[magnat]

I have just done a Tank in the XL-7 and got a Measely 480k's with a combination of City and Highway ( Only ran it down to the redline on the gauge)

Am I supposed to have a fuel light as none lights up when the key hits start?

[Fatzook]

You should get more than that.

More to the point, how many litres did you put back in to fill it? Your guage may be reading a little on the pessimistic side

[atari4x4]

auto/manual?

[magnat]

Manual.. When I filled it back up it took 60 litres

Main reason is this weekend I am heading DEEP into scrub land and needed to know how far it could go... I mean when it hits half a tank Its done 228k's

[Fatzook]

My SV shows empty at about 50L used. I can keep driving for atleast another 100kms before filling.

So you are getting 8km's per litre, or 12.5L/100kms. Thats probably about right for such a big bus.

[atari4x4]

magnat wrote:

Manual.. When I filled it back up it took 60 litres

Main reason is this weekend I am heading DEEP into scrub land and needed to know how far it could go... I mean when it hits half a tank Its done 228k's

work out where your last fuel stop is & FILL up, it's the logical thing to do then you've got 480kms of exploring to do before having to return to that fuel stop..

or just take a 20lt jerry can if you're heading DEEP into scrub land... but i bet a commy would get there just as easily going by your other extreme adventures.

[GeckoXL7]

Mine gets 460k to a tank in city, around 14.4L/100k at best it got 520K out of a tank and that was on dead flat highway with no wind, normally on the highway i will still get around 12-14L/100K

When the Fuel gage hits just above empty, it time to fill up, as if go around a corner or over a bump at that low the engine surges, if go around a round about when its dead on empty engine can cut out untill you are straight again.

We should be getting just over 10L/100 k on the highway but since i got it with only 15,000k on the clock ive never got that, the best i ever got and that is after full engine flush, new penrite Sin oil, New oil in diffs, trans etc with bitron, bitron in the motor and bitron fuel treatment i got 11.2L/100 k in the city, but to keep to keep up with bitron is pretty expensive.

Tried posting Atari bet me to another point. Every time i fill up i take note of Ks traveled right it on the receipt and take the Liters used to fill up the tank and the ks traveled (reset clock each fill) and work out Fuel usage

Liters from Pump / number of k's traveled x 100 = L/100K

[atari4x4]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Tried posting Atari bet me to another point. Every time i fill up i take note of Ks traveled right it on the receipt and take the Liters used to fill up the tank and the ks traveled (reset clock each fill) and work out Fuel usage

Liters from Pump / number of k's traveled x 100 = L/100K

on that note there plenty of smart phone apps around that keep fuel usage records, find one that you can add notes to as i find there is a huge difference to consumption if i'm in low range, belting thru the hills or towing.

the other thing is driving style & conditions play a huge part in economy.

[GeckoXL7]

Cant Say on low range lol, but towing only really affects fuel consumption if its windy or going up hill.

Just 4x4ing eg going around a national park the XL-7 barely uses anything Spent the hole day in the finders ranges doing a reasonably hard track traveled around 130K and used quarter of a tank. That was over 9 hours.

Using the SDT to monitor fuel usage best gears at 50 put it in 4th that will drop it from 12.7L/100 K down to around 9L/100K at 60 drive in 5th that will bring it from around 14 down to 11-12, accelerating fastish but changing the gears as quick as can eg around 3000-3500rpm can bring down usage a lot to (use the torque). Accelerating flat out at most it peaks at 25L/100K. I saw no difference with different Tyre sizes. I can drive like a grany and drive like a maniac the fuel ussage works out to be the same, but if your inbetween but quick with gear changes and keep the revs low, can still accelerate quite quick but doing this for a full tank i can get up to 520k out of the tank in the city.

Tyre pressure around city and on highway 41PSI is recommended, using the PSI ratings on the incorrect sticker which is meant for a GV you will notice your wheels will squeal going around corners.

[atari4x4]

41psi

can't see that being on any sticker fitted to a suzuki.

[GeckoXL7]

Thats what i have always been recommended for a HT/ AT, if go down to 35PSI my rear wheels will squeal going around every corner, and steering does stiffen up quite a fair bit.

