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Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
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Author:  atari4x4 [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Word Up AZ Crew,

Being a bit of a noob when it comes to auto, has anyone got any pro tips on trying to drive an AW4 auto economically?

I've driven a heap over the years but never owned one so I've always just jumped in & mashed the throttle & I've been doing the same with the V6 auto SV620 I picked up. Launching it at lights with a fair bit of pedal in it, blasting around with the POWER mode on & generally being a throttle jockey is getting some impressive fuel burn rates. :roll:

It's just been filled up & I'm going to TRY & ease up on the application of power, to see if I can get it back to a reasonable figure... I can modulate the throttle a bit as it's gently coming up to around 50ish & feel it drop into OD.

I was going to just ask one of the numerous taxi drivers. but non of them seem to speak English any more. :?
Author:  bigrig91 [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
I cant tell you anything about the auto but these little v6 motors are thirsty. I havent done any fuel figures but i am sad to say its going to be close to or worse than my diesel patrol. I could get close to 12l per 100 in it.
Author:  fordem [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
I think the trick lies in how you "modulate" the throttle - the big difference in how an automatic and a manual transmission vehicle drive is that the automatic allows the engine rpms to come up and stay up, burning fuel and wasting energy in the torque converter, whilst with the manual the revs come up gradually - those of us accustomed to a manual stay on the throttle longer, those accustomed to an automatic lift off the throttle earlier - an automatic in drive will also "coast" with little or no throttle, when you have to hold throttle on a manual to maintain speed, making the previous statement doubly true.

Just over a year ago I picked up a Mitsubishi Pajero iO, with the same AW4 transmission, and I've learned that you need to sort of tap the throttle just enough to get a downshift so that it will accelerate cleanly, but at the same time not to mash the pedal so that it guzzles the fuel - a kind of a depress and then release part way - if you depress enough it won't downshift, and then it'll take more throttle (and fuel) to accelerate, and also take longer, if you don't release enough, it guzzles fuel. It takes practice to get it right.

My wife is the only person in the family who has mastered this - in fact, she's the source of the tip - she's been driving an automatic for close to twenty years - she gets about 20% better mileage than I do - my last daughter is hopeless, she gets about 50% less than I do,
Author:  tonyevans [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Slow down everything and use the brakes as little as possible - That is the way to save fuel on any vehicle :D
Author:  christover1 [ Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Mine uses more fuel when slipping the converter.
Also raises the ATF temp.
Author:  atari4x4 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
i actually forgot i posted this. :oops:

thanks for the tips guys, i've gone back to "normal" mode instead of the "power" mode & i'm using less throttle & not mashing it off the line & it seems to be burning less fuel already. i guess it's just going to take a bit of playing around to learn the way it behaves.

i must admit, the AW4 & V6 is a very nice combo.
Author:  christover1 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
After driving B4T's V6 ( or 2.0 not sure) GV on the weekend,
I now have big donk envy.

Kept forgetting to press the clutch when stopping LOL.

Habits are hard to break.

When loaded and with trailer on, mine uses less fuel in power mode.
It is wise to turn off OD when loaded, too.
Author:  atari4x4 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
i actually read my owners manual last night trying to get clued up on the auto & it mentions not to tow in OD, the power mode changes it from a subtle medium rpm shift point to way up in the rev range... i reckon i could almost get it to hit the rev limiter. :lol:

i don't think i could live with a 1.6 vit on big tyres, i've had power for way to long. :?
Author:  Joe [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Haha oops i was towing the camper in OD when we had gearbox problems :lol:
Author:  christover1 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
I'm used to a 1.3 carby on 31's,

It still feels powerful to me LOL

Next engine be biggerer, or diffs will get lowerered

I've found it gets better economy on the 98ron, which surprised me.
Seems to run better, too.

Mines a Baleno/Swift engine.
Not sure if its more powerful,
or its just the old engine was dead longer than I thought.
Author:  christover1 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
OD is cut out when in Low, with autos.

