Things I can check to get better fuel mileage

[zyewdall]

Hmmm, some good info here.

I guess I'm doing pretty good with >380,000km on the clock. Since I've only gone through a few  tanks of fuel I'll get about 750/tank. That's with winter diesel, 2000-2400rpm shifts(3000 occ.) and snow tires running 35-38psi. Something I'll have to do this spring, althought it wil not affect milage,  is spring/struts. :cry:

Oh, btw the coolant temp needle barely moves if it does at all. Kind of woundering if the car would benifit with a winter front cover like the dmax does.

hmmm i would only put a winter cover on temps around -10c  the car could possibly overheat if there wasn't enough cold wind and if it was stationary.  maybe your temp gauge is broken?

Are you sure your thermostat isn't stuck open?  If I see the temp guage barely moving, that's what I'd suspect.  And it would get lousy mileage if that's the case.

Off topic, but is the dmax one of the new ones?  I want one, but they won't sell them in the US.

[jtanguay]

probably is the thermostat.  hotter thermostat the better

[tylernt]

probably is the thermostat.  hotter thermostat the better

In the winter perhaps, but I've blown too many head gaskets and warped two many heads from overheating, so I run a cooler t-stat and radiator thermo switch to save my head from an early death.

[VWRacer]

I agree with Andrew. Any time raising the thermostat rating causes overheating it is almost certainly due to water or air flow problems through the radiator. Check water flow...pump, internal crud build-up and hose condition. Check air flow through the rad. Any blockage can tip a marginal cooling system over the edge.

[toolie]

Hmmm, some good info here.

I guess I'm doing pretty good with >380,000km on the clock. Since I've only gone through a few  tanks of fuel I'll get about 750/tank. That's with winter diesel, 2000-2400rpm shifts(3000 occ.) and snow tires running 35-38psi. Something I'll have to do this spring, althought it wil not affect milage,  is spring/struts. :cry:

Oh, btw the coolant temp needle barely moves if it does at all. Kind of woundering if the car would benifit with a winter front cover like the dmax does.

hmmm i would only put a winter cover on temps around -10c  the car could possibly overheat if there wasn't enough cold wind and if it was stationary.  maybe your temp gauge is broken?

Are you sure your thermostat isn't stuck open?  If I see the temp guage barely moving, that's what I'd suspect.  And it would get lousy mileage if that's the case.

Off topic, but is the dmax one of the new ones?  I want one, but they won't sell them in the US.

I am getting heat in the car, but it has been kind of warm as on late, 0C.  Plus my mileage is good.....634.5km/44.21L which works out to 789km/55L tank. So I doubt the thermostat is stuck, must be the gauge cluster although it does move a little bit. I live in the country so I'll usually be going 80-110km/h.

zyewdall

My dmax is an 02 with only about 75000km on it, and the winter front came with the truck. A friend of mine just picked-up an 02, with 325000km on it, and he did not have a winter front. However he did get an aftermarket one for xmas.

[tylernt]

I've blown too many head gaskets and warped two many heads from overheating, so I run a cooler t-stat and radiator thermo switch to save my head from an early death.

Are you saying that you have overheated solely due to a higher temp thermostat?  There weren't any other cooling system problems?

There were other problems, including a leaking water pump and radiator stop leak blocking some of the coolant passages. However I feel the cooler t-stat and fan switch will give me more time to notice the impending doom and pull over before it's too late.

I'm tempted to rig a relay that cuts off the "ignition" when the temp goes too high, but that could be dangerous (unexpected loss of power could lead to an accident). Maybe set it up to buzz a seatbelt relay.... hmmm....

[zyewdall]

zyewdall

My dmax is an 02 with only about 75000km on it, and the winter front came with the truck. A friend of mine just picked-up an 02, with 325000km on it, and he did not have a winter front. However he did get an aftermarket one for xmas.

Ahh, from your signature, it looks like yours is the full size dmax anyway.  The one I want is the '05 compact pickup with the 2.5 liter engine.  They've been getting nearly 40mpg (US gallons) in some trials in thailand.