Fuel Consumption!

[GIMPY1]

hey guys

just wondering what the average fuel consumption is on a standard VN.... im only getting 300Km's to a tank and that dosent sound right to me?

[Morton]

A lot of old VN engines tend to get that sort of economy. It's also possible that your fuel gauge is reading empty when you're really not. My old fuel gauge used to keep going 'till about 8mm below the red line

How many litres do you put in from E to pump-stop-full?

There's a few good threads about fuel economy around that can help you to change little things that make her more efficient. Here's a few things to consider, which will help things out. I used to get around 300km to a tank... now I can get 500+ if I'm being a tytearse, or 420 - 450 if I'm driving with spirit.

- inflate tyres to 38psi
- change oil + filter
- change air filter
- change fuel filter
- get a cold air intake
- use regular 91 petrol, it burns a little slower
- change oxy sensor
- change coolant temp sensor
- change spark plugs and spark leads

slowly going over everything there should freshen her up to the point where economy has increased at least 100km per tank.

Tyre pressures will effect economy more than you think The difference between 28psi and 38psi is incredible.

[mischa]

well i assume its a 63l tank so thats about 20l/100km, but i bet your not running the car dry.

[dufus]

I did everything Morton said except for running regular fuel, running a cold air intake and I ran some injector cleaner in a tank of fuel and my fuel usage went from 290 km per tank to close enough to 500 km per tank in my VR.

[Morton]

well i assume its a 63l tank so thats about 20l/100km, but i bet your not running the car dry.

Yeah, but only around 55l of a 63l tank is practically usable. Any lower than that, and you start to get surge and splutter, and eventually royally shag the fuel pump.

I did everything Morton said except for running regular fuel, running a cold air intake and I ran some injector cleaner in a tank of fuel and my fuel usage went from 290 km per tank to close enough to 500 km per tank in my VR.

Works a treat, doesn't it

Good point with the injector cleaner - it's not a bad idea to run a bottle of Nulon through the tank every 6mths or so. Throw it in before you fill up, so it mixes in nicely.

[GIMPY1]

cheers guys!

ill give al that stuff a go! how much does a bottle of injector cleaner go for these days?

[coolvxss]

I get about 400km out of my tank. 95% city driving. goes up to about 600km on highway. When my fuel gauge reads below empty i can only fit about 50litres of fuel. I have never ran it dry but run it below the empty a lot.

[Morton]

cheers guys!

ill give al that stuff a go! how much does a bottle of injector cleaner go for these days?

No worries buddy You'll pay around $20 for a bottle of cleaner. Some people swear by it, others claim it does nothing... I tend to think it's worth the money twice a year. Costs you the same as one oil change. If you use a higher grade petrol, like BP Ultimate (specifically BP, they do a better petrol), it has detergents in it which do the same job as injector cleaner - but if you run rugged old 91 which is more efficient for these cars - the cleaner won't go astray

[Lost_Pete]

It would help if you actually recorded the distance and the amount of fuel you put into the car, that way you can give us a km/litre or litres per 100km or mpg figure to compare.

So in the case of 400km and 50litres = 12.5 litres per 100km city which sounds pretty right.

600km and 50litres = 8.3 litres per 100km country (34mpg in the old money) which is quite good

[FuzzayD]

What are you guys on? I have an 89 vn exec with $70 bucks in the tank i get 800km. thats like 40 litres... that can't be right im going to check.

[Morton]

Yeah, that's WAY off 800km is Corolla territory

[Bz Kn33z]

i have a mate who has a 82 corolla 1.3 and that chews through the fuel more than my girlfriends magna 2.4L, lol magna gets 160km 13L

[Morton]

lol, dude, the 82 corollas were sill carbie. Anything without injection is going to be stupid on petrol

[Emackulation]

Nulon Fuel additive is like $13 up here :S When you put it in too, put it in first (whole bottle) then only put about $20 of 98RON (best premium fuel) in, then but a bottle of mentholated spirits and tip in 500ml. The metho mixes with any water in the fuel tank and spits it out. I've done it many times and its safe. The reason I would use small amount of fuel with it is because it makes it more potent and it will clean better then using a full tank. Once you run out of that batch go and fill up 91 ron and see how much you get per tank then.

[bluecar]

A lot of - change coolant temp sensor

.

Why? Have a VS and the fan only comes when the gauge is getting up near the top.

Are you suspecting the engine is running to hot?

[Emackulation]

Why? Have a VS and the fan only comes when the gauge is getting up near the top.

Are you suspecting the engine is running to hot?

I had a Vn V6 and the temp was perfect, never ever got hot, fans came on right time and all. One day the car was acting up just like when my fuel pressure regulator was stuffed. Turned out to be the coolant temp sensor, so if its stuffed it can give a faulse reading and cause the ECU to compensate.

[Lost_Pete]

What are you guys on? I have an 89 vn exec with $70 bucks in the tank i get 800km. thats like 40 litres... that can't be right im going to check.

$70 @ say $1.35/litre = 52litres
800km @ 52litres = 6.5 litres / 100km (43.7mpg)

[FuzzayD]

$70 @ say $1.35/litre = 52litres
800km @ 52litres = 6.5 litres / 100km (43.7mpg)

I put in $77 at $1.75 per litre and so far it reads 712 km and its on half.
i think something must be broken

[jas98]

1.75 per litre ****!!!!!.....hope it dont get that dear here lol at the moment its 1.32 a litre

[greenfoam]

FuzzayD if you car really goes that far on a tank you need to sell whatever is making it do that . Id say somethings broken on your speedo and making it read over much further than you are really going, it's the onyl thing that makes sense to me. Try driving from one place to another that are 600kms apart and see if you make it. Most good stock auto VN's will JUST make the trip on a tank full

[bluecar]

I had a Vn V6 and the temp was perfect, never ever got hot, fans came on right time and all. One day the car was acting up just like when my fuel pressure regulator was stuffed. Turned out to be the coolant temp sensor, so if its stuffed it can give a faulse reading and cause the ECU to compensate.

Might have a look at it. Can't imagine it costs much to put a new one in. This VS runs just up a couple of bars most of the time. Hot day around town it might get up a bit. Thanks.

[GIMPY1]

Bit of an update, i just ran it dry from full and only got 155KM!!!! im thinking my blocked radiator that i got chnaged yesterday could be the culprit? would that explain my incredibly poor fuel consumption?

[welly01]

Bit of an update, i just ran it dry from full and only got 155KM!!!! im thinking my blocked radiator that i got chnaged yesterday could be the culprit? would that explain my incredibly poor fuel consumption?

try using the other 3 gears

[GIMPY1]

try using the other 3 gears

Lol..... no one likes a smart ass

[immortality]

last week i filled the VN up, 58lts @ 1.80 for 95ron, less 6cents a ltr discount. still over $100 to fill her up. that will get me 500km city driving or 600km+ easy on the open road.

basically do everything morton does except i have no idea what my tire pressures are (i think about 32psi). i also put a new fuel filter every other year and use an oil flush every 2nd oil change.