Fuel Economy?

[marsgal42]

I didn't buy Gumdrop for fuel economy, though I knew the diesel would do relatively well in this respect. And so it has proven to be. 15 litres/100 km city, 10 highway is fine for such a large, heavy vehicle. Not being a daily driver relaxes the requirements further. A shame diesel is so bloody expensive.

I drive gently around town, and cruise at 100 to 110 on the highway - a bunch of resonances come together around 105 to sound just like a Greyhound bus.

The Brits think their Delicas are thirsty, but they pay twice what we do for diesel.

BTW: I'm doing some tire pressure testing, using an IR thermometer like the F1 teams do. My first results are that 32 PSI on the front tires (235/75R15) looks soft, and is. I'll pump them up to 35 for the next test.

...laura

[FalcoColumbarius]

I've seen plenty of misinformation regarding the fuel consumption...as high as 40mph...and not just from sellers' ads either...

Makes me wonder now how many folks have bought in on those figures (like myself) only to find the disappointment floating at the bottom of an empty tank (like myself).

I/we am/are overall very happy with the Delica. We wouldn't go back to the 4WD Aerostar for "keepsies", but I must admit: Once we started to chart our fuel consumption, we were very disappointed in our findings.

I have since justified it all by use of this valuable resource (Delica.ca), and can see where I should have been skeptical, but all honesty and in defense of my expectations....I really DID just figure that Japanese market was just so far ahead of us that nothing was unreasonable to assume as far as performance goes. *heavy sigh*

My legal guardian/care giver/wife crunched it last night to a finding so far of 24.6 MPG - 11.5L/100Km. As stated by others in this forum...not bad for a near two ton vehicle with a small engine and the shape of a toaster.

When we used to drive the old VW Campmobile, people wondered why we got the mileage we did compared to the Bug...I always explained it like this:
There is a reason a football is sharp on the ends. It cuts through the air much better than a loaf of bread.

You know....

When I first purchased the Miss Lil' Bitchi, I started taking her through trials. I filled her up with Diesel Max at the Mohawk, set my odometer, turned on the A/C ~ I wanted to see what fuel consumption would be like for a vehicle that weighed just over two short tonnes empty (1850 Kgs). I drove around, a lot. I made a big deal of fuelling up with diesel with myself so that I would remember not to put petrol in my tank..... and I was very impressed with the mileage, I logged a little under 800 kilometres when the little amber fuel pump lit up on my instrument cluster, which would be at around 60 litres. 60 Into 800 equals 13.333 kilometres per litre (37.919 MPG Imp.).

Hmmmm.... I have it sussed. Their readings were accurate. Their tyres were the wrong size. The tyres that came with my Chamonix were 225x70/R15's. When I put the 235x75's on I was impressed with the accuracy of my speedometer but disappointed with the new mileage reading. I have seen the odd Deli out there with much smaller tyres than the 225's that came with my Delica ~ perhaps this is why people are getting such incredible readings..... smiles

~ ignorance is bliss ~

Perhaps we shouldn't tell them.... let the Easter Bunny tell them

Falco.

[FalcoColumbarius]

BTW: I'm doing some tire pressure testing, using an IR thermometer like the F1 teams do. My first results are that 32 PSI on the front tires (235/75R15) looks soft, and is. I'll pump them up to 35 for the next test.

...laura

Marsgal,

I am running Yokohamas (235/75R15's). It is recommended that one does not inflate them past 50 PSI. I tried 45 PSI but felt the van bouncing around the corners so I dropped it down to 42 PSI. Now I am at 41 PSI. I think that is the "sweet spot". The tread sits nicely on the tarmac, the wear appears even, the grip is good and the mileage seems adequate. I look forward to hearing your findings with the IR thermometer.

Buy the way, the mighty Gumdrop is such a sweet looking ride.

Falco.

[torchard]

Yup, I have to remind myself sometimes that my readings need to be adjusted to account for the 16 inch rims. I think with the current set-up, it's around 10 percent in my favour.

