OPAL unleaded petrol in Alice Springs

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 09:02
ThreadID: 42779 Views:3175 Replies:8 FollowUps:5
This Thread has been Archived
Hi all

I saw a news item yesterday regarding the introduction of Opal petrol across the board in Alice Springs. It seems that regular unleaded petrol will no longer be available no matter which brand. The news reporter interviewed several people in the motor industry in Alice and they virtually all said that they wouldn't use it in their own vehicles because of problems they have encountered with its use, ie engine damage.

Has anyone had any experience either positive or negative using this stuff? We take our 4Runner through Alice Springs each year and this is a major fill up point. A breakdown on the Tanami or anywhere else for that matter due to fuel is not ideal.
Cheers
Peter
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 09:57

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 09:57
Perhaps email Toyota and see what there response to using it is
AnswerID: 224524

Reply By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 11:19

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 11:19
We used OPAL for about 3000k thru the Beadell rds and other area in the Rodeo- with no adverse problems. I think if there was an issue- it would have surfaced by now, it's been around for a couple of years in some areas.
BP are the manufactures of it - maybe some info from them may give some biased information!!!
AnswerID: 224531

Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 11:33

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 11:33
The Jackaroo ran fine on it during the Cape York trip.

However, we got a goob full of cruddy Opal from somewhere and it left me having to completely drain the tank after multiple fuel filter blockages.

Might not mix with "proper" fuel very well, so next time I would make sure that the tank was pretty empty before filling with Opal and vice versa.

No scientific basis for these thoughts, though.
AnswerID: 224532

Follow Up By: Hairy - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 13:52

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 13:52
Bp are advertising up here there is no problem what so ever adding opal to an existing tank of Unleaded??????
Cheers
0
FollowupID: 485492

Reply By: JustT - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 12:47

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 12:47
I ran the cross6 on it when in SA/NT last year, (2 tanks worth) I did notice an increase in fuel consumption (2l/100k's), other then that it ran fine.

Also it worked ok in the Coleman lantern - but it did smell a bit funny.
AnswerID: 224546

Reply By: Hairy - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 13:49

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 13:49
Gday,
BP's own recomendation is do not use it in vehicles made before 1986 ( Ill check the year but im pretty sure thats right) and not in performance engines.
You make your mind up weather you think a new petrol motor is high or low perfomance.
I personally run premium unleaded now as a lot of local mechanics have advised me to (petrol 80 series) and BP wont tell me what chemicals were taken out of unleaded to make it opal and what purpose they had. I personaly think my car runs better on Premiun than opal and Im not prepared to take the gamble.
Premium unleaded will still be available in Alice but not out bush.
Choice is yours
Cheers
Hairy
AnswerID: 224558

Reply By: Chucky - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 18:15

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 18:15
I don't know why they went to so much effort to bring out Opal fuel so petrol sniffers don't get effected.
Personnaly if people want to sniff the stuff instead of using it in the cars then go ahead.
I look at petrol sniffing as just another filter of the human gene pool.

It also has a lower octane rating than normal unleaded, so fuel ecomony and engine power will also be effected.
AnswerID: 224612

Follow Up By: handy - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 19:19

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 19:19
you obviously dont live in a town where sniffers run rampant
0
FollowupID: 485543

Follow Up By: Member - Arkay (SA) - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 23:11

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 23:11
Somebody up there (central Aust) told me that when the sniffers can't get hold of petrol to sniff anymore they change to aka "ice", and that apparently creates a worse problem in the long term. Ooh boy!
0
FollowupID: 485609

Follow Up By: Member - Hugh (WA) - Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 01:26

Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 01:26
I personally think this a socially responsible initiative. I'm sure it is much easier to do nothing, so BP are to be commended in my view.

How do you determine that the octane rating is lower and that vehicle performance is degraded? Regular unleaded and Opal are both 91 RON fuels. My company has done the independent vehicle performance, emissions and driveability tests on OPAL and your claims are without foundation.

Regards,
Hugh
0
FollowupID: 485630

Follow Up By: handy - Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 07:58

Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 07:58
remember back when unleaded came out , every body reckoned it was going to stuff their car. cheers
0
FollowupID: 485650

Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 19:35

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 at 19:35
I got a tank full in Yalara last year and I swear I got better consumption than with std ULP. No signs of any problem with the engine either afterwards.
Dunc
Make sure you give back more than you take

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 224633

Reply By: meandet - Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 08:26

Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 08:26
Thanks to everone for their replies and advice. I will contact Toyota and BP to seek their reponses also

This is a very useful forum for raising and sorting out issues associated with travelling.

Cheers
Peter
AnswerID: 224713

Sponsored Links