poor fuel consumption - 2003 TD5

I live in Australia and I started getting poor mileage last year (accompanied by a diesel smell). Land Rover replaced the fuel regulator under warranty in September and the diesel smell is gone but I'm still using 12-13L/100klms, which I calculate to be about 18-19 mpg.


I'm pretty sure I was getting about 800 klms per tank before the fuel regulator started leaking whereas the fuel warning light seems to come on at 650 klms now. I've had the dealer look at it and tried complaining to Land Rover but they couldn't (wouldn't?) identify a problem and just put it down to external conditions and driving style.


Land Rover in the UK quotes a combined average of 27.4 mpg for a TD5 and if I’m getting 18 mpg, that means I’m somehow using about 50% more fuel than their average. And how can that be explained away with external conditions and driving style?


I belong to a Discovery internet forum here in Australia and there seem to be a few TD5 that are suddenly getting poor mileage.


I did some research on the internet and thought that it might have been a dirty MAF sensor. So I cleaned that with some contact cleaner but it has made no appreciable difference in fuel consumption.


So does anyone have any theories? Has anyone had a similar problem?


Of course, the car is now out of warranty.

You need to get your car on testbook and monitor the live data displays,looking at airflow readings,boost and EGR modulator percentage readings etc.Also you need to check for free operation of the wastegate on the turbo,and the equipment that operates the EGR valve.Most TD5 faults are now well known and documented,a decent garage should be able to work through all this in a couple of hours with the right kit and a keen mind.The latter could be your biggest problem.(finding one)
Good luck,hope you have better LR techs than WA !

Maybe not a help but my 2001 TD5 has averaged 27.something mpg over its 85,000 mile life so far. Mainly highway commuting in UK and for the past year highway commuting and steep hard mountain passes (altitude 400m - 2500m). Consumption in the past year has improved in Switzerland by a mile and a bit per gallon. Must the clean Swiss air