Which reminds me of this tire size calculator @ http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi which among other things will calculate how incorrect your speedometer/odometer will be with a change in wheel/tire size.

Handy resource found posted some time ago on this forum!

--T

[delicat]

If GPS are accurate then for those running 30" tires when at 100km/h on the speedo I get 103km/h on the GPS...

[JMK]

With new 235's I noticed when my speedometer reads 103 my GPS reads 100, that's backwards to what it should be, but I don't remember what I read with the stock tires before, must have been out.

[marsgal42]

If GPS are accurate then for those running 30" tires when at 100km/h on the speedo I get 103km/h on the GPS...

I've tested Gumdrop's speedometer with GPS and it's accurate. This is with 235/75R15 tires.

I do GPS for a living, and no concerns about its accuracy.

...laura

[loki]

for WVO consider going to the elsbett system that replaces the injection pump and injectors with a pump that is stronger to handle the thicker oil and the injectors are optimized to have a better spray pattern, still works with diesel too. the lines and injectors are heated to help the flow as well.

FYI rapeseed oil = canola oil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapeseed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canola

also I hope people aren't going to SVO or biodiesel that comes from "virgin" oil thinking that they are helping the planet, I personally think that this is not helping in the slightest, the additional land needed to grow all the oils that is needed means more wild habitat (rainforests in the amazon and habitats here in north america) is destroyed often with slash and burn. but that is just my opinion.

If you filter you oil properly you should be able to get the fats and such out. I plan to use a centrifuge to filter and dewater my oil, I have located a design that has been throughly tested and is much faster than most of the other methods that I have seen. I should also be able make the unit portable and maybe even built into the van for filtering on the road.

I hope to be able to produce enough to sell to others at a very reasonable price.

Hi Loki,

I knew it as rapeseed oil from the 70's & 80's until all those people in Spain died from it (I think from all the DDT they use on it), then I heard of a new oil called "canola" ~ I sussed it out and I don't use it for cooking no matter what they call it because I think they still use the DDT on it. Regarding the Bio-fuels, I read an interesting article in the National Geographic magazine on this issue. What I was particularly interested in was this algae refinery in the desert, outside Phoenix, Arizona. Because the algae grows so fast they can harvest something like 5,000 gallons (I presume American) per acre, per day, unlike the corn farms that produce 5,000 gallons per acre, per year. So the only concern with making bio-fuel from algae in the desert is the water.... but talk about going green, eh... literally. Then there are the Brazilians who are now self sufficient on sugar cane fuel... I don't know just what the ramifications of that are but they appear to be thriving because of it. I like the idea putting the Mitsubishi Van Club to work and getting club houses with garages and our own cheap for members refinery.... dreaming?

I met these Japanese people at Japanoid who were refining WVO from the back of their truck, they took a golden colour oil and refined it to clear, I will ask more on that before to long. Frisch was refining his own WVO, starting the engine on Diesel then switching tanks. It is an impressive system that he has going, but there still remains the smell of the BBQ from the exhaust. In the city I don't think that really matters, likely improve business for the restaurants, but in the wilderness I think it could be a potential serious problem as I think it would attract bears.

Getting back to JMK: This fuel additive that I am currently using is made by "Power Service" and it is called "Diesel Fuel Supplement" with "Cetane Boost". Also with "SlickDiesel", "for Maximum Fuel Lubrication"(I should try this [j/k]). I found it at Canadian Tire and it is the better part of ten bucks. I want to know if I can mix it with the Hows, unfortunately the associates at Cdn. Tire don't know....

Windsnob, I like your thinking. I was running my tyres at 42 PSI, I am now at 41 PSI. I found when I was at 45 PSI I tended to bounce around corners which made me feel a little nervous. I think I have found the sweet spot between 41/42 PSI, I think if you go higher you will wear the middle of your tyre tread pattern down sooner.

Falco.

