Over the past week I've been carefully monitoring fuel usage. I've travelled 922km [ 573mls] and used 83L [18.26 gals] of fuel.

100 km was towing a small trailer, the weather has been hot so the AC was used perhaps half of the total distance. The bulk of the distance [850km] was open road and I drive with a steady foot close to 100km/h [3000rpm]. All has been with at least two adults on board.

Overall I got: 11.1km/L OR 9L/100km OR 31.4 mpg.

The best I got was today where I travelled 237KM[ 147.26mls], no trailer, being cooler no AC either, all open road [100km/h].

I used 18.95L [4.17 gal]. That's 12.51km/L OR 8L/100km OR 35.33mpg - not the best I've had - 278km [173.24mls], 20.64L [4.54 gal] - 13.5km/L, 7.4L/100km or 38.1mpg.

I feel confident I could squeeze a bit more too if I tried harder!

That must be getting within cooee of my diesel friends.

Do other 1.8 drivers get similar figures?

My last one averaged 22mpg...

Need to get the turbo out on the road, and drive it normally. Would be very interesting
Suffering from new toy syndrome just now...

My old one used to be 31mpg all day long, less when towing so those figures are good

I was in the process of ordering a spare wheel cover. I measured the spare which is a Good Year Wrangler 195/80/15. I'm about to replace it to match the four other tyres Bridgestone 697 ATs [205/70/15]. The Wrangler is nearly 700mm across and the B'stones are a smaller radius at about 660mm. Smaller wheels - lower gearing. It holds gears well on hills and I don't often have to get out of top cog. But they will use more fuel. I like the B"Stones as they are quiet and do well on the trails and tracks I visit too. My next set will be 225/70/15 which will be a better match to the Wrangler in diameter / gearing and will benefit fuel economy I should think.

I loved my wrangler tyres on my old one and should have swopped them to this one I think they are better than Michelins I have on this one

My last 1.8 Freelander averaged 23.5 Mpg on my daily commute. My V6 averaged 19.8 Mpg for the same commute. The performance advantage of the V6 was very noticeable indeed. If only the V6 had a manual box. I think it would have been comparable in Mpg to the 1.8, maybe better.

[QUOTE;3390467]My last 1.8 Freelander averaged 23.5 Mpg on my daily commute. My V6 averaged 19.8 Mpg for the same commute. The performance advantage of the V6 was very noticeable indeed. If only the V6 had a manual box. I think it would have been comparable in Mpg to the 1.8, maybe better.[/QUOTE]

I imagine that there must be a manually g'box from a Rover -MG. Didn't you mention that the AA in GB used V6 FL1 and they had a manual g'box. What did they use and how was it done?

This could be an excellent wee project!

Would that VVC motor I've got return better fuel economy?

Nodge you, and perhaps others may be interested in this web site. I came across it some time ago and have spoken to the man himself. He was kind and gave good advice on my Rover 25. On the web site there are many interesting things to read for the K series owner, all aimed at the MG F / TF fraternity but there are ideas and info' which may be useful to K series 1.8 owners. Paul Walbran Motors

teddywood1 said:

I loved my wrangler tyres on my old one and should have swopped them to this one I think they are better than Michelins I have on this one

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Are the Wranglers still available? I could find any in this region. Mind you the B'stones were on a promotion, 25% off - free fit & balance.

htr said:

I imagine that there must be a manually g'box from a Rover -MG. Didn't you mention that the AA in GB used V6 FL1 and they had a manual g'box. What did they use and how was it done?

This could be an excellent wee project!

Would that VVC motor I've got return better fuel economy?

Nodge you, and perhaps others may be interested in this web site. I came across it some time ago and have spoken to the man himself. He was kind and gave good advice on my Rover 25. On the web site there are many interesting things to read for the K series owner, all aimed at the MG F / TF fraternity but there are ideas and info' which may be useful to K series 1.8 owners. Paul Walbran Motors

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There were a few V6 manual Freelanders about. A standard High Torque PG1 box needs to be modified to take the IRD. Then it only mounts to the box with 3 bolts. It is possible to do but there are lots of other problems that crop up along the way with ECU's. The engine ECU and auto box ECU communicate on the CANbus. If you remove the box ECU, it confuses the engine ECU. Changing the engine ECU to that of a ZS180 would be easy enough but then the HDC throws an error code.
It's something I'd like to have a crack at one day.

The VVC should give more MPG than the standard 1.8 due to its better valve timing and sequential injection.