96 prado 1kz - te mpg lessening

[Heath]

So I've been tracking my MPG since I got this wagon and before I put the snorkel on it (and came to Chch) I was getting around 630km per 70 litres (round town - long distance was 650km per 70 litres). Now since the snorkel it has dropped back to about 610 per 70 litres (thought it would have gone up ) and since a service now its at about 585 per 70 litres.

So what is going on?

Injectors have been done last year, has free flow exhaust (just the dump pipe to finish off).

I have yet to check tire pressures but they were okay last time I checked.

Oil was changed from valvoline to ? so maybe its a little thicker and the engine has to work harder. Any suggestions on oil brand etc to use for better milleage while not compromising turbo life etc.

Perhaps the air filter is dirty (it is chch after all) or the new one is more restrictive. Suggestions for a good replacement.

Maybe its time to have another look at the EGR junk and make sure its blanked off (maybe the valve has shifted a litte and now I have gas though it affecting the efficiency).

Maybe the intake is too gummed up with egr gunge and needs a good clean out.

Maybe the Crank breather is pushing more oil vapour into the system and the intercooler is becomming clogged. Perhaps a catch can is another option.

The power still seems to be there and I am not seeing any smoke at all (but I am driving in darkness mostly), have noticed some specks of black shit on the drive from where it starts that I havent seen before.

So any suggestions?

[DaveM]

So any suggestions?

Moving the discussion from Planning a trip to somewhere applicable?

[Heath]

So any suggestions?

Moving the discussion from Planning a trip to somewhere applicable?

Hmmm. I started this thread in the diesel section and now its here? Seems a little glitch in the system...

Can a moderator shift this or should I cut and paste?

[DaveM]

I've had it happen before, a mod just shifted it for me

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Have you had the truck hot that your aware of??

Maybe the gasket or head is still to crack, my !kz surf started doing the same thing then 2months later it cracked ay

[NJV6]

Have you replaced the fuel filter? Try replacing the air and fuel filter and see how you go.

You'd expect consumption to go up a bit with a snorkel rather than down as it has to breathe through effectively a long hose. You need to be doing over 200km/h or something for it to have a positive effect

[tweake]

post up your math. i've lost count of the amount of people who have stuffed up the maths for the fuel consumption figures.

[rokhound]

post up your math. i've lost count of the amount of people who have stuffed up the maths for the fuel consumption figures.

There is no math. The tank holds 70 ltrs (or there abouts). You fill it, press the trip meter and then fill it again when the ornage light is either just on, or about too. Then look at the trip meter and see how far you have travelled. No magic, not rocket science, no math, you just look at the total distance travelled for the amount of fuel put in.
At least that's how I do it. Heath are you the same?

[tweake]

post up your math. i've lost count of the amount of people who have stuffed up the maths for the fuel consumption figures.

There is no math. The tank holds 70 ltrs (or there abouts). You fill it, press the trip meter and then fill it again when the ornage light is either just on, or about too. Then look at the trip meter and see how far you have travelled. No magic, not rocket science, no math, you just look at the total distance travelled for the amount of fuel put in.
At least that's how I do it. Heath are you the same?

problem with that is you can be 50-100km out either way.
your mileage may not have changed, just your counting did.

[Heath]

I fill the tank at the same place (use same pump if I can) till the first click. Then reset the trip meter, I record the Kms when I top up and record the amount I put in. The tank is approx 90 litres so I am told and the light comes on at approx 70 litres used. I divide the kms by the litres to see how many kms per litre.

Checked speedo with gps and it is spot on.

I guess when the service was done maybe the filter was a little more restrictive and the oil a little more ... ah ... "thick"

I will have to work through the possibilities.

Just remembered, I have a tiny hose on the front pass side of the intercooler that pops off occasionally (a vacuum styled one) so I might check that is still connected (have hose clip on it now to keep it there).

[MikeL200]

Try http://www.fuelly.com you can compare your vehicle to others around the world as well as tracking your usage.

[tweake]

The tank is approx 90 litres so I am told and the light comes on at approx 70 litres used.

approx is exactly right. you can overfill the tanks a bit and the light can come on with various amounts of fuel left in. also the sample size is so small (one tank) the margin for error is quiet large.

better just to record mileage when ever you fill up and amount you put in. then work it out over 4-5 fills.

[Heath]

The tank is approx 90 litres so I am told and the light comes on at approx 70 litres used.

approx is exactly right. you can overfill the tanks a bit and the light can come on with various amounts of fuel left in. also the sample size is so small (one tank) the margin for error is quiet large.

better just to record mileage when ever you fill up and amount you put in. then work it out over 4-5 fills.

Yep and that is what I do. One poor tank run doesnt make a poor economy wagon (might be driving harder etc) so I average things out over 4 tanks and if the running was out of the ordinary I disregard the result for that tank full and do another.

Having said that I am now 50 odd kms down per tank on what I had over 6 months ago. Still got some stuff to check but we'll see.

[tallsam66]

Your best to fill it too the brim the zero trip then record how many litres you use ...this is the most accurate way...if you doing a job you might as well do it themost accurate way