I love the Algae for oil, been thinking about starting something here but to do it right you have to spend a fair bit of money to set it up. the algae in the desert is a cool idea but that is still habitat for animals, I moved to Saudi Arabia when I was 4 and lived there for 10 years, the desert isn't barren, especially the ones in the US, there is tons more wildlife in the US deserts. But it is way better for the big picture imo than burning rainforests that convert carbon dioxide to oxygen for us so much better than the crops replacing them.

Anyways, sorry for the threadjacking, I'll shutup now :)

[Miloki]

I haven't got my hands on my Deli yet, so I can't tell you about *it's* fuel economy, but a post in another thread mentioned the Shell Challenge, and it has a link on fuel economy tips:

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?sit ... _2203.html

Just being extra conscientious about following those tips in my little 1.6l diesel Jetta has already made a *huge* difference in the mpg I'm getting - I'm amazed, because I didn't think I drove it that hard to begin with! (It's a 1992, and I drive it a lot more gently than I drove my big 4x4 - don't even ask how much of a gas pig that thing was!)

[FalcoColumbarius]

I love the Algae for oil, been thinking about starting something here but to do it right you have to spend a fair bit of money to set it up. the algae in the desert is a cool idea but that is still habitat for animals, I moved to Saudi Arabia when I was 4 and lived there for 10 years, the desert isn't barren, especially the ones in the US, there is tons more wildlife in the US deserts. But it is way better for the big picture imo than burning rainforests that convert carbon dioxide to oxygen for us so much better than the crops replacing them.

Anyways, sorry for the threadjacking, I'll shutup now :)

Hi Loki, I was just on the Island, hung out with Mararmeisto, Delica 304 & Johnny & Ruby in front of a Tim Horton's Friday night. You do live on the Island, do you not? Anyway.... here is a link to the National Geographic article I was referring to, regarding biofuels. It is called "Green Dreams":
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2 ... ls-p5.html
Green Dreams - National Geographic Magazine

I thought it might be cool to take the Mitsubishi Van Club a step further buy charging dues, hence providing services such as a club house with a garage & a biofuel co-operative for all card carrying Delioids. And if you think that is fanciful, wait 'til you here the bit about the lavish golf course ~ only for Delica drivers.... Okay that last bit is further down the road. Although hearing you talk about a fuel co-op has rekindled the idea in my mind.....

Falco.

[loki]

Yep I'm in James Bay, I'm not sure if I will filter here or up in Sidney at my dad's place as I live in an apartment with only a small shed as and option for filtering. If I had the cash I would buy another Delica or a Canter or something and use that for pickup and filtering.

[Erebus]

60 Into 800 equals 13.333 kilometres per litre (37.919 MPG Imp.).

You might want to check your math. My calculations put 13.3 L/100 km as being 21.23 MPG imp.

But 60 litres for 800 km gives 7.5 L/100km

Cut and paste "13.3 L/100 km in miles per imperial gallon" (without quotes) into google and you will see 21.23 mpg

But cut and paste "7.5 L/100 km in miles per imperial gallon" (without quotes) into google and you will see 37.66 mpg

Just fact checkin'

[FalcoColumbarius]

800 (kilometres) divided by 60 litres equals: 13.333 Kilometres per one litre. 13.333 divided by 1.6 (kilometres per mile) equals: 8.333 miles per litre. 4.55 litres per gallon (Imp.), ergo: 4.55 x 8.333 = 37.915 miles per gallon. Although I must admit that the best score I got in 'rithmatic in skool was C-... smiles.

Falco.

[Erebus]

Sorry, I read the kilometres per litre as litres per 100 km. Oops. Not sure why anyone ever puts out km/L since that isn't the way any organization ever reports fuel consumption. My bad.

[mararmeisto]

Sorry, I read the kilometres per litre as litres per 100 km. Oops. Not sure why anyone ever puts out km/L since that isn't the way any organization ever reports fuel consumption. My bad.

Yes, but if we report fuel economy in number-of-miles-per-gallon, why not number-of-kilometers-per-litre? I record my fuel economy that way.

Right there with ya Falco!