Technical 2.8 JTD on 55 plate ~ what MPG?

[friend of stouby]

Hello

I have just bought a Ducato 2.8 JTD Maxi van on a 55 plate with 37,000 miles. It replaces a 2.8 JTD Maxi van on an 02 plate with 150,000 miles.

The old van when first bought (50,000 miles) returned 31mpg on a mixture of long distance/ town UK/France driving, this was a mixture of half to full load. At the time it was sold it returned 28 mpg

The new van pulls a little more strongly in a mixture of condions but on the first tank full with only around town and empty load returned 22mpg. I thought that at least I will get a good return on the next trip to France of around 900 miles with mainly motorway driving but also lightly trafficed A & B roads. I haven't crossed any mountains and hardly any hills but found on the first tank full 25mpg and the second 26mpg, van again half to full load with the identical use to the old van. I checked the mileometer against the sat nav and found over 200miles only a 1/2 mile difference.

Is this type of fuel consumtion normal for the later vans (less aero dynamic?) or is there a known engine/fuelling fault that may cause this?

Any imput will be greatfully received as I drive up to 50,000 per year.

The newer van had a full service before this trip to France, all filters and the correct oil including the gearbox. I drive with a light foot and light braking, on the motorways in France at 70 - 75 mph. The fuel consumption difference against my old van is enormous, I am really puzzled.

Thanks very much

 

[PeterM]

SO, what's a "55 plate" age? Meaningless to me but may be similar to my 2.8JTD Maxi 2006 (03-06 style).
Mine is a motorcamper conversion and runs all the time at 3-3.5 tonne all up.
It consistently returns 10 L/100 km in mainly country driving with city mix. See it on the Show your Van thread.

I would not call 70-75 mph "light foot" - more like speedy, with fuel consumption to match.

PeterM

 

[friend of stouby]

Hello PeterM, it's the 03 - 06 model range and registered in February 2006.

Whether 70-75 mph on a motorway in France is speedy is for a delivery van is debatable. The point I am making is I am using the later van in exactly the same way as my earlier Ducato 2.8JTD (98-02 model range) and getting very different fuel consuption results. I had hoped that a newer van with some newer technology and fewer miles on the clock would give better (if only slightly) fuel consumption, but I am getting the opposite. Therefore the question of - is there a common problem that could cause this?

I equate your fuel consumption to about 30 mpg, very similar to what I averaged in my ealier van.

Thanks for taking the time to answer

Jamie

 

[Joiner]

Hello Jamie.

If your are grudging the fuel consumption of your van then for god sake don't buy a new shape Ducato.
I have an October 2007 2.3 maxi LWB which runs at about 3.5 tonne all the time and can't get better than 23 to the gallon. The old MK1 style Talbot Express LWB vans which I used to have would do about 27- 28 to the gallon on all types of work, and that was technology from the 1970's.
I think that the new higher powered engines can only achieve this, partly, by using fuel!!
I must add that a pal of mine removed a roof rack from his SWB transit and got about a 25% improvement.

Good luck.

Joiner

 

[friend of stouby]

Blimey Joiner, I best go back to my first Ducato 3 vans ago!

My current 2006 van is very very similar mechanically to the old 2002 model, only far fewer miles. As I have a direct comparison by using the newer van in an identical manner to the older van, I am amazed that by buying newer I have to lose 20% on fuel consumption. It doesn't make sense so therefore my first reaction that there must be a potential fault.
This van sits about 50mm higher when loaded, so maybe you have pointed out a possible cause... consumption may improve as the suspension wears?

Thanks for your imput, I'll use the car more often.