Is something wrong? 14 MPG HWY

 Well I just gassed up after a long trip all highway on my 03 disco hse 52000 miles, is something wrong I read on here that people are getting 18-19 mpg well I got 14 mpg and that rounding up. One factor is I ran it cruze control locked on 90 MPH all the way home I find it hard to belive that 75 MPH would save me 5 MPG?
     I also get 12 MPG in the city! What do you guys think should I slow down lol?

I have a 2004 Disco SE with 35k miles and I get about 14 mpg approx (not scientific, please don't attack me) which equals about 280 miles before the little yellow light kicks on. This is mostly highway miles, cruise controlled at 70 mph. I drive in 3rd around the city, basically anyplace except the highways. I knew the mpg would be bad, but $70.00 (3.39 premium in DC metro area) for < 300 miles is kinda ridiculous.

Thoughts, advice, questions are much appreciated.

Somehow that makes me fill better! LOL THANKS

22 MPG.. HOW DOES THAT SEEM? THAT'S THE ONLY ADVANTAGE THE GREEK 2Lt DISCO1 MPI HAS.. ECONOMIC..
PANOS - GREECE

ucfmethod, I've got the exact same truck as you, 60k.  I get around 12mpg city, 15mpg gallon highway.  I run only premium obviously, however I do keep it in "sport" mode constantly.  Just did 60k service and changed to magnecors and +4 plugs, we'll see if there's any difference.

You guys need to slow down, 90? And your complaining about MPG? If you are going to drive that fast then you have no reason to complain.
I have a '97 and I get 20+ on the highway, I set the cruise at 65 and can drive to my inlaws 136 miles away AND back on half a tank.
Higher engine RPM and increased wind resistance destroy MPG. The faster you go the more wind you have to push out of the way which means the engine has to work harder which means you use MORE GAS! The law of physics, no way around it.
So slow down or shut up.

You guys need to slow down, 90? And your complaining about MPG? If you are going to drive that fast then you have no reason to complain.
I have a '97 and I get 20+ on the highway, I set the cruise at 65 and can drive to my inlaws 136 miles away AND back on half a tank.
Higher engine RPM and increased wind resistance destroy MPG. The faster you go the more wind you have to push out of the way which means the engine has to work harder which means you use MORE GAS! The law of physics, no way around it.
So slow down or shut up.


x 2 on that.  That Rover is like a ton of bricks...make that almost 3 tons.  Save the speed for the track.

Be happy with your 14MPG. Seems the vast majority of us Disco owners are in the 10-13MPG range. I'm deff. on the 10MPG side of things!
 
I hear these numbers like 20+MPG on a Dicovery and I really can't help but to wonder if you're using Univeral Physics or Nutonian Physics because it just doesn't add up!
 
Heavy truck + Built with the aerodynamics of a brick + Thirsty v8 + Full Time 4x4 does not equal 20MPG!
 
A side note: I read today Chevy's new hybrid Yukon only get's 20MPG. Fords Hybrid Escape only gets 26MPG.

quote:

ORIGINAL: NWDiscoRover2004

Heavy truck + Built with the aerodynamics of a brick + Thirsty v8 + Full Time 4x4 does not equal 20MPG!

A side note: I read today Chevy's new hybrid Yukon only get's 20MPG. Fords Hybrid Escape only gets 26MPG.

 
The escape gets 36 in town and 30 on the road, and the 4WD Yukon gets 20 no matter what. I think 20 in town is pretty dang good for a first run full size hybrid.
 
When I first got done tuning my truck, I got 19 MPG average on the highway. It has dropped 1 MPG, but I need O2 sensors, as I have 150K on the ticker. I am sure I could get +20 with new sensors.

Interesting, you guys w/ DI's do seem to get better mileage.  Although, different / smaller motor and slightly different drivetrain I'm sure are big players in that.  Just about everyone with the 03 and 04 DII seems to get the 12-14mpg range on average.  Little better if it's all highway.

Its all how you drive and what you put into your trk.
Shell gas, full synthetics, iridium plugs and a light foot.
You are driving faster than the flow of traffic which means that you have to slow down and speed up all the time. Braking/slowing is wasted energy. Picking up where you left off requires more gas.
The speed limit in MI is 70, I drive 65. Everybody pass's me, I set my cruise and dont touch the brake or the gas for two hours. Steady speed/low RPM/good things put in/clean air filter/tires at 40 psi/windows up and Yak Rack in the garage=20+.

I agree, shell gas is the best thing to put in this truck. Its the best gas on the market in my opinion
As for driving 90, thats your problem. Land Rovers don't look fast, they aren't supposed to go fast.
Now if you want to go 90, get a RR sport... but that wont help you with the gas any...
I have found these tricks help:

Always go right on the speed limit (or even 5 below)

On the highway, set the cruise to about 5 under the limit and sit back and relax...

Dont slam on the gas when going from a red light and use minimal braking.

Never use sport mode unless you're passing or really need it.

In the City drive in 3rd, it will improve MPG.

Some people say sport mode in the city will improve MPG but I cant back that up.

Put seafoam in the gas tank every 3000 miles and make sure nothing is causing you to run rich.


Hope that helps!

You guys are killin' me
 
20+ '97 d1
19+ '96 RR se
 
575 mi on either, 1 stop for gas (every time you stop you probably lose 20min.) cruise set 65mph

I don't know where you guys live, but come on 65?!  Here in Montana we are at least 120 miles away from wherever we are going.  I set my cruise at 84, limit is 75 and I still get passed like I'm standing still.  Time is money, saving an hour from here to there is well worth 2 MPG less!  It actually takes less time for me to drive to Seattle from Western Montana than to visit my sister in Glendive, MT!

quote:

ORIGINAL: jdelp

Interesting, you guys w/ DI's do seem to get better mileage.  Although, different / smaller motor and slightly different drivetrain I'm sure are big players in that.  Just about everyone with the 03 and 04 DII seems to get the 12-14mpg range on average.  Little better if it's all highway.

 
My 96 DI is a fuel junkie. 
 
10.4 MPG average out of the last 3 tanks consistently driven strictly highway and 65-70mph- not a hair over. 
 
123k, Manual trans, tire pressure 32 front 36 rear.  Premium at 3.19 9/10 GAL and stock in seafoam....

I am glade someone siad what I was thinking lol I can run faster than 65MPH! 14 MPG is fine just as long as she is running! I just wanted to know if that was the norm 14 MPG?

i dont even think i'm getting 12

The best I get on the highway is about 16. (70 t0 75mph) I'm frequently driving up to Alta and Snowbird skiing and am now getting about 14 locally if I don't boot it going up the mountain. I seem to be getting better mpg now that I changed to Magnecor wires, plat. plugs and synthetic oil.

I do a lot of traveling for my job and sometimes I elect to take my 03.  So here's my $.02.

The 4.6L is subject to extreme diminishing returns after about 3000rpm (80mph). 

What I mean is, up to a certain point, ~65mph (~2400rpm), the required fuel needed to maintain that mph/rpm yields a respectable mpg.  However, as the mph/rpm increases post 65mph, the added fuel consumption does not create an increase in fuel economy.  It's a ratio of many factors (e.g. aerodynamics, weight, gear ratio, etc.).

Here it is in graph form:



PS: The graph is not 100% accurate and is based on my on personal highway driving.

 Wow JMT that is awesom and very close to what I am getting! I should print it out and tape it on my dash:)
    Thanks

I'd like to see the graph but it didn't show in your post. Can you repost it?
 
Thanks,
 
Curt
 
P.S. I once saw a discovory channel program about internal combustion engines. Very interesting. It said that the internal combustion engine is about 60% efficiant at 55MPH in a study taken across a cross section of automobiles. Given electric motors are about 90% at best I was impressed. Beyond 55mph efficience drops off exponentially.
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: jmt

I do a lot of traveling for my job and sometimes I elect to take my 03.  So here's my $.02.

The 4.6L is subject to extreme diminishing returns after about 3000rpm (80mph). 

What I mean is, up to a certain point, ~65mph (~2400rpm), the required fuel needed to maintain that mph/rpm yields a respectable mpg.  However, as the mph/rpm increases post 65mph, the added fuel consumption does not create an increase in fuel economy.  It's a ratio of many factors (e.g. aerodynamics, weight, gear ratio, etc.).

Here it is in graph form:



PS: The graph is not 100% accurate and is based on my on personal highway driving.

I'm getting around 15 mpg; just under 300 miles before the light comes on. But I drive 220 miles per week commuting from home, to work, to school, to home so I'm filling up every week. With gas prices creaping up the way they are, its really beginning to hurt.

It's showing up fine for me, NWD and I'm not sure how to attach an image.  It's just a simple graph I made to illustrate what I was talking about.

An average car expends 40% of its energy just pushing the air in front of it out of the way.  I'd wager that a Disco requires a little bit more energy due to its box-y nature.

Well I hear its over 100$ a drum and by this summer it could be $4.00 gal$$$ that's about $96.00 a tank GOD BLESS MR BUSH

Nice graph....... It is dead on for me...... I do most of my driving on little country roads here in Southern NJ and I average about 14 to 14.8 per..... Highway is about 16 to 16.7...... When I take the travel trailer (21') and 3400 lbs fully loaded I get about 10 thru town and 10.5 to 11 on the highway.... and that is never past 65...... Not bad it is comparable with most full size pickups..... Plus I look cooler!!!!