On long dirt trips i drop it to 35PSI on corrugations i drop it to 25 beach around 16 depending on how soft the sand is.

[Chop]

magnat wrote:

I have just done a Tank in the XL-7 and got a Measely 480k's with a combination of City and Highway ( Only ran it down to the redline on the gauge)

Am I supposed to have a fuel light as none lights up when the key hits start?

I'd say its not far off the mark with the 2.7 and slightly heavier car.
I'll constantly get 450 towing my work trailer.

And Gecko thats crazy psi!

Mine 28psi road , offroad 20- 22psi , and sand 12psi.

[GeckoXL7]

Im not gona knock whats been recommended by every tyre place ive been too. 41PSI has always been good on the XL-7 28psi on roads would cause excessive tyre wear on the XL-7.

The XL-7 weighs 420-500KG more than a GV

Oh and there is no fuel light you would expect the top of the line Suzuki would of had it esp when cheaper Suzuki's did, like the Jimny.

This is NRMA fuel consumption report on a new XL-7 ( I would love to get that ) I have no idea how they got it, but it would of been a brand new car.

Fuel Consumption

Best recorded during testing 10.3 L/100km
Worst recorded during testing 12.2 L/100km
Average on test 10.9 L/100km

[droverdave]

How heavy is your right foot? Do you mash the throttle to get up to speed?

Fuel economy can change substantially jsut in the way you drive.

Keep the throttle under 50% and dont rev it out, and see how you go.

[magnat]

No, This time we are headed down the Western Distributor and into some of the Trails off that.. From what I have been told.. pack a water bra...
(there is evidense of a VL-Wagon being bogged somewhere on the interwebs, so for once, No The commodores wont make it)

Suprising enough, the Camp ground we are going to is on the Navman which warns of unpaved roads...(is that not the reason for a 4x4 but to travel unpaved roads)

Might pick up a 20litre Jerry just to be on the safe side...

[Chop]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Im not gona knock whats been recommended by every tyre place ive been too. 41PSI has always been good on the XL-7 28psi on roads would cause excessive tyre wear on the XL-7.

The XL-7 weighs 420-500KG more than a GV

Oh and there is no fuel light you would expect the top of the line Suzuki would of had it esp when cheaper Suzuki's did, like the Jimny.

This is NRMA fuel consumption report on a new XL-7 ( I would love to get that ) I have no idea how they got it, but it would of been a brand new car.

Fuel Consumption

Best recorded during testing 10.3 L/100km
Worst recorded during testing 12.2 L/100km
Average on test 10.9 L/100km

Yeah coz every tyre place gets it right with 40 psi in a sierra!

You do realise your most likely to get centre tread wear with your over inflation? Doe's a XL7 weigh half a tonne more than a gv?
I think you'll find in some of the vehicle tests from back in the day, all said the manufacturers fuel consumption guides are generous guides.

[GeckoXL7]

I always carry a 20L now after driving in high oncomming winds that saw me only getting 380K's out the tank, i could see the town in the distance too, but was 20k away, just had to wait for the RAA to bring some fuel, if had that 20L i would of made it...


Chop: never have center wear if travel around on 35PSI i get wear on the edges. On my first set of Yoko Geolanders i was running 36psi they only lasted 38,000k and had major wear on the edges and had to be replaced, the center still had tred. The next where Pirelli Scorpion ATR running 41-42psi they lasted 80,000k and still could of lasted to 90,000.

[atari4x4]

no wonder you complain of a harsh ride, you do realise that your tyres play a huge part in ride comfort.

[Fatzook]

atari4x4 wrote:

no wonder you complain of a harsh ride, you do realise that your tyres play a huge part in ride comfort.

not to mention that over inflation leads to increased wear on suspension bushes and components.

[GeckoXL7]

My current harsh ride has nothing to do with my tires being inflated to 41psi, it only went harsh after fitting the New Rear shocks, before that it was very comfortable even on corrugations.

