Diesel / Petrol / Gas ?

Submitted: Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:01
ThreadID: 64341 Views:4029 Replies:6 FollowUps:6
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Looking at buying an 80 series Landcruiser for the round Aus trip. My problem is with the recent fall in fuel prices should I be buying a Turbo Diesel, Petrol or dual fuel set-up. I am aware of restricted gas supplies in certain areas and will be towing van. Any advise you can give would be appreciated
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:20

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:20
Jacmac,

There is only one type of fuel for a trip around the block and that is diesel.

Once you are in the best parts of Australia there is very little if any difference in the price of diesel and ULP, and for the most part, forget about gas.

Any of the big 6 cyl 4WD are heavy on petrol and if you are staying on the black top towing a van, diesel is the only way to go.

Wayne
AnswerID: 340078

Follow Up By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:38

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:38
Hi,

We are traveling around OZ we have a 1997 Turbo Diesel 80 Series and wouldn't do it in anything else!!! And our van is 23foot long!!!

Cheers
Matt Caz & Kids
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FollowupID: 607672

Reply By: Kiwi and Grenade - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:55

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:55
Jacmac,

Had a 94 80 series on petrol / lpg. Fuel consumption while loaded (didnt tow but its stil the same sort of weight) was anywhere between 19 - 28lph depending how far over 100kph we went (I think ave was 370km out of the 90 lt lpg tank) and normal day - day driving saw us get 420km.
With both tanks and being loaded (as in tent, swags etc for a 6 wks trip) we would get about 750km and 790km around town.

As for either diesel or the dual fuel.....I like diesel for what you said...more options of getting it while away but as long as we did our homework with fuel availability etc depended if we filled the jerries up or not or used the lpg or not.....its not that hard to work out and its great having the lpg there as back up if remote.

If it was me, I wouldnt hesitate on dual fuel, The engines are great and long lasting as long as they are looked after and are easy to work on. Its the only car that we've had that Nathan has known inside out.

But diesel 80 series, epecially the turboed ones, are asking a killing if you can find one. From what Ive seen a turbo diesel 80 series will cost the same (almost) as a early model 100 series, depending on its condition of course.

Hope this helps a bit....!

laura
AnswerID: 340084

Reply By: Flywest - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 12:15

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 12:15
Been everywhere in our 3 turbo diesels 4wds for many years.

2 of them on diesel / Gas (Autogas LPG/butane blend)

The idea you can't get autogas LPG is crazy - OK if you can't you hithe dash switch and keep going on straight diesel - but really - if you couldn't get LPG then there would be no point taking caravans round oz, coz thered be no LPG to cook with!

Heck if you need it use your LPG cylinders for the vehicle until you do get to the next gas outlet - about the ONLY problem with gas in the boondocks is it can be not as cheap as the city.

Have never had a problem getting fuel of one kind or another for the diesel gas vehicles - the 80 series 4.2 TD with autogas gets 3000+ Km's between fills, hardly likely to not findLPG within that sorta range.

That range is provided with the 90 liter main diesel tank, a 147 liter long ranger tank where the 50 sub tank used to fit underthe back and a 146 liter LPG in the rear between the wheel arches.

I don't reckon there would be a better round Oz truck than a late 80 series sahara, 4.2 TD with the diesel gas australia conversion and the Long ranger tank.

Perth to Sydney without filling up.

10 km's / liter at 100kph on the highway

What more could you want?

Cheers
AnswerID: 340085

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 at 07:57

Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 at 07:57
Thanks Flywest for that detail.
That is some of the most useful advice and information Ive read on this site for a long time about fuels.
Just a question or two - do you find the diesel gas system increases power - especially on hills etc and did you research all the different diesel gas systems and if so why did you choose diesel gas Australia.
Cheers,
GPM
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FollowupID: 607807

Follow Up By: Flywest - Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 at 14:21

Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 at 14:21
[quote]
do you find the diesel gas system increases power - especially on hills etc and did you research all the different diesel gas systems and if so why did you choose diesel gas Australia.
Cheers,
GPM
[/quote]

Your more than welcome.

Yes Power increased on my F250 as per this dyno graph of two runs with and without the LPG switched on.



On the cruiser the power increase was greater - because it as a 1992 model it was pre clean air emissions controls date, so didn't have to undergoe the exhaust gas analysis test that the later 2004 F truck did!

