towing with auto

Its caravan season and Im looking for tips on fuel economy.I have a long trip coming up to Penzance from my home in Stockport.Been searching for info and one piece of advice that keeps coming up is never tow in overdrive. Also you may get better fuel economy to lock it in third. I do drop down manually when aproaching big hills to avoid overheating the ATF fluid ,but normaly tow in "drive." I would have thought locking it in third would just cause the engine to rev higher and that would burn more fuel. Can anyone enlighten me?

I tow a heavy Fleetwood 1600kg unladen with 2001 auto es, when on motorway I stick cruise on, when slowing i read road ahead as best i can and take foot off, when needed slow with 3rd, 2nd and a few times in desperation 1st and boy does that slow you rather than sticking your foot on the brake and overheating pads etc. lond hills i see before i hit them and get to an illegal 70mph and just keep going. great car, love it and cant wait for two weeks time when Im at i again, good luck

Mines early 300 tdi auto without edc ,no cruise control basic model.I think its 112 bhp . The latter ones with edc are 120 bhp to give a bit more power.Spoke to my local Landrover guy and he said the early ones were a bit flat so they made the improvement.

Mate ive just got back from a quite long tow and we tow often, 1450kg i found keeping her at about 2250-2500 rpm and then keeping the tow down helps she doesnt drop down to 2000rpm so quickly, mine tends to as soon as i hit 2k rpm kick down and she screams up to 3000rpm which it then holds, but fuel wise just go steady the torque will get you up hills easy enough and get into the "when i get there i'll get there mode " of holidays!!!

COSSIE REAMER!!!!!!! Stand by if you are a screamer!

Hi folks I also have an early 300tdi auto.. with which i tow I have found that if i drop below 50mph it drops into 3rd and the fuel gets used up far more rapidly but if i maintain above 50mph it kicks into top gear and I can cruise along quite happily.... naturally with hills i speed up and let it ride along as much as i can...

Again taking note from previous posting I take the view that the drive is part of the holiday...
I get to my destination when i get there... why rush why worry your on HOLIDAY....

I'm travelling from Luton to Chester this week, I also blend used and new oil with the diesel as a kind of additive it's still less than a pound a litre...

sir Adrian said:

Hi folks I also have an early 300tdi auto.. with which i tow I have found that if i drop below 50mph it drops into 3rd and the fuel gets used up far more rapidly but if i maintain above 50mph it kicks into top gear and I can cruise along quite happily.... naturally with hills i speed up and let it ride along as much as i can...

Again taking note from previous posting I take the view that the drive is part of the holiday...
I get to my destination when i get there... why rush why worry your on HOLIDAY....

I'm travelling from Luton to Chester this week, I also blend used and new oil with the diesel as a kind of additive it's still less than a pound a litre...

Click to expand...

Hi sir adrian, I think you'l find that your car is moving in & out of "torque converter (TC) lock-up mode, rather than changing gears.

The auto-box in Tdi 300 should actually change into 4th gear at approx 30mph.

At 52mph the TC lock-up comes into play, which in effect bypasses the torque converter and so gives more effective transmission of engine power. This is why you use less fuel at above 52mph.

When towing our horse trailer (1300kgs) or our caravan (2100kgs) I find that where possible and appropriate if I can maintain about 60mph that is a good blend of economy and keeping out of the TC lock-up zone.

On longer gradients I try to maintain about 2000-2200 rpm by using the gear selecter, going into 3, 2 etc.

Change your airfilter before setting off on holiday, it will make an mpg improvement.

Also, if not yet done, considor De-Catting your exhaust, it makes a BIG difference to available power when towing.

Cheers and enjoy your holiday.

Dave

Is this all fairly applicable to v8 autos?

TheVengefulElephant said:

Is this all fairly applicable to v8 autos?

Click to expand...

Yes, broadly speaking speaking.

THE issue re towing is to be relaxed, you get there when you get there, you're on holiday, remember?

Cheers
Dave

Deepends wot yur towin cool. wasn't sure if it was the same with petrol engines, I spend all my time trying to make them quicker, not more economical haha.

Hi Biglad. Did you mean you try and keep to 50 mph to avoid going into lock-up.?

rollin danny said:

Hi Biglad. Did you mean you try and keep to 50 mph to avoid going into lock-up.?

Click to expand...

No Danny, I try to keep above 52mph, to avoid the TC lockup from disengaging.

I have found setting the cruise at between 55 & 60mph usually does the trick.

Cheers
Dave

Cheers Biglad,no cruise on mine so Ill have to do the footwork.Dont Know about" enjoying the journey" They have to prize my fingers off the steering wheel when I get there !

Thanks for the very informative info Biglad...

I must admit I had forgotten about cleaning or even better replacing the air filter...

And again the cat as well...

thanks for the tips

I have been in contact with Disco basher who has kindly volunteered to do some tasks on the disco(with cash ) inducements...

So I shall ask him to have a look at the cat aswell

I'll be back next week all going well!!