Like i said if at 35psi i get tyre wear 41 i dont, 35 causes by rear wheels to squeal going around corners, so if tyres are squealing isnt that putting stress on the rear end? also at 35psi my tires are more noisy.

and yep the xl-7 weighs half a tone more than the 2L and 300kg more than the 2.5L GV.

I forgot to mention that running the rear aircon uses a bit more fuel too, i get around 20K less out of a tank running it, but need to in the heat.

[magnat]

Wow.. Here was me thinking that the rear Aircon was just a fan...,, Does it heat as well as cool or just cool ??

[GeckoXL7]

Just cools and does a good job, im sure you would of seen the rear aircon button above the gear stick?
Heating comes out under front seats.

The aircon unit is on the passangers side where the cig plug is behind the pannel. The front aircon needs to be switched on for the rear to cool. If it doesnt get cold let me know and i will post a pic of a quick fix.

[atari4x4]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

My current harsh ride has nothing to do with my tires being inflated to 41psi, it only went harsh after fitting the New Rear shocks, before that it was very comfortable even on corrugations.

Like i said if at 35psi i get tyre wear 41 i dont, 35 causes by rear wheels to squeal going around corners, so if tyres are squealing isnt that putting stress on the rear end? also at 35psi my tires are more noisy.

and yep the xl-7 weighs half a tone more than the 2L and 300kg more than the 2.5L GV.

I forgot to mention that running the rear aircon uses a bit more fuel too, i get around 20K less out of a tank running it, but need to in the heat.

so it has nothing to do with those gimmicky coil helpers you run?

take them out & give it a shot & should try running the recommended pressures seeing you're not running massive tyres & get back to us on ride comfort.

you're essentially running fully loaded landcruiser pressures.

[GeckoXL7]

Coil assisters have been out for a few weeks makes no difference, only thing i have noticed is going over dips the car goes down a bit more (springs compress More) but ride feel is the same.

Ran 32PSI on the last 4x4 trip on dirt its good, on the road i ended up pulling into the Victor harbour servo and pumping them up to 41psi again, ride may be a tad softer on the road but i just dont like how it handles. Ive ran 41 psi for the last 100,000 K with no issues and even tire wear. Before that at 36psi both the original Bridgeston and the Yokos had uneven tred wear on the edges.

[GeckoXL7]

Im going to run my tyres at 36PSI after next fuel fill and see what the difference is on fuel consumption, and also see if the front wheel bearings go loose which seems to be happening every two weeks. Going down to 26PSI seems a little tooo low.

[tonyevans]

Vitara 1994 1.6lt - always 8.5lt per 100K My driving is always almost flat and traffic free so just slowly get up to 95kph and sit there till I get to town and have to slow to 50kph then the same back home 150km round trip.

[royce]

Are we really going to do tyre pressures again?

Anyone running anything not within a few % of what Suzuki say is wrong, I would say a Suzuki tyre engineer has forgotten more about tyres than the non believers will know about everything in their lives

Go smash out some emergency stops on a wet road at 41psi and then per the tyre placard and see how different it is

If bearings keep 'coming loose' you need to stop playing with them and get somebody that knows what they are doing onto it, firstly they arent adjustable and secondly wheels falling off isnt cool.

[atari4x4]

But it only fell off once.

[jimnynutter]

My Jimny had 44 psi in the tyres when I bought it, it had a shit ride( like a billy cart on a gravel road)
It was bone jarring to say the least, I checked the tyre placard and low an behold it said 20-23 psi front and rear, dropped it the recommended pressure and my steering became more responsive, less central tyre wear, great ride, and better fuel economy (not sure how that works but it went from 450km to 500km per tank)

[GeckoXL7]

Going off the PSI, But I will say the recommended 26PSI is too low for a XL-7 on road! I am going back in to check the recommended pressure.

Well got 17.4L/100K out of this last tank!!!! filled up last at a coles petrol station. It is either crap fuel or my MAF is really playing up, going on a long drive tonight will plug the SDT in and record what the MAF reports and compare it to a few months ago.

Front bearings, looked at them again last night, i need to replace the lock ring as there is a bit to much play which allows the bearings to come loose, its only a little but enough so the brakes will make a noise going around a corner. Found suzuki store sells them along with the screws.