Opal Fuel

[tunnelthug]

Have any V6 petrol owning D3 drivers had any experience with opal fuel? Planning a trip to Alice sometime this year and apparently, (with a few exceptions) Opal fuel is about all one can get in Central Australia.

Presently, I use either 98 or 95 octane fuel - BP's literature suggests that Opal is suitable for engines that require 91 octane and is not suitable for higher octane use engines.

Given that use of Opal wouldn't be regular, what, if any, would the short and long term effects be?

Many thanks!

[PhilipA]

Nil.
Regards Philip A

[jx2mad]

Last time I was in Alice I used to take a run down the highway and fill up at the refinery (diesel). Way cheaper than in town

[isuzurover]

What PhillipA said.

As a slight aside, there seems to be little/no Opal in WA as yet. We did the canning and gibb river rd mid 2010 with a RRC in our party. At wiluna the servo attendant didn't know what Opal was when asked (but I noticed there is no "self serve"). At Kunawarritji at well 33 the fuel was ULP in old avgas drums, kept in a locked shipping container when not in use.

[BigJon]

I wouldn't put Opal fuel in my lawn mower, much less my car. I lived in Alice when Opal was rolled out and there was no end of horror stories about fuel pumps failing, fuel hoses failing, etc.
You will find that Premium fuels (non Opal) will be available pretty much everywhere (providing you are keeping to the usual tourist haunts).

[connock]

Hi tunnelthug,

I agree with bigjon, you wouldnt compromize with your engine/tranny oil so why fuel ? Its not so good for your catcon. either.

[jonesfam]

Sorry, I can only semi-agree. We have had Opal here for years & it doesn't blow up or damage cars & definitely not short term.
It does produce slightly less power & slightly increased consumption.
I have used it in my mower, motor bikes & forklift for years with no ill effects.
I will say it doesn't like start up as well as ULP & can produce a backfire at that time but that is all I've ever noticed.
I will admit that some of the locals say it damaged their car but I would put that more down to almost no maintenance or servicing & just generally being very rough on their cars.
For short term I could not see it doing any damage to your car & yes we do have a few new petrol cars running around up here on it just fine.
Jonesfam

[Bushwanderer]

Hi jonesfam,
I have a fear that backfiring is not good in the long term.

I wonder if it's worth your getting a remap (eg BAS) for the opal fuel. Then you could revert to the standard map when out of "opal country".

I imagine the difficulty would be in the remapper being able to accommodate the opal specs.

Best Wishes,
Peter
PS: IIRC, you are running a TDV6, so that above pondering is academic only.

[rick130]

I wouldn't put Opal fuel in my lawn mower, much less my car. I lived in Alice when Opal was rolled out and there was no end of horror stories about fuel pumps failing, fuel hoses failing, etc.
You will find that Premium fuels (non Opal) will be available pretty much everywhere (providing you are keeping to the usual tourist haunts).

I'm just waiting for the oldies to join in on this.
They've always said what you've just said Jon, only with some more feeling :angel: