Mark-w
Member Since: 23 Jul 2013
Location: North lincs
Posts: 124
  
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Ive just returned from my 1st trip towing the caravan in the D3, I have to say it tows superbly, my old TD5 D2 was an excellent tow car, but the D3 is even better.
Ive towed both ways from Lincolnshire up to Seahouses in Northumberland, a distance of 195 miles, with exception of about the 1st & last 12 miles, its all motorway / A1.
The D3 is my 1st Auto, so it follows that this is my 1st time towing with an auto.
Before both the outward and the return journeys I reset the trip computer trip to zero to clear the average MPG etc. etc.
On the journey up I just left everything to the auto box, I did notice that it never changed into 6th, I assume due to speeds etc. I towed at a constant 56 MPH using cruise pretty much all the time, on that journey I achieved 19.5 MPG
On the return journey as soon as I was on the A1 I pushed the lever across to command shift and selected 6th I left it in 6th for pretty much all the time on A1 / motorway, only occasionally did i drop it down to 5th on some of the inclines, on the return journey I achieved 21.5 MPG.
So a whole 2MPG more.
So I'm guessing from now on it'll be command shift 6th when motorway towing. D4 graphite, Loire Blue, ebony leather.
D3 S Bonnatti Grey, Cloth interior -Gone
Defender 300tdi, 1994, Blue.
Mods:
Pretty much everything. Now also gone, to the USA I believe:
Merc SLK280 silver - sunny weekend toy
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 21st Apr 2014 4:57 pm |
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armalites
Member Since: 17 Aug 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1918
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I would that thought you would have got more than that?
I did a trip from Hereford to Surrey and back on Wednesday. On the way there had a 90 bales of hay on the trailer and a car on the way back. Did some driving across London as well and averaged an indicated 20.9mpg. Loads of traffic too. Had 2.5+ tonnes on the back all day.
Mines an Auto and I just left it to do it's own thing. IID PRO
MSV Extreme
Nanocom One
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| 21st Apr 2014 5:30 pm |
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NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
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I find it does need going into command shift to nudge it into 6th
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| 21st Apr 2014 5:53 pm |
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gensetsteve
Member Since: 01 Jan 2014
Location: hampshire
Posts: 340
  
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I am sure its probably fine but just be careful its not labouring and bogging out. Hanging onto gears I dont think is great for an auto box, torque loadings go up and oil pressures drop . I have no real knowledge on auto boxes I am sure someone on here will know chapter and verse. I prefer to use a couple of extra litres of diesel rather than a couple of grand on a rebuild. D4
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| 21st Apr 2014 7:01 pm |
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