I've gerry rigged mine,
so I can use OD in Low,
for low stress small transport driving between hard spots.
But don't use that function normally
Author:  Polar_Bear [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
how many kms ya getting out of a tank?

they run alot betterer on 98ron.

on a good day, foot flat out, i can get 17L/100 in mine 8)
Author:  christover1 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Towing a heavy load and camper on a high country trip,
I got around 12 litre per 100k on hwy.
Around 16 on steep hilly mountainous roads.
And a massive 20 on hard steep off road sections.

Going by my speedo which reads about 20% less than real distance.
And was only one trip, so is a rough guide only.
Author:  atari4x4 [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
i only run premo, regular unleaded is like cheap toilet paper... sure you save a buck or 2, but it just doesn't seem worth it.

16-18l/100kms was my average, all stop start driving & take offs were like launching after the green drops on the christmas tree at the drags
Author:  Samwich [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
im getting 13-14L around town in my manual ): useing prem aswell haha
Author:  atari4x4 [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
thats awesome news, thanks for the heads up... now only if i had a manual Vitara. :? :roll:


FYI i used get that in my 2.0l 4cyl manual vitara lifted & on 31's muds so it's not really that impressive for a 1.6l & that was thrashing it around in traffic.
Author:  Samwich [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
I never said it was impressive? hence the "):"
Author:  littleSuzicar [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Wow I though my 95 2lt auto was a fuel eater, I run mine on 95 with 28" AT on GV steel rims and get about 12 around town and 10.6 to 13 on the highway depending how loaded and fast I travel. With the stranded wheels and tyres at 80 I have got high 8,s. On a trip last year well and truly loaded up moving at the speed limit it was around 12 to 13 and at Fraser this year not loaded on the sand it was 20 but that was working hard in the loose sand stoping and starting a lot. But most of the time I drive like miss daisy.
Author:  atari4x4 [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
i'll be the first to admit that i drive like a rooster on crack. :lol:

this tank will be my first attempt at actually trying to save a bit of fuel, will report in 400+kms time :wink:
Author:  twitchy [ Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
My GV runs out at about 470km around town & I run mine on Power all the time.
Author:  tombutt [ Fri Aug 31, 2012 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
My 2l manual vit had had the same tank of fuel for the last month Gus dunno what's wrong with Urs


Oh that's right mines moved like 10 m in that time

In all seriousness mine usto chew fuel I stop calculating but put it this way my ve ss is cheaper to run then the vitara and that's driving both pretty similar
Author:  atari4x4 [ Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
managed to knock it down to 13.6l/100kms, with a bit of power mode & not launching at every set of lights & lifting off earlier & coasting a heap more...

will have to see what the 31's & stock 4.8:1 diff gears do to it before swapping in the 5.12's
Author:  TZAR [ Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
A note from taxi drivers in the early days of 4 speeds

Back in the dark ages when they first came out we had a few cabbies that were destroying autos a lot. Back in the EF falcon days. They got longer life from the Autos by driving in 3 not D as this way it wouldnt change up and down so much around town.

I know things have improved a hell of a lot since then in Auto design and they were cabbies doing 10X the kms as joe average but it something to consider on your daily putt around churchville. Do you get to drive on the one way direction changing super highway??
Author:  Polar_Bear [ Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
TZAR wrote:
something to consider on your daily putt around churchville. Do you get to drive on the one way direction changing super highway??


Nah, atari isnt anywhere near that road. Hes down in snobbsville.

BTW its currently half way thru turning into a 2 way road, and getting fully bitumised, however it will still be a piece of shit road that is inaccessible to 95% of the population and one you will still be stuck on if there is a crash at the end :roll:
Author:  Chop [ Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vitara AW4 4speed Automatic - driving for economy tips?
Super awesome one way highway is awesome at the moment! 80 kph most the way now and 60 kph at every fucking bridge :roll:
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