I have a new shape 5 speed man 2L TD 2WD townie. I am a bit concerned at the high revs (3600rpm) at 70mph (5th gear)and struggles to get anywhere near 80mph. Is this normal? I understand that an auto townie should sit at 3200rpm for same speed.
Also my combined mpg is 30.5 mpg - is this bad?
Any idea of what could be causing these performance issues or is it normal? Any feedback greatly appreciated, especially from other manual owners.
- (#7462) Marcus Rogers, 3 Jan 04 06:26
Hello Marcus.
I'm afraid this is all quite normal. The townace was designed for Japanese trafic, and the national speed limit is only 60mph at most, on some section of their freeways. 30.5 MPH is also good.
- (#7462) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 3 Jan 04 06:55
Thanks Dave
But what sort of revs do you get at 70mph. Youve got an auto havnt you? I would think also 30.5 mpg would be OK for you as an auto owner, but for a manual ?
Where are the rare breed of manual townie owners, how about some input !-)
- (#7462) Marcus Rogers, 3 Jan 04 13:44
Hello Marcus,
I have a 1990 Masterace 2.0l Td manual and I get about 32mpg for a good run and as for the revs, I get about 3400 at about 65mph so the revs are about right too.
Although mine is the old shape....
- (#7462) Mark, 3 Jan 04 14:24
Marcus, yes the manuals are geared lower than the autos, don't ask me why. If you really can't get it over 80Mph on a run, then you might have a boost problem or fuelling problem, but if you're returning 30MPg & 80 Mph then be happy. Our 2l TD Auto 4x4 regularly cruises at 90 Mph & returns around 28-30 Mpg average, so I have no complaints, we have run @ 100 MPH for a while on several occasions, but ours runs a little extra boost & has the extra 'legs' due to being auto.
Regards Rob.
- (#7462) Rob Drinkwater, 4 Jan 04 17:01
Sorry meant to say, that Dave's right, the speed limit in Japan is 100 Kph, about 62.5 Mph. These are designed as luxury plod mobiles, not high speed cruisers, although I push ours quite hard most of the time, don't like being beaten you see, still a boy racer at heart.
Regards rob.
- (#7462) Rob Drinkwater, 4 Jan 04 17:05
Thanks Mark and Rob for replies.
I'm not that bothered about high speed cruising, my normal driving environment doesnt include many opportunities for this (Cornwall). My drive to work (23miles) is a lot of hills and single A/B roads. I would though, like to sit at 70mph without out it seeming like a noisey stuggle inching ever nearer to the red line.
Perhaps it is time for a visit to the diesel injection specialists for at least an insitu setup. I have also pondered about the fitting of an electric fan.
Any thoughts?
- (#7462) Marcus Rogers, 5 Jan 04 04:22
I've just blatted down a short stretch of duel carriageway, and managed to get it up to 75 mph at 3200 revs, before the road ran out. So if your not that bothered about high speed cruising, I would save your money rather than involve a diesel specialist, just go for some additives to the fuel. If you are lucky and live in an area where B5 Bio-diesel is available, its worth the extra cost per Litre because it improves the mpg by 11% or so.
Regards dave Bright
- (#7462) dave Bright, 5 Jan 04 05:47
Hi Dave, thanks for the reply.
Not up on biodiesel, although there is a garage 2 miles from me that stocks it. Is it just a case of filling up and away you go...or adjusting anything etc?
PS 75mph at 3200rpm...I think Im turning 'green'with envy (excuse the environmental pun :-))
- (#7462) Marcus Rogers, 5 Jan 04 06:03
Who's turning who green you lucky, lucky person?
B0 is the usual Dino-Diesel that is available everywhere. B5 is the name for a blend of 95% Dino-Diesel plus 5% Bio-Diesel (refined Rape seed oil). B0 Diesel may at times only burn 60-70%, hence black smoke. 5% bio-Diesel increases the burn to 90% or better, so B5 Bio-diesel improves the MPG. If I had an outlet near me, I would pay the extra few pence for it, and get much better MPG. If you currently get 30.5MPG on B0 then B5 should return up to 34MPG, and there's no changes to make, just fill and go.
- (#7462) dave Bright, 5 Jan 04 08:14
Thanks Dave
I made a visit to my local garage that sells it. He said they sell loads of it - at times more than their B0.He did mention only independent garages get supplied by distributors, this might have something to do with govt duty etc. I think also only certain regions have it on the forecourt, another govt thing maybe? Scotland, Lincs, Yorks and a few others including Cornwall ('lucky' me!).
He sells at 79.9 per litre, a penny more than B0. I will run down the B0 in my tank and give several fill up on B5 and work out the mpg/note any other issues- will post results here.
- (#7462) Marcus Rogers, 5 Jan 04 13:48
The only reason that independent garages get B5 & not the multiples, is that the multiples are owned by the oil companies & it's not in their interest to use anything but B0. Cynical view I know, buts that the fact I'm afraid, they are scared that we might all turn 'green'.
Regards Rob.
- (#7462) Rob Drinkwater, 5 Jan 04 14:30
The official Government stance is “to promote the benefits of Bio-Diesel, that will hopefully encourage oil companies to introduce it via a reduction in duty” That’s direct from the Department of the environment. To get really cynical, almost the entire rapeseed oil production in the UK is exported to Europe, and I suspect that if the major oil companies were to introduce it, home demand would outstrip the supply. That in turn would leave none for export, and our balance of trade would be even more woeful than it is now.
Regards
Dave Bright
- (#7462) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 5 Jan 04 15:34
What you have to remember is that this government would be even further in the s**t than they are at the moment if they didn't get as much revenue as possible from the pumps, as well as my wallet in general, so they won't promote anything that earns them less in the way of tax, hence LPG hasn't taken off in the UK. Also remember the oil companies are more powerful that the government. Also remember that the USA keeps going to war for oil, again driven by the oil companies, as I say maybe they are more powerful than the US government as well.
Regards Rob.
P.S. if I'm not posting on here over the next few days, assume that Exxon have sent a hit squad out to get me.
- (#7462) Rob Drinkwater, 7 Jan 04 17:51
Why not make your own Bio part at 25.82p tax per litre?
You can then mix, or should I say cut?, your own Bio-Diesel. I run on B75 at the moment due to cold starts being a problem with B100, come spring I shall be back on B100 as much as possible. Just filled up and am getting 37 MPG, mostly short town driving. I missed out on recording some long runs as I had the Xmas flu and just could not be bothered, two times the trip counter was close on 700 as the low fuel light blinked on.
Tax is paid directly to HMC&E, and if you beleive the blurb, the oil companies (or ASDA as it's cheapest) get little profit from my two 10-15 litre fill ups every now and then.
As of yet I have had no problems, even the cold starts just mean you let it warm a little before driving away. It can't pump the thicker oil fast enough, once the fuel line is warm and the oil flows better it's all systems go. I shall install an inline fuel heater at some stage.
- (#7462) Clive (Bristol), 8 Jan 04 10:18