3.1 Economy again

[menmymu]

I have read a few posts about 3.1td mileage and wanted to add my 2cents worth. I have just purchased a 94 3.1XE mu with low kms on the clock around 29000 AA certified. I have done a few runs on the open road as i commute 110km a day. After completing 1012 kms the truck used 96 litres of diesel. The average outside temp was around -1c and about 25% of the mileage was in 4X4H (on very icey roads) average speed would be around 80km. I am very happy with this sort of economy. . Its got sideways a couple of times on black ice but easily corrected. And I have to say I love my MU already and would not swap it for anything else Hmmm maybe a db9 naah the mu does me. ;D

[muvit madness]

thats awsome mileage the turbo must be lovin that temp.
I get around 500 to a tank but thats in a 2.8TI auto runnin 14psi tho.
although i dont mind as a tank lasts 3 weeks being a weekend warrior
& all he-he-he.
cheers
muvit

[menmymu]

The temp was just average for example this morning on the way to work the outside temp was -7c coming home last night it was -4c . The truck has lots of get up and go I hope that stays when the temps start warming up. The coldest morning temp so far was last week and it was a cool -15. Thru all these temps the truck starts as soon as i crank isuzu do make the best diesels.

[geeves]

Those temps in winter and your summer temps in the 30s have you thought about useing different oils for summer and winter. These are pretty close to both ends of the scale for the normal oil choise

[menmymu]

Yes thats true I will check and see what oil has been put in her and ask the question damn the more I think about it the more I see this could cause a nasty problem in the future. I should check on the diff oils as well or is the standard viscosity of diff oil such that temp is not a real factor.

[geeves]

With diff oils you dont realy get a choice without spending lots of money. If the diff oil is ok for summer all that will happen is it will get thick in winter causeing a slight loss of power etc untill it warms up. Your biggest problem is the diesel setting. even the winter formula turns to jelly around -15.
Theee is a place in Russia that exists only because it is needed to service the siberian railway and there is a thermal spring there. Winter temperatures climb to a max of -40 They have to use a flaming torch to heat the fuel tank and brake lines before they can drive the trucks. They also have huge problems with tyres and chassis shattering in the cold.

[menmymu]

Last year we had a run of 2 weeks with -15c mornings after a big snow fall the power was out for the first week of that period. As you say many farmers had problems with the diesel turning to jelly. Electric balnkets were at a premium when the power came back on as wrapped around fuel tanks they did the trick.. The outside temps get low but unless the engine has not been run for a few days there is enough residuel heat to stop them getting to cold. I go down to the south pole each year with an american science team and the temps there are -32 in summer and then they cool to -80 in the winter. All the vechicles down there have sump heaters as well as tank heaters. Alas they do not use MU's but they do use ford F350's with the track conversions. I have a few pics of this conversion if anyone is interested but at 30-40000 usd its very expensive.

[geeves]

In Antarctica they use jetfuel in the diesels This is little different to kerosene and doesnt set Dont know its lubrication properties tho

[trooperdeux]

Just resurrecting this to add my two cents....

Just bought a 1994 Bighorn with 133,000km, Lotus/7 seater, 3.1TD, auto, 265/70/16 tires, (so I will add 3.7% to my distance calculations). Ran about a half tank through immediately with a scrungy old paper air filter, 100% urban driving around ChCh, got about 14L/100km. Went down to the boys at Summit 4WD, oil change, fresh paper filter, checked all fluids, (looked good), just completed 583km of travel, used 55.3 L of fuel, which works out to 10.54km/L or 9.5L/100km. This was a mix of approximately 25% urban/75% highway. I was quite thrilled at the pump, needless to say.

Next up is my K&N filter, although I'm ashamed to admit what I am paying for it. By the way, I measured the stock filter and K&N E-2417 is identical size. Also, K&N 389154 is used as an Isuzu replacement part at Repco et al, but they want about $260 for it!

[geeves]

K&Ns aint cheap. If you got it under $100 its probably stolen

[trooperdeux]

Well, it definitely isn't stolen then! Much closer to $200 than $100. I went to Pioneer Auto Parts in ChCh, they are apparently the K&N distributor.

Probably should have called someone back in the states to mail one to me, but I'll comfort myself with the knowledge that I am supporting the local economy.

Overall I am extremely happy with the comfort, relatively quiet ride, and general sociability of the Bighorn. I did test drive a Surf and just didn't like it.

[geeves]

thats why a lot of people have used unifilters which are foam instead of cotton or adapted pod filters to fit inside the air box, Dont use the cheap pods Ive heard a few horror stories about them. ie a turbo safari at fullsong when the end cap came off dropping down the intake. The bang followed by silence was heard at a fair distance and everyone including the driver thought the motor had blown up. All it was was the end cap sealing the intake to the turbo suddenly

[caffa]

menmymu said:

I have a few pics of this conversion if anyone is interested but at 30-40000 usd its very expensive.

Not that I have any intention of doing the conversion but I reckon it would be great to see some pics of it all