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[mrjimbo]

What is the most economical cruising speed for a 3.0 V6 Estate ?

Yesterday i went from Didcot to Andover and back, all dual carriageway and Aroad (A34, A303 and A343). Round trip of 102miles at a steady 75mph and 50mph on A road and it used 21.65 litres (brimed at start and again at finish) which works out to be 21.05 mpg 

[duggs]

That isn't right....were you pulling an ocean liner behind you.

Best economy for my 3.0 is about 80 for which I return around 32 mpg ave.

Combination of around town and dual carriageway, I never sink below 25 mpg ave.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

What is the most economical cruising speed for a 3.0 V6 Estate ?

Yesterday i went from Didcot to Andover and back, all dual carriageway and Aroad (A34, A303 and A343). Round trip of 102miles at a steady 75mph and 50mph on A road and it used 21.65 litres (brimed at start and again at finish) which works out to be 21.05 mpg 

You don't mention if you have an auto or manual, but if I remember correctly, on those roads the box is having to change up and down in a way that does not happen when cruising on a motorway.  Your mpg will then obviously be reduced.

I certainly find that if I can cruise steadily on a motorway at 80 mph I am returning up to 35 mpg.  However, if encountering A roads mine certainly falls to nearer 21-25 mpg, depending on road congestion. Overall I usually return about 22 mpg at best when including town travel. Mines an auto, so if yours a manual, dependending on how you drive, you will return slightly better returns;)

[Mr Skrunts]

I would imagine the wind and temperature can play on the overall figure but that is poor.

I would have expected a min of 25 mpg.

Yours actually rurned 21.42

Has the car been regulaty serviced and where the tyre pressures correct.

[aaronjb]

I certainly find that if I can cruise steadily on a motorway at 80 mph I am returning up to 35 mpg.  However, if encountering A roads mine certainly falls to nearer 21-25 mpg, depending on road congestion. Overall I usually return about 22 mpg at best when including town travel.

That's not far off what I average with the 2.5TD! I'm starting to wish I'd bought the 3.0 now, given how much cheaper petrol is vs. diesel..

There's a nice one in white on Autotrader, too.. only £100 more than I paid for the tractor. </drift>

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I certainly find that if I can cruise steadily on a motorway at 80 mph I am returning up to 35 mpg.  However, if encountering A roads mine certainly falls to nearer 21-25 mpg, depending on road congestion. Overall I usually return about 22 mpg at best when including town travel.

That's not far off what I average with the 2.5TD! I'm starting to wish I'd bought the 3.0 now, given how much cheaper petrol is vs. diesel..

There's a nice one in white on Autotrader, too.. only £100 more than I paid for the tractor. </drift>

Well I certainly don't spare the horses when driving, with an enjoyment in using the 'S' mode and hard kick downs as required.  I should add I only get about 19mpg around town

There is only one diesel I would go for and that is the Merc E class 320 CDi;  all other diesels in my experience are noisey, slow, and lack response.  I would certainly go for a nice 3.0 petrol if you see one that takes your fancy!

[Shackeng]

I certainly find that if I can cruise steadily on a motorway at 80 mph I am returning up to 35 mpg.  However, if encountering A roads mine certainly falls to nearer 21-25 mpg, depending on road congestion. Overall I usually return about 22 mpg at best when including town travel.

That's not far off what I average with the 2.5TD! I'm starting to wish I'd bought the 3.0 now, given how much cheaper petrol is vs. diesel..

There's a nice one in white on Autotrader, too.. only £100 more than I paid for the tractor. </drift>

Well I certainly don't spare the horses when driving, with an enjoyment in using the 'S' mode and hard kick downs as required.  I should add I only get about 19mpg around town

There is only one diesel I would go for and that is the Merc E class 320 CDi;  all other diesels in my experience are noisey, slow, and lack response.  I would certainly go for a nice 3.0 petrol if you see one that takes your fancy!

