Use of Opal Petrol.

Submitted: Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:01

ThreadID: 65767 Views:2493 Replies:6 FollowUps:5

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Member - Richard H (NSW)

Commenting on issues regarding access to Aboriginal Lands on another forum site has reminded me of one issue that may be of interest.

I friend has been involved in the management of a number of stores in N.T. Aboriginal Communities of late.

He owns a Nissan X-trail that has a petrol engine. Anyway, he said that he filled his vehicle with Opal Patrol, the only type that his store sold. According to Darryl, it made the vehicle 'ping', and go sluggish. The problem wasn't rectified until be filled up with ULP. He made inquiries and reckons that Honda have said don't use it, and if we catch you, warranty will be voided. Has anyone heard this or of any other manufacturer making the same claim?

The only thing I use petrol for is a Honda inverter, & I can usually cart enough petrol for this, but I wonder?

Any advice or rumours will be appreciated.

Dick Holland

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Reply By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:05

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:05

Parents used it once on our trip across the Garry Junction Rd but it was about a 75%opal/25%ulp mix.Made no noticable differance to vehicle except tail pipe went from black to white.

AnswerID: 347968

Follow Up By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:33

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:33

Should have said it was an 80 series.Also a V6 pajero along too and it ran the same also.

FollowupID: 616204

Reply By: Willem - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:17

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:17

Dick

We used Opal last year in the wife's Xtrail on a trip in and around Central Australia and the little car ran smoothly without any problems.

Cheers

AnswerID: 347971

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:17

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:17

Hi Richard
I wonder if he has considered used a good quality octane booster to help out?

Cheers

Stephen

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AnswerID: 347972

Reply By: RobAck - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:38

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:38

We've used Opal on many occassions in our 120 Prado with no problems at all. I suggest it may be the quality of the fuel and the possibility of floaties in it that has a higher chance of causing the problems you describe. We use our own filter, funnel with fine mesh, when travelling in areas where the fuel can be suspect and we do this regardless of if it is diesel or petrol.

Opal is petrol and has the same octane rating as normal ULP the difference is they have removed the aromatics that cause the high for petrol sniffers. As such I would be very surprised that any manufacturer would not warrant its use. If you go to the BP website they have an excellent explanatory are on this fuel.

RobA

AnswerID: 347974

Follow Up By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:58

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 10:58

Thanks everyone for your quick replies. I have passed on to my freind your comments.

It has got him thinking.

Dick

FollowupID: 616207

Follow Up By: DesF - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 11:42

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 11:42

Hi when we were up in the centre ( Finke) in 07, they told us to fill with ULP as soon as we could as they have been having trouble locally with the later model cars using Opal, they said it dries out the rubber " O" rings etc over time and causes air leaks etc, especially on the injectors and fuel seals.
cheers Des.

FollowupID: 616211

Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 15:50

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 15:50

Gday,
I live in Alice and have tried OPAL in my 80 series....
No way will I do it again.
Hardley any locals use it either. Now any then you will here someone say its alright, but the huge majority of people who have tried it wont go back to it. Ask any local mechanics in Alice and you will get some real horror stories.

Cheers

AnswerID: 348013

Follow Up By: GregF - Sunday, Feb 08, 2009 at 12:44

Sunday, Feb 08, 2009 at 12:44

Ditto to that Hairy. Used it in my V6 Pajero, ran like ahairy goat and lost power and about 90 / 100 klms to a tank. Missuses Commodore Doesnt mind it. Destroyed me whipper snipper though.

FollowupID: 616359

Reply By: t303 - Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 23:56

Saturday, Feb 07, 2009 at 23:56

Most of the "older" vehicles on the Endeavour rally through central Aus suffered dangerous breakdowns due to rubber parts in fuel system dissolving. Imagine fuel p*ssing out of a mech fuel pump onto a hot engine! "Bad Petrol" et al of course claim nothing wrong with fuel, poor maintenance etc (the XW Falcon I'm familar with has completed every stage of every rally for 20+ years- it ain't no bomb-but did a fuel pump diaphragm) Apparently after much ringing around Boffins from another oil company acknowledged (off the record) that yeah, problem iis known about, and we reckon the best fix we can come up with is a double dose of Morey's upper cyl lube and refill with "real" fuel ASAP. This apparently gives the closest chemical match.

AnswerID: 348082