and less gears, it seems somewhat of a mystery as to why....

No mystery, it's called torque.

The cruiser diesel has more at lower revs than the Y62 petrol.

That's not to say the cruiser engine is any good - you get more torque and power out of most 2.0l Euros and the 2.2 Hyundai diesels than any Jap diesel. The 4.5 uses half it's torque to propel the 4 of it's cylinders that don't do anything......