fuel to norsman

You might Slush - but why risk it for a few extras dollars. Our tanks total 160 litres; in 2004 we came back from Qld pulling the Bushtracker and in a hurry, so our 3 litre was using more fuel than you would expect to be, and we of course filled at Ceduna (although Penong, a bit West of Ceduna is usually cheaper - but we fuel up and shower at Ceduna). Knowing Mundrabilla was the cheapest, we didn't stop till then, but found they were waiting for supplies, and were only selling 20 litres to each motorist to get to Madura, which was the dearest of all back then. My husband calculated what we needed to get to Norseman and put just that in the tank. Coming through the hills towards Norseman the light came on, and with our after market tank, that usually means you're about to come to a sudden halt - so we sweated all the way to Norseman and filled with 160 + litres. Now we top up along the way just in case. Doesn't make that much difference on the whole trip. Some of the servos along they have since changed hands and pricing is more equitable (but we haven't tried Madura again).

1202 km ... so what is your range Slush? If you don't know that you would want to be careful I guess, and pay more attention.

It depends on how you drive, how many shoes the Mrs carries with her, what sort of headwinds ... etc.,

but with 260 litres you should be able to do it in my humble estimation.

That would be 22 litres per 100 km in my estimation which would mean a heavy foot, a heavy load, and a heavy headwind.

There is plenty of opportunity to assess your usage over the distance and decide along the way to fill up a little - even if at Balladonia (say).

Cheers
Andrew.

I agree with Andrew - My records indicate its 1223kms from Ceduna to Norseman.
At 13ltrs/100km you will go 2000kms. Worst case scenario at 20 ltrs/100kms you will get 1300kms

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one always seems to get a headwind oon the Nullarbor, regardless of which way you're travelling - must be Murphy's Law.
About 3 years ago, I must have had a 50 knot wind I was pushing into for about 500km. You could see the fuel guage dropping! That night I had great difficulty pitching the tent, the wind was so strong. By midnight, all dead calm. Typical!
Gerry

Last time I drove that way, there was a little place not far from Ceduna itself (possibly Penong - but maybe not that far) that had cheaper diesel than Ceduna. Of course I had just filled it to the gunwhales in Ceduna - so it was no use to me.

How about sticking a bit in about halfway across if you you are concerned about your range - you may be say 2 to 5 dollars "out of pocket" but you'd have peace of mind then (if you were at all concerned).

However, last time I drove it I was towing a similar van in my 4.2 litre 1HZ 'cruiser and made it from Ceduna to Norseman (just on 1,200km) without filling without any fuss. I was carrying 250 litres of diesel. But I had no headwind (for once !!).

I reckon if you keep your speed down a bit you'll make it OK.

If you want to save some $$ when you get to Norseman, don't just stop at the BP at the T intesection, there's a couple of servo's in town as well (one on the main drag and one just opposite the ANZ bank); check their prices out as they can be considerably cheaper at times.

Cheers and enjoy the drive.

Stephen J.

Motherhen is 100% correct, top up at Penong, sometimes cheaper than Ceduna

Slush

Everytime I have been over the west coast Penong has been cheaper for diesel than Ceduna. Penong is only 73 kms west of Ceduna so from there to the wa - SA Border you still have 410 kms. You then have 719 kms to Norseman.

From Penong to Norseman is 1129 kms. I have a 4.2 td GU and towing my camper trailer at 100 km/h I get 15lts/100 kms. That works out to 169 ltrs. I don't know what you get towing the pop top but I should imagine that there would not a great difference. With 260 lts of diesel you should make it there easily.

Tjilpi

Slush,
I think you would make it, but you will know once you half way and you can top up at a few places along the way. We live at Coffin Bay, and go up the west coast all the time fishing, penong has been cheaper every time we've been there, the bloke at the servo Mick and I have talked about it, we've worked out he gets his fuel cheaper than we in Port Lincoln, cause he buys that much!

Crawf

Slush,

When you get to Norseman fuel is much cheaper just around the corner in the town.

The highway servos were about 10 cent a litre dearer than the town servos.

The Border servos were also very pricey.

Cheers

Matts points for the crossing the nullabor
Dont fill up at baladonia
Fuel at either penong or nundroo(saff are the cheapest by far. At christmas time saff at nundroo was the same price as diesel at perth)
Get some more fuel at mundrabilla just to make sure in case of the damn winds.
And as everyone else has said go into town at noorseman to fill up.
Matt

I've crossed the Nullarbor quite a few times in the last 12years & have never had a problem travelling from Norseman to Ceduna & visa versa without a fuel stop. My fuel tanks hold 240 liters & there's a 6.5ltr. Chevy under the bonnet so you shouldn't have any problems. the worst fuel consumption was 17lts/100km. Cheers

Chees
Ive never been anywhere near it but only you know your car, driving style and fuel economy. Any one else would only be guessing.
I personally would do a few calculations of my own before I left.
Cheers