My chipped TD is smooth, quiet, and certainly does not lack response, it surprises many beemers at the lights.

[mrjimbo]

It's an auto


On the dual carriage way it was a steady 80-85mph no real slowing then speeding up and the A road was the same a steady 50-55mph again no real slowing or speeding up, only slowed to around 20mph on the A road to let cars turn right twice and the junctions A road-dual carriageway-Aroad were all free flowing and only stopped at one set of roadworks for about 30sec as came back into Didcot on the way home.

The outward journey was at 07.30 and the roads were pretty much deserted and the homeward journey was at 19.00 and although the roads were quite busy the outside lane on the dual carriageway was maintaining a steady spead of between 70-85mph all the way home.

When i first had the car i went from Didcot to Knockhill in Scotland and back driving at a steady 80-85mph and returned 33mpg so i don't know whats going on now.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

It's an auto


On the dual carriage way it was a steady 80-85mph no real slowing then speeding up and the A road was the same a steady 50-55mph again no real slowing or speeding up, only slowed to around 20mph on the A road to let cars turn right twice and the junctions A road-dual carriageway-Aroad were all free flowing and only stopped at one set of roadworks for about 30sec as came back into Didcot on the way home.

The outward journey was at 07.30 and the roads were pretty much deserted and the homeward journey was at 19.00 and although the roads were quite busy the outside lane on the dual carriageway was maintaining a steady spead of between 70-85mph all the way home.

When i first had the car i went from Didcot to Knockhill in Scotland and back driving at a steady 80-85mph and returned 33mpg so i don't know whats going on now.

All I could suggest is that your car may need a good service, with the breathers given a thorough clean through.

[mrjimbo]

Spent the weekend before last changing gearbox oil, cleaning breathers and checking that there were no vacum leaks and sorting multirams. Oil changed less than 1k new plugs fitted at same time along with oil filter and air filter, no misfires and the multirams were checked on Saturday at Oxford with the Tech2 (TheBoy) and given a clean bill of health.

All seems to be well but not happy with 21/22mpg though 

[Lazydocker]

Mr J, your speeds quoted between the original post and the recent one have increased by up to 10mph Did you use cruise or was it foot controlled?

I filled up with LPG at Honnington last weekend, travelled to Plymouth (with a very small amount of town use) and came back to Suffolk via M5, M42, M6, A14. Set the cruise to an indicated 80 and let it do it's work (so lots of throttle on hills) with the occasional burst of higher speed for safe overtaking and returned an average of about 31/32 mpg IIRCC.

FWIW, I feel that an indicated 80 is the best compromise between getting on with it and economy. Much more and the economy starts to really suffer. Interestingly, at 70/75 the economy isn't dramatically better, perhaps 2-3 mpg at 75, 6-8mpg at 70.

[Brikhead]

What is the most economical cruising speed for a 3.0 V6 Estate ?

110?

[mrjimbo]

Mr LD

It was on the Cruise Control mostly and set at 85mph on the dual carriageway and 50/55mph on the A roads on the way there, and on the way back on the Cruise Control mostly set some where between 70 and 85 mph depending on the flow of traffic and 50/55mph on the A roads.

I've always found it to be most economical at between 80 and 85mph on a run, I managed the 33mpg going to Knockhill and back with ocasional bursts at 85+mph and i quite often tow a car trailer with a Mk1 Escort on the back and usually get 24/25 mpg on motorway and dual carriageways without even trying so i'm a bit puzzled as to what was occuring on Sunday. I'll keep an eye on it over the next week or so and see if it's a one off or if it continues at 21/22mpg        

[feeutfo]

something not right imo. Has the multiram issue returned possibly? Also concider cam belt timing, blocked exhaust etc

I presume The Boy did a full diagnostic? Checked fuel trims etc?

[Lazydocker]

As Chris says, keep an eye on it. It could quite simply be atmospheric conditions (although I feel that it was too much of a difference to be just that) or that more throttle was used than you recall. Keep an eye on it IMO