V10 v V6 diesel fuel consumption

[schoots]

I hope a few of you can help me with this. I'm thinking about buying a Treg next year but will be doing a fair bit of towing with a van and also a boat each weighing 2 to3 tonnes. Any knowledge on the fuel usage of both the V10 and the V6 Diesel in a heavy towing application. The specifications for consumption don't really relate to hard working engines, do they?
Thanks, John

[DaveMack]

Welcome to the forum, Schoots. I can't really help with Treg details but I admire your vehicle selection and wish you well with it. I'm sure there are plenty of happy Treg drivers on here who can help you with your questions.

Cheers,
Dave

[Mischa]

based on what i've learnt at uni and around the place i would say the v10 would be more economical. more torque at lower RPM's. dont forget about the R50, only a few thousand more than the v10 just make sure you get some 18's with chunky tyres thrown in to replace the ridiculous 21"ers.

oh, and welcome to the forum

[GoLfMan]

i would seriously consider the V10 over the V6 for the purpose of large towing capacity.

I daresay you'd be putting less stress on the driveline (because it wouldnt have to work as hard) and it'd be alot more comfortable doing so.

also this would problably result in a lower fuel consumption than that of the V6 TDi under the same loads.

[Volvo Driver]

A large capacity diesel like the V10 TDi used for towing a large van often will not make a difference to it's fuel economy, it will get whatever the sticker says unloaded and when fully loaded basically, the smaller V6, depending on how heavy the van is exactly, say a 2 tonne one, will decrease economy a bit while towing, but around town it will be far better all the time then the V10, though you won't be able to drag off HSV's with it.

[Moonan]

OK, I'll put in my 2 cents worth...
First, all Touaregs diesels have better engine specs for towing than almost anything else out there...
My experience is with the R5, a smaller engine than either of the two in question, but at least I can give some guidelines relevant to a Touareg:
1. All Touaregs have the same driveline (transmission, transfer case, axles, etc) except that the V10 has a higher ratio diff (so slightly lower revs at any given speed). To me this means that if the drive train has been engineered for a W12 (biggest engine in Germany / Saudi) then I don't think you will strain it with a V6 TDI!
2. In my experience the fuel consumption when towing is very much related to the aerodynamics of the trailer - a Touareg has very low drag for a 4x4 and this contributes to the fuel efficiency, and you ruin it with a big boxy horse float or caravan. My experience is that I don't notice 1.2 tonnes of camper trailer but really feel the fuel pain with a big empty box trailer with a canopy 2m high on it...
3. Other big factor is the speed. There seems to be a "sweet spot" at about 90 - 100km/hr. Economy is significantly worse at 110 than 90.

Hope this is of some help.

[T Rex]

Hi

I have owned my V6 TDI since May. Over the 4,000+km of a mix of suburban/rural driving we are averaging just under 10l per 100km. Certainly the published specs put the V6 TDI as the most economical of the entire Touareg range. As for towing, I have only done this briefly over a weekend of motor racing pulling a trailer with car on top (only about 2 tonne in total) and hardly noticed I was towing anything. Economy suffered probably about 10%.

This is the best tow vehicle I have ever owned (previously 2 x Range Rovers, V8 BMW X5 and V6 Petrol Prado).

I do agree also that the bigger V10 would not be working as hard when towing max capacity loads and therefore it's change in consumption would be less, but the V6 TDI also does it easy - 550Nm is huge (and the normal consumption is better)!

We love this car. Good luck with your choice. I think you would be happy with either.

Cheers

Geoff

[mel_and_toby]

I tow a 18' Bushtracker van which is over 3 tonnes when loaded up, With the V10 I get about 16l at a reasonable cruising speed - 80-90. Without the van on the highway I get around 9.5 cruising at 100-110.
Best towing vehicle around - only reason to change it would be for a longer wheelbase for bigger vans to cut down the pitching effect.
Overall the V10 is hard to beat - one Nissan, 3 Land cruisers and a RR for experience!

IAN

[ausgolfer]

Certainly the published specs put the V6 TDI as the most economical of the entire Touareg range. As for towing, I have only done this briefly over a weekend of motor racing pulling a trailer with car on top (only about 2 tonne in total) and hardly noticed I was towing anything. Economy suffered probably about 10%.

This is the best tow vehicle I have ever owned (previously 2 x Range Rovers, V8 BMW X5 and V6 Petrol Prado).

