Vehicle Spares - Oils & Fluids. How much?

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 03:05

ThreadID: 7165 Views:1882 Replies:6 FollowUps:8

This Thread has been Archived

Gunter

I'm finallising my vehicle spares list for a trip to the Red Centre from Perth in three days time. A number of books (eg. "Travelling the Outback") and also posts on this forum recommend carrying oil and brake/clutch fluid. My question is how much (quantity) should I take? Is 1 or 2 litre of each type enough just for top ups?

The oils/fluids list is:
Engine Oil
Diff. Oil -- is this required?
Gearbox Oil -- ditto?
Auto Trans Oil/Fluid
Power Steering Oil/Fluid -- same as auto trans fluid
Brake & Clutch Fluid

Your comments and feedback on what you take would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Gunter.

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Frank - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 08:54

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 08:54

Gunter,
I normally take a camper trailer and have plenty of storage space, so I take the oil quantities stated below.

Engine Oil - 5 litre conitaner
Diff. Oil -- 4 Litres
Gearbox Oil -- 4 Litres
Power Steering Oil/Fluid -- 750ml
Brake & Clutch Fluid - 750ml.

These all fit nicely in a plastic storage box with a lid and would pack ok in the back of the car. Just put then in first, so you can pack other stuff around and on top. You wouldn't need to access these very often, if at all.

Regards
Frank.

AnswerID: 30749

Follow Up By: Gunter - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 09:38

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 09:38

Frank,
Thank you for the feedback.

Do you also do your own oil changes at home, or is this oil only kept for emergencies? What I'm trying to figure out is if you would ever require 5L of engine oil while travelling the outback?
If the car is well serviced and there are no oil leaks, then you should not be using much oil if any. As for the Diff. and Gearbox oils, my local Nissan service suggested that I don't need to worry about these. My Owner's Manual also does not cover checking/filling of these two oils in the Do-it-yourself section. You obviously are of a different opinion and/or have had different recommendations ...

BTW, I drive a 99 GU Patrol 4.5L and tow a Coromal magnum 340 Rally XC camper.

Cheers,
Gunter.

FollowupID: 21754

Follow Up By: Tony - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 11:57

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 11:57

If you carry the above amounts you have all bases covered in the event of some sort of misshap. And by chance you maybe able to help out a fellow traveller who hs not taken the time to be fully prepared.

FollowupID: 21770

Follow Up By: Gunter - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 12:27

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 12:27

Good point Tony!
Also, I think you can only buy the engine oil in 1L, 5L and larger quantities. It would probably cost you the same for 2 x 1L bottles as a 5L container?!

Thanks again both of you for helping me decide. Frank, I also like the tip about the plastic storage box!

So off to the shops one more time and then I'm all set for D-day this Saturday for a 4 week trip to the Red Centre ... :-))

FollowupID: 21772

Reply By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 13:00

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 13:00

Hi Gunter,

I am not responding to your query, however we leave on Saturday, heading for Alice Springs. We will arrive in Alice on 23rd September and depart 30th September before heading to King Creek Station for three days then Curtin Springs for three days. If you are going to still be in the area during that time, let me know on glennamarshall@iprimus.com.au and maybe we can meet up. Wayno (WA) is also going to be in Alice for a spell so we are going to try and meet up with him also.

Cheers.Just Do It!

AnswerID: 30767

Follow Up By: Gunter - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 14:28

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 14:28

Glenn,

Great! I did read another post there you mentioned your imminent departure for the Centre, but figured that your schedule would not match ours since you're starting from the opposite end.

As it turns out we will be in Alice almost the the same time if all goes to plan. We will arrive in Alice on 24th Sept and depart again on 27th Sept for Palm Valley and Boggy Hole.
Vise versa you can contact me on gmuller2@bigpond.net.au. It will be good to meet up with others and swap experiences etc.

Have a safe trip ... see you in Alice.

Regards,
Gunter.

FollowupID: 21785

Follow Up By: Gunter - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 16:12

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 16:12

Glenn,

Do you when and how (route) Wayno (WA) is travelling to Alice?

Regards,
Gunter.

FollowupID: 21792

Follow Up By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 22:13

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 22:13

Gunter,

I have emailed you Wayno's route

CheersJust Do It!

FollowupID: 21828

Reply By: lindsay - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 15:37

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 15:37

Gunter, take a squeezy sauce bottle.(say 1/2 litre) They are good to get oil into diffs and gearboxes.

AnswerID: 30780

Follow Up By: Gunter - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 16:33

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 16:33

Thanks for the tip!

FollowupID: 21796

Follow Up By: srowlandson - Friday, Sep 12, 2003 at 16:24

Friday, Sep 12, 2003 at 16:24

I use a Jiggler Syphon hose and Funnel, Run the hose to the outside of the vehicle, higher than the gearbox / diff.... and then pour away..

Steve

FollowupID: 21885

Reply By: Ross - Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 15:52

Thursday, Sep 11, 2003 at 15:52

why Worry? You don't need these things normally. It would take a "catastrophic " failure for you to lose your existing oiland extra oil would likely be lost also. Take a means of starting on case of battery failure--that is of big importance.

AnswerID: 30781

Reply By: Frank - Friday, Sep 12, 2003 at 00:54

Friday, Sep 12, 2003 at 00:54

Gunter,

If you do happen to crack your sump or diff for that matter, 5 litres of oil will get you back. I carry a tube of instant weld, which is made up of 2 chemical putties. When these 2 materials are kneaded together and used on any metal surface it sets like steel. You can patch the crack in the sump, fill her up and be on your way. 1 Litre of oil will probably not be enough. Out in the scrub, it only takes an unsighted rock to crack your sump or diff.

AnswerID: 30844

Reply By: David N. - Friday, Sep 12, 2003 at 13:03

Friday, Sep 12, 2003 at 13:03

I would have enough engine oil to get me back after a holed sump- is 5litres enough... I think not for a Patrol or Cruiser more like 6 or 7 minimum.
Other oils- I wouldn't bother normally- maybe 1 litre of gearbox oil- could go in a diff also if ever required.
Have fun- I'm jealous!

AnswerID: 30866