Dajarra Fuel Quality

Thats giving Dajarra rough treatment. Their fuel is probably no different to any other small township. If your worried there are a variety of filtering systems you can use, which get mentioned here regularly

Yes, I have an extra filter. I've refueled in many small towns over the years too. My main concern was that being between two large centres, not many traveler's would be filling up there, so fuel turnover would be slow.

.
Well consider this Alex.........

Small dealer will have small tanks.....
Larger dealer will likely have larger tanks....

They will probably have the same turnover time.

I agree. But as above I don't really want to get fuel from a low volume servo. Doesn't matter where it is.

I didnt know that. thanks for the advice.
cheers
alex

As mentioned above, I agree. But I would rather get fuel if I can from a higher volume servo than a lower volume servo. Having long range tanks generally mean I don't need to get fuel from what I would imagine as a quiet servo.

Thats what I wanted to hear. Thanks.

i rang the servo since putting the question on the forum and he said he needs and gets refueled once a week. So his volume must be reasonable, which is good.

Yes, I was heading east out through Chatsworth and Toolebuc to the Kennedy Dev Rd. Then west for a bit and then down to Old Cork Station water hole for a few days.

thanks again.
alex

Hi Chris, what makes you say that Aust. Diesel is not the same quality as that in Europe? Current quality specs are almost identical.

Macca.

I have not met a diesel mechanic that does not say so, besides look fuel filter, and thats only a 30 micron filter.
Chris

Yes I do have long range tanks and extra fuel filters, and generally pick my fueling stops in high volume locations if possible.

Its just if I stick to my route from Alice Springs without deviating down to Boulia, I would need fuel from Dajarra to continue east out through Toolebuc. The previous reply has made me feel better about getting fuel from there.

Thats a really dirty filter!!!

I've opened up some filters of mine from Cape trips and also out to Isa or Lawn Hill and they never look that bad!

Fuel filters every 5K is a must for modern day diesels. Push it to 10 if you really want but 5K is good practice. I use Transgold filters and they are fine for the price. My 1hz is naturally aspirated so I do it every 10K but manual states every 20K. Again, good practice!

Buy a mr funnel you'll be glad you did.

The main problem and it happened to me, if a servo runs his tank down too low, and when the Tank is filled with a 100mm tanker hose, the remaining fuel is churned up, bringing everything off the bottom of the tank and into suspension for a few hours. If you are unlucky enough to fill your vehicle shortly after, you generally don't get too far down the road before you have filter and fuel problems. Fortunately for me I had a BP card and BP paid for the repairs no problems. All fuel i buy i get a receipt, if I have a fuel problem, I have proof of purchase. Normally you are not far away from where you purchased it if you get a bad tank full. Michael.

Yes, filling up after a delivery is certainly a well know issue. I thought after I hung up the phone talking to the servo operator that I should have asked what day he had his fuel delivered at Dajarra.

Luckily you had your BP card to verify your purchase.

Guys, The Specs for Australian Road Grade Diesel Fuel is almost identical to that of the Euro 5 Specs. The issue is not the quality of the fuel when it leaves the Terminal, the quality can become compromised at any site anywhere in the world if they have issues such as leaking tanks.

Modern underground tanks are constructed of a composite material, and are no longer steel. All new underground tanks can no longer be made of steel, this is legislated.

In Australia, most Biodiesel is blended with tallow and not vegetable oil owing to the cost difference between the two. Tallow can seperate from the diesel in low volume sites. The same is also true of Bio gasoline blends.

Water in Diesel tanks can lead to the growth of algae at the water/fuel interface. This & rust are the largest causes of fuel contamination in diesel. That and the occasional crossover where the delivery driver mistakenly drops petrol into a diesel tank at a servo. Yes it does happen, and when it does the fuel has to be pumped out and either returned to a refinery for reprocessing, or disposed of as contaminated waste.

Macca.

Macca.

Thanks for that Macca. I did not know that all new tanks could not be steel, but it makes sense. Does this only apply to in the ground tanks? I have noticed an increase in above the ground tanks in the more remote locations which appear to be steel. Above the ground tanks appeal to me as you can see their condition and how they are maintained. Also if there are floods with an underground tank the whole tank including fill and discharge points are under water, so who knows if any water gets in.
Macca comes from Penong on the Eyre Highway in SA. The servo there is one of the best in all Australia. Their price is ALWAYS very competitive, so is used by the trucks, so the fuel is always fresh. I go through Penong most years and I always plan my fuel stops so that at Penong I am nearly empty. A great place for a stop and the windmills are also very interesting.
Chris

Hi Chris, above ground tanks can still be made of steel, only steel underground tanks have been banned.

My profile photo was taken in Penong, but I live in Werribee, Victoria.

Macca.

Thanks for the info. I've seen that track on the map. Might be a good idea to ring before leaving Alice. I will be heading out from Alice along the Plenty until the Binns Track. Up The Binns Track up to the Sandover Hwy heading east. Then down to Urandangi and across to Dajarra. From there, east out through Toolebuc and down to Old Cork Waterhole, etc.
Cheers
Alex