I do agree also that the bigger V10 would not be working as hard when towing max capacity loads and therefore it's change in consumption would be less, but the V6 TDI also does it easy - 550Nm is huge (and the normal consumption is better)!

I don't have any relevant Treg experience myself, but don't write off the V6, I know the V10 would be uber cool but as Geoff says above the V6 would still do it easily. When I worked at ford and was testing the (at the time) new ranger in both 2.5L and 3L 4cyl TDI's, they both towed 3 tonne no hassle.

[gldgti]

I daresay you'd be putting less stress on the driveline (because it wouldnt have to work as hard)

mate, doesnt matter what your engine is doing - for the same torque at the wheels (driving force) you get the same driveline stresses.. regardless of how the engine is working.

if anything, since the v10 has a lower diff ratio, for any given road speed the driveline will need to transmit proportionally more torque, so increasing the stress in the driveline.

this principal is why a worn clutch will slip first in the highest gear and at peak torque - when the highest torque at the wheels is required.

[GoLfMan]

u got my there Aydan

[schoots]

I tow a 18' Bushtracker van which is over 3 tonnes when loaded up, With the V10 I get about 16l at a reasonable cruising speed - 80-90. Without the van on the highway I get around 9.5 cruising at 100-110.
Best towing vehicle around - only reason to change it would be for a longer wheelbase for bigger vans to cut down the pitching effect.
Overall the V10 is hard to beat - one Nissan, 3 Land cruisers and a RR for experience!

IAN

HI guys, thanks for the info. Got anaother issue you might help with. Had test drive of steel suspension V6 and was not impressed with off road ability at all. Is air suspension on V10 better. V6 had very limited wheel travel and picked up wheels everywhere + bellied out really easily. I have a 4,5l petrol patrol at the moment and it leaves the V6 for dead climbing bumpy grassy slopes at least partly due to tyres of course but with all the gadgetry I was expecting way better from the V6. Any thing to share? Ta, John

[gerhard]

HI guys, thanks for the info. Got anaother issue you might help with. Had test drive of steel suspension V6 and was not impressed with off road ability at all. Is air suspension on V10 better. V6 had very limited wheel travel and picked up wheels everywhere + bellied out really easily. I have a 4,5l petrol patrol at the moment and it leaves the V6 for dead climbing bumpy grassy slopes at least partly due to tyres of course but with all the gadgetry I was expecting way better from the V6. Any thing to share? Ta, John

You can get air suspension as an option on the V6, whereas it's standard on the V10.

The electronics on the Touareg are second to none, but cannot overcome tyres with no grip. Comparing to the Patrol off-road is never going to give you satisfaction, until you have the identical tyres. Even then you will never have the articulation of 2 solid axles, or the rampover, but on the flipside you will never have the shocking Patrol on-road handling or the thirst of the big petrol.

Not keen on the Patrol 3.0TD ???? Can't imagine why

[T Rex]

You can get air suspension as an option on the V6, whereas it's standard on the V10.

The electronics on the Touareg are second to none, but cannot overcome tyres with no grip. Comparing to the Patrol off-road is never going to give you satisfaction, until you have the identical tyres. Even then you will never have the articulation of 2 solid axles, or the rampover, but on the flipside you will never have the shocking Patrol on-road handling or the thirst of the big petrol.

Not keen on the Patrol 3.0TD ???? Can't imagine why

I actually debated the steel vs air springs a lot before opting for the air suspension on my TDV6. Why? Although it is an expensive option it gives phenominal ground clearance when you need it PLUS it is self levelling - something you really appreciate if ever you tow a big trailer.

As I had memories of Land Rover air suspensions failing in the most inconvenient of places I Googled everywhere to see if I could find evidence of failures in ether the Touareg or Porsche Cayenne air suspensions and could find barely a comment. Thus reassured I chose the air suspension. The bonus being you also get the superb bi-xenon light setup.

Gerhard is right - for the really rough stuff you need better than the road tyres supplied. I have fitted a Scoprion ATR (245/65/17) to my spare rim and will replace the other four when they wear down a bit. By then we will be heading off outback after a 10 year break, confident the Touareg will easily go to the places we visited in our Range Rovers.

Cheers

Geoff

PS If you like a car with firm handling set the air suspension to "sport". For badly rutted dirt set to "auto" or "comfort"

[schoots]

Thanks for all your help. I am finally finding out for myself what what these Touaregs are all about since we just bought an R50 demo(blue) 2 months ago and it's a fascinating learning curve.
John