RV FEATURE
For a few weeks , I had been pondering the results of a fuel test of our long-term test Isuzu MU-X LS-T ( GoRV # 77 ).
In that test , which saw me travelling a couple hundred kilometres without a caravan hitched up , the vehicle consumed 8.65L / 100km - a reasonable result , sure , but it was above the 8.3L / 100km average claimed by Isuzu for city / country driving .
All other factors being equal , there were two possible reasons for this discrepancy . First , the weather . The first test was done during a day of strong wind gusts coming from all directions . The second reason : the car was brand new , with an engine that was arguably still running in .
However , the day after the vehicle was serviced , I had the opportunity to re-test , and I learned something interesting along the way …
With the wind at my back , the MU-X used 7.25L over 99.8k , resulting in a dieselconsumption figure of 7.26L / 100km .
On the return leg of the journey , the vehicle used 7.86L over 96.7km .
SURPRISING RESULTS
On Grand Final Day , I drove along the Princes Highway to visit friends . Afterwards , as I was preparing to head home , I filled up the tank and noted the kilometres travelled ( 99.8km ), having filled up and zeroed the trip-meter before departing earlier in the day . On this leg of the journey , the vehicle had consumed an average of 7.26L / 100km , a massive difference over my initial figure of 8.65L / 100km and Isuzu ’ s average of 8.3L . Having said that , this latest test involved mostly highway driving , with very little ‘ aroundtown ’ driving .
In any case , I zeroed the trip-meter again and headed home , travelling 96.7km before filling up again . The car had used 7.86L for an average of 8.13L / 100km . The key difference : I was travelling into a headwind on the return journey and had the wind to my back during the first leg .
Further , with 8000km on the odometer , the 3L turbodiesel engine had been more properly run-in .
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