As a result they could wind up the gas supply to higher levels and gain more power - where as with the F truck my settings are very low at around 10% ga,s so as to stay within allowable Exhaust gas emmissions.

At the time a couple years back DGA were the only converters in WA, so there was no research as to which company to use - the vapour system was used on the older cruiser and the slightly dearer direct injection on the F 250.

We did do some testing on the cruiser for mileage and costs with and without gas.

From memory there was a saving 2 years back when fuel prices were pre outragous levels we recenty saw, of 2c / kilometer

The cruiser cost back then $4100 to convert - less the state rebate of $1000 & Federal rebate of 2000 = $1100 out of pocket.

$1100 / 2c = 55,000kms to break even.

We did those 55,000 km's in the cruiser in the first 18 months and have been in savings these last 6 months or so.

Next plan is to intercool the cruiser and see how much extra HP and economy we can wring out of it.

Theres not a lot of point trying to do savings calcs with the F 250, because I haul a boat and trailer that weighs at least 4 - 4.5 tonnes at 100kph and get about 5 km's to the liter which is about 12 miles per US gallon.

Also - because the Ftruck is over 3500 kilos it doesnt qualify for the govt grants so you pay the whole $4500 conversion cost - and any savings in the maybe 1 c / km range means 450,000km's to break even!

Really it was about increasing power to be able to haul the load and get the extended range, it wasn't a "cost saving excercise" for the F 250.

Either way I remain happy with both conversions - with the exception that I don;t believe the claims made for cleaner oil - my used oil testng which i've postd about here before have shown the opposite.

There appears to be a real need to formulate oils specifically for these diesel gas vehicles, as many of the standard blends don;t hold up well to the increased operating temps in relation to sulphation oxidation and nitration levels and that includes the so called miracle fully synthetic oils like Mobil Delvac 1.

You can only tell this by used oil analysis testing.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 607893

Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 17:52

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 17:52
And OPEC is dropping oil supply by 2 million barrels a day ,, watch the price of unleaded march upwards again. Only vehicle worth having for a trip round the block is a Diesel.
AnswerID: 340126

Follow Up By: Tippa - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 18:39

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 18:39
It's wrong isnt it... if fuel prices reflected oil prices then unleaded would be 85c/L and if it goes up in relation to crude oil then so be it. But unleaded is still way over $1/L, and will go up from there, because they are restricting oil supply to increase prices... isnt that called "market manipulation" which is ILLEGAL in every other industry which the govt has the balls to actually regulate, and havent they created a market monopoly which also is ILLEGAL. Makes my blood boil.
As for what fuel to run for outback touring, my 80 series is dual fuel- petrol/LPG Injection. Its without doubt the best option around cities and towns justout of CBD- much more power, more torque and far cheaper to run than even twin cam turbo diesel 80s.
But going across Oz, i would recommend turbo diesel (twin cam if you can afford the mega $$) simply for range and fuel availability.
Constantly stressing and number crunching overfuel usage/range and whether you'll make the next servo (and if its open or has petrol or gas if is open) could spoil a trip imho.
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FollowupID: 607748

Follow Up By: Tippa - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 18:57

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 18:57
One thng to note about fuel prices (which i'm sure you know anyway...) is Diesel goes up just as quickly or moreso than unleaded.
The only fuel which isn't controlled by crude oil prices or singaporean fuel prices is our own local fuel... LPG.
Just a pity it tends to follow major fuel price increases/decreases, although to a far lesser extent.
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FollowupID: 607752

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 19:45

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 at 19:45
At the moment diesel is stacks more expensive.
By the time you do your trip, prices will rise again and when prices rise, diesel becomes worth having, especially towing.
AnswerID: 340153

Reply By: Member - DOZER- Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 at 23:00

Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 at 23:00
Here is your next vehicle....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110327550025

They r the best all round highway cruisers and soooo hard to come by
AnswerID: 340414

Follow Up By: Jacmac - Friday, Dec 19, 2008 at 09:08

Friday, Dec 19, 2008 at 09:08
Thanks for all your replies...I guessed that diesel would be the preferred option so now to find what I'm looking for. It may take some time but that's all part of the fun

Cheers Jacmac
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FollowupID: 608083

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