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80 series- petrol or diesel for towing

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:05 am
by mattt80
im in the market for another 80 series an originally looking for a TD 80 series but come accross a 4.5 litre petrol an just wondering if they drink the fuel whilst towing.... i be towing a 23 foot horse float

cheers matt

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:46 am
by oldmate
Yes they drink probably looking close to 30l/100 giving it plenty of boot. And boot it has it's a good towing motor. The non turbo diesel isn't as fuel efficient as you might think. around 20l/100 to 24 with a big load. The turbo is a bit better round 18-20, but getting a good condition motor is a trick.

You can always gas the 4.5 but personally i don't like gas. it runs too hot and dry and you'll have problems.

If it's not a daily driver, and you're not doing a tremendous amount of towing then i'd stick with the petrol running on petrol. It's much cheaper to buy too.

What's your current 80?

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:17 am
by DIRTY ROCK STAR
I just got a multi valve T-D for daily driver and towing my comp rig.
got a 3inch exhaust on it and more boost.

I get left way behind by ev towing in his 100 petrol. and got smoked by bloke in 80 petrol up a big hill..

my 2c go the Petrol for towing!!!

for everything else... 1HDFT is the goodness.

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:33 am
by Simo63
oldmate wrote:Yes they drink probably looking close to 30l/100 giving it plenty of boot. And boot it has it's a good towing motor. The non turbo diesel isn't as fuel efficient as you might think. around 20l/100 to 24 with a big load. The turbo is a bit better round 18-20, but getting a good condition motor is a trick.

You can always gas the 4.5 but personally i don't like gas. it runs too hot and dry and you'll have problems.

If it's not a daily driver, and you're not doing a tremendous amount of towing then i'd stick with the petrol running on petrol. It's much cheaper to buy too.

What's your current 80?
Can't help but agree with the fuel consumption of the Petrol powered 80's .. they are literally guzzlers when towing .. but then again so are most large petrol 4WD's (eg Pootrols etc). A mate of mine (member here) gets around that figure when towing his old camper trailer and I think it's the same for his new caravan.

However I'm not sure about the TD figures quoted above. I guess those figures might be from a standard diesel with turbo fitted?? I say that because I monitor my fuel usage closely and my Manual, factory TD80 towing my 17 ft, double axle pop top caravan (usually loaded to the roof for week or more trips up the beach) with wife and 3 kids and dog on board consistently uses just over 16 litres per hundred clicks (mostly highway cycle though so that might also be a difference). It's running slightly larger 285/75/16 tyres as well. It's the 3rd factory TD 80 series I've owned over the years and they have all been around the same .. in fact this one is a little worse than previous ones as I have the pump and boost turned up a bit.

IMHO the factory direct injection TD is better for towing as it outgrunts the petrol everytime ... but then again, I'm biased against petrol shitters :finger: :D

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:37 am
by Simo63
DIRTY ROCK STAR wrote:I just got a multi valve T-D for daily driver and towing my comp rig.
got a 3inch exhaust on it and more boost.

I get left way behind by ev towing in his 100 petrol. and got smoked by bloke in 80 petrol up a big hill..

my 2c go the Petrol for towing!!!

for everything else... 1HDFT is the goodness.
And that's why I sold my second TD80 .. it was a smick 96 multivalve 1HD-FT and I felt it was gutless compared to the earlier versions so I sold it on and purchased my current 94 TD80. I know some people may not agree with me but I my experience leads me to believe that the earlier ones have more grunt.

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:56 pm
by mattt80
thanks guys... ah i just sold my 80- it was 4.5 litre petrol kitted out to for hardcore 4wdin so now going to build up a tourer type bus..... an it will be my daily driver but wont get used much cause i park me truk at home

cheers