Consumption/Conversion
Hi, I am a newbie and had my G-wagon 280GE Auto for three months. The truck is an 84 model and has about 160 000 km on the clock. My question is: Have any of you guys experimented with free flow exhaust systems and bigger sizes of tyres to try and reduce the fuel consumption. My truck is a gas guzzler and I average on 4 to 3.9 Km/liter of fuel.
No it isnt -- "a gas guzzler" -- its just a 280, THATS why some of us suffer the diesels lack of on-road performance.
Sorry Mingman, some of the many other 280 drivers may have something more constructive/ optimistic to offer.
Marcus
Hi Mingmang,
Yup the 280's a guzzler alright but not as bad as 4.0.
I was appalled by my 280GE consumption at first but a new air filter made a lot of difference.
I also think that changing to Castrol at the last oil change helped a little but the main thing was in changing the way I drove it - tryng always to be smooth, easy acceleration and staying off the brakes etc. I get 380-390km commuting before the tank light comes on with about 60 litres gone so that makes 6.4 km/ltre or 15.2 L/100km (18.4 mpg ) .
Australia's pretty flat so sitting on 100-110 kmh it drops to around 14.8 lt/100k (19mpg )
buit any hills at all sees 15mpg.at least.
Offroad the consumption of any 4WD is scary but the G ain't as bad as most other serious trucks around .
I don't now if a freeflow exhaust would help- there's a firm in England that rebuilds and tunes the MB 110 motor so they might know. I have Cooper 31inch tyres on so maybe that has an efect..
Maybe try getting the engine in good tune ( tappets, timing and EGA ) and work from there.
Cheers and stay off the brakes HaHa
Jimmy Mac
I'm really pleased with my gas conversion, in very basic terms, if I fill up with unleaded costs about £50 for the 75 ltr tank. When I fill up with gas, 75 Ltrs (I have 2x 40 ltr tanks) it costs £30. Makes sense to me anyway
4km per litre amount to 18 to the gallon. That aint all bad. You can try and squezze another 2MPG but it will only be at the cost of a K&N filter and a free flow SS exhaust. But if you get a little bit more power out of it you will only drive it faster and back to sqaure one. Try 32"11:50 tyres this will raise your MPG by around 5%. In my opinion the Speedos are out by about 5-10%. If you can borrow a satnav for a week this will show you a more acurate speed and milage coverage for a full tank.
it scared me at first
but i am gettin 17/18 mpg around town
and 19/20 on a run
its all about keeping the rev,s down
and you wont get a 300gd to do 95 mph or more
and as peter perfect said try satnav for a true reading
the speedo on mine is defo 5 to 7 % out
we all have m8,s driving petrol bmw,s not doing anymore than 20mpg
and look at the fun there are missing
i might look at gassing the 280 in the future ?? :D
im one of the lucky ones i live one mile from the donegal border in derry
and the petrol is €105 per litre about 70p sterling per litre
and its at an all time high at the moment
cheers chris :wink:
im one of the lucky ones i live one mile from the donegal border in derry
and the petrol is €105 per litre about 70p sterling per litre
and its at an all time high at the moment
cheers chris :wink:
salt in the wounds springs to mind :(
I'm really pleased with my gas conversion, in very basic terms, if I fill up with unleaded costs about £50 for the 75 ltr tank. When I fill up with gas, 75 Ltrs (I have 2x 40 ltr tanks) it costs £30. Makes sense to me anyway
Those were the days when I was using LPG on my 230 paying £0.17 a ltr. Didnt have as much fun with the 280 on LPG though. I have a complete kit for a 280 if anyones interested. My 280 is used for off roading now so dont need it.
if yours is auto you will not get anymore out of it. YOu will get better consumtion form a manual.
I am getting about 17/18 MPG in my 280GE. Its a SWB with a 5 speed. Your final drive which will be 4.88 to as low as 5.33 is quite low so you have to rev to keep the speed up (3000RPM = 68MPH). Peter is right about speedo error, my sat nav shows that i have roughly 7MPH error at around 70MPH, so she is always showing that you are travelling faster than you are. This will also give you rather "better than reality" consumption figures when you do your sums too. I have 31inch all-terrains on mine so that helps, but if you go too big that will also have an adverse effect. if you have an auto, general rule of thumb is 2MPG less than a manual. The 280 is probably the best engined one available, as the 230 will have to work hard to move the heavy truck, and the diesel, well we won't go there, the diesel guys can tell you about them.... anyone know where i can get a roof rack???
Think it was Jesus, good while ago mind, who offered that MB @ Canary Wharf had two for sale --for LWB I seem to recall.
Marcus
[quote="peter perfec another 2MPG but it will only be at the cost of a K&N filter and a free flow SS exhaust.
Hello Peter, Are you a fan on the K&N ?
They are the same price ($140)as the MB Paper thingy here in in OZ- so I might get one
if you reckon they'e the BeesKnees
Cheers Jimmy Mac
Was at an LR show this weekend and saw that Hannibal now do roof racks for G's. check it out. They make some very nice roof tents and are well known.
Sold my G yesterday, we just weren't getting on, although i loved her so. Actually i saw a 350GD in Spain a couple of weeks ago, 1992 and a 3.5 turbo diesel. Lovely but priced at 19000 pounds/27000 euros. I was curled up on the dealers florr in stitches when they told me they had paid 22000 euros for it !!!!!! Anyone heard of this model before? I've never seen one advertised anywhere and it wasn't in my gold portfolio book!!! will be looking for a newer G possibly when i sell my scout too. [/b][/b]
yes 350 is quite common but had early head problems but there was a mod that was supposed to cure it.
If I am correct "mod" as above consisted of an improved water pump!
Marcus
up dated head gasket as well I believe
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