Thread: Simpson Desert - Puma Fuel Requirements

I will be driving from Sydney to Perth!

Plan is via Broken Hill, Birdsville, Ularu, Great Central Highway to Perth.

Dept date circa early June... towing a light camper trailer!

Would love to join a group for some of the way... :>)

Originally Posted by davidgate

Whilst West to East appears to be the favoured route I prefer to do East to West from Birdsville. With the Simpson under my belt I can then do the tourist thing to Uluru, Alice Springs, Plenty Highway etc. back home (Southeast Qld). Looks like end of July early August at this stage - might see you on the track somewhere

Dave G

We did the opposite - went out the Plenty and back over the Simpson.

Out of general interest in fuel economy, I've just completed a little experiment.

Last time I filled up, I also filled 2 x 20 L jerry cans with diesel. Over the next few weeks, I did my daily commute to and from work, plus around town, with varied driving style (combination of nanna and giving it a bit of stick), and emptied the jerries into the tank accordingly.

Using the total combined 115 L of fuel, my fuel light came on after 1,050 km. I drove another 23 km before filling up (same pump, only to first click as always). It took 69.51 L to fill the tank, meaning I travelled 1,073 km using 109.51 L of fuel.

So, my fuel consumption was about 10.2 L / 100 km (or if you prefer, close to 9.8 km per litre).

There was no off-road play in that period, but I think it gives a fair indication of general run around fuel consumption for my 110. (I have now done just under 32,000 km).

The vehicle was only lightly loaded during that time.

Cheers,

I went across the Simpson Desert (French Line E to W) and also up the Canning Stock Route in my TD5 90, with roof rack loaded with 120 l of fuel, 2nd spare and other stuff. On the bitumen, driving at about 80 k's, I got about 10 km/l. I allowed for a much higher consumption going through the sand dunes but in fact, with lower driving speed, around 50-60 k's, I got about the same fuel consumption or just a bit higher, so I had lots of spare fuel on each trip.

Originally Posted by noyakfat

Out of general interest in fuel economy, I've just completed a little experiment.

Last time I filled up, I also filled 2 x 20 L jerry cans with diesel. Over the next few weeks, I did my daily commute to and from work, plus around town, with varied driving style (combination of nanna and giving it a bit of stick), and emptied the jerries into the tank accordingly.

Using the total combined 115 L of fuel, my fuel light came on after 1,050 km. I drove another 23 km before filling up (same pump, only to first click as always). It took 69.51 L to fill the tank, meaning I travelled 1,073 km using 109.51 L of fuel.

So, my fuel consumption was about 10.2 L / 100 km (or if you prefer, close to 9.8 km per litre).

There was no off-road play in that period, but I think it gives a fair indication of general run around fuel consumption for my 110. (I have now done just under 32,000 km).

The vehicle was only lightly loaded during that time.

Cheers,

Did you adjust your odo figure to match your tyre diameter? If running 235/85.s your odo reading is about 5% out which means you need to multiply your results by 1.05 to get an accurate fuel burn reading. If you run 255/85's or 285/75's your reading is spot on. Assuming you haven't fitted speedo correction. MLD

Originally Posted by MLD

Did you adjust your odo figure to match your tyre diameter? If running 235/85.s your odo reading is about 5% out which means you need to multiply your results by 1.05 to get an accurate fuel burn reading. If you run 255/85's or 285/75's your reading is spot on. Assuming you haven't fitted speedo correction. MLD

I have 265/75R16 Hankook RT03 M/T's. My speedo appears to match my GPS. What do you reckon?

Originally Posted by weeds

Why not The Rig???

I thought it was the pick of the routes based on ready trip report across numerous forums.... not that I have done the French or WAA, only come across one other car and this was during school holidays.

I suppose it depends on what type of experience you are after, in late 2013 there was a lot of work done on the rig road to upgrade to get drilling rigs and oil equipment back in.

This was what it ended up like (heading west from Kuncherinna junction) - a very wide good dirt road dunes had been clay topped again.




This was the rig road in 2008



Martyn

Originally Posted by Bushie

I suppose it depends on what type of experience you are after, in late 2013 there was a lot of work done on the rig road to upgrade to get drilling rigs and oil equipment back in.

This was what it ended up like (heading west from Kuncherinna junction) - a very wide good dirt road dunes had been clay topped again.




This was the rig road in 2008



Martyn

Oh didn't realize the recent activity.......

I drove it